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How should I defend against this sacrifice in the Two Knights Defense?

I often get to play this opening : [fen ""] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. Nc3 Bg4 (5... Be7 6. Be3 Bg4) (4... Bc5 5. Nc3 d6 6. O-O Bg4) Sometimes there may be other moves or developments before the pin, like in the variations. In any…
Teofrostus
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7 answers

What are some common chess traps?

What are some of the most common traps to be aware of? I am talking about examples such as The Fishing Pole Trap The Lasker Trap in the Albin Counter Gambit The Rubinstein Trap in the Queen's Gambit Declined The Noah's Ark Trap in the Ruy…
EPN
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13
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2 answers

Why did Polgar resign?

My question concerns the final position in the game Judit Polgar vs Garry Kasparov It (cat.19) (1996) · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Amsterdam Variation (B82) · 0-1 [White "Polgar"] [Black "Kasparov"] [FEN ""] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4…
Bob Solovay
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2 answers

Why was move 26 in Carlsen-Anand 2014 WC Game 6 a blunder by both players?

In the Anand vs Carlsen Match 6, why was move 26 a blunder for both players? [White "Carlsen"] [Black "Anand"] [FEN "6rr/1k3p2/1pb1p1np/p1p1P2R/2P3R1/2P1B3/P1B2PP1/2K5 w - - 0 1"] 1.Kd2? a4?
user4247
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13
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6 answers

What are the differences between tactical and positional chess?

Does one style of play have an advantage/disadvantage over the other? Are today's GMs mostly tactical players or positional players? What GMs should I follow if I want to be more of a tactical player or positional player?
xaisoft
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13
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4 answers

What are White's advantages against the Greco Defense?

After the first two moves of the Greco Defense [fen ""] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 what should White's agenda be? I see that the wikibook Chess Opening Theory suggests 3. Bc4, but it doesn't go into detail. I'm not used to this opening as White, and…
Daniel
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2 answers

Is there any chess engine that can show if one side has a forced draw?

Is there any chess engine that has an analysis mode that can show if a position is a forced draw by either side? It is common for engines to output evaluations of 0.0 when they detect a draw. But an evaluation of 0.0 can mean many things. For…
Mark Byers
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3 answers

In the immortal draw, why is the Queen sac 9...Qxa4+ considered the best move?

After White's first nine moves in the Immortal Draw: [FEN ""] [title "Hamppe-Meitner, Vienna"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.Na4 Bxf2+ 4.Kxf2 Qh4+ 5.Ke3 Qf4+ 6.Kd3 d5 7.Kc3 Qxe4 8.Kb3 Na6 9.a3 Why is 9...Qxa4+ the best move here? Doesn't Black have an…
Daniel
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1 answer

Pawn confrontations: capture, push past, or leave the tension?

When your opponent moves a pawn to a position where it can be captured by one of your pawns, how should you determine whether to capture it, push past it or leave the tension on the board and make a different move? I appreciate that the answer may…
Nick
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3 answers

What is a blunder?

I am looking for a precise definition for a blunder. Computers often flag moves as blunders for any move that loses a point advantage or more. But what if I am completely winning and I decide to simplify the game by "sacrificing" my material plus.…
CognisMantis
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13
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1 answer

Draws, castling rights, and the FIDE's 2014 rulebook revision

A question of rulebook pedantry: Effective July 2014, the FIDE has revised its Laws of Chess. As you know, the Laws have long allowed a player to claim a draw by repetition. The July 2014 Laws, sect. 9.2, however append this curious…
thb
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13
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9 answers

What are the differences between playing online and OTB?

What are some differences between playing online vs playing OTB (over-the-board)? If you are used to playing online, like myself, would playing OTB have a big impact on your play?
xaisoft
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1 answer

In the USA, if you achieve a USCF rating of 2200 and gain the National Master title, what happens if your rating then goes below 2200?

Is the "National Master" title awarded for your entire life? Or do you lose the title if your rating goes below 2200? I've heard that to get the title of National Master for your entire life you have to have a rating of at least 2200 for 300 games…
Fate
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4 answers

Why do some players play bizarre openings?

I saw blitz games on the Internet (http://en.chessbase.com) between very high Elo rated players (above 2700) that played bizarre openings like: 1. a4 x 2. h4 xx 3. Ra3(or Rh3) xxx 4. Rae3 xxxx. The player who played like this still won. How to…
Brika
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4 answers

In Nakamura v. Friedel in 2009, (22. Bc1) why did Friedel resign?

After White's 22. Bc1, it seems like responding with Rd2 would keep the game alive for Black. I assume Friedel's a more insightful player than I am. What am I missing? That is, from an experienced player's viewpoint, why do we assume that staying…
TwoMice
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