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1500 questions
11
votes
1 answer
How should white continue after 5...Qf6 in the Scotch Game?
I have been playing the Scotch main line every chance I get. I have had a pretty good success rate with it, but I feel this is due to the my opponent not having a complete understanding of the Scotch. My play usually goes something like this:
…
xaisoft
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11
votes
4 answers
Studying Chess for the Ambitious Intermediate
I'm about 1700 ELO, and I've recently started playing regularly in tournaments. I love playing, and I love the competition. My main goal is to be a 2000+ player.
I got to 1700 by simply doing tactics problems and playing as carefully as I can to…
Pomacanthidae
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11
votes
5 answers
Joining a league or tournament
I've never played in a chess league or tournament before, but I am anxious to try one and find out where my true over-the-board rating stands. I'm too old for the school competitions (over 30) and I'm not sure where to go or what to do to get…
James Tomasino
- 2,265
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11
votes
9 answers
Are chess engines detrimental for lower-rated players?
To give some context, I just started playing OTB and am only 1225 USCF. My online chess rating isn't much stronger though, it's about 1650 with standard time controls.
Chess engines are a great tool, but can they be detrimental to the growth of…
BrianRT
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11
votes
3 answers
What are the latest ideas for Black against the Samisch King's Indian Defense?
I am always afraid of the Samisch variation of the King's Indian. It's the main reason why I switched to Chebanenko Slav (or ..a6 Slav, or Kamsky's Slav). But my opponents seem to be always prepared against the Slav. So after few months of…
user1764381
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11
votes
2 answers
software to analyze my own database of games with statistics
I've been playing on lichess.org for my online games, and is the primary way I enjoy chess. One of the big reasons why I started playing on lichess.org was that they offer a simple way to export your games from their database into pgn format.
So far…
Nebri
- 374
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11
votes
2 answers
Endgame FEN generator
is it possible to generate FEN strings for endgames based on specific criteria: n-pieces, w/d/l, and side to move?
So say I wanted all FEN strings for King plus Rook vs King plus Pawn (KPKR) endgames, where it is white to move, and white draws with…
Dan Forbes
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11
votes
1 answer
Why does Fritz prefer underpromotion in this position?
Why does Fritz prefer underpromotion in this position? How can underpromotion to bishop evaluate so much higher than normal queen promotion?
Can this be a bug in the Fritz 14 chess engine?
Muleskinner
- 435
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11
votes
4 answers
What is the disadvantage of the move 3. ..h6 in the Queen's Gambit Declined?
One of my opponents keep playing 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 h6!? against me. Thus avoiding the main lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined that start after the normal 3) ..Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 etc.
Is there any disadvantage of the move 3) ..h6 that…
klopps
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11
votes
2 answers
Improving the endgame: Principles
I find I am weakest in the endgame, which is arguably the most important part of chess. Usually when I reach the endgame I have an advantage, often a pawn or a "winning" pawn formation, but I am not sure how to capitalize and convert this into the…
EPN
- 2,433
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11
votes
5 answers
Which openings give a winning pawn-structure in the endgame?
For example in the Exchange Variation of the Spanish 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6, White gives Black the Bishop pair, but gains a potentially winning pawns-only endgame. Are there other situations where a player may ruin an opponent's…
javatutorial
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11
votes
6 answers
Are there any grandmasters who always play until checkmate?
Are there any high-level players who are either known for playing games out until the bitter end or have done so in famous circumstances? Is this considered poor etiquette (I'd imagine it would be rude to force a master to play out a simple…
Zubin Mukerjee
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11
votes
2 answers
Why didn't Giri go for the pawns against Ding Liren (Tata Steel 2015)?
This game at move 69 - https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/tataSteelMasters2015/9/1/3
[fen "8/2p5/1pBpK1k1/1P1P2N1/7r/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[White "Anish Giri"]
[Black "Ding Liren"]
[Event "Tata Steel Chess"]
[Date "2015.01.20"]
Giri thought…
jva
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11
votes
2 answers
How can I to hold on to the pawn plus for black in the Queen's Gambit Accepted?
A few years back I used to play with a player who always accepted the queens gambit pawn and used to hold on to it and sometimes win with the pawn plus.
Is there any specific variation that can be studied in favour of black in queen's gambit…
Binoj Antony
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11
votes
7 answers
What are ways of practicing blindfold chess?
Is there a way to practice blindfold chess on the computer?
For example, are there any programs online which give only a transcript of the moves played, and allow you to type in your next move, rather than showing a board?
EPN
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