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1500 questions
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3 answers

Running out of time before playing a forced move that would draw the game

What happens if a player runs out of time before playing a forced move that would end in a draw? I suspect it is a loss, but it would be fair to be a draw. 7K/6P1/8/8/8/8/1k4p1/8 b - - 0 1 1... g1=Q 2. g8=Q Qxg8+ In the example above, White is to…
Chaotic
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Why does chess.com consider this promotion a blunder?

I've just played a game on Chess.com, and I'm surprised that the engine considers a promotion that I made a huge blunder. Like, my position was rated -62.8 (basically a won game), and after I promoted my pawn to a queen the rating dropped to -6.40.…
Fabio says Reinstate Monica
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Is there a "perfect" game?

Is there a historic example of a chess game that has, to date, resisted all computerized attempts to find a better sequence of moves? In other words, a "perfect" game? CLARIFICATION I should have made it clearer that I'm not looking for a perfect…
lindelof
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Another Unusual Mate in One

Here is another mate-in-one of my own i.e. a not quite usual one... [title "Mate in one"] [FEN "3b4/R3P3/2kPR1n1/P1p1n3/4K1p1/2Nr4/5p2/1b6 w KQkq - 0 1"] Imagine, you walk into a chess club, an abandoned chessboard hangs out on a table.…
Xavier Labouze
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10 answers

Is there value to learning openings as a new player?

Am a new player (had played before hadn't picked up a board for 3 years having never taken the game that seriously) and am going to try and commit to at least 1 rapid (10+5) game per day. Have made it to 950ish on Lichess (and was disappointed to…
user8812
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Please help solve this endgame problem posed by a friend

[FEN "5K2/k7/4P1p1/8/8/8/4b3/8 w - - 0 1"] A friend of mine is challenging me to find a solution. It’s White to play and DRAW.
knowellm
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What does it mean to ''analyze grandmaster games''?

I am currently rated 1850. My coach tells me that in order to get better at my game, I should ''analyze grandmaster' games''. On the surface, I understand that he wants me to learn from great players' moves. But I'm unsure about what I should be…
Klangen
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What is black’s compensation in the main line of the Caro Kann?

After move 10 in the main line of Caro Kann, black has already moved its light-squared bishop four times, while white manages to develop quite a bit. What exactly is blacks compensation for the lack of development? [fen ""] [Startply "21"] 1. e4 c6…
d4zed
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Is rotating a pawn so that it faces a different direction and then moves in that direction technically permitted according to the 2018 FIDE Laws?

While browsing the Chess and Puzzling Stack Exchange sites, I've come across several instances where people have found loopholes in the rules of chess, causing these loopholes to be patched out eventually. In fact, while reading through the current…
Magma
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Creating chess engine, machine learning vs. traditional engine?

I am both an avid chess player and computer programmer. I would say that playing chess and programming are the two things I spend the most time doing. Naturally, I am wanting to create my own engine and, ultimately, Lichess bot. In wake of…
David Chopin
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Examples of forced stalemate

The usual case one often sees specially in blitz play is when one side (usually the winning) mis-plays and then stalemate occurs with the losing side dodging a loss. But are there positions where stalemate is a forced (maybe planned) outcome no…
user929304
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Is James Damore a FIDE master?

James Damore has been in the news recently because of controversy over this document he wrote while he was an employee of Google's. The article I had originally read mentioned that he was a chess player, so I searched Google for "James Damore chess"…
Zubin Mukerjee
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Psychological tricks in chess?

Are there any psychological tricks that can be used in chess to throw off an opponent regardless of rating? It also does not matter if it is the opening, middle, or end game. By psychological, I really don't mean rude/annoying gestures to upset the…
xaisoft
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Do you find websites like chesstempo useful for improving tactical skills?

I've been using chesstempo for quite a while solving lots of problems per day. What I noticed is that I don't feel that my tactical skills were improving. My results in tournament games were not improving either. However chesstempo's estimate of my…
Alex Petrov
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Least number of moves to achieve a complete switchover of nonpawns in starting setup

[fen "RNBQKBNR/8/8/pppppppp/PPPPPPPP/8/8/rnbqkbnr w - - 0 1"] During a comp, my friend an I had a team kill and we decided to make this position(legally) before drawing. Then we continued to find more and more optimal ways of getting the position…
Ariana
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