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1500 questions
43
votes
2 answers
I made an illegal move. What happens?
Especially in blitz or bullet games, it is possible that a player makes an illegal move, for example castles through check.
If the opponent does notice the illegal move, then as far as I know the first player is obliged to make a legal move with…
Armen Tsirunyan
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42
votes
1 answer
When was it possible for a player's king to be attacked by 3 of the opponent's pieces?
According to the current FIDE Laws of Chess:
3.9.1 The king is said to be 'in check' if it is attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces, even if such pieces are constrained
from moving to the square occupied by the king because they would…
Brian Towers
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42
votes
5 answers
Tournaments for adults only?
Are there any over-the-board tournaments open only to persons over 18?
Everywhere I go it's like a school field trip, more than half the players are from some elementary or middle school, all parents in tow. And as I am in the ~1600 rating range…
Duke Leto
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42
votes
12 answers
Is there any free software to automatically analyze and annotate games?
I'm looking for free software that automatically analyzes and annotates chess games (post-mortem), preferably marking blunders, suggesting good alternatives, pointing out missed tactics (forks, pins, skewers, removing the defender, etc.). Preferably…
Hugo Sereno Ferreira
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42
votes
8 answers
Do you say "good game" after a game in which your opponent played poorly?
Suppose you win a game in a noncompetitive way, when you know your opponent cannot feel good about his play. Maybe he dropped his queen early, to a simple tactic that should have been evident for a player of his level, for example.
Do you say "Good…
Eric Wilson
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42
votes
6 answers
What are the actions one can do against chess.com players who stop moving when they are in an objectively losing position and refuse to resign?
One of my opponents at chess.com just stopped moving after falling into objectively losing position, refused to resign, and made me wait for 20 minutes to claim a win by time.
I've recently resumed my online chess activity and I have experienced…
gdrt
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41
votes
15 answers
What is the worst opening move, and why?
Grouping of initial moves of a chess game are well known, though I've never seen analysis of the worst possible opening move, any thoughts? If so, please provide more than just a move, but the exact reason why such a move would be the worst assuming…
blunders
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39
votes
17 answers
Good openings for a beginner (for white)
I am a beginner in chess and I like to play some of my friends who are basically at the same level. Usually who wins is based on who makes that one amazing (and lucky) move and quite frankly I want to gain an edge over my friends. I have noticed…
OmnipresentAbsence
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39
votes
7 answers
When does the middlegame end and the endgame begin?
Is there any specific point where the middle-game ends and end-game begins? E.g. after x number of pieces are exchanged, or say 40 moves, etc.
Binoj Antony
- 3,371
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38
votes
10 answers
What openings are good for the repertoire of a tactical player?
I'm preparing an opening repertoire for a small "open tournament" that will take place in a few weeks.
I think I'm quite decent at tactical play, and I like situations that give me the initiative - that is, attacking; or counterattacking when my…
javatutorial
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38
votes
5 answers
What do modern chess players understand about the game that previous generations did not?
In an interview, Garry Kasparow stated that each generation of chess players knows more about the game than the previous one. He applies this thought concretely to the question of who is better - him or Magnus Carlsen. He seems to imply that Carlsen…
boot4life
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38
votes
3 answers
Is it bad etiquette to decline a draw offer when participating in a simul?
On LiChess, FM knightprince gave a simul where I participated (our game). I blundered a pawn played a pawn gambit, but managed to complicate things and won it back. Afterwards, the game would have led to a drawn endgame.
The FM offered a draw; I…
Rebecca J. Stones
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38
votes
2 answers
Why is there a 50-move rule and a 75-move rule?
Logically, if 75 moves have been played, 50 moves would've also been played. This sounds ridiculous. It is like saying "I would buy this book if it cost under $60 and it costs under $40". So, what is the logic behind that?
Wais Kamal
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38
votes
9 answers
How do I get a well-rounded understanding of chess openings?
So, it was inevitable. I am making progress in the middle-game. I understand positions better and my tactics continue to improve. My end games are still solid/superior for my skill level so I generally get better as the game goes on.
However, now my…
Jeff Davis
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37
votes
2 answers
Do strong players move their pieces with different relative frequencies than weak players?
This question is an offshoot of Ramon Snir's earlier one about how often different types of pieces get moved, on average, in a game of chess. My question:
Do the relative numbers of moves for the given types of pieces differ when one looks at the…
ETD
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