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1500 questions
10
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5 answers
Relative value of chess pieces on queenside vs kingside
I've read a few variations on the relative value of chess pieces ( Q=9, R=5, N=3, B=3, P=1 ), but I've yet to encounter a variation in value according to the side of the board the piece is on. With regard to rooks, bishops and knights, might there…

James Tomasino
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Maximum number of ways to get out of check
What is the maximum number of legal moves in a legal position, given that the player is in check?
It's easy to see that 43 is an upper bound. Let's suppose the white K is in check along a diagonal by a Q or B (other cases are similar or easier).…

bof
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Why is Na5 not played in this line of the French Defense, Advance Variation?
I find Na5 a good resource for black in this line of the french, profiting from the fact that white's b-pawn is binned to the bishop. As far as I can understand this position with my limited chess, I find it a strong move, winning space on queenside…
user18196
10
votes
4 answers
Is White controlling this game?
Which side is in a better position here : white or black ? Is White controlling this game as all rook, knight, bishop, queen are in open position now ? What are the chances for black to come back ?
[fen…

USer345738380
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Openings in King of the Hill
As you probably know, "King of the hill" (KOTH) is a variant of chess where one can win either like in classical chess or by putting the king in the central squares, namely d4, e4, d5 and e5, by a legal move.
I would like to collect some…

Davide Giraudo
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3 answers
Is it OK to look at the list of played moves during the game to determine the status of the 50 move rule?
There are some positions in which you need to know how many moves have been played without pawn move or capture. For example:
[FEN "1R5K/8/8/8/8/8/7R/k7 w - - 98 1000"]
(1R5K/8/8/8/8/8/7R/k7 w - - 98 1000)
Here, white must play Ra2 or Rb1 to force…

boot4life
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3 answers
Tools for helping to learn openings by heart
Is there any tool that can help us learn openings by heart? I tried to use Fritz but without success.

user1389
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4 answers
Why does Lichess only tell me my "inaccuracies", "mistakes", and "blunders", and not e.g. my "brilliancies"?
A computer analysis of a game in Lichess lists your "inaccuracies", "mistakes", and "blunders". An example is below:
What I don't understand is why Lichess doesn't point out my good moves. It seems there is some inherent problem identifying…

Rebecca J. Stones
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4 answers
If 1. e4 c6 is considered as a sound defense for black, why is 1. c3 so rare?
At 365chess.com, 1.c3 is ranked as the 14th most common first move for white. If the Caro-Kann defense is considered as a sound defense, why is the Saragossa opening so rare for white? After all, white is preparing to play 2. d4 in the next move and…

Zuriel
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5 answers
Is it possible to castle with checkmate?
I am new to chess. Please answer this for me:
Is it possible to castle with checkmate?

Jethik
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4 answers
Is there a record for threefold repetition for when the claimed positions are the farthest apart, in terms of moves?
That’s one long question, so let’s break it down. Threefold repetition, as many know, is when a draw occurs, after the same position, with all piece types on the same square, all possible moves and rights are the same, happens three times in a game…

Rewan Demontay
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Is a "Strong King" handicap really as powerful as is claimed?
Wikipedia quotes an analysis by GM Harry Golombek (from Golombek’s Encyclopedia of Chess, Crown Publishers, 1977, p. 218. I do not have access to the source) where he lists possible handicaps, in order of increasing severity.
The last item in the…

Meni Rosenfeld
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Is there software that simulates the Tri-D or 3-D chess as seen in Star Trek?
I want to try this game without making/buying a board and it is easier to learn to play when the computer can prevent invalid moves. Does any software, preferably freeware, exist which simulates this flavor of chess?

Leonardo
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How to deal with time-control pressure?
I find myself frequently running into time trouble. Even though mentally it feels like I didn't use that much time, when I look at my clock it says otherwise. When this happens I start rushing to try and make up for 'lost time' with blunders soon to…

greatwolf
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Lichess Puzzle 82753: Can white win with a queen and two pawns vs. rook and four pawns?
Lichess puzzle 82753 involves a rook and pawn endgame where white sacrifices their rook to queen a pawn. The final position is the following (with black to move):
[FEN "2Q5/6p1/1K3pkp/8/8/4p3/r5PP/8 b - - 0 44"]
I'm not convinced white can win from…

Rebecca J. Stones
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