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Is chess a zero sum game?

"Chess is a zero sum game" is a claim you see often, even on this forum. Game theorists will tell you that it is just obvious. Either the game is a draw, nobody wins or loses, or one side wins and the other loses. A win is equal and opposite to a…
Brian Towers
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Why are world-class engines playing like this?

I was reading about the Lc0 engine and its evolution. Then took a glimpse at the games between Lc0 and the notorious Stockfish. I am not a professional or anything remotely close, but this particular game seems very odd to me. According to…
polfosol
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Games where a pawn checkmates the king

Could you please refer some examples of game where, on the last move, a pawn checkmates the king (preferably from grandmaster's games)?
Ginger Bread
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Why Are Openings Named After Countries?

This has been bothering me from when I was little. Why are openings most commonly named after a country? For example: Sicilian, Scotch, Spanish, etc...
nishantc1527
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4 answers

Why is it funny to say Giri played the Evans Gambit?

At 0:55 in this video, Youtuber agadmator claims Anish Giri played the Evans Gambit in the Italian Game: [fen ""] [Black "Anish Giri"] [White "Kirill Alekseenko"] [Event "Candidates 2020 (Joke Line)"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 It…
Akshat Mahajan
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Studies that have been cooked by computers

A study is unlike a regular chess problem. Instead of "mate in 3" (for instance), a study's instructions are something like "White to draw" (for instance). What this means is to find a line of play after which White reaches a position that is known…
yrodro
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11
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Good Knight Against Bad Bishop Endgame - A More Constructive Plan?

I reached the position below in a recent tournament game [Event "Recent Tournament"] [Site "Deepest, Darkest Oxfordshire"] [Date "Feb 2020"] [White "Ian Bush"] [Black "A Young Victim"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteELO "~1850"] [BlackELO "~1850"] [ECO…
Ian Bush
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Are there attempts at creating practical endgame tablebases?

As I understand it, 8-piece endgame tablebases have been in development for many years. The big issue is the sheer number of positions that are possible. Are there any attempts at making a "practical" endgame tablebase, where the search is only over…
Allure
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Can I win this Rook and Pawn vs Bishop endgame?

I'm playing white and I've been unable to get the black king out of the corner. Does black have a guaranteed stalemate or is there some way to force him out the corner? [fen "5K1k/6R1/7P/8/8/8/2b5/8 w - - 0 1"]
James crouse
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Official rules for castling in Chess960? (Is there a loophole?)

Note: this is another rules-lawyering question. I first ask for an official source I am calling into question the phrasing of the rules. Then I consider a few plausibly official sources, and point out a loophole (unsurprisingly not the first time…
Remellion
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Can I place my rooks upside down at the beginning of the game?

Numerous times I’ve read that it’s illegal to use an upside down rook to represent a promoted queen because “it’s still a rook”. Does that imply that I can begin the game with my rooks upside down? They are still rooks; they are still centred on…
Laska
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Can a player be forced to adjust a piece?

If one of my pieces is knocked off the board unintentionally, do I need to place it back on the board? Can I continue to play with one or more pieces not on the board (but still have it in effect - for example a rook that was on A1 but has been…
pzeueghrc
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Why 4... Nxb4 is not played in Evans gambit?

4... Nxb4 is never played on chesstempo database for +2200 players games, being Bxb4 the most popular move. I don't find any significant change after capturing the pawn with the knight unless after 5. c3, black can play Na6 supporting an eventual…
user18196
11
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4 answers

Does using a less common opening make you a stronger player?

I want to ask about whether using and adopting a rarely used opening makes you a stronger player. I just started playing online chess (Lichess) a year ago, and as a beginner, I used to play the common 1.e4 as the opening in all my games. I found…
user74261
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Can a player move before his opponent hits the clock?

In a reply to another question, I made an explicit presumption that under FIDE Laws, a player can move as soon as the opponent’s move has been made. But someone wondered if this was this really correct. The Laws make a distinction between a move…
Laska
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