Questions tagged [theory]
Theory commonly refers to the erudite study and the philosophy behind the moves in chess (like the opening or endgame theory), but this tag can also be used for questions about the theoretic study of the game itself.
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What is the theoretical maximal material difference of a dead draw which is not a stalemate?
I have noticed the following example, which should be a dead draw:
I am wondering what is the theoretical material difference of a dead draw which is not a stalemate? (I am not asking about agreed ...
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Daily chess self-training plan? [duplicate]
Here I am asking suggestions on plans to systematically improve one's chess skills. I am aware of questions such as this one, but I am seeking advice based on the following criteria:
I am willing to ...
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Is the queens gambit declined getting more popular than the slav?
Back when I used to study chess, like 10 years ago or so, all the text books and all the super GMs recommended either the slav or the semi slav against queens gambit, they said it's better than the ...
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What are unsolved problems in chess? [closed]
Are there any problems in chess that remain unsolved?
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Do someone found if there exists a ever winning side? [duplicate]
Have chess science advanced enough to determine if there is a a chess side that always win if both sides are given unlimited time to think for the next move?
Note the question Is not dumb as might ...
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What is the least number of knights needed to cover the entire board?
I’ve seen the solutions to the lowest amount of queens, bishops, and rooks are needed to cover an entire board, as in they can attack all squares and are the only type of piece on the board. What is ...
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What is the maximum number of en passants possible?
Out of curiosity, how many en passants can theoretically be done by both sides, and what is the fastest way to achieve that result?
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Do the King's side and Queen's side pieces have different values because of which square color they start on?
I wonder if the Bishop and Knight that start out on the same color square as the opponent's King, is worth more than it's twin on the other flank. And if that is of significance when making choices ...
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Would a chess game go on indefinitely if both players played the absolute best move each turn?
Just as the title says: Would a chess game go on indefinitely if both players played the absolute best move each turn? (assuming there is no draw) Or is it white that's going to win?
Is it even ...
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Why is the Ruy Lopez a sensible opening for white?
As an amateur, I prefer the Scotch game as opposed to Ruy Lopez, since I feel that White loses tempo and Black seems to gain tempo with queenside counterplay in the main line.
[title "Ruy Lopez"]
[...
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2 Knights against 1 pawn (endgame)
Why is it important to leave the opponent's pawn in this situation?
From over 7kk games only 426 ends with KNN against KP, of which 286 games (67.1%) is draw.
In the two knights endgame, how should ...
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Why isn't 3.e4 more popular in the QGA?
According to the chess.com DB, 3.e4 is the third most popular reply in the Queen's Gambit Accepted - but why isn't it the most popular by a long shot? Isn't the entire point to remove black's central ...
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Theory: Things NOT to do in a concrete opening
My sources of opening theory are mostly focuses on things to do in it, and some ideas about why.
What are good sources about things to avoid, and ideas that can't be developed in an opening?
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Feeling cramped in the Najdorf
I played this game recently at a tournament, and lost pretty decisively. I thought about it a bit, and I think it's representative of something that happens somewhat often in my games when I play the ...
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What is the longest variation analysed in opening theory? [closed]
There are many openings with long variations, more or less forced, in their body of theory which are recognized as playable by both sides : Marshall Attack and Schliemann Defense in the Ruy Lopez, ...
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Modern defense Benoni setup with Ne7
I saw a DVD with GM Roman Dzindzichashvili, where he recommended, when white avoids the Dzindzi-Indian by playing 3. e4, that black adopt a Benoni setup but with the important difference of playing ...
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Are there rules for categorising all pawn-only endgames into won/drawn/lost?
If a situation containing only pawns and kings is displayed is there a simple set of rules for determining if the position is won/drawn/lost?
I know for single pawn and double pawn endgames this is ...
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What is the longest proven forced win (including 50 & 75 move rules)?
What is the longest (currently discovered) number of moves for a forced mate position where players will use both the 50-move draw rule and the 3-fold repetition rule if it will help them avoid losing?...
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What is the theory behind Bishop's Opening, Philidor Counter-Attack?
What is the theory for this opening for black?
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6
I've started playing the Bishop's Opening because it is something ...
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Main Ideas behind Spanish Game, Cozio Defense
I've been practicing the Spanish Game so I can have better tournament results with it,
Spanish Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
Spanish Game, Cozio Defense
and I asked my friend to play the Cozio defense,
...
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Is preventing an opponent from castling considered an advantage?
All else being equal, if you have forced your opponent to move their king, thus preventing castling, would that be considered an advantage?
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Four player chess (team): is there some opening theory written somewhere?
I am an active player on four player team chess on chess.com (my Elo is currently 2095). I am planning to write something about theory of opening of this chess variant. Question is, do you know if ...
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What is zugzwang in chess?
What is the zugzwang? I have read this term in chess book but the term not much clear to me. Anyone know to to use this and what are the advantage of this?
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What are weak squares in chess; how can they help to mate another player? [closed]
I read this concept in a book but I didn't understand much about the concept. Can anybody explain this concept with an example?
