All Questions
8,990
questions
4
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What is the time control for FIDE chess tournaments?
According to the FIDE Handbook (Time Control), the time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move.
I heard ...
6
votes
1
answer
429
views
For how long can lone bishop stop king, knight and pawn?
Recently I found quite surprising evaluations for me, especially in KNPP vs. KB, where the defending side could hold a draw just with waiting moves, not winning one of the pawns immediately. The h+f ...
4
votes
2
answers
217
views
Elimination of the knight: Direct or Indirect?
Between 18. Na2 and 18. Rac1, which is more favorable for white?
1
vote
1
answer
948
views
Difference between Swiss Manager Light and Full version?
I just realized that there are two versions of Swiss Manager. Does anyone know the difference?
3
votes
1
answer
764
views
Chess pairing program for double round robin
We have regular friendly matches in our chess club. So far we have used an older version of swiss manager for swiss and round robin; but today when we had to pair using double round robin format, I ...
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Misplaced King and Queen
Suppose the players misplace the position of King and Queen in a tournament game, what should the arbiter do according to the latest FIDE rules? Does the action depend on the time control/format of ...
0
votes
3
answers
981
views
Pawn promotion strategy
Why is it so important to KEEP a pawn from promoting if you have a piece situated so that when the pawn promotes your next move can be to capture it? Is this a matter of tempo? Frankly, once the pawn ...
6
votes
6
answers
799
views
Why does the computer want to undermine this pawn chain at the tip instead of at its root?
I had the following position with black in a game I recently played:
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pp1n1ppp/2p1p3/2Pp4/3P4/4PN2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 9 5"]
and proceeded with 5... e5
However, after the game ...
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is 1.d4 2.Nc3 3.Bf4 bad?
My usual way of opening as white is as follows, usually regardless of what my opponent plays (although there are exceptions and I do play some other openings):
d4. 2. Nc3 3. Bf4
However, I have ...
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Better opening than Ruy Lopez Exchange? [closed]
I currently use the Ruy Lopez Exchange (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6). Is there a simpler and/or better opening to use instead?
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
KN vs. KN: can I force my opponent to take my knight?
Position with KN vs KN aren't automatically drawn because checkmate is possible, even though it can't be forced; however, KN vs K is automatically drawn because checkmate isn't even possible with the ...
11
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Checkmate with King and Knight vs King and Knight
I just have a quick question. I was playing on chess.com and got into the following position:
[FEN "8/4n/6k1/8/K2/3N1/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
Now, I assumed that once we traded off the last pawns, the game ...
4
votes
3
answers
442
views
Attack Opening For White
I'm kinda new to chess and I'm trying to learn new openings that are aggressive.
I've used the Fried Liver attack many times. Are there any other opening(s) which are close to the Fried Liver attack ...
6
votes
1
answer
825
views
Three-fold repetition and null move
Added transposition table (this was tested alone and worked as expected), three fold repetition and null move pruning in my engine and wins more games but some of them end with three fold repetition ...
2
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is a good flexible opening for beginner with white?
After I learned the Sicilian, I started to love to play as black, while before it my win rate with white was bigger than black (as expected due to white first move advantage). When I learned Sicilian ...
12
votes
2
answers
428
views
Who is the youngest player to defeat a reigning World Chess Champion in a classical chess game?
A simple web search doesn't seem to readily give the answer to this question. Who is the youngest player to defeat a reigning World Chess Champion in a classical chess game?
7
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is a chess database used for?
I frequently see advice about how to learn chess that include links to databases, or how to set them up, or a question here about Analysis where the accepted answer says to just add some stuff to your ...
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is a good playstyle for players that are not good with deep calculations?
I have an opponent that knows nothing about formal chess stuff, no glossary, no openings, and so on...
And yet that opponent destroys me every time with some DEEEEEP calculating, sometimes 20 minutes ...
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Where to play with friend online with no need to register?
Is there some site where you can play with your friend with no need to either of players having account there? Just searching for way how to make online training sessions with various people, ...
5
votes
5
answers
408
views
Recover lost passion
Last year I played in a chess league in my city (Average of 1800 ELO). But I currently have a sense of boredom with chess in general. I have lost the passion for this game. Winning or losing don't ...
5
votes
3
answers
753
views
What is a more efficient thinking process?
I'm a bit of a perfectionist and strive to make the best move every game. As a result I think I expend too much brain power throughout the game and get burned out or overwhelmed by the possibilites, ...
7
votes
3
answers
505
views
Online chess leavers
I have encountered a profound number of players that simply leave the game when they realize they are losing/in difficult situation, without pressing "I resign" button. This often leaves me waiting a ...
-2
votes
1
answer
610
views
(Arena) How do I turn off highlighting of occupied squares under attack?
It seem to follow some scheme showing what is under attach and if it is a good trade. Specifially I don't want the red/green/yellow highlighting in the image below.
This is v1.1 for Linux.
2
votes
3
answers
620
views
Is this an Anderssen's mate or Opera mate?
Is this an Anderssen's mate or Opera mate?
According to Wikipedia, Opera mate uses losing's side pawn to restrict its own king. In this position, f7 fulfils that requirement.
But it also fits the ...
2
votes
1
answer
89
views
How to map file and rank to a square number in TSCP?
How can I map file and rank numbers (0-7) to a square number in Tom Kerrigan's Simple Chess Program?
I know how to do the conversion from square number to rank and file, but not the other way around.
4
votes
1
answer
301
views
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 ...
-2
votes
1
answer
525
views
How to add additional tags to an existing PGN?
