np, this is one of those little quirks that can take a while to figure out. Hope you enjoy the rest of the program.

YKW, you might be the person to ask. Anyone else should feel free to chime in. Why do more women (especially attractive women) seem to play competitive chess in Europe? Are Americans just dumber?

make it 3

Culture, Culture, Culture.

It's more tied into European countries' culture, that's why. (And thus more socially acceptable, desirable, etc.)

holla @ swingdoc

I'm a very very casual chess player. Most of my chess knowledge nowadays comes from watching curtains' blitz videos for the last 2+ years; I basically never play myself. That said, I played a chess game with an old buddy of mine, who is slightly more serious than I am (but not much), with a 3 day/move time control on some random site. Obviously I suck and get beaten in a quick and demoralising fashion. I was hoping some of you might take a look at the game and tell me where I went wrong and what I could have done differently. I thought I was doing reasonably fine for quite some time, until I completely missed Be2 and couldn't find anything which didn't have me lose horribly right away.



If there's an easier way to post this, I apologize in advance. Thanks for looking.

You fell for a standard opening trap in the Fried Liver. 5.Nxd5 is v dangerous to play, a better move for you is Na5. Nxf7 is isn't actually winning for white I think, but it requires very accurate defence from black to hold. Didn't see the rest of the game, but don't feel bad if you got creamed from there on, its pretty much inevitable in a <1800 game from that position.

Speaking of curtains blitz videos, I guess you have to pay to watch those now? Boooooooooo

I'm not so sure, but this sample line arrives at a drawish-looking endgame, but I'm no endgame expert.



Maybe white can magic some advantage at move 24. It looks drawn though. Maybe white has a better line in the middlegame, but this is the line the computer gives... Maybe 0-0 is better than playing d4...

Without firing up the engine, at first glance, I like White's position, it looks completely winning to me. e6 seems a must. Now time to study some more and then check with an engine.

Nevermind, I see it is black to move when setting it up. That changes everything. I would prefer blacks position after ...Bf5, but could go either way.

Those center pawns look like pretty tough guys

If black can pick up a pawn quickly and then sack a bishop for two of the centre pawns, as in the line the bot gave after the position shown, then I think it's a draw unless white's remaining centre pawn is more of a menace than black's qs pawns

Fabian: your friend played good, like Hack said you fell for an opening trap that is very very tough to defend unless you have prepared the line (and even then it's not easy). Play and post another game where you get out of the opening in one piece and you'll get better feedback.

Can someone better than me please explain why 32 bd4 wins here?
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1595439

Tons of discoveries. 32...h6 prevents a forced mate. After 33 Qf4 he has to sac the exchange or 34 Rg7 is crushing. I just looked quickly, have to get to class, so if I missed something or overlooked something just let me know!

Going to play my first serious tournament since January this weekend, yay Just a local 2-day open tournament, but some good players should be there so it should be fun. I miss playing tournaments so badly, I am very excited about this one hehe

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After 32.Bd4, white threatens Qg8+ Qxg8 Rxg8+ Kxg8 f7#.

32...h6 means that after 33. Qg8+ Qxg8 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 f7+ there's Kh7. White has not won in this position. I don't know who is better/worse, maybe it is white, but it is hard to calculate.

As HungryHippo said, after 33. Qf4, white threatens Rg7 with the idea of Qh6#, and if Bxg7 fxg7+ Kh7 (Kg8 Qxf7+ Kh7 g8=Q#) Qxf7 and white obviously wins. So yes, Rg7 would be crushing.

Otherwise, the line in the game is practically forced and after 43...Kh7, there's 44. Qc7+ Re7 45. Qxe7+ Bxe7 R2g7#.

So it's a completely forced win, basically.

Also in the final position, upon 42 ..Kh7 43 Rxf8 is fun.

Yep I didn't see Rg7#, that's quite nice

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1338705

I miss this Topalov

What an incredible game that was..

I rooted for him the whole way until he stopped being as interesting.
And in the Nxf7 theme:

Topalov vs Kramnik (1999)
Topalov vs Kramnik (2008)

But still, this one is just amazing: Topalov vs Kasparov (1996)

wow, those positions are like games played by some junior who has just discovered the idea of sacrificing material to attack the king, where you look at them and say "well the sacrifice probably isn't good here, you don't have enough other pieces to attack him with".

Yeah except these guys are like 2800. They could probably sacrifice the king and get awa....wait, maybe not

Of to round 1, wish me luck fellas.

Might put games up when I get back if the mood is right

Good luck, YKW! I'd like to see the games.