Questions tagged [beginner]
Questions of interest to or relating to new players.
190
questions
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How Do Top Engines' Achieve Large Search Depth
Im new to programming chess engines. I have implemented a transposition table, search tree, and alpha-beta pruning, an can analyze ~80000 boards per second. However, even with alpha-beta search, when ...
- 21
2
votes
6
answers
454
views
Best practical chances after g5 forking knight and bishop
I am a beginner playing white and it's my turn to move. What is the best possible move in response to this fork?
[title "Game position after fork:"]
[fen "r1bqr1k1/ppp2p2/2n1pn1p/3p2p1/1b1P1N1B/...
- 145
3
votes
2
answers
724
views
How to analyse an endgame quickly?
I am a relatively new player (less than 1 year, ungraded) but I feel I have made good progress so far. I am playing competitively with players in the 1300-1500 region and would like to continue my ...
- 375
4
votes
5
answers
791
views
How do I respond to an arrogant beginner? [closed]
I played a skittles game (no clocks, arbiter etc.) against a beginner who did a lot of trash talking, which I didn't rise to. Here is an example of the conversation:
Beginner: I'm going to beat you ...
user1108
6
votes
9
answers
1k
views
Opening as a Beginner: Mainlines or Offbeaten path?
I am approximately 1500 OTB (Lichess Classical 1750, chess.com 1540, internal rating in my club ~1500), and of course I would like to improve. Work and family are demanding, so naturally I would like ...
- 539
2
votes
4
answers
717
views
Why is pawn to d3 the best move here?
Total beginner at chess. I am analyzing a game I played.
The computer says the blue line here is the best:
r1bqr1k1/pp5p/2nb1p2/2p5/Q1Pp2pN/1P4B1/P3BPPP/4RRK1 b - - 0 1
1... d3
(1... Kg7 2. Bxd6 ...
- 29
2
votes
2
answers
226
views
How should I analyse my game to get better?
I've been playing chess for a while, but very casually. I just joined a chess club and played my first tournament game. Not having used a chess clock before, or ever having had to record my moves ...
- 23
2
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What should a beginner focus on to improve his level?
I learned chess only about 1 month ago. Of course, my first game was terrible. After reading some tips I improved a little. Learning basics of few openings (like Spanish, Vienna and Urusov) increased ...
- 219
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Simple Openings for Beginners? [duplicate]
I'm a beginner and I don't know any openings - what are the best openings for beginners?
- 3
11
votes
5
answers
44k
views
Is there any good app for learning openings?
My great fail is that I cannot learn opening or initial play.
Normally I only play when I can connect to my mobile app (Chess Free on iOS), and play at a very low level (adjusted as a single bar), ...
- 213
6
votes
6
answers
1k
views
The London System
I'm rated on Chess.com in 1400 right now (elo). But sometimes my rating fluctuates between 1200 to 1500. As I searched on internet, I'm a beginner that is going to the intermediate level. Should I, as ...
0
votes
5
answers
291
views
What is the best opening for a beginner who wants few pieces on the board?
I am a beginner and someone who likes less pieces on board. I don't like complexity and have weak point for knights. My rating is 950 rn and has touched 1010 at best.
So far I have used the Stone ...
- 17
4
votes
3
answers
439
views
Attack Opening For White
I'm kinda new to chess and I'm trying to learn new openings that are aggressive.
I've used the Fried Liver attack many times. Are there any other opening(s) which are close to the Fried Liver attack ...
- 41
2
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is a good flexible opening for beginner with white?
After I learned the Sicilian, I started to love to play as black, while before it my win rate with white was bigger than black (as expected due to white first move advantage). When I learned Sicilian ...
- 406
7
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is a chess database used for?
I frequently see advice about how to learn chess that include links to databases, or how to set them up, or a question here about Analysis where the accepted answer says to just add some stuff to your ...
- 406
6
votes
3
answers
499
views
Intention of two moves of Topalov vs Anand
What was the intention for the moves 23. ... Bb6 and 24. ... Bd7 ?