Is there any software that would allow me to add additional PGN tags to existing PGN files?
For example, PGN tags like WhiteTeam etc.
6
votes
2
answers
262
views
Unable to understand why N.McDonald - A. Stromer (1991) is a draw and not a win
[Title "Black to move"]
[FEN "3k4/3r4/8/8/p7/8/4K3/1N6 w - - 0 1"]
1... 58. Kc7 59. Nc3
McDonald notes that if 59...a3, then "60 Nb5 wins it." I don't understand why this wins it. Can't the King ...
3
votes
2
answers
441
views
Potential Rating Gain if Only 20 OTB Games Per Year
Context: I'm returning to the game after more than 25 years away! I only got back into it because my 8-year old son joined his elementary school chess club. They all got accounts to chesskid.com. ...
15
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Getting rid of a chess addiction
How do I get rid of achess addiction? Both winning and losing just make me play more, and in the end, after many hours of play, I feel miserable.
5
votes
3
answers
624
views
What to play after 4.d3 in the Two Knights for Black
Against 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 I usually play the Two Knights Defense, but I don't really know what to play after 4.d3. I'm bored to death in the Giuoco Pianissimo (4...Bc5) and 4...Be7 is a bit dull....
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Outsmarting an intelligent copycat in the Ultrasymmetrical English
I used to be a fan of the English, but some ultrasymmetrical variations bugged me, especially if a lower rated player decided to play for a draw against me with them. There seemed to be a lot to ...
4
votes
2
answers
503
views
Is the expression 'fixing pawns' or 'fixed pawns' - a proper term to describe blockaded pawns?
I feel this 'fix' terminology may have come as a direct translation from Russian chess literature (so I see it used in Dvoretsky's books); is 'fixed' really a proper English term to describe pawns ...
8
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Looking for way to “punish” the d5 push after 1. d4 Nf6
All is said in the title. I find the move 2. d5 after 1. d4 Nf6 pretty annoying even if it's probably not a great move. What are suitable moves to "punish” this opening play? I will add that I am ...
6
votes
3
answers
500
views
Intention of two moves of Topalov vs Anand
What was the intention for the moves 23. ... Bb6 and 24. ... Bd7 ?
[FEN ""]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Topalov"]
[StartPly "45"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. Na3 ...
3
votes
1
answer
314
views
pgn-extract suppress output
I installed pgn-extract_17.38 and want to suppress the output of
$ FEN=$(echo "1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3. *" | pgn-extract -F)
Processing stdin
1 game matched out of 1.
I read about suppressing methods ...
2
votes
1
answer
70
views
What are the possible terms for interference in the bishop endgame?
In various positions in elementary bishop endgames, the stronger side tries to prevent the sacrifice of the bishop for the last remaining pawn by interposing the diagonal with the bishop. For example, ...
7
votes
2
answers
938
views
Is checkmate possible in knight vs knight pawnless endgame?
I see plenty of information stating that a Knight and King vs a King is a Draw because a mating position is not possible. I also see that it IS possible, no matter how unlikely, to acquire a mating ...
5
votes
4
answers
902
views
Have famous grandmasters ever been checkmated?
Whenever I watch chess games played by grandmasters, they usually resign far before reaching checkmate (often even before a forced checkmate occurs). However, I wonder if there are recent examples of ...
8
votes
3
answers
992
views
If both players simultaneously resign, what is the result of the game?
Let's say a tournament decides to have special consolation prizes for players who finish in the 20th, 30th, 40th, and 50th positions. It does this to give incentive to players to keep playing all ...
2
votes
1
answer
386
views
Chess GUI Java Swings code needs fixing [closed]
My Taken Pieces Panel clusters ugly with the pieces.
Here's my code :
class TakenPiecesPanel extends JPanel {
private final JPanel northPanel;
private final JPanel southPanel;
private final ...
6
votes
3
answers
802
views
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....
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What are the symptoms of a weak back rank?
In the search for answers beyond immediately threatening back rank mates. How early is it possible to spot that you'll have problems down the aisle, from a strategic perspective? What are the defining ...
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
In Sicilian Defense with pawn structure as in Scheveningen, what should black do when playing d5 does not look so good?
As black, I always play the Sicilian against e4. I personally like the Scheveningen system but to avoid the Keres Attack, I play a6 before e6:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. ...
3
votes
1
answer
513
views
What's the name of this set design?
I'm looking to buy a nice wooden set and board, something I've wanted for a long time. I have this Kasparov vs Karpov picture as my desktop background
and I love the set, but I can't find one quite ...
6
votes
2
answers
744
views
Resignation methodology [duplicate]
Is there a method to determine whether or not a player should continue playing, or resign?
I would currently consider myself a beginner at chess. So when for example I make a bad decision and lose a ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Games of Mikhail Tal under the influence of alcohol
It is commonly known that Mikhail Tal was an alcohol addict and also had a morphine addiction for a short time.
Are there any games where he played under the influence of drugs that affected his ...
6
votes
4
answers
3k
views
The genders of the pieces and pawns
Historically, what, if any, are the genders of the pieces and pawns? Is the king male and the queen female, etc? What about promoted pieces?
5
votes
3
answers
919
views
Why is pawn to c4 opening advantageous?
Why is pawn to c4 opening advantageous in the screenshot above?
10
votes
1
answer
399
views
Why are games more likely to last 60, 80 and 120 moves?
I've downloaded and parsed the king-base chess database (about 1.5 million games) and am looking at distribution of moves for games. When plotting the distribution for different outcomes, I see spikes ...