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What is the maximum number of passed pawns in a position?
Something I have wondered about recently is the maximum number of passed pawns that is theoretically possible. What is the answer, and the fastest way to achieve that result?
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Formulating a Precise Definition of "Space" in Chess
Premise
I have always enjoyed playing recreational chess, so I know the basics and some general tactics / strategies. It was only recently though that I have gone more hardcore, so to speak, with my ...
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To what depth has chess been solved? [closed]
Starting from the starting position, how many moves deep have we analyzed the possible continuations?
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How do you 'calculate' compensation in chess
Here is another very difficult subject for me that I can't even begin to understand [ incidentally, although I've been playing chess for over 50 years, my current ELO rating is only 1300, hence these ...
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What is 'space' on a chessboard?
I know, I know, this sounds like a ridiculous question, but bear with me.
As an example of my lack of understanding, let's take the advanced variation of the French defense.
[title "Advanced ...
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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 ...
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1. c4 vs c3 Sicilian
I am a chess player ranked at around 1400. As white I play 1. e4 and am confident playing against most responses except for the Sicilian. I don't want to go into the main lines so I am studying the c3 ...
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In the Giuoco Piano, why is 4.0-0 currently so popular at top level?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O
In recent years, the move 4.O-O has taken over from 4.d3 almost entirely -- in my database of TWIC games, if I look at 2750+ games from the last ...
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Are certain tactics always good or does it really depend on the game?
I've recently joined chess.com at the suggestion from chess club.
Something I've always struggled to understand with chess is why certain moves are "good" and why others are "bad"
I got thinking ...
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Maximum number of pieces on board in dead position
It is possible in a chess game to have a dead position in which both players have all eight pawns, one bishop, and a king--20 pieces total. If the two players' pawns are interlocked in "zig-zag" ...
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Why is e6 "forced" in this position?
Larry Christiansen has played and analysed his four games against Chessmaster.
At the 8th move, he shows a different possible continuation and says that e6 (shown below) is forced for black. I don't ...
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Opening theory overlooking simple moves?
What is the most obvious move, (or simple sequence of moves) long overlooked by opening theory in the last 50 years or so, completely changing the evaluation of a well-known position?
EDIT: Well, I ...
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Possible chess positon after X ply?
I've started to code my own little engine recently and am now working on a perft function which simply sees how many moves there are.
Trying to get correct results I searched online for the correct ...
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Can White get a theoretical advantage against the Sveshnikov Sicilian in today's theory?
I'm looking for an opening expert or an experienced Sveshnikov player that knows the answer to this.
The Sveshnikov has been increasingly popular and it has also proven to be very good for draws. ...
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Can you recommend a dynamic, concrete, or easy-to-play line against the London System?
I hate playing against the London because it allows 800 FIDE rated players to survive for 50+ moves.
By the way, I play the Grunfeld against d4, the Sicilian Najdorf against e4, and the triangle ...
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Does rating increases in bulks or is it a steady increase?
I have been taking lessons from a coach since two months and I also played my first OTB tournament two months ago. Since then I have played around ten tournaments with an average of one or two ...
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Is triple check possible?
In my logic, triple check not possible. Because I assume there is a move with two pieces at once needed. The only move I know is castling. The King can not give a check.
So is triple check impossible?
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Why does KQ vs. KP (flank pawn) on 7th draw?
Silman mentions that King and Queen vs. King and pawn on the 7th rank wins, except when it's a flank or rook pawn (and the king is far away from the action, i.e. 6th rank).
The rook pawn case is ...
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Question about KIA?
Why is the KIA preferably played when black has already committed to e6? What's the purpose of spending an extra move (g3) to develop the bishop to g2? What are the general plans and strategy that ...
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Najdorf poisoned pawn with or without 7..h6 8 Bh4
In the Sicilian Najdorf poisoned pawn variation what is the difference between including the moves 7...h6 8 Bh4 (as many top players do) and not including them?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4....
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Chess as random process
Not sure whether this is more of a physics or a chess question.
Looking at the evaluation graph (computer evaluation vs. move number) of a game of chess, I realized that there are some similarities ...
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Meaning and origin of 'theory' in 'opening theory'
What precisely does 'opening theory' mean? Generally when I see the word 'theory', I'd expect a conceptual move away from the particular towards the universal. That is, I would expect 'opening theory' ...
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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 ...
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The strength of Smith-Morra gambit
I am a beginning player in chess.(~1300 on chess.com/blitz: 5 and 10 minutes) And I mostly like to attack and favor fully open positions to closed and defensive. In response to e4, when the opponent ...
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Is there a copy of Troitsky's analysis of KNN vs. KP online anywhere?
This is almost certainly public domain material by now (I believe it originates in a 1906 article), but I'm happy to buy it with or without Collection of Chess Studies if I can get it as a digital ...
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Would games played between two perfect players always end up on a draw? [duplicate]
Imagine a scenario where you have two perfect players (i.e. they can consider all the possibilities in a very short amount of time and they choose always the right movement).
If they decided to play ...
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