Questions tagged [strategy]
Questions relating to reasoning behind a move, plan, or idea
590
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Analysis of a position in order to find the best move
I am trying to learn to play chess, but it is not an easy task. I am playing as much as possible and try to watch games an reading in order to learn. I am playng on Chess.com, and a lot of times I ...
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3
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Analysis of a position of a low rated player in order to improve
I am a beginner in chess, and I am trying to learn how to play well. I am rated 800 in Chess.com, so I have a really low rating, and I am trying to improve it. I was playing a game and I have been in ...
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Carlsen beat a high ranking GM with 1 Nh3. Conclusions?
In 2018, Magnus Carlsen played a rapid game on chess.com against Grandmaster Aleksey Dreev in which his opening move was 1. Nh3.
[Title "Magnus Carlsen-Alexey Dreev, Pro Chess League, chess.com ...
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2
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Improving my skills is getting harder
I am new to chess and I am playng mostly online at sites like chess.com. Now I have a rate around 800, so it is still low, but my problem is that improving my skills is getting hard. The arrival to ...
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How to play vs the 1...e6 and 2...d6 Pawn structure?
I've noticed that sometimes beginners play 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d6 as Black.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d6
As strange as it may seem, I find it difficult to play vs this neglected defense. Is it better to ...
- 6,816
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2
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Is a wasted tempo with an early ...a6 or ...h6 by Black in the opening really compromising?
Is a wasted tempo in the opening for Black with an early ...a6 or ...h6 really dangerous? For example, in the following opening:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 a6 (or 3...h6)
Or in the following:
...
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Portisch-Radulov, Moscow 1977. Doesn't 16.c5 lose a pawn?
[title "Portisch-Radulov, Moscow 1977"]
[fen "2r2rk1/pb1n1ppp/1ppqp3/8/2PPQ3/1P3NP1/P4PBP/R2R2K1 w KQkq - 0 1"]
Doesn't 16.c5 just lose a pawn?
user20848
14
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Positional thinking by Grandmasters
How do Grandmasters think in an unknown position and make the best move?
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The move g5 in this position
I would like to know what is the reason why g5 is a necessary move for Black. I now see that what I played Bd7 is horrible as it hangs a pawn on d6 after Qb4.
I cannot see why I should weaken the f5 ...
- 2,227
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answers
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What are pros and cons around banning castling?
Vladimir Kramnik has proposed on chess.com that castling be banned for the good of the game.
What are the kinds of objective points that might be made for & against this idea? Based on these, do ...
- 11k
5
votes
2
answers
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Playing d5 in the Pirc defense
Two days ago, I played, a game as Black and after the analysis I was quite surprised to see that the computer suggested, in several moves throughtout the game, the move d5. In this position I think ...
- 2,227
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3
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Pawns pushes in the center
There are some situations in chess where a pawn push in the center is the most played move, and also the one suggested by engines. However this is not done for winning material, but just for trading ...
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Advance of d4 in the Ruy Lopez
I was White in this position, and Black had just played f6.
[FEN "r1bqkb1r/ppppn1pp/2n2p2/1B2p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 1"]
I played c3 to prepare a push of d4 and strike the center.
...
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2
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2
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Idea behind sacrifice pawn
I would like to know what compensation White gets after the pawn sacrifice 6. b4.
To me, giving back the pawn just for a tempo, i.e. Bb5, does not seem to be enough.
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1
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When should you trade to prevent castling?
The main question I have is about a game I played. What do I need to know about how to take a piece so that my opponent's king can no longer castle?
In the following game, I played Bxd2+ to do so. ...
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3
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Opening Moves: Pawn Chains and Countering Attacks
What is it called when your opponent opens with their pawns in a zigzag formation, leaving the front line defended by the back? (Pawn Chain) Also what is the best way to counter this move?
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Was this “caterpillar” strategy a good way to advance my pawns?
I recently played an endgame as Black in which I thought up a silly, but effective, to advance my doubled pawns. Here is the relevant part of the game.
