All Questions
17 questions
2
votes
1
answer
445
views
What's the benefit to attacking f7 or f2 during the opening?
I remember a specific chess.com lesson on common openings, and it seems like one of the most common and safest openings is to take control of the center with the king and queen pawns and the attack ...
2
votes
4
answers
213
views
Trying to improve
I have a question hopefully someone can help me out.
3 days ago I won a tournament (25+5) semi-rapid section under 1450 OTB. I scored 5/5 beating some high rated players.
My rating OTB semi-rapid ...
- 249
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why does Black want to trade off their King's Bishop in many d4 lines?
I feel that in many lines starting with d4, such as the Queen's Gambit Declined, or especially the Nimzo-Indian, Black is more than happy to trade their King's Bishop for White's knight on c3. For ...
- 293
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Examples of harmony?
Recently my chess tutor used a word which in hindsight is very interesting: harmony. He mentioned I should not just develop my pieces in the opening, but develop them harmoniously. Since then, I've ...
- 1,127
4
votes
3
answers
515
views
Which type of openings generally lead their users not to waste much time on the clock: sharp/aggressive/tactical or positional/solid/quiet openings?
I’m only asking this question out of curiosity. The answers I’ll get won’t make me change my opening repertoire.
OTB which type of openings generally lead their users not to waste too much time on ...
- 4,944
12
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Equalize - What does it really mean?
We often read or hear in books or video tutorials the following: "With this move, Black can equalize!". Some authors give 15-move or 20-move variations of some openings (e.g. Caro-Kann, Slav, Semi-...
- 1,129
9
votes
7
answers
3k
views
For Black, against the Caro-Kann Advance Shirov variation 4. Nc3 which move tends to lead to the most positional, slow, solid and strategic positions?
I'm a 1800 Elo player that likes positional, quiet, drawish, slow, boring and strategic openings.
As Black against 1. e4 I play the Caro-Kann. But there is one variation of the Caro-Kann that I ...
- 4,944
4
votes
1
answer
489
views
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack 5... e6 6. Nf3, what are the differences between 6... Be7 and 6... Bb4 ? Which one is more solid and quiet?
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack 5... e6 6. Nf3, I am hesitating between 6... Be7 and 6... Bb4
[StartPly "11"]
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 (6.....
- 4,944
8
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What are some good books on the Caro-Kann which propose a Black repertoire based on positional, strategic, solid, boring and quiet variations?
I'm a 1750 Elo player, and 6 months ago I bought the book Grandmaster Repertoire: The Caro-Kann by Lars Schandorff, and I was disappointed.
In my opinion, the repertoire proposed in the book is too ...
- 4,944
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
In the Classical Variation of the Caro-Kann, what is the most positional, strategic, quiet, slow, closed, boring, dry and solid variation for Black?
I am not sure what to play as Black in the Classical Variation of the Caro-Kann, after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3
[...
- 4,944
4
votes
1
answer
494
views
In the Delayed Open Catalan, what is the best move after 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5 Qc7 9. Nxc4 Rd8?
I'm building my White repertoire.
After 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5 Qc7 9. Nxc4 Rd8 we reach the following position:
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/...
- 4,944
6
votes
2
answers
3k
views
For White, which variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined tends to lead to the most solid, positional, slow, closed, quiet and strategic positions?
I am a 1750 Elo player with a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.
I would like to know which variation I should play when, as White, I face the Queen's Gambit Declined.
The variation ...
- 4,944
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack which move tends to lead to the most solid, positional, slow, closed, and quiet positions: 5... e6, Nc6 or g6?
In the Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik Attack, after 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3, which move tends to lead (on average) to the most solid, positional, slow, closed, quiet and strategic ...
- 4,944
10
votes
4
answers
6k
views
For White, which variation of the King's Indian Defence tends to lead to the most solid, positional, slow, strategic, quiet and closed positions?
I am a 1750 Elo player with a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.
I would like to know which variation I should play when, as White, I face the King's Indian Defence: 1...Nf6 2...g6
...
- 4,944
4
votes
5
answers
4k
views
As Black, against 1. d4, what opening would you recommend me which is solid, positional, slow, strategic, quiet, closed, and similar to the Caro-Kann?
I'm a 1750 Elo player. I have a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.
As White I play 1. d4, but I plan to also learn 1. Nf3 soon. As Black against 1. e4 I play the Caro-Kann.
I would ...
- 4,944
11
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Which side should I castle if I have opportunity to castle on both sides?
It's a little bit confusing for me to make good decisions when I have opportunity to castle on both sides.
Can somebody explain what are the factors should be considered if we have opportunity to ...
- 543
23
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What are white's plans in this Scotch Gambit position?
I'll skip the long explanation, but it's not uncommon for me to reach the following position as White out of the opening:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.O-O cxb2 Bxb2
(...
- 3,139