The Official Chess Thread (ICC / USCF)

[Ming the Merciless]

Yes, this thread is about chess.

Click HERE for the daily chess problem on ChiefsPlanet...d1=easy,d2=hard,d3=GOD MODE

**If you have any interest in learning Chess or Playing on the ChiefsPlanet team, should we make one....bump this thread or PM me**

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Pawnmower - Chess.com - handle = Pawnm0wer (a zero)
Msmith - yahoo chess - handle unknown
otherstar - chess.com - handle = otherstar

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Pawnm0wer
Rating: 1696

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www.chesstempo.com <---- free site to help you improve your tactics/thinking (puzzles)
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[Ming the Merciless]

Game 1 of Championship:

The younger Topalov just made a crushing move 24 Nxf6, tune in now to watch the devastation.
Broadcast finished

You can use this link to play through the game:

http://www.chess.com/news/anand-v-topalov-game-1-7312

(Go back to the beginning of the game and play through it move by move, move 24 by white is the crusher!)



(See previous post)

Game over

Game result - game 1
Topalov 1 Anand 0

Series Score

Topalov 1
Anand 0

[jAZ]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Basic Endgame puzzle

You have a winning endgame position, and have traded all your pieces off of the board, your King is in a better position..

Now it is your move and you must convert the win

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/dail...rt-for-the-win


Can you solve it?

Take away space with the king, keeping his king back. Sacrafice your center pawn, then take his right pawn and then his unprotected middle pawn.

Up 2 pawns + K to his 1P and K. Run down the board, trade for a Q and mate a few moves later.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by jAZ

Take away space with the king, keeping his king back. Sacrafice your center pawn, then take his right pawn and then his unprotected middle pawn.

Up 2 pawns + K to his 1P and K. Run down the board, trade for a Q and mate a few moves later.

Very nice explanation!!! Correct and +rep!!

This method of taking away space (putting one space in between your king and the enemy king with HIM to move) is called 'the opposition' and is kind of like a jedi using the force...

Nice explanation!

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Very nice explanation!!! Correct and +rep!!

This method of taking away space (putting one space in between your king and the enemy king with HIM to move) is called 'the opposition' and is kind of like a jedi using the force...

Nice explanation!

Sure, it works because you've made his king inactive, while activating your king. He'll knock off your e file pawn, but that will let u munch the a file pawn with your king ahead of the pawn. He can't stop it.

[teedubya]

Did someone say Chest?

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Did someone say Chest?

Ummmm....I only play that with girls. But, hey, if that floats your boat, who am I to criticize?

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

Sure, it works because you've made his king inactive, while activating your king. He'll knock off your e file pawn, but that will let u munch the a file pawn with your king ahead of the pawn. He can't stop it.

Yes, that is the point of the problem...it all starts with understanding opposition...call it 'activating the king and deactivating the opponent king' if you want to, but there already exists a term for this...and it is called opposition.

Here:

Opposition Fundamentals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFRNFh3eyuo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_%28chess%29

[otherstar]

Yep. Black was out of contention because his King was not centralized and active. When you get to the endgame with all of the pieces off the board (and only the K and Pawns left) you need to have your King active and close to the center of the board, or near your passed pawns. in this study. Shereshvesky's book Endgame Strategy has a wonderful chapter on that topic.

[JohnnyV13]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Yes, that is the point of the problem...it all starts with understanding opposition...call it 'activating the king and deactivating the opponent king' if you want to, but there already exists a term for this...and it is called opposition.

Here:

Opposition Fundamentals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFRNFh3eyuo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_%28chess%29

I understand opposition. I just don't see this as a pure opposition problem. You see that in a lot of king and pawn endgames where board geography determines if you can maintain the opposition, which ends up determining whether the pawn can score or not.

There are also a number of interesting zugzwang problems combined with opposition where you use a spare move to use zugzwang to break the king opposition.

Here, you also need to understand the rule of the square, which tells you that the passer you give your opponent cannot score. Its the pawn sacrifice that activates your king and gives white the central king position. If anything, this problem is better classed as a "breaking opposition" problem, b/c without the pawn sacrifice, this game is a draw.

[Ming the Merciless]

Never said it was a pure opposition problem, those are your words not mine. What I said was your phrase "'activating the king and deactivating the opponent king" (in that position) already had a term, and it is called opposition. Understanding opposition is the key to the 1st move to push the king back, to make the sacrifice possible. The sacrifice does not work without this.

I wasn't trying to 'classify' this as an opposition problem, I was only trying to explain the basic concept of opposition to beginners...Obviously you are not a beginner..

I don't really want to argue about such a minor point, mainly I just want have this here to share problems and help beginners. Not to argue about technicalities. There are (as you point out) several themes in that problem...which is why it is such a nice endgame problem! I guess the main reason I focus on the opposition, is that it is the 1st move and generally in King/Pawn endgames a hugely important factor.

(PS your avatar + your chess knowledge gets you a +rep....actually just your avatar wouldve been sufficient)

[Ming the Merciless]

Game 2 of Championship:

Anand came thundering back, had a dangerous passed pawn at the end...This allowed his king to be activated while Topalov's Rook was tied down to the defense of the pawn..Topalov resigned because Anand's King was going to munch a couple of pawns....while his Rook stood helpless defending and his king was still back home in his castle...sleeping..

Here is the game:


http://www.chess.com/news/anand-v-topalov-game-2-9604

Series Score (1st player w/6.5 score is clear winner)

Topalov 1
Anand 1

[Jenson71]

About two summers ago I got into chess with my girlfriend's brother. He would beat me all the time, and it would be an ugly slaughter, too. At least I always beat him in Jeopardy.

But anyway, I stopped playing since then, but I expect to get back into it, eventually.

Have you ever watched those yahoo people? They go so fast, I don't know what is going on.

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Have you ever watched those yahoo people? They go so fast, I don't know what is going on.

Yah, yahoo is a pretty good free place for chess. A lot of people there play fast (blitz games)..like 5 or 10 minutes per player. I bet if you played blitz enough you could probably compete with many of them (around 1000-1200)...it isnt that hard to get to 1000-1200 rating there. If you want, I will help you! With a few basics you can be beating the 1000 rated guys most of the time.

I like www.chesscube.com better though...(for a free site) it has a lot of features that I don't think yahoo has...(www.chessclub.com is still the best site I know of though, but it isn't free.

Playing fast games is VERY tough...I think you have hit the nail on the head...A lot of people (myself included) try to play fast (blitz) games when they first start out..Having plenty of time each move to be very careful and develop a good thought process is the key when you are starting..

For example:

1) What was my opponent's last move, what does it threaten (if anything), how can I ignore, counter-attack, or if I need to, defend against this threat.

2) If my opponent has no threat, do I have any threats...(tatcics or forced checks that lead to a gain of material)

3) If I have no threats, how can I make my pieces better and /or make my oppponent's pieces worse


etc..

This is a very simplified version of a thought process, but you are correct in that you cannot do all of these things properly when you play 5 or 10 minute chess (blitz).

Ironically the very best thing you can do for helping to play faster chess (which is fun!) is to learn to play slower chess. The better you get at playing solid slow chess, the better your fast games will be. I cant speak for yahoo, but you should be able to find 15-20 minute games on chesscube.com which I would say is the absolute MINIMUM any beginner should be playing...and you should be using all of your time (or very close to it) every game...

The site that I play my chess on (www.chessclub.com) has various clubs and groups which play slow games. one is called "Team 4545" which is 45 minute games with 45 seconds added every move. The other is called STC (slow time control) which plays slow games as well. In the USCF we play around 120 minutes (+5 seconds per move), which is a more classical time control..

Sorry for such a long winded post but I absolutely agree, playing slow chess is the way to go if you are looking to improve. If you are just wanting to have a little fun, playing blitz is MADLY addictive and a whole lot of fun..In fact I love playing blitz, and I have to FORCE myself not to hahahah...I do recommend trying it and practicing blitz from time to time, but the best way to get better at blitz is to play slow.

If you want to play some, try www.chesscube.com you can even play as a guest. Also, www.chessclub.com has a free week trial right now....

I'd be glad to help you if you want to practice or have someone look at your games..I am not that great, but even having someone a little better helping you is always a good thing!

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

The Chess World Championships

Click on the quote for background info...

It has been a bit Since I have posted in this thread so here goes:

Recap

Game 1: Topalov 1 0
Game 2: Anand 1 0
Game 3: Draw 1/2 1/2
Game 4: Anand 1 0


Series Score

Anand ------------- 2.5
Topalov -----------1.5


1st player to 6.5 wins the official Chess World Championship.



For more info click here:

http://www.anand-topalov.com/

[Ming the Merciless]

Here is a puzzle for anyone who wants to give it a shot:

http://www.chessvideos.tv/puzzle-176-Birnov1946.php