Questions tagged [defense]
Questions dealing with how to defend against attack, and how to choose moves that are defensive in nature. Note 'defensive' does not mean passive.
48
questions
24
votes
9answers
6k views
Why struggle for a single pawn?
I've seen many chess games, where after a certain point, one side maneuvers their pieces (like doubling the rooks) to target a single point. Most of time it's a pawn on the wing and the other side ...
21
votes
9answers
12k views
When is castling needed?
I am a rookie in chess. I can't understand why castling is needed.
In what scenarios is castling useful?
11
votes
4answers
4k views
What are White's advantages against the Greco Defense?
After the first two moves of the Greco Defense
[fen ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6
what should White's agenda be? I see that the wikibook Chess Opening Theory suggests 3. Bc4, but it doesn't go into ...
10
votes
3answers
784 views
What are the setups/patterns useful in defence?
We have typical checkmating patterns (e.g. smothered mate). Similarly are there any standard setups/patterns useful specifically for defense?
I am not looking for standard tactics like pinning/...
10
votes
3answers
701 views
Prophylactic defenses
I'm a beginner and I haven't gotten into memorizing games. I don't like the idea of memorizing but now I think I have to learn a few to get to a higher level. Can someone give me a list of ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
Beginner Openings/Defenses to learn
What are good openings/defenses to study for both black and white for beginners. I've messed around with the sicilian defense and it is not bad, there's just so many variations and different types of ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Bughouse defense patterns
What defensive patterns and structures are used in Bughouse and Crazyhouse? I've heard that castling is rarely useful, but what should be done instead? My defensive play usually boils down to huddling ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Ways to improve defensive skills
Last night I played two OTB games with a friend of mine and in both games I reached decent, even winning positions. At some moment though I overlooked my king safety and blundered horribly, which lead ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
Are there known opening gambit lines for black in the French defence?
I play the French defence with both colours (white and black) and generally play any of the orthodox main line openings (there are many eg Advance, Exchange, Classical,Tarrasch etc giving rise to many ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Scandinavian Defence queen e5
I'm new to chess (around 1000), and I like to practice the Scandinavian defence. I started to check the theory related to it, and I've never seen a single source talking about this queen move after ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Which 20th century grandmster had the highest draw percentage in their career?
The title says it all. I am looking to learn and adopt a play style which does not necessarily win, but is typified as being incredibly difficult to actually win against, hence why I wish to know who ...
8
votes
1answer
203 views
Is 22..., Nf6 a good alternative move to accepting the rook sacrifice by 22..., Kxf7 in Yi's recent "Immortal Game"?
In his recent "Immortal Game" against Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Wei Yi initiated his king hunt with the move 22.Rxf7!! from this position
[FEN "3qr1k1/1b1rbp2/p2p2p1/1p1np3/4P3/P2BB2Q/1PP3PP/4RR1K w - - ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Flexibility over solidity? Defending against 1. e4
When defending against 1. e4, I'm a French Defense player. I enjoy the French Defense very much, and my win rate with it is fairly good. Lately, though, I've been wanting to explore new defenses, only ...
7
votes
5answers
540 views
White have an advantage with the first move [duplicate]
I am beginner in chess but in my mind one question overcome, Does white have an advantage with the first move?
7
votes
1answer
2k views
Should I play the Cozio defense deferred?
The Cozio defense to the Ruy Lopez:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nge7
4. O-O
The Cozio defense deferred:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nge7
The deferred variation speaks ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
How to improve king safety
I really wish to improve my chess skills a bit, albeit I am pretty sure that I do not want to become a grandmaster.
One of my problem is my king's safety. Chess is very different from some other ...
6
votes
4answers
508 views
How to know how good an opening/defense scores?
I play Philidor defense, Lolli attack, Fried Liver attack... Other people choose to play well known openings/defenses, so i decided to ask the following questions.
Everyone learns the Najdorf defense ...
6
votes
1answer
232 views
King's Indian defense follows to strange pawn wall
I found myself in this position as a Black, and it is Black's move. I was thinking to somehow engage on the king's side in the end due to a stopped attack on the queenside. However, I checked few ...
5
votes
8answers
1k views
Is this a good idea for starting the game?
Usually I am a defensive player. Because of this, a few years ago, I created an opening set of moves, where I moved every other pawn forward 1 space, starting with pawn a2. To be more specific, I ...
5
votes
4answers
276 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
267 views
When to play h5 (or h4 with white) in fianchettoed position for black
Imagine that we have this game
[FEN " "]
1.e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 bxa3 4. Bxa3 Nc6 5. Nf3 g6 6. d4 Bg7 7. h4
Do you play with Black in this case h5 or not? In my opinion, I rarely like to ...
5
votes
1answer
269 views
Is there really a checkmate after 1... Bxf5?
This puzzle on chesstempo caught my eye. We play as Black:
[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 0 1"]
1.Rgxg5
Note: the solution is not quite important here, so no large ...
5
votes
1answer
515 views
Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation?
Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation of the Sicilian Defense:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3
You very rarely see the Bd3 move played against any ...
4
votes
4answers
477 views
How should black react if white plays "defensively"?
I have heard that when White makes defensive moves, Black should take the center and be aggressive.
In such a case, is there a problem with Black making defensive moves too? Is that a bad idea?
4
votes
2answers
846 views
Positional chess understanding in the early game
As Black, when given a choice of taking the White's pawn, for what reason should I consider taking d5 pawn with e6 pawn? Wouldn't this open up the king's file and put it at risk of being attacked in ...
