Questions tagged [opening]
Questions relating to the initial moves of the game and their aims
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What are some of the main ideas in the Grand Prix attack?
I was looking at ways to improve my game by making it more sharp and be able to attack the kingside as quickly as possible, and I found a move that looks interesting called the Grand Prix Attack in ...
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What is the best defense against the King's Indian Attack?
How can I break the King's Indian Attack? I think my h7 square is vulnerable to attack; what is the best way to break this strategy?
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Has AI changed opening theory, and if so, how?
Pre-AI, it's hard to imagine that opening moves had changed much. Following the birth of computer engines, has AI changed opening theory, and if so, how?
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What is the fastest way for a player to reach the stage where they are not opening with nonsense moves?
Assuming a player knows the rules, are there any free, one-player simulations that will rapidly teach a single player on their own how to move beyond opening with nonsense moves.
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What is the worst opening move, and why?
Grouping of initial moves of a chess game are well known, though I've never seen analysis of the worst possible opening move, any thoughts? If so, please provide more than just a move, but the exact ...
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Does 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6 have to be a bad opening?
There seems to be a pretty nifty attack for White after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 3.Nxe5 fxe5 4.Qh5+ g6 5.Qxe5+ Qe7 6.Qxh8
I've played as White with this opening several times, ...
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Why is the King's Gambit not played often?
I have observed that the King's Gambit is usually not played at international level. Is there any specific reason for this?
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How can I to hold on to the pawn plus for black in the Queen's Gambit Accepted?
A few years back I used to play with a player who always accepted the queens gambit pawn and used to hold on to it and sometimes win with the pawn plus.
Is there any specific variation that can be ...
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What is the best defense against Marshall Attack?
I have usually found the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez to be very potent and very hard to counter.
[fen ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5
Are ...
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What are examples of very aggressive openings?
One of my favorite openings is the King's Gambit. It is extremely aggressive, and makes for a sharp tactical game without sacrificing too much material. It isn't played much at the highest level at ...
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What proofs for refuted gambits are there?
I've stumbled upon this article a while ago, and I've also seen refutations for the Muzio Gambit (Joseph Kling & Bernard Horwitz - Chess Studies on Endings of Games). I'm wondering what other ...
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What are good openings to study to get more experienced players out of their comfort zone?
Sometimes I end up getting the opportunity to play a friendly game with someone who has played a lot more chess than I have; these games seem more fun and interesting for everyone (and I seem to end ...
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What strategies should I be thinking about at the beginning of the game?
In the middle and the end of a chess game, there are visible consequences to almost every move you can make, there are more constraints limiting what is logical to move, and it is fairly ...
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What is the best way to free your queen as soon as possible?
We can open games in many ways (any of the pawns or knights) and then go ahead with different strategies. The queen being the most important piece, I would like to get it out in the field without ...
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Opening with knight
I recently came across a game purportedly played by Napoleon (white) where he opened with 1. Nc3, and went on to win. I've never seen another game that did not open with a pawn. Does a knight opening ...
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What are the consequences of an early a6 in the Sicilian?
Once I encountered an opponent who used a very early a6 in his Sicilian Opening.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6
What could have been his objective with this move and how should I have have countered ...
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