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 are some common tactics that arise when black has played h6?
What are some common tactics or ideas that arise when black has played h6 (or white has played h3) in front of his castled king?
An example I have in mind is, in this position, white can win a pawn ...
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Are all KQvK positions winnable if it's not stalemate and Black can't capture on current move?
Are all KQvK positions winnable if the position isn't in itself a stalemate and Black cannot capture on the current move?
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Should beginners learn some boring drawn games first?
I recently studied the game Aronian vs Caruana in the Sinquefield Cup 2016, and I was absolutely delighted ! Unlike most GM games, it made total sense to me. I understood why the pawns were moved, why ...
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King's Indian Attack - Middle game ideas
I've searched everywhere, however, I couldn't find what are ideas in KIA. I know about Neil McDonal "The King's Indian Attack: Move by Move" book. This book covers KIA against different openings. ...
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Best books on middlegame strategy?
What are the best works trying to systematically summarize all middlegame themes and strategies: e.g. space advantage, pawn structures, exposed king, minority attack, isolated pawn, hanging pawns, etc....
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How to play for a win with White without fighting for an opening advantage
I know that there are practical methods of playing for a win with White without bothering with an opening advantage. In Kasparov's multivolume work on his predecessors Bent Larsen is described as ...
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Advice on how to draw with White
I read opening books a lot and they are always focused on finding a way to draw for Black and finding a way for White to play for a win. This makes me wonder why people are not writing opening books ...
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Is it possible to be a good chess player without theory?
I would like to be a very flexible chess player as in never in a uncomfortable position unless I did something to deserve it such as a blunder. I've concluded that the only way to do this is to avoid ...
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Chess Logic - Tigran Petrosian's doctoral dissertation
I have recently learned that former chess world champion Tigran Petrosian earned a PhD title from Yerevan State University; the title of his dissertation title was Chess Logic.
I would like to read ...
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How does one become a theoretician?
What does it mean to be an opening theoretician, and how does one achieve this status? Does it imply that one should not be an active tournament player? Apart from opening theoreticians are there ...
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Please help me understand the f6 break in the French defense
I'm really struggling to understand this move to be honest. Even after carefully reading a similar question posted here, I still just don't get it and, more importantly, when it's good to play the f6 ...
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What does chess theory refer to?
I hear some people say certain players only win because they know/memorized a lot of theory? I don't know the "official" term for these types of players but it makes me concerned because hopefully I'm ...
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Learning chess theory
I have played a lot of chess in my childhood. And I'm quite a decent player as well. However I stopped playing for few years now. Only after I realized that there are lot of opening/middle/closing ...
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Non-losing strategy for white
If you modify chess so that white gets to make one extra move within the first 10 moves, is it possible to show there is a non-losing strategy for white?
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Queen's gambit continuation
I have reached this same position a number of times, what would be the most sound continuation for white?
[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
...
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What are good chess books of 2016?
I'm rated around 1582 blitz on lichess. My rating is much higher in classical ( around 1900). I have a USCF rating but it is still provisional and I don't think it really reflects my skill (also I'm ...
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Applying Techniques in Tutorials
To preface, I've played chess a while but am just beginning to take it seriously in regards to the studying past games and different techniques. Bear with me as my question is a bit conceptual...
The ...
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What are the best books on (A) General Theory, (B) Calculation Process/Improvement?
I will introduce my request by saying that up until fairly recently I was completely oblivious to chess despite practicing as a kid, I have a clear understanding of the FIDE rules but that's about it.
...
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Slav - Theory Heavy Book
I have come to the realization that studying opening theory is far and away my favorite aspect of chess.
That being said I am looking for a comprehensive theory heavy book on the Slav. I would like ...
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Is chess a solved game?
Chess is a zero-sum game of limited decisions. The number of possible moves at any given point, and the number of possible states of the board, are all finite.
Tic-Tac-Toe, is one of the easiest ...
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Probability of making a game-losing move as a function of Elo?
BlindKungFuMaster and I are having a debate (http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/34484/discussion-between-blindkungfumaster-and-jeff-y) and it got me wondering: Given any position that can be agreed ...
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How do I make my opening reportorie stronger, specifically my Grand Prix Attack against high level competition?
I saw the DVD Killer Grand Prix Attack from GM Gawain Jones. This helped a lot. However, I have some trouble with some concepts against 2 ...e6 lines. According to the DVD the second plan of the Grand ...
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What is the longest forced win with 3 to 6 pieces (ignoring 50 & 75 move rules)?
I am wondering, what endgame, with 3 to 6 pieces, has the longest checkmate with optimal play? Right now, the longest I'm aware of is the two knights versus one pawn endgame, which in certain ...
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How to learn e4 e5 as black?
I'm about 1800 FIDE and I wanted to incorporate e4 e5 to my repertoire as black, however, as soon as i started studying it, it became clear to me that its one of the most complex openings to prepare.
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King's Indian c5 against Samisch
I'm a 2000 Fide player and I played an interesting opening game last sunday.