[FEN "8/6p1/2p2kp1/1p1p4/p2P2K1/P1P5/1P6/8 ...
- 17.1k
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Why not 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5?
Why isn't 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5 a good move? It gains space in the center. As beginners we are told that after 1.d4, 1...d5 directly opposes White's ambitions in the center, stopping d4-d5 (similarly, in some ...
- 6,816
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Why is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 so unpopular?
Why is the Sicilian line with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 almost never played at any level, nor considered in books and similar? It seems logical to me, and after the usual 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7, the Bishop is ...
- 6,816
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votes
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Pushing the e-pawn
I am having trouble understanding why the move e5 which I played in the position below
is not correct according to Stockfish (6th move for White)
I am not doing this move by winning a tempo, but I ...
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1
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2
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What is the best continuation for White?
[FEN "4r3/pq3k2/1p4p1/2p1Qn1p/2PpN3/3P4/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 1"]
It is White to move the above position.
After Ng5 check, the Black king can go only to g8 or f8.
If the Black king goes to g8, they ...
- 233
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4
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Go for an isolated pawn
I am having trouble deciding whether I should allow getting an isolated by pushing d5. For instance, this is one of many such positions:
[FEN "rn1q1rk1/pp2bppp/2ppbn2/8/2PP4/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQK2R w ...
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When is it a good idea to capture the fianchettoed bishop?
According to Simon Williams, from 25:10 and forwards of this stream, his opponents attempt at capturing his fianchettoed bishop with a bishop and queen battery is not a good idea "in these types of ...
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5
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Is this position a forced win for Black after move 14?
In this Lichess game,
[FEN ""]
1.c4 e5 2.e4 d6 3.Nc3 Be6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5. d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 c5 8.Qd3 g6 9. Be2 Bg7 10.O-O Nh6 11.Re1 Ng4 12.Bxg4 Bxg4 13.e5 Bxe5 14.Nd5 Qh4 15. Nc7+ Kd7 16. ...
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How would you make a queenside pawn storm opening idea work?
I played a Lichess bullet game as Black in which I disregarded any opening theory because I just wanted to mount up a pawn storm on the queenside. Has anybody come across this idea? It seems to me ...
- 305
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2
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Guarding my seventh rank and a king walk assualt
A few weeks ago. I won a game as Black on lichess.com..
[FEN ""]
[startply "48"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bd3 c4 4. Be2 e6 5. d4 cxd3 6. Qxd3 Nc6 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. a3 Nf6 9. c4 Qxd3 10....
- 17.1k
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Conceptually, what makes the Sicilian opening sensible for black?
We all know the Sicilian as shown below, is one of the most famous and commonly employed openings in chess. But compared to the other replies, which tend to be more about fixing the center (such as e5,...
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The Game of the Century - why didn't Byrne take the rook after he forked Fischer?
I'm guessing that there's a pretty simple explanation for this, but I can't seem to see it.
[White "Donald Byrne"]
[Black "Robert James Fischer"]
[fen ""]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5....
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In a KP-K endgame, if the enemy king is in front of the pawn, is it always a draw?
In a KP-K endgame, if the enemy king is in front of the pawn, is it always a draw?
I've tried it in various positions, yet my opponent always is able to get in front somehow and promote the pawn.
I ...
- 5,754
0
votes
1
answer
167
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Hanging square and deflection tactic leading to a back rank checkmate
[FEN "2r1r1k1/5ppp/8/8/Q7/8/5PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
The important square of e8 square is hanging. It is hanging because if white can take that square it's checkmate. Is this a hanging square tactic?
...
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2
votes
2
answers
241
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Would a professional level player put their queen in danger of capture from the opposing queen with protection?
Every now and then I will move my queen into a position that puts it in position to be captured by the opposing queen. Sometimes my opponents takes it and I capture their queen immediately. Also, ...
- 47
3
votes
3
answers
746
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Novice - Capitalizing on players not knowing their openings?
