Evaluate