It was a King's Indian Samisch (I was playing white) and my opponent played the c5 gambit. That was the first time I saw ...
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What are White's main ideas in the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez?
I was wondering what are the main ideas for White are in the exchange variation, Ruy Lopez opening.
[fen "r1bqkbnr/1pp2ppp/p1p5/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 5"]
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How do you study opening theory using Stockfish?
Any tips to be up to date with recent opening theory?
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Evans Gambit variation
The generally very useful and interesting book Bologan's Black Weapons suggests the following line as a practical way to meet the Evans Gambit.
[FEN ""]
[Title "Evans Gambit"]
[Startply "12"]
1. e4 ...
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Any reference material on the Franco-Benoni defense?
The Franco-Benoni defense is characterized by the black moves:
[fen ""]
[startply "4"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5
The books I've read on the French defense contain none or very little ...
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If there was perfect play from both sides, will it be draw or win for one?
If there was perfect play from both the colors, will white win because of the first move advantage or will it be a draw?
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Which are the ideas in the Van't Kruijs Opening?
In a game with a friend, he made a really unexpected move, e3:
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/4P3/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
Afterwards, when analysing the game I found its name is Van't Kruijs ...
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Beginners question: The double pawn
Question: Are there rules of thumb that every chess player should know about the double pawns?
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The exsistence of IBM’s Deep Blue
How would IBM’s Deep Blue fair against modern day champions like Carlsen? Was it decommissioned after Kasparov's game?
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What is the current theoretical state for the Chinese Dragon?
I use this line a lot, as it tends to lead to interesting games, and I was wondering whether any advances in theory have been made here.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6....
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In what cases is it good to play the Maroczy Bind in the Symmetrical English?
I'm thinking about playing the Maroczy Bind with White in the Symmetrical English (1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 - notice that I start with 1. Nf3).
But I don't know exactly in what cases I should play it.
So I ...
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Importance of memory in chess
I know that creativity and calculating skill are the paramount characteristics for chess success, with luck basically non-existent, but just how important is memory? I suppose that pattern ...
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What are the things that a 2000 player knows that a 1800 player doesn't know?
I'm stuck at 1600-1800 in chess.com. My rating fluctuates within that range. There must be something that I still don't understand that is already understood by a 1900-2000 player.
So I am asking for ...
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Against the Slow Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3, is the 4... a6 Chebanenko still good for Black?
Someone told me that:
Against the move order 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 or 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3, the move 4...a6 is averagely effective.
Against the move order 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3, the move 4...a6 is extremely ...
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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 ...
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What are all the possible combinations of openings which work well together? (like the Slav+Caro-Kann combo)
One well known very good combo is the Caro-Kann + the Slav:
The main objective of both of these openings is to develop the light-squared Bishop to f5 before it gets locked inside the Pawn chain.
They ...
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What are all the most common transpositions between the Caro-Kann Panov–Botvinnik Attack with 5...e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 and the Nimzo-Indian Defence?
I would like to know what are all the most frequent transpositions between the two following openings:
.
The Caro-Kann Panov–Botvinnik Attack with 5...e6 6. Nf3 Bb4:
[StartPly "12"]
[FEN ""]
...
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What is the disadvantage of the move 3. ..h6 in the Queen's Gambit Declined?
One of my opponents keep playing 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 h6!? against me. Thus avoiding the main lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined that start after the normal 3) ..Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 etc.
Is ...
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Is the Reversed Sicilian / King's English 1. c4 e5 more of a positional and quiet opening or a wild and tactical opening?
The only thing that deters me from playing 1. c4 followed by a Kingside Fianchetto is 1...e5 the Reversed Sicilian (also called the King's English).
I like quiet, positional, strategic and ...
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Why is it said that beginning with 1. Nf3 2. c4 avoids the Benoni but beginning with 1. d4 2. c4 does not?
I have read a lot of messages on different Forums about the merits of beginning with 1.Nf3 or beginning with 1.d4.
And a very big number of people said essentially this:
One of the advantages of ...
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Can the Nc3+e3 Chebanenko Slav, the Exchange Slav and the 4...Bg4 Slow Slav transpose into each other?
I would like to know if the following three variations can transpose into each other?
The Nc3+e3 Chebanenko Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6
The Exchange Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 ...
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In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6, what are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3?
In the Slav, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 :
What are all the differences between 4. Qc2 and 4. Qb3 ?
Which one of them is better to reach some Catalan type positions?
Which one of them tends ...
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When to push centrals pawns?
Lets consider you have e4 d4 pawns with white or e5,d5 with black. When your opponent challenge your center with e5 or d5 with black, or with e4 or d4 with white of course his pawns are protected. How ...
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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 ...
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"Breaking" crowded positions
White moves. Is there a systematic approach to tackling such crowded formations? I don't see an efficient way to progress, aside from charging to trade figures in order to thin the population.
[FEN "...
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How many possible positions are there in chess? [duplicate]
How many possible positions are there in chess? Please be exact.
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