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1500 questions
14
votes
8 answers
Chess software to analyze games
My son is into chess and plays chess tournaments. I would like to know what good chess software is available to analyze his games. The software should analyze move-by-move and should point out weak/strong moves, alternative moves, blunders, tactics…
technewbie
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14
votes
6 answers
What is the best strategy for white in this position?
1n3r2/q4pbk/3p2pp/r1pPp3/1pB1P3/1P2BP2/2PQ2PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 1
I was white in the diagram position in an OTB game I played recently. However, I couldn't find a satisfactory plan. Playing f4 is always tricky because it vacates the e5 square for the…
postnubilaphoebus
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14
votes
2 answers
Have engines refuted any established openings?
Before engines were introduced to chess in late 20th centry, there were many established openings that were played by the top players at that time. I am wondering if any of those openings were refuted (and thus are seldom played today) by engine?…
Zuriel
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14
votes
7 answers
If there is a winning strategy, is it for White?
We do not know, given two perfect players White and Black, whether the game would necessarily end in a draw, or necessarily end in a win (for either Black or White).
However, can we prove that if there is a winning strategy, then it is for White? In…
Randomblue
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14
votes
1 answer
Why is it allowed to request an increment in time trouble?
From the FIDE Handbook:
III.2.2 These Guidelines shall apply only to standard chess and rapid chess games without increment and not to blitz games.
III.4 If the player having the move has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may request that…
Wais Kamal
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14
votes
3 answers
How to best respond to an early black Qa5 in the Smith-Morra gambit?
I often play the Smith-Morra gambit. Recently I've been seeing black play an early Qa5, such as
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Qa5 4. *
or
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Qa5+ 4. *
It seems to throw a spanner in the works as to how I'm…
Douglas S. Stones
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14
votes
3 answers
Can you really learn from playing against computers just like when playing against humans?
I am wondering whether or not playing against chess against a computer will help you get better as quickly as playing against humans.
The motivation for this questions come from video gaming. I used to play a certain video game called Rome:Total…
OmnipresentAbsence
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14
votes
4 answers
How to reach an open position in the 4 Knights Game without exchanging too much material?
I believe that 4 knights opening is the most popular opening, especially among average players. I play it a lot, that's why I want to analyse it. I'm an average player, so I hope you can help me.
Some people like to play 4 knights game like…
Lynob
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14
votes
5 answers
What is the result? (Rules + puzzle)
[EDITED to include followup - EDIT 2 to include definition of position]
This is in part a genuine question on the FIDE Laws of Chess, and in part a small puzzle to solve.
Suppose that during a long time control tournament game under FIDE rules the…
Remellion
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14
votes
3 answers
What is the process for becoming a FIDE rated chess player?
I am new to chess. I read about FIDE so my question is: How can I
can play in a FIDE tournament or become a FIDE-rated player?
Is there any online process for that, or something else? Right now I only know
about FIDE and not much about their…
Pankaj Bisht
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14
votes
2 answers
Delay clock with delay not set
Over the past few years of tournament play, I've seen three games where the delay was not enabled on a digital clock. In all of these cases, the clock was a Chronos set to display HH:MM until the last 10 minutes, when it would change to MM:SS.
In…
Andrew
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14
votes
2 answers
How is notation done for similar pieces capturing the same piece?
When a capture can be made by two rooks, or two knights, etc., how does the notation clarify which piece makes the capture?
For example, if two pawns, one at e4 and one at c4, capture a pawn at d3, the notation will say exd3 or cxd3, sure. But if…
Jason P Sallinger
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14
votes
3 answers
What term is used to describe the following situation?
A situation where the movement of the opponent's pieces gets more and more restricted as the attack develops. The opponent can't make moves easily without losing something.
mark coder
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14
votes
3 answers
How to deal with the Cochrane Gambit
[fen ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 ?!
I'm pretty sure the Cochrane Gambit isn't correct. However, I find it difficult to defend against, as some "natural" moves don't seem to work. Can you give some advice how to deal with it?…
Landei
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14
votes
1 answer
Why did Magnus Carlsen drop out of World Championship in 2011?
I heard from a friend of mine that Magnus Carlsen did not play the Candidate Matches in 2011. Why did he do that?
Rachid O
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