1. e4 c6 and against virtually any move other than 2. Nf3 black can transpose to a King’s Pawn Game.
TACTICAL ANALYSIS
King and Pawn Endgames #2 { K + 2P | K + P }
King and Pawn Endgames #1 { K + 2P | K }
optimal decision making in chess – part 6
Consider the following position with white to move.
optimal decision making in chess – part 5
Consider the following position with white to move.
optimal decision making in chess – part 4
Consider the following position with white to move.
optimal decision making in chess – part 3
Consider the following position with white to move. What is the best move?
optimal decision making in chess – Part 2
Consider the following position with white to move. What is the best move?
optimal decision making in chess – Part 1
Let’s examine the following position with white to move. What is the best move for white?
Before you laugh, hear me out and the point I’m trying to make!
napoleon opening (black’s perspective)
Today we consider the opening 1. e4 e5 2. Qf3. Most common now is either 2. … Nf6 or 2.
Italian game – move 3 options for black
In this post, we look at move 3 options for black after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4.
American defense (white’s perspective)
In this post we consider the American Defense, which is characterized by the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6.
a piece on every square of the d-file
This is from the game Moldovan (2447) vs Svetushkin (2542), Bucharest, 2003.
alapin’S opening (black’s perspective)
In this post we consider the Alapin Opening, characterized by 1. e4 e5 2. Ne2.
players who play non-standard openings
Consider openings such as 1. e4 e5 2. Ne2 or 1. e4 e5 2. Bb5 or 1. d4 d5 2.
totally reversed openings
Are you a master of the Sicilian Defense as black? What can you do if playing white? 1. c4 is
Endgame analysis
We’re going to analyze the following position. White to move.
French defense – crazy bishop variation
1. e4 e6 2. Bb5!? is the variation of the day.
Tactical Analysis 5
This is problem 156 from The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Memorizing Chess Positions
This is a position from the Achutti vs Teixeria, Rio de Janeiro, 2000. Take 60 seconds to study the position and then try to set it up on a board or on the computer from memory…
Strategy on the First Move
You may recognize this position. Suppose you are playing this position as white. What do you do? First, forget about your opening preparation and get focused on the game by…
Tactical Analysis 4
This is problem 24 from The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Overlooking Responses to Threats
It is easy to overlook critical responses to a threat. Having a disciplined approach for the assessment of possible responses can go a long way to ensure that you play your best…
Tactical Analysis 3
This position is based on problem 17 from The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Sasquatch? (Really??)
It is now 50 years since the famous Patterson-Gimlin film was shot, and yet no definitive evidence for sasquatch has been produced to date. The clock is still ticking. But that doesn’t matter…
Tactical Analysis 2
This is problem 3 in The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Tactical Analysis 1
This is problem 1 in The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Tactical Analysis
This is problem 671 in The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book: 1001 Original Chess Puzzles to Challenge All Standards of Player, from Beginner to Grandmaster, by John Emms…
Master Game Analysis, Suba vs Raicevic Part 2
We continue our analysis of the game Suba vs Raicevic, played in Bela Crkva in 1985. In the last post we focused on the last few moves of the game. Here we focus on the opening…
Master Game Analysis, Suba vs Raicevic Part 1
Below we analyze the game Suba vs Raicevic played in Bela Crkva in 1985. But first some thoughts I have about game analysis…
Counting Material Quickly
If you are in the midst of a chess game, you are very well aware of the material that is on the board. But when analyzing a position presented to you, whether it’s during a break in a tournament or while assessing a chess position in a book, it can be helpful to have a system to quickly count the material that is on the board. This may seem like a minor point, but it can save a second or two of time and reduces the risk that counting material will distract you from more important considerations…
Chess Tactics: Move Transpositions
Training the mind is essential in chess. You must instill all the mental habits that are necessary to ensure that you play at a consistent strength. One area for which training is needed is chess tactics. Chess tactics can be defined as sequences of forcing moves for which your opponent has only one or a few logical responses and any other legal moves will clearly be sub-optimal.