Fischer wanted to make chess more about being creative and talented, rather than just memorizing specific opening moves. He created a new form of chess where the starting position was random, which meant that players couldn’t rely on memorized moves to win. Instead, they had to come up with their own unique strategies from the very beginning.
Month: July 2023
Advanced: Checkmate with two knights
Ironically, even though a king accompanied by two knights cannot compel a checkmate against a single king, there are scenarios where this combination can successfully force checkmate against a king and other pieces. The additional material of the defending player allows for moves that obstruct the defending king from being stalemated.
Learn to play with English Rat 🐀 (the first emoji)
Some chess players excel in only a few particular openings and exclusively use them in their games, regardless of the circumstances. While this strategy allows them to become highly skilled in those specific openings and difficult to catch off guard in the early stages of a game, it also makes it easier for opponents to prepare for the match since they can anticipate which opening lines the player will use.
Perpetual Pursuit: Another way to secure a draw
Earlier, we discussed how perpetual check can be utilized as a tactical strategy to secure a draw in a seemingly dire situation. Nevertheless, it may not always be feasible to continually target the adversary’s king, particularly during endgames that lack major pieces (queens and rooks). Fortunately, a comparable approach called perpetual pursuit can be implemented if certain conditions are met.
French Defense: Sacrifice three pieces and win!
Whenever I come across a game that showcases a bold assault with numerous sacrifices, it brings me immense joy. Although the romantic period of chess has passed, I greatly admire any game that deviates from the norm. Today’s full analysis is dedicated to one of these tactical gems.
The shortest games of masters: Nobody’s perfect
What is the minimum duration of a chess game between grandmasters? Assuming pre-arranged draws and timeouts are excluded, it is unlikely for a game to end quickly, as top players are typically well-versed in opening theory. Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this rule. Here are three historical examples to illustrate.
Marshall Trap: Greek gift, decoy, fork … all is there
While Petrov’s Defense may not be among the most frequently used chess openings nowadays, it can still be encountered by White players from time to time. Therefore, it would be wise to familiarize oneself with the possible traps that may be lurking, in order to avoid falling victim to them due to negligence.
#14: Can you find the best move for White?
Black’s defense looks solid, and the pieces around the king formed pretty strong ramparts. Still,…
Grand Chess: It’s bigger and with two new pieces
After a span of twenty-one years, I finally discovered this remarkable variant and integrated it into BrainKing.com. I cannot recall if I reached out to Christian for authorization or if he contacted me first, but that is inconsequential now. Let us delve into what makes Grand Chess unique.
Learn to play Calabrese Countergambit: Pawns are strong!
The Calabrese Countergambit is a bold and aggressive opening in chess that is not commonly played at the highest levels of the game. Nevertheless, it can be a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled player who understands its intricacies and is comfortable with the risks it entails.