4
votes
3answers
829 views
Overprotection and prophylaxis
My understanding (and I may be wrong there) is that prophylaxis is a wider concept than overprotection, and so there are some prophylactic moves that don't have anything to do with overprotection (...
4
votes
5answers
403 views
How do strong players know opening ideas, plans, etc?
A scenario that already happened many times. "GM X" comes out with this new book on "Defense Y" and this book becomes an instant classic for its lucid, clear explanations of the Defense's main themes, ...
4
votes
3answers
567 views
Which book should one read if they want to play like Tigran Petrosian?
According to Wikipedia, the former world champion Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian has "almost impenetrable defensive playing style, which emphasized safety above all else".
Here defensive is by no ...
4
votes
2answers
259 views
Effective method to teach defense (I.E. opening as Black) to children
Specifically, Black is disadvantaged by always being one move behind. While being subject to this disadvantage, what is an effective method or exercise to teach children/beginners the following ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Online defensive tactics training problems?
I've been doing the tactics problems at jrobichess.com and shredderchess.com pretty regularly, and recently added chesstempo.com. I find I'm much better at attacking tactics than defensive tactics: ...
3
votes
2answers
682 views
How could I defend/attack in this situation?
How could I defend/attack in this situation? I feel that I'm in big trouble.
[FEN ""]
1.d4 Nf6
2.e4 Nxe4
3.Bc4 Nxf2
4.Kxf2 d5
5.Bxd5 Qxd5
6.Ke1 e5
7.dxe5 Qxe5+
8.Qe2 Bb4+
9.c3 Nc6
10....
3
votes
3answers
416 views
What are good defenses of black King with Bishop on f8 or g7?
As black, I like to return my dark square Bishop to the King after castling short. I want to develop my skills in defending that position. In what openings does it occur?
And how should one in ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Benoni setup defence
In the Benoni, there is a certain setup for White where there is a knight on g3, and a bishop on d3. White then starts a pawn storm with f4-f5, with a large attack. How am I meant to play against this ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Why does Black play Bh3+?
This puzzle on chesstempo caught my eye (we play as White):
[FEN "2b2rk/1p3ppp/r/p1p/3pP1Pq/1P1P/P3BPK/1RB1QR2 b - - 0 1"]
1. Bg4
I reckon Black needs to try skewering the rook with the ...
2
votes
2answers
598 views
Defensive strategy relying on a wall of pawns
I have been playing chess again for two or three months, after a period of about twenty years of interruption. In a game against a human adversary, I noticed that my opponent was taking the time to ...
2
votes
3answers
427 views
Can White defend and possibly win?
[FEN "1nkr2nr/pppp2pp/2b2p2/3q4/3P4/1NQ5/P1P2PPP/R1B1R1K1 w KQkq - 0 1"]
Can White possibly win in this position and avoid a queen mate on g2?
2
votes
4answers
937 views
How deep should I memorize lines of the Sicilian Dragon?
How deep should I memorize lines of the Sicilian Dragon?
1400s USCF
The Dragon seems to resonate with me the most, after looking at all the variations. Do I need to get a book on it, or can I get by ...
2
votes
3answers
234 views
What is the right defensive set-up for the King-Bishop_Rook trio in the diagrammed position?
It's Black's move in the diagram.
In a recent correspondence game I managed to win an exchange at a cost of weakening my kingside a little bit. In the diagrammed position the g-pawn is missing and ...
2
votes
3answers
334 views
Why is Ng5 a draw here?
Was shared a chess position and reached this position. I didn't understand why Ng5 is a draw. I analyzed h6 and h5 as responses but they fall to the same checkmating theme of rook checkmate on h8. ...
2
votes
0answers
67 views
I cannot for the life of me settle on some openings for black [closed]
I've started to pick chess back up after a few years where I wasn't playing. (~1750 rating) I can't figure out what to play as black against either d4 or e4
For a long time, I've been very happy with ...
1
vote
2answers
173 views
Moving pawns which are defending the king
Is f4 a good move here?
[Title ""]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2qk1nr/pbp3pp/1p2p/4b/4P/2N/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1"]
1. f4
On the one hand, many times you would move like this way to attack some ...
1
vote
2answers
879 views
Black opening sequence that is equally solid versus d4 and e4
Is there an opening sequence for black that is equally solid versus d4 and e4? Obviously you have to take into account white's subsequent moves, but the goal would be to have an opening where the ...
1
vote
1answer
250 views
What is this formation called?
I recently came across this formation at random. I vaguely remember reading about it around a decade ago. I want to know if this is a known play.
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/2NPPN2/PPPBBPPP/2RQKR2 w - - 0 1&...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
Most different openings by transpositions?
What sequence of opening moves can include most different named Openings or Defenses by transpositions?
For example, I just played a bullet game that went:
1.d4 e5 2. e4 d6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5.
In ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Is there a term for the position where two knights support one another? [duplicate]
Is there a term for the position where two knights support one another? I thought I might have seen such a term somewhere, but now I can't find it.
0
votes
1answer
3k views
Best black opening move for E4 [closed]
Can some one tell me which is the best opening move when white plays e4, read somewhere, to counter e4 Sicilian Defence is one of the best?
0
votes
1answer
119 views
Defensive Skils [duplicate]
I want to improve my chess defensive abilities.
If you have any recommendation, any suggestion, learning technique, study plans would be appreciated.
-2
votes
3answers
803 views
What next? I'm stuck!
Sorry if this question is waaay too long, but I just want professional chess players to know exactly what I think and help me. I'd appreciate it if anyone interested went through my question ...
