At the start of a chess game, White always makes the first move, followed by Black. This seemingly innocuous decision has been a subject of fascination among chess enthusiasts, scholars, and mathematicians. The question is whether this initial move bestows a tangible advantage upon White, influencing the outcome of the game.
Month: October 2023
Learn to play Nimzowitsch Gambit: The queen against the French
The Nimzowitsch Gambit is a daring and aggressive opening choice that aims to disrupt Black’s development, seize control of the center, and launch tactical attacks. Although it may not be a mainstream option, it provides an exciting alternative for players seeking unbalanced positions and tactical challenges.
Beginner: King and pawns vs. king and pawns – shouldering away
The shouldering away concept, specifically applicable in pawn endgames, involves positioning one’s king in a way that effectively “shoulders away” the opponent’s king, restricting its movement and seizing key squares.
Donald Byrne vs. Bobby Fischer: The Game of the Century
Although Byrne captured Fischer’s queen, the young prodigy more than made up for the loss by securing numerous other pieces in return. The game’s conclusion served as a remarkable exhibition of effective coordination among the remaining pieces, ultimately leading to a checkmate in a splendid display of skill and strategy.
Flagship Trap: Win with Ponziani Opening
Incorporating the Ponziani Opening into your repertoire can present unexpected challenges to your opponent, particularly when they are unfamiliar with potential pitfalls that may arise during the game. Allow me to share a specific example to illustrate this point.
How can you x-ray your opponent?
The x-ray tactic can be used in a variety of ways, and its effectiveness depends on the specific position and arrangement of the pieces on the chessboard. Skilled players often employ x-ray attacks as part of their tactical combinations and strategic plans.
Berolina Chess: Move your pawns diagonally
In Berolina chess, the initial arrangement mirrors that of traditional chess, except all pawns are treated as Berolina pawns. Let’s take a look at a sample game from our database.
Grotesque: Enjoy some extreme studies
A grotesque in chess refers to a problem or endgame study that presents an extremely improbable or impossible starting position. These positions often involve White engaging in combat with a significantly outnumbered black army. Grotesques are primarily designed to evoke amusement and are known for their humorous nature.
Learn to play Bongcloud … or rather not
The Bongcloud opening owes its inception to the online chess community, particularly on platforms like Lichess.org. It was popularized by streamers and content creators who sought to inject humor and unpredictability into their games. At its core, the Bongcloud opening challenges traditional chess principles in favor of a daring, uncalculated approach.
Bogdan Śliwa vs. David Bronstein: Immortal losing game
The Immortal Losing Game refers to a renowned chess match that took place in Gotha in 1957. It featured David Bronstein, a prominent Soviet grandmaster, and Bogdan Śliwa, an International Master from Poland.