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1500 questions
18
votes
3 answers

En passant for beginners

When I started playing chess, I learned many of the rules of chess on my own. I was playing chess online, and then I realised that pawns can capture in such a fashion. At first, it was weird to me. Like, wow! How can a pawn capture like this?! Then…
Creepy Creature
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7 answers

In terms of rating points, how much stronger should a coach be than their student?

I'm considering getting a chess coach with the general goal of reaching the WIM title (2200 rating, plus norms; or get lucky in an Oceania Zonal). I'm not sure how realistic this is. However, almost everyone with a title nowadays considers…
Rebecca J. Stones
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18
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4 answers

Why do professional chess players point at the pieces with a middle finger?

I've recently heard and then actually started to notice more and more that professional chess players tend to use a middle finger when pointing at pieces on the board like in this Anand vs Caruana game during the Sinquefield Cup 2017: (source) I am…
alecxe
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18
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6 answers

Why isn't chess played with flat pieces?

I was wondering why Chess isn't played with flat pieces, as Shogi is, or as Chess itself is represented online (where people mostly play with flat 2d pieces, even though most sites also have a 3d theme). Personally, flat pieces seem more clear to…
Damnei
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18
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7 answers

Why is Carlsen being praised for his tie-break play, when Caruana made several game-losing moves?

I followed the three games live on chess24.es (for live commentary from GMs) and chess.com (for actual real time computer analysis). As per my understanding: Game 13 was mostly balanced until 19... Nb5? (GMs were expecting Nb7 if anything), and…
walen
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18
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6 answers

Carlsen-Caruana Game 12

Any online search about the recent game 12 in Carlsen-Caruana's WCC is filled with the surprise caused by Carlsen offering a draw when in a (possibly?) winning position. It was announced on chess.com that the top eight chess engines in the CCC…
Martin Argerami
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18
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1 answer

Can you take back a draw offer?

Is it possible to take back the draw offer if the opponent was not immediately replying to it?
Superluminal
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18
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1 answer

When does a chess clock start?

Lichess.org starts the clock of each player after their first move. Chess.com starts the clock when the players agree to a match, before their first move. I think Lichess is correct, that's what we do where I play. What's the rule?
Lynob
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18
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1 answer

Is it legal to hit the clock with piece, captured or otherwise?

I have often seen in blitz games that when a player captures a piece and then hits the clock with the piece. Is that a legal move or is the player required to place it on the table and hit the clock with the hand? Similarly, in the case of…
MichaelE
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18
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8 answers

Why is exchanging the queens bad in this position?

Stockfish gives +6.6 to the following position. The recommended move by stockfish is Rc1 which maintains +6.6 advantage but if I exchange the queens right away (Qxd6), stockfish gives me +5. What's the reason behind the difference (in stockfish…
Laschet Jain
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18
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2 answers

Why is the Alekhine Defense named after Alekhine?

Alekhine, a world champion, has his name on the defense Nf6 in response to White's e4. But after e.g. 2. e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4. d4, White seems to have a good game. Did Alekhine win any notable games (or tournaments) using this defense? Did he publish…
Tom Au
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18
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6 answers

"A knight on a rim is dim", but a knight on a corner is ... excellent?

Can someone provide a collection of GM games (I'll define a collection as 5 or more games played by a GM against a GM, to be specific), where the winning side featured, at some point in the game, a knight (of the winning side) on one of the corners…
chubbycantorset
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18
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4 answers

Are there any Chess960 positions where Black has the advantage?

I've heard it said that some Chess960 positions have a significant advantage for White, usually involving fast attacks against undefended pawns. However, since zugzwang positions do exist, it's theoretically possible that Black could have an…
eyeballfrog
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18
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7 answers

French or Caro Kann?

I find the French more aggressive, as black gets easy queenside play with pieces and generally a pawn avalanche. However, my friend debates that the Caro is better than the French because the Caro allows a queenside expansion as well, but "you get…
chubbycantorset
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18
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5 answers

Is there fiction dealing with retrograde chess analysis?

I am interested in retrograde analysis problems, where the question usually is: 'What was the last move made?' or 'Where did the piece stand on the board before it fell from the table?' etc. Currently I know of only two occurrences of retrograde…
Ray
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