Wow, that really is a fantastic price for that set. Thanks for the heads up.

Can someone help me understand a move here? In the following diagram, white played 24. Rb2. I couldn't figure out this move when going over the game, so I turned on Houdini but that didn't help. It likes this move significantly more than all others, but I can't figure out why. Could anyone shed some light on this for me?



Full game here if anyone is interested.

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=90074

Ra2 trapping the queen motif?

edit: ugh no

That was my first thought too, but I can't find the specific move order that makes the immediate Rb2 the best.

Good question!

Firstly, we have to establish the candidate moves for white. Yes, he can play something like Kg2, but it is clear that two most obvious candidate moves are Rb2 and Bd1. Both have the same idea of threatening the black queen, for which two things have to be done: 1) b3 pawn has to be defended and 2) the queen has to be attacked somehow.

Now, of course, white is not actually expecting to trap the queen, but he can use that threat to force black to retreat and thus reduce the tension on the queen side. Right?

So now we have to make a choice between Rb2 and Bd1. Let's look at Bd1 first.

Bd1 has only one purpose - to create a threat on the black queen. It doesn't achieve anything else and put's bishop in a lol-worthy position. Sadly for white, black can parry his threat with a simple Bc8, and then meet Rb2 with Ba6, right? So if we go through with this, what have we achieved? Nothing, only black has improved his position.

Rb2, on the other hand, is a useful move in general, not only because of the possible threat. White get's ready to fight for the a-file and overprotects some entry squares on the second rank. Simply speaking, the rook is better on b2 than it is on b1. Furthermore, it still forces black to react with Bc8, except in this case, there are no Bd1/Ba6 included, which very clearly favors white, since he now has an option of taking on e4 at his leisure, and also at threatening the c6 pawn a little bit.

In other words, if you play Bd1 first, you will be almost forced to play Rb2 second, else Bd1 doesn't make sense. But even if you continue with Rb2 after Bd1, white doesn't achieve anything. Therefore, it makes much more sense to start with Rb2, force him to react, and keep all your options available.

At least that's what I am getting out of it..

Wow, pretty much the best explanation of all time. That was awesome. Seriously, thank you. That all makes perfect sense. I feel like I should have to pay for that explanation haha

Just a heads up:the European Individual Championship started today. Round one started at 11:00 GMT, so it's already complete by now, but if you're looking for a good appetizer before the Candidate's Tournament this event should work nicely

http://www.chess.com/news/historic-m...ers-grave-4016

http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=521363538

lolwat

I'd like to play an otb chess960 game with my wife. Is there a good way to randomize the back row such that it satisfies all the criteria of 960? I'm not even positive I know all the stipulations. I suppose I could click on a random 960 game online and look to see what their start position was.

You can generate random Chess960 positions here: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/fischerandom.

I've never played Chess960 before. I tried to play a game with the computer. After each side's first move, the following position arose:

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. It would be funny to play a 960 otb tournament and find your position to be the standard chess position. I guess that is 959-1 odds against happening.

wat. how king jump. wat.

Ancient mongol chess.

(I hadn't disabled the opening book.)

Are you trying all forms of chess to be more proficient?

Made me think of this



http://www.chess.com/forum/view/ches...iant-chaturaji

A+

By the way, I'm surprised no one has given me a Wei Yi alert yet for the Chinese Individual Championships.

He entered the 12 player round robin seeded fourth, behind Ding Liren (the odds on favorite going into things), Yu Yangyi, and Hou Yifan. The field is 10 GMs, a 2501 IM, and a 2475 player, so no gimmes. Despite a loss to Yu Yangyi, he's nevertheless tied (with Yu) for first at 3.5/5. And Hou Yifan mixed things up by beating Ding Liren in this last round, getting herself back to 2.5/5 after a slow start.

It's no Candidate's Tournament, but it's still a pretty interesting event to keep an eye on.

I hope Hou Yifan hasn't peaked. We need more 2700+ female GMs.

"I'm a chess player, so that was a power move right there."
- Carmelo Anthony (of the NY Knicks) on the hiring of Phil Jackson

I got Melo as about intermediate strength, like 1600 ELO.

Phil Jackson is a reported chess player and I've heard rumors that he would play Kobe Bryant in chess when he coached the Lakers.

Lol @ Melo 1600 elo.

Lol @ lol

Lol @ lol @ lol

I've got Kobe over Melo. #kobesystem

I got Kobe also over Melo, prolly 1675 ELO

On second thought I got Melo as 1500 ELO.