Questions related to learning how to play chess
-1
votes
1answer
93 views
Tools for helping to learn openings by heart
Is there any tool that can help us learn openings by heart? I tried to use Fritz but without success.
6
votes
3answers
96 views
Viewing the board from the other side
I have seen a few players going to the opponent's side of the board and then observing the position from that view. They usually do it when it is the opponent's move.
Does it really help in ...
5
votes
1answer
58 views
Visually disabled and chess
I am very curious as I have seen many of them playing: How do visually disabled people learn chess? And what are all the types of equipment they use to learn the game?
6
votes
4answers
133 views
How to deal with time-control pressure?
I find myself frequently running into time trouble. Even though mentally it feels like I didn't use that much time, when I look at my clock it says otherwise. When this happens I start rushing to try ...
8
votes
7answers
283 views
I lost a game without making tactical mistakes; how can I avoid this happening in the future?
Here's a game of mine from last night. It was my first tournament game for many years.
(This game is David Kenney vs. Douglas Stones [me] 1-0. Press F to flip the board.)
[fen ""]
[Event "Bluenose ...
9
votes
2answers
114 views
How to Verbally Describe Chess Moves?
This may sound incredibly naive, but all the time on T.V, movies, books, etc. People can be heard saying things like "Queen to Rook 5" or like "Knight to King 3" and things like this.
What is this? I ...
6
votes
4answers
137 views
The thin line between winning and losing at the top level?
At lower level, we often blunder many times and do not make the best moves, so there can be multiple ways to win. But at the top level, for example, during the candidate matches going on now, the ...
2
votes
2answers
65 views
How to maintain the initiative?
What are some ways one can keep the initiative? I find in many cases I have the upper hand if I am able to keep my opponent defending instead of creating his own attack. Are there openings or ...
9
votes
5answers
147 views
How to play for a draw
In this video: Levon Aronian vs Magnus Carlsen Round 1 - 2013 Candidates Chess Tournament
[FEN ""]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2
And now, Kevin said: "You can tell that the game is ...
10
votes
2answers
126 views
How to reach an open position in the 4 Knights Game without exchanging too much material?
I believe that 4 knights opening is the most popular opening, especially among average players. I play it a lot, that's why I want to analyse it. I'm an average player, so I hope you can help me.
...
7
votes
2answers
201 views
Chess problem - don't understand the solution
Black to move:
[fen "4rbk1/pp3pp1/1nq4p/8/1PP5/P3N1P1/Q2BrP1P/3R1RK1 b - - 0 1"]
I've tried to solve this chess problem - black to move, find the best move. I couldn't work it out so I checked the ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
Improving your position?
A recommendation from IM Andrew Martin was to improve the position of your worst piece if you are not sure what move to make. Are there any other ways one could improve their position besides the ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Thoughts on the Robatsch (Modern) Defense?
I heard from IM Andrew Martin that if you are unsure what to play as Black, you should play the following moves no matter what White plays (not sure I agree with him saying no matter what White plays ...
3
votes
2answers
111 views
Is it possible to play the Najdorf Defense if white played 1. d4?
After white plays 1. d4, is it still possible for black to play the Najdorf Defense?
Is it possible, for Black to play in a way in order to reach a Najdorf setup? If so, how should Black continue?
2
votes
3answers
112 views
What are the middle game principles?
What are the middle game principles? I have already seen numerous principles regarding the opening and ending, but not the middle.
2
votes
3answers
134 views
Studying beyond the opening?
I was watching the following video on the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game) - Variations with 3...a6. The video is almost 1.5 hours and it pretty much goes through all variations with 3...a6.
As I was going ...
6
votes
2answers
88 views
The Pointing Rule and its relation on which side to attack?
I was watching a video by NM Dan Heisman and in the video he mentions what is called the Pointing Rule. He also makes mention that like many rules in chess, it should be taken lightly and not ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
What are some solid attacks in chess?
By solid attacks, I mean, attacks that have been tested over time. They don't necessarily have to be used at the top-level. I will give an example of what I am looking for:
The Fried Liver Attack ...
11
votes
4answers
369 views
The path of learning chess
I've decided to become a better chess player. I play every day online and sometimes with my friends offline as well. I've also started to study openings.
It is very difficult to get the right ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
I would like an iPad app for annoting my games
I would like an app for annotating my games and/or replay others' games. Do you have any suggestions?
6
votes
1answer
100 views
Best pseudo-chess game for kids to learn the basic?
My kids are 5 and 3 years old. I would like to teach them chess by playing alternative mini-game. Where can I find those mini-game instruction?
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit (C57)
In my recent effort to play as many Evan's Gambit games and an ocassional Lolli Attack, I recently had this game as White:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nb4 6. Nc3 Nbxd5 ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
“The Art of Planning in Chess: Move by Move” by Neil McDonald review?
I am reading the "Move by Move" books and was curious if anyone had read "The Art of Planning in Chess: Move by Move" by Neil McDonald? If so, can you write a simple review on it?
I currently have ...
2
votes
6answers
242 views
Simple (not deep in theory or moves) Openings for White and Black?
I am at the point where I want to learn some simple openings for White and Black. By simple, I mean, openings that do not have a deep theory and don't take a lot of moves to get into. Currently, I ...
4
votes
3answers
183 views
Why is 4…e5 not popular in the Smith-Morra Gambit?
When I encounter the Sicilian as White, I often will play the Smith-Morra Gambit. My opponent played 4...e5, but this does not appear to be a very popular move as there are only 2 games on ...
4
votes
1answer
108 views
Should Black avoid the Two Knights Defense because of the Fried Liver Attack?
It seems like the Fried Liver Attack is too much for black to handle, so it seems it is best to avoid the Two Knights Defense as Black. An example of the Fried Liver Attack is below and Black just ...
5
votes
1answer
51 views
How should White continue after Nxb4 in the Evans Gambit?
Recently I have been playing the Evans Gambit as many times as I can and for the most part, black plays 4...Bxb4, but someone played 4...Nxb4 and I wasn't sure how to continue. After the following ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
What openings were former and current masters experts in? [closed]
In referencing the following article, it is stated that one way to efficiently learn new openings is to study masters that were experts at the particular opening you want to study. Part of the ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Approach to learning one opening and its variations?
When learning a new opening, do you learn the opening every time you encounter a new variation or do you try to learn them all at once?
I read this article on chess.com about learning an opening in ...
3
votes
3answers
110 views
I blunder too much on wooden sets?
I have played 99% of my games online, I have seen and learn almost everything related to chess with the fonts Alpha or Mérida, either through diagrams or games, etc .
However, when I play with actual ...
4
votes
2answers
48 views
Blitz games relation to opening theory?
How do blitz games help with your opening theory? I thought they would not help because you might tend to make a lot of mistakes during blitz or is this the reason, to keep playing them over and over ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
Why is there a craze of becoming chess grandmaster?
Go to any online chess server, there are lakhs playing and trying their best. These days there are even online coaches and titled players and people are ready to shed huge bucks for getting couple of ...
4
votes
4answers
125 views
Always capture toward the center?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3 5. bxc3 (5. dxc3)
I usually see bxc3 in this position and the main reason given is to capture toward the center, but doesn't bxc3 weaken the queen ...
3
votes
3answers
98 views
Understanding the x-ray tactical motif?
Can someone explain the x-ray tactical motif? I have looked at this example, but I still don't understand it fully. If you can provide other examples, that would be great too.
10
votes
5answers
234 views
Is it beneficial to play blindfolded chess?
I've played only two blindfold games so far, but it was against someone who was maybe at a 1000 uscf rating strength, and hence was fairly easy to beat, and once against my friend, who's also rated ...
11
votes
4answers
432 views
Is it beneficial to play chess against yourself?
I tried it when I first learned chess, and it was fascinating, because I had no ideas about strategy or tactics. But now that I have some experience, it seems pointless, as I know what my "opponent" ...
4
votes
5answers
193 views
What chess websites are worth subscribing to?
I am a member of ICC and I find it useful although it may be a bit pricey. In a recent question about "What types or kinds of chess players are there?", chubbycantorset pointed out a video on ...
4
votes
4answers
101 views
Difference between tactic and combination?
What is the difference between a Tactic and a Combination? For reference, here is a game I played as white and I think I had a nice combination from move 16, but I am not sure if it is classified as ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Deep Rybka vs Deep Fritz vs Houdini vs (other), which one to buy?
I want to invest my hard-earned money to buy a chess engine which can help me to:
analyze games easily
experiment with different opening repertoire
strategical analysis
positional play
I don't ...
8
votes
2answers
113 views
How can I identify Zugzwang opportunities?
How can I identify Zugzwang opportunities, not only for myself, but for my opponent. Often times, I run into Zugzwang, whether it is for my benefit or not, by accident. Is this just a matter of ...
6
votes
3answers
305 views
What types or kinds of chess players are there?
I am often asked the question what type of chess player am I, but I am unsure how to answer this question because I do not exactly know what would define each type of player. Interestingly, I am only ...
10
votes
7answers
310 views
Why do titled players always play online (blitz) speed chess?
If you have been to an online chess server, you will notice that almost all titled players always play quick games (3 0) at a max.
On the other hand, if you go to tournaments, it needs cool thinking ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
How can I frequently practice openings that are more than 1 or 2 moves long?
For a while, anytime I got the chance to play the Scotch, I would as long as my opponent (being black) played the moves. If they did not follow the move order, I would just continue with something ...
12
votes
2answers
161 views
How can I train myself to become more observant of all my pieces?
This is always what gets me. I want to find a way to train myself to become more observant, and able to look at every piece that's about to murder me.
7
votes
1answer
143 views
Determining trusted chess sources?
When reading chess articles or watching videos online, my criteria for often determining if it is worth reading or watching is if it is made my someone with a FIDE title (IM, FM, GM, etc), but what ...
13
votes
4answers
284 views
How to recover from a blunder?
I have been in a situation where I have not been paying attention and suddenly I move my queen to an unprotected square and it is taken. My initial thought is:
Oh $*%! :)
But if the blunder is ...
7
votes
4answers
281 views
What thought process should one use to find candidate moves?
Do you have a thought process for finding candidate moves?
Once you find all possible candidate moves, how do you narrow it down to your final choice?
Regarding the process, do you have a ...
5
votes
2answers
113 views
What to consider before making a move?
What questions do you ask yourself before making a move?
Do you have a mental check-list that you go through before deciding on which move is the best move in the current position?
The move does not ...
7
votes
2answers
87 views
Teaching Endgame ideas to children
Looking for some advice and pointers on teaching young kids about endgame ideas. (Say for children ~8 years old). I am asking specifically re. my nephew, but I have seen this happen to other kids as ...
7
votes
1answer
188 views
Is it possible to get a professional degree in chess?
I am a software engineer by profession, and a chess enthusiast (around 1600 rated).
I would like to know is there any professional university certified course like Masters etc. in chess?
Can someone ...