I am a 1400-rated player currently working on my theory and understanding of openings.
I am good at learning lines, much more so than others at my rating. But I'm less sure on where/how to learn the ...
- 31
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3
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How to "bore your opponent to death"?
“The Caro-Kann has often been maligned for being dry and boring, played by those wishing to bore their opponents to death.” – IM (WGM) Jovanka Houska
Are there other defenses in which black can bore ...
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778
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Is it better to start without a queen or without any pawns?
I think that this question really can be answered rigorously with good analysis. It is opinion-based, but not completely since some results in this direction can be obtained, and strict and general ...
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3
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The difference between Rad1 and Rfd1
I've always wondered, what are the main tactical and strategic differences between Rad1 and Rfd1 (or Rad8 and Rfd8 as black)? I know it's a subtlety, but my guess is there are some common principles ...
- 1,230
3
votes
1
answer
283
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Short and long term plans in a closed game in the Sicilian Defense
Today, I have played a game as Black.
I reached this position, with Black to play:
The position, as you can see, is closed. The truth is that I had difficulty finding a plan here, considering the ...
- 2,227
3
votes
3
answers
314
views
Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4
What is White's plan & idea behind 12. Bd4 move?
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3
answers
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Why is c4 bad when playing the London against a King's Indian?
Recently I (rated ~1900 "classical" on Lichess) played the following opening:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Nbd2 d6 6.c4
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/ppp1ppbp/3p1np1/8/2PP1B2/4PN2/PP1N1PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - ...
- 702
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1
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Winning plan for black in this line of French Defense: Advance Variation Main Line
I play the French Defense as both white and black. I often play this line with black suggested by Korchnoi if I am not wrong. I have found a way to prevent the sudden b4, via Bd7 (if 8.Rb1 Bd7 9.b4 ...
user18196
-2
votes
2
answers
166
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Could playing in chess tournaments make you really good at chess?
This is essentially the same as my question https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/23207/could-being-given-unlimited-tries-to-correctly-answer-an-open-ended-question-be except that it's ...
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4
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459
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At what point does this mental trick stop working?
Sometimes, I'll be in a position where my opponent is threathening to do something and I cannot stop it. So, in response, I play a move that looks pretty dangerous and clever, but which I in fact have ...
- 139
1
vote
1
answer
135
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Need help with study plan
I am 1700-ish player and have too much time to play, and I didn't choose a study plan. I searched on the web about it, but no one has clearly defined study plan except chess.com and their study plan ...
- 868
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votes
6
answers
1k
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What is the best strategy for white in this position?
1n3r2/q4pbk/3p2pp/r1pPp3/1pB1P3/1P2BP2/2PQ2PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 1
I was white in the diagram position in an OTB game I played recently. However, I couldn't find a satisfactory plan. Playing f4 is always ...
- 1,230
4
votes
1
answer
412
views
What are some ideas for black in the Ruy Lopez when white plays an early d3?
If white plays an early d3 in the Ruy Lopez (presumably after c3 to give the light-squared bishop a retreat square) what are some ideas for black? I'm talking about those lines where white doesn't ...
- 515
6
votes
2
answers
581
views
Studying why Gardner's Minichess Variant is solved?
I recently came across an interesting article that proves Gardner's Minichess is solved (2013) and the theoretical result is a draw.
Might studying why Minichess is a theoretical draw help me better ...
- 459
6
votes
1
answer
196
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Comparing 9...a6 to 9...b6 in the Panov-Botvinnik Attack
This question is motivated by a recent LiChess game where I was black where I played the Caro-Kann and white played the Panov-Botvinnik Attack:
[fen ""]
[Site "https://lichess.org/J9cdDkL5"]
[Date "...
- 4,340
2
votes
1
answer
276
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Predicting color and opponent
Is there any way to predict, with some certainty, my next opponent and color for next round in a swiss tournement on chess-result:
http://chess-results.com/tnr406767.aspx?lan=1
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