Questions tagged [chess]

Chess is one of the most popular two-player strategy games. It has survived centuries of strategical analysis and continues to thrive amongst players of all skills and ages.

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What is the "En passant" rule in chess?

How useful is that rule and how many times we can use that in one game? Under what conditions can the en passant rule be used? How often does it come up and is it a good idea to use it?
Chandresh's user avatar
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29 votes
7 answers
6k views

How important is memorizing chess openings in casual play?

I've played chess since I was kid and after much practice have become a decent player. I still though, have little strategy to my opening moves besides starting with a King's Pawn Game. I know ...
ICodeForCoffee's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
1k views

What factors should be considered before doubling pawns?

I know the basic strength of double pawns is that it may open up a rank for a rook, and that the weakness is that the pawns can no longer defend one another. Other than an obvious material advantage, ...
Bill the Lizard's user avatar
19 votes
3 answers
65k views

Restrictions around promoting a pawn

I have tried to read the Wikipedia article but it is too confusing on what the current accepted standard is. My questions are: If a pawn makes it to the last row can they stay as a pawn? If a pawn ...
going's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
7k views

What's the name of the move where the player swaps King and Rook/Castle in Chess? Why is this move important?

I'm a chess beginner, and I was wondering: why was this movement introduced to chess, and why is it important to the game?
Maniero's user avatar
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16 votes
4 answers
62k views

What are the standard time settings in chess

What are some of the most popular time limits for chess games? I'm looking for those used today as well as historically.
dteske's user avatar
  • 181
46 votes
8 answers
13k views

Is pawn promotion to rook or bishop something that is seen in play?

Reading What is the proper Algebraic Notation for a pawn being promoted? made me wonder whether pawn promotion to rook or bishop ever happens. The only time I can think this might happen is when ...
tttppp's user avatar
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43 votes
10 answers
16k views

What techniques should I use to teach my 5-year old to play chess?

The other night while playing checkers with my 5 year old, he told me that he wanted to make up a game using the checkerboard which had different pieces that could do different things. I told him that ...
Chris M's user avatar
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30 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is castling still done in the openings in modern chess?

I have read in a somewhat old book that castling was to be done as soon as possible, but some of my playing friends don't bother to do it in the opening. What's the modern usage?
asandroq's user avatar
  • 403
16 votes
5 answers
2k views

What is a positional game in chess?

What does it mean to have a positional game, or to play a positional game? What is the opposite?
Datoraki's user avatar
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15 votes
6 answers
11k views

When is it a good time to offer a draw in chess, and when should I accept one?

Professional players often offer draws in chess and accept them. While draws can be very common in professional play, they appear to be very rare in casual play. Naturally, if you're winning, ...
ICodeForCoffee's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
7k views

Can a single player have all nine potential queens in one game?

I would like to know whether it is possible to, in a single game, convert all eight pawns of one colour into queens while retaining the original queen. Presume that we are both playing chess ...
Chandresh's user avatar
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13 votes
2 answers
1k views

In Chess what is the Queens or Kings Indian?

In Chess what is the Queens or Kings Indian, and why might it be useful?
C. Ross's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
3k views

What is the name of the following chess opening? What are its pros and cons?

At some point, when I was young, I learned an opening that involves the following moves: possibly after moving queen's pawn to the centre (d4), move out king's knight to above the bishop (Nf3), move ...
thesunneversets's user avatar
10 votes
7 answers
5k views

Does anyone use the P-K4 type of chess notation anymore?

I have several chess books, all of which use the P-K4 type of notation rather than the e4 type. I am still more used to the older form, since those books were my first introduction to chess ...
Daniel's user avatar
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9 votes
4 answers
2k views

Dominant strategy in chess

Is there any proof ensuring there can be no dominant strategy for chess? By dominant strategy, I mean a way of playing that always works regardless what the opponent do.
Ahmet Bilal's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
14k views

What is the proper Algebraic Notation for a pawn being promoted?

Are you supposed to use an arrow → or not. Pe8→Q Pe8Q Where 'P' is the piece being moved (Pawn) , 'Q' is promotion to (Queen), 'e8' is the file ('e') and rank ('8')?
jimjim's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Developing Chess Game After 20 moves

Suppose I start out a chess game in this manner: http://goo.gl/reCxP From this advantage, I have a few questions: Which item should I sacrifice so I can gain better ground position? Should I advance ...
Brian Mains's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
602 views

What are good resources or techniques to improve one's offence or finishing game?

I'm a moderately skilled chess player; I can beat most casual players and survive quite a while against class A, expert, or master players. Unfortunately, virtually all of my skill is in control of ...
William Grobman's user avatar