[FEN ""]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Topalov"]
[StartPly "45"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. Na3 ...
- 163
6
votes
2
answers
744
views
Resignation methodology [duplicate]
Is there a method to determine whether or not a player should continue playing, or resign?
I would currently consider myself a beginner at chess. So when for example I make a bad decision and lose a ...
- 163
11
votes
3
answers
6k
views
How are the scores decided in Chess?
Consider the following pictures:
I would like to understand the following:
My understanding is that it depends on the opponent's move against our move. Am I right?
What is the minimum and maximum ...
user10872
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Strategic implications in this puzzle by S. Polgar/P. Truong
Usually chess puzzles at my level (beginner) have just one or two forced variations and a clear achievement, like a substantial material gain or checkmate. Once in a while, though, a puzzle leaves me ...
- 369
3
votes
6
answers
379
views
Which elements of chess are best to focus on for extended "crash course" learning?
I want to spend between 1-2 hours/week practicing chess. I know that my skill will be severely limited by the time constraint. However, within this time constraint, where would my time be best spent? ...
- 135
6
votes
6
answers
13k
views
Is the Scandinavian Defense a good opening for beginners?
Is the Scandinavian Defense a good opening for beginners?
I'm wondering this because I'm a beginner and I mainly try to do this opening.
31
votes
16
answers
11k
views
How to learn chess if you're still a 3-digit rating after a few years
I know how all the pieces move and I've learned about castling and en passant. But all I do is play online against other people and get wrecked because I don't know how to "play."
I make ...
- 411
8
votes
8
answers
2k
views
A first book for a chess beginner
I am thinking about getting my first chess book. After making a bit of research, people recommend to not worry about opening and endings and start with a primer on general strategy. That description ...
- 343
6
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How to deal with unorthodox players?
I am new to chess and know only a bit of opening theory and understand some general ideas like developing my pieces, threatening and controlling the center of the board, etc. but I struggle against ...
- 163
2
votes
2
answers
202
views
Should a beginner try to learn 1 specific opening in depth or is not the best use of time?
Or will it be better to learn 5 different openings at a lower detail level?
And what 1 or 5 openings would you then suggest?
- 557
9
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Does it make sense to use an online ELO-rating-test for a beginner as a monthly test tool in order to see my progress?
I'm almost a beginner in the chess world who at the moment only plays online and watch various chess lectures on youtube.
I'm thinking about using http://www.elometer.net/
on a monthly basis in ...
- 557
1
vote
3
answers
188
views
What are some beginner to advanced openings or variations I could use?
I’ve played chess for some time now, but I’ve really started to get into it these past few months. The thing I need help on is openings. I know about the different ones, and even attempted one or two ...
- 49
6
votes
4
answers
877
views
What are some resources for someone past beginner but whom is not yet intermediate?
I've been playing chess off and on for the better part of 15 years, however, I've never done it enough to count myself as any good at it. I'd like to get better, but intermediate guides go over my ...
- 163
5
votes
4
answers
295
views
Neither Attacking nor Defending?
I am a novice in chess. After about ten moves, I sometimes get into a situation where I am neither attacking nor defending and really can't figure out what my next move should be (that is I don't want ...
- 153
0
votes
2
answers
200
views
Help trying to invent a tactical chess opening
I need help!
I am trying to invent something out of my own imagination. But something isn't right... I am playing as white and I can't figure out why is it that I have the feeling about losing a pawn ...
-3
votes
4
answers
165
views
How do I get better with my strategy?
I don't know how to beat my grandpa, he's really good and I don't know if he's beatable. He's hardcore when it comes to chess.
10
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Which of these two endgame books?
I am a beginner (approximately 1400) seeking to improve my endgame technique. Which one of these books would you recommend as suitable for my strength and why?
100 Endgames you must know by Jesus de ...
- 539
3
votes
4
answers
287
views
How to continue in this game?
I saw the following position and was wondering how white should continue:
Should white exchange bishops?
