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1500 questions
13
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6 answers

Are isolated passed pawns good or bad?

I frequently face situations in the late middle game (perhaps only a one minor piece and a rook or two on each side, no queens) where I can force a position (via exchanges) where both players are materially equal but I have an isolated passed pawn…
Potato
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Another problem - Find color of the pieces

Please help me to find the solution of this next problem by the legendary composer Andrej Kornilow. It appeared in Shakhmatnaya Kompozitsiya 41 issue in 2001 and it was dedicated to A. Lobusow on his 50th birthday. The colors of the pieces on the…
klm123
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Earliest text which mentions the pawn promotion rule

My question is about the history of the pawn promotion rule (promotion to a queen). What is the earliest existing text (authentic written document in any language) which mentions the pawn promotion rule?
Name
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Is it technically a checkmate if the king is not in check, but all moves will result in check?

In other words, after white's move, black king is not in check. It is now black's move, but any move that black could make results in check. Is this a checkmate? Is there a chess term for this situation?
user2652
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Is it possible to have a double self-smothered stalemate?

I came up with this rather amusing and bizarre stalemate where Black stalemates itself by self-smothering. [FEN "8/8/8/8/8/3p4/pp6/krb1K3 b - - 0 1"] 1...d2+?? 2. Kd1 The peculiar feature of this stalemate is that Black is unable to move not…
NM Wesley Falcao
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13
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11 answers

What can I play against 1.d4?

I've been playing chess for some time and I've studied lots of theory, but I don't know what to play against 1. d4. I'm searching for something with good chances for black but without much theory. Note: If someone has some videos or theory on…
Panzer
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Chess Hustlers in the Park/Street: Where do they place in terms of skill?

Assuming the species still exists, has anyone researched this enough to provide insight into their approximate rating class/skill level (exclusively at blitz time controls)? How do they typically get into the business or for that matter, demonstrate…
shivsky
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Why is Bb8 better than Bc7 in this position?

[fen "r2q1rk1/pp3ppp/n1pb2b1/2Pp4/3Pn3/P2B1N2/1PQ2PPP/RNB1R1K1 b - - 0 12"] [Startply "20"] e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qc2 Na6 11. a3 Bg6 12. c5 Here black's dark-square bishop…
Zuriel
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2 answers

What does "end with an empty board" mean?

I got this statement from Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren, and I don't understand what it means to end up with an empty board: However, since the human brain and even the computer is still not capable of completely seeing…
Gonja
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Hitting the clock without moving

In an official blitz game, what happens if a player hits a chess clock without making a move? I believe that making an illegal move in a blitz game is an automatic loss. But does this count as an illegal move because my opponent didn't really make a…
MyronL
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What rating point advantage does playing White equate to?

Data shows white has a non-trivial advantage (Does white have an advantage?) but has anyone ever done any analysis what ratings point advantage/handicap? Put another way if player W plays white against player B playing black, how big a rating…
Mr. Boy
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3 answers

Has Carlsen been given a deadline to announce his WC intentions?

In the current World Championship cycle Magnus Carlsen has a psychological edge on Nepo. While Carlsen already knows who he is going to face in the WC match, Nepo has to wait for him to announce his intention to defend his title before knowing who…
firtydank
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Is the Sicilian Defense a good opening for beginners?

Just discovered the chess section of this website. This is my first question here. I am a beginner chess player(rated about 1300 on the chess websites) and play mainly for recreation. For a long time, my opening repertoire was restricted to 1) e4…
guru
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What fundamental mistakes were made in my game that slowly turned in to a loss?

I have trouble seeing what fundamental mistakes I made during this FIDE rated game I played today. I played as white. The game was analyzed without an engine with people at the tournament were we discussed various variations and what me and my…
ludz
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Play a chess game so that at the end you can start a game of checkers

Yes, it is silly. So you begin at the normal starting position and help-play until Black is mated (White shall have the last move since Black begins in checkers) and the mating position looks like the starting position of checkers, with any…
Hauke Reddmann
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