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1500 questions
11
votes
6 answers
Where can I find a list of tournaments to participate in?
Where should I look for a list of tournaments in which new players can participate? I know that many players want to play real matches, but don't know how and where.
Also provide list for online tournaments.
gsjha
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11
votes
3 answers
About the 3D chess they play on Star Trek
They play a type of 3D chess on Star Trek ( the 60's series) not on a 8x8x8 3D board but on some smaller variation. Yet the game as they have it is supposed to be complicated. Are there real rules and a 3D board set-up for this?
user128932
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11
votes
7 answers
What's a good explanation for stalemate being a draw for a beginning chess player?
I've started playing chess a little more using an app on my phone, and frequently run into the situation where I'm dominating the computer opponent (on an easy difficulty level) to the point where he can't make a legal move (e.g. I've got 5 queens…
Jer
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11
votes
3 answers
Is it theoretically possible for Carlsen to reach Elo 3000?
Magnus Carlsen just reached a rating of 2889.2 today. Considering the way that Elo works, inflation and deflation and relative strength of Carlsen, I was wondering whether it is theoretically possible for him to reach Elo 3000? If so, is it…
Pouya
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11
votes
4 answers
Where can I start to learn?
I have been pretty interested in chess for about 8 months now. I know the rules and basic moves.
I'm looking right now for a place where I can start learning chess strategies, tactics etc. When doing a web search, I only get an unordered list of…
Wilfredo P
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11
votes
6 answers
Why is it a good idea to teach chess in schools?
There is a "movement" towards teaching chess in school and perhaps introduce chess as its own subject. What are the advantages of teaching chess at schools? In what ways is chess similar to other school subjects (e.g. math)? What "life skills" will…
user2001
11
votes
5 answers
Does depth (number of ply) still matter once it is high enough?
This isn't real, just imagine this happening.
Computer A is supercomputer. It can calculate 30 ply deep within 20 seconds.
Computer B is supercomputer. It can calculate 15 ply deep within 20 seconds.
They play against each other chess.
Does these 15…
RikTelner
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11
votes
4 answers
Why does 6.Bg5 prevent 6...e5 in the Sicilian Najdorf?
In Gufeld's book, after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5!,
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5!
he writes: "In this way White solves three problems: he prevents ...e5, " but he shows…
Gerard
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11
votes
3 answers
Is the Queen plus pawn versus Queen endgame always a draw?
In a Queen + King versus Queen + King endgame (including zero or more pawns) these is a strong draw tendency due to the fact that a Queen can deliver multiple checks in a row to the opponents open King. My question concerns the Queen+pawn versus…
user2001
11
votes
1 answer
Percentage of "playable" openings
Google says 197,742 positions are possible after 4 halfmoves. Let's call a position
playable if it is not worse than 0.5 pawn units on the engine of your choice (I use Lichess Stockfish). By this definition, Grob is the worst (-1.7), even before Nh3…
Hauke Reddmann
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11
votes
2 answers
When can legions of knights on an infinite chessboard checkmate a lone king?
On an infinite (perhaps only in one direction?) chessboard, what kind of configuration of (possibly a very large number of) knights could checkmate a lone king? I'm really thinking of an infinite-in-two-directions chessboard... And the salient point…
paul garrett
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11
votes
1 answer
Why 8...Na6 was played in the immortal draw?
From the other question: Is there a "perfect" game? , an interesting game came up:
[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 Qxa4+ 10.Kxa4 Nc5+ 11.Kb4 a5+…
Eve Freeman
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11
votes
6 answers
Is it okay to use Scholars mate against strong players?
I am comfortable using scholars mate opening in my game. If it does not work then I can always transform it into a good offense/defense.
guess
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11
votes
3 answers
Why exchange bishop for knight in this endgame?
In this position, Stockfish gives black (me) -8.1 and recommends BxN.
8/5p2/4pkpp/p1n5/Pp6/1Bb1PP2/2PNK2P/8 b - - 7 28
Instead I played Kf5 and the evaluation plummets to -2.1.
My understanding was that generally bishops are preferred over knights…
Steve Bennett
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11
votes
4 answers
Bishop and Knight exchange with opponent's Rook and pawn
Chess games statistics
In Chess, Are there advantages or disadvantages of exchanging your Bishop + Knight with opponent's Rook and Pawn in middle game?
Knight 3 points
Bishop 3 points
Vs
Rook 5 points
Pawn 1 point.
Is (Bishop + Knight) against…
Prashant Akerkar
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