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1500 questions
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2 answers

What is the Dorfman method in chess?

On various occasions in commentaries or interviews, e.g. during the World Championship commentary with Peter Svidler and Anish Giri, I've heard the Dorfman method being mentioned. I then learned that this method, devised by the well-established…
user929304
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What does it mean to play "positionally", and how do you train that?

I often hear this term thrown around when people are analyzing chess, but I don't really know what it means. I assume it's a generic term that means to play defensively, or to set up for the future. If that's what it means, how do I learn when it's…
bpromas
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Is Colle-Zukertort a good way to improve beginner play?

I'm still trying to improve my repertoire and building more towards aggressive openings which I find to better fit my playing style. Colle-Zukertort seems like a popular one and I've seen it recommended a couple times for beginners. What are your…
Charles Menguy
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4 answers

What is the theory behind center control?

Center control is an important aspect of playing chess, most openings are built around controlling the center, but why? Is center control really that important for winning a game?
Soufiane Hassou
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Is there an origin or story of where the pieces that make a chess game got their name from?

I understand why there would be a king and queen but I would love to know where the idea to call pieces what they are - such as the Rook, Knight, Bishop and Pawn - came from. Is there any background information on the reasons they were called this,…
ThunderToes
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Chess960 or Chess959?

Once in 960 times, Chess960 should just be the same as regular chess. Are there any known instances of this? Or is this selection automatically excluded, after which they just roll the dice again? So is it really "Chess959"? EDIT: Found this:…
Laska
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9 answers

Systematic approach to learning opening/endgame theory?

Some relevant information: I've been playing chess for 4 years, and for 3 in tournaments, although I've only played in about 10 tournaments so far (3 big ones, like the Pan Ams and Chicago Open). My current rating is 1650 UCSF, and my chesstempo…
chubbycantorset
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Is three knights versus knight really winning?

Take a look at the following position, reached in the #40974 Tactics Problem on chess.com [fen "4N1K1/5P2/6k1/8/6n1/8/N7/8 w - - 0 1"] The engine gives +6.22 for white in this position. I already understand that any move other than f8=N+ draws.…
Pedro A
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Are there any illegal positions that are difficult to spot?

I have a question and I'm sorry if it sounds very uninformed, I'm not a professional chess player so my interest is mere curiosity. I was wondering if there are examples of illegal positions that require more than a superficial look at the…
seawalker
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4 answers

What is a pawn break?

I did some research (Google), but it still unclear to me on exactly what a pawn break is. I was reading this question: The theory of pawn breaks It is about the theory of pawn breaks, but before I could understand this, it would be helpful if I…
xaisoft
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Should you let your opponent know if they have forgotten to press their clock?

I'm in two minds here. The good sportsman says you should always let your opponent know (maybe limited to once per game). The more hard-nosed part of me says that managing the clock is part of the game and rules like anything else. If you are…
AndyM
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7 answers

What is a good French-like defense against 1. d4?

I enjoy playing the French Defence as black against 1. e4, for the following reasons. It often creates a closed position without wild tactics It takes white away from the more familiar lines (1... e5 and 1... c5) If black survives the attack, black…
Eric Wilson
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Do Grandmasters think using algebraic notation?

Is algebraic notation used just to communicate chess moves in written and spoken form, or should players strive to use it during their thinking process as well? In Dan Heisman's excellent The Improving Chess Thinker, which examines the thought…
Nick
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Are computers destroying chess?

These days I have been watching the candidates tournament, and I couldn't avoid noticing that players are reeling/scared of computer home preparation "a little bit too much". For example: 1) In the game Anand vs Kramnik (round 4), Kramnik at the…
dreamcrash
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Is this an incorrect draw by chess.com?

Is this an incorrect draw by chess.com? I just played a game on chess.com with the final position as below (I am black): [FEN "8/8/2b5/7P/8/2k1N3/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 59"] My opponent's time ran out and the game was called a draw due to timeout vs.…
callum
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