Most Popular
1500 questions
11
votes
1 answer
Why is the engine suggesting this move?
[FEN "r1bqk1nr/p1ppbppp/1p6/n2P4/8/2N5/PPP1QPPP/R1B1KBNR w KQkq - 3 7"]
1. g4
With White to move, the Lichess engine suggests g4 in this position. Can someone explain why it's a good move?
Ardeshir Afshari
- 166
- 8
11
votes
3 answers
Why is KID considered more sound than Pirc?
I have an impression that at the high level, the Pirc defense is considered to be much more off-beat than the King's Indian defense; at least the latter has been a main weapon for many top players, starting from Bronstein and Geller and through…
Kostya_I
- 1,902
- 8
- 21
11
votes
4 answers
Difference between chess puzzle and chess problem in this episode of The Queen's Gambit?
While a chess puzzle is any puzzle involving aspects of chess, a chess problem is an orthodox puzzle in which one must play and win or draw a game, starting with a certain composition of pieces on the chessboard, and playing within the standard…
BCLC
- 1,892
- 1
- 17
- 46
11
votes
1 answer
Series of illegal moves in check
This question falls under FIDE rules (USCF answers/comments welcome).
If I make an illegal move leaving myself and my opponent in check, hit the clock and my opponent misses it and then continues play and hits their clock what happens?
So for…
Aaron
- 221
- 1
- 6
11
votes
2 answers
What is this trap in QGD?
I recently watched an Eric Rosen video where he showcased a trap in the QGD. I do not remember what the trap was called. Here are the moves.
[FEN ""]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 {The trap is this move, because the d5 pawn is not…
fartgeek
- 605
- 4
- 14
11
votes
3 answers
How to play computer from a particular position on chess.com app
I started playing chess a month ago and sometimes I would like to play a hard computer from a particular position (e.g., practicing not blundering in openings, or practice winning a won endgame position). However, it doesn't seem like there is a way…
Greg Schmit
- 243
- 2
- 7
11
votes
3 answers
I'm new to chess-what should be done here to win the game?
[FEN "8/8/8/8/3k1KB1/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
I am new to chess and have no clue as to how to win this game. Which moves can be done with what is on the board in order to win? Could anyone explain?
Dick Rogbi
- 135
- 1
- 3
11
votes
3 answers
How to solve this puzzle of Martin Gardner?
Martin Gardner mentioned the following "chess" problem in his column, Mathematical Games, for Scientific American (he got it from Smullyan, who learned about it from a high school math teacher):
... Assume that a game is played with the new rule…
Favst
- 221
- 1
- 7
11
votes
4 answers
Can I hover my finger over a chess piece without touching it in a major chess tournament?
Noob question: I am aware of the no-touch rule, but can I point or hover my finger over a chess piece in a major tournament? To clarify, let's say it's my turn and I am thinking about which piece to move, and part of my thinking process is to move…
Aevil1
- 121
- 1
- 4
11
votes
2 answers
Exchanging on d5 in queen's gambit like openings
I'm ~2170 rated but having avoided d4 d5 type setups my entire chess career, as some things are quite mysterious to me.
In positions where white has pawns on d4 and c4 and black has one on d5 (typically accompanied by some on c6 or e6, or both),…
CognisMantis
- 5,031
- 2
- 23
- 43
11
votes
1 answer
What was the role of the second in top level matches?
What was the role, the duties, etc. of the second (e.g. GM Ray Keene was Korchnoi’s second in the 1978 World Championship match vs. Karpov), and is this figure still present in contemporary top level chess?
A. N. Other
- 6,826
- 2
- 29
- 67
11
votes
1 answer
Why does a chess engine not get excited about a piece exchange at the end of its analysis depth?
I read about the chess engine algorithms and came up with a question. If, for example roughly all (disregarding alpha-beta pruning) possible 20 moves variations are calculated, why does a chess engine not consider a piece exchange on move 20…
Nick
- 121
- 5
11
votes
5 answers
Is the Scandinavian Defence inferior?
As Black, I have never played the Scandinavian Defence, nor have I ever liked the Center Game for White. It seems like 1. e4 d5 wastes valuable time after 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 and Black's Queen must flee, while White can comfortably develop:
The…
Daniel
- 6,172
- 5
- 39
- 74
11
votes
6 answers
Why do high level players memorize specific games?
Inspite of having such a large number of possible positions and games why do high level players bother about some specific game from some million years ago ? It may be helpful in understanding techniques and tactics but memorizing them seems very…
shashank shekhar singh
- 837
- 5
- 15
11
votes
1 answer
Why do GMs look up during calculations?
I saw some grandmasters looking up or sideways during calculations. Why don't they just look at the board and visualize? Wouldn't that be easier?
bretlee
- 2,515
- 10
- 23