Should white play a4 to protect the bishop?
Should white play c4 to protect the bishop and ...
- 16.7k
0
votes
1
answer
111
views
Becoming a pretty good chess player [duplicate]
First of all I am sorry if my English is not very good. I started to play chess some time ago. I want to start to play pretty good to have fun in tournaments but I have no idea how to create a plan of ...
3
votes
1
answer
202
views
What is the best way to document and archive my past games?
I am looking for more sophisticated solutions for documenting, archiving and analysing my past games. Right now I have a folder filled with PGN files. What systems have proved to work well?
- 33
-1
votes
3
answers
640
views
It is possible to mate enemy king if this would put your king in check? [duplicate]
When thinking about if you can do some move, you look if your king will be attacked. This would lead to a recursion, but actually dont, since you it doenst matter if this enemy piece would be able to ...
- 11
5
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Does chess improve our intelligence?
This is my first question in Chess, so I hope my question is simple.
I know about chess but I am not a regular player. But my friend told me that everyday play chess is good for your mind and also ...
- 159
5
votes
1
answer
246
views
Beginners question: Controlling the center
As a beginner I've been studying openings for center control.
I am having a hard time finding the next lessons and steps when I actually have the upper hand in the center. Now I realise I don't ...
- 145
5
votes
7
answers
943
views
Is playing stronger opponents useful as a beginner?
I have signed up to a chess website and there are very few people who are as bad as I am (rating around 800), so I have to resort to playing against people who are much better (1200+) and end up ...
- 179
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Running down the opponent's clock on purpose
Running out of time is a loss. Two players are both very low on time and quite far from a checkmate. What if one player makes some 'pointless' defensive moves to keep his clock running so that the ...
- 179
2
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Which piece should I move and where should I move it when playing against black in chess when I have the first move of the game?
What is the first piece I should move as a novice chess player when beginning the game on the white side as a defensive strategy?
user9143
3
votes
1
answer
309
views
Chess programs that mimic some amateurs
Is there such a thing as a chess program that at random times can vary it's strength of play between say a beginner and an expert? Or maybe a program that a certain random times makes subtle or ...
- 359
7
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How to make a self study plan to become a good chess player to play rated tournaments?
I am a programmer and a chess player who knows the moves and the basic rules but never played professionally. I am a complete novice. I tried in FICS and failed to win a single match. I was playing ...
- 173
6
votes
4
answers
8k
views
On a glass board, which squares are "white"?
I have a chessboard made of alternating frosted and clear glass pieces. I'm never sure how to orient the board. Which is the official "light color" to put in the lower right corner?
- 169
2
votes
5
answers
893
views
Programs to help beginners to practice Chess
I'm a beginner in chess and I want to get better at this game. I was wondering if there are some programs that help you to practice your game. For example: practicing the openings, that contains ...
- 121
3
votes
5
answers
460
views
What are quick and easy ways to learn, and what should i focus on
I've always loved chess, but never was really serieus about it. Lately I've picked up trying to get better and bringing up my game to a new level. I started playing online a lot and currently watching ...
- 37
3
votes
3
answers
410
views
Chess Tutorials for Beginners
I am a chess beginner but I have been playing the game for many years without being very serious about it. I would like to improve a bit now though but I am having difficulty with many of the sites.......
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
I am looking for a chess game on nintendo ds that is suitable for beginners
I am not a experienced player, just a beginner, I want a easier computer opponent that I can beat.
Through search engin I found below two game titles that emphasize the suitability for beginner, ...
- 131
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why do most beginners play this line agains the Caro-Kann?
Why do most beginners play this line against the Caro-Kann? 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 and 5. Nc3?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 AnyMove 5. Nc3
- 6,816
8
votes
4
answers
758
views
Beginner Chess Question: Bringing out my queen early?
Sometimes I bring my queen out early, however GMs say "Queen is vulnerable to attack and hinders development" I agree with that but most of the time I only bring it to f3 or around the 3rd-rank ex. b3/...
- 379