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1500 questions
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4 answers

Why is castling through and out of check prohibited?

Why is castling disallowed when the king is in check or when the square the rook will be placed on is under attack? What is the rationale behind this ruling?
Alexandros
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27
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16 answers

Is it ethical to tell your opponent how you are going to checkmate them?

I play online chess at 3 days per move. I like to tell my opponents how I'm going to checkmate them if they will never win. That way, that I won't waste time continuing the game. I also like to be told if I will be mated for the same reason. The…
Lynob
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2 answers

Are there any moves that humans agree are best which engines cannot see?

Are there any moves from real, preferably reasonably well known games which humans agree are great moves, but which engines cannot see, or, at least, think are weak/average? Here is an example that I know of (although probably not a great example)…
stevec
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27
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5 answers

Are chess players getting better, given the same rating?

Chess ratings are a relative thing at a particular time, just like boxing. It is not absolute, compared to weightlifting for example, in which the records keep getting broken. How would say a 1700 rated player of say 50 years ago who is no longer…
Autistic
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27
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1 answer

Is there a website that supports blind chess?

I am a blind chess player and desperately need a platform that I can play online. I've searched the web and the only thing that I could find is software that you have to download in order for this feature to be supported. I don't like to go for…
user26887
27
votes
6 answers

Why is this a checkmate?

I'm new to chess and I'm confused about a puzzle I was practicing. As you can see my black queen has put the white king in check, but I'm confused how this is possible if a rook is right next to my queen and could capture me next turn. Am I missing…
Sandrine Lorin
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27
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3 answers

On an infinite board, which pieces are needed to checkmate?

Most of the winnable endgames require cornering the opposing king to checkmate, often using zugzwang. However, if you have an infinite board (infinite in every direction), you won't be able to corner the opposing king as easily, as they will be able…
Saat
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27
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10 answers

Why struggle for a single pawn?

I've seen many chess games, where after a certain point, one side maneuvers their pieces (like doubling the rooks) to target a single point. Most of the time it's a pawn on the wing and the other side tries to defend their pawn. But why struggle for…
bretlee
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27
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4 answers

Has a woman ever defeated a reigning undisputed World Chess Champion in classical chess?

I know that the great Judit Polgar defeated Kasparov, but he was no longer World Champion at that point. She defeated Anand, but he was not yet World Champion at that point. She defeated Kasimdzhanov, but his championship wasn't undisputed because…
Phil Winter
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27
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3 answers

What is the worst opening move in Chess960 for White?

Is there a first move for white in Chess960 in which white can immediately blunder a piece or lose a significant advantage (say -2.0 or so)?
kevin jumbo
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27
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6 answers

"Chess is 90% tactics" - should a player focus more on tactics in order to improve?

The following quote has been attributed to many chess masters; "Chess is 90% tactics" - from Teichmann to Capablanca. It has also been said that 90% of the games are decided on tactics and tactics are the foundation of positional play. And many…
Phemelo Khetho
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From the start of the game what is the longest possible series of consecutive white moves where white can do those moves no matter what black does?

From the start of the game what is the longest possible series of consecutive white moves where white can do those moves no matter what black does? So I want the longest list of moves white can do after starting the game no matter what moves black…
minoret
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7 answers

What are the reasons why I should not try to take a Knight with my Bishop if it'll result in doubled pawns?

For instance, in the Ruy Lopez, after [FEN ""] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 why shouldn't I take the Knight? 4 Bxc6 dxc6 Now Black has a doubled pawn. It isn't a very popular line of play, which is why I think I shouldn't play it; but as to…
Daniel
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Can a knight move through all squares from its original position?

I'm so confused about this. I googled it and read about knight's tours, however they all start from illegitimate positions. I want to know if a knight can move through all squares from its original position (e.g. b8, g8, b1, and g1).
Huy Mai
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27
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8 answers

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?
b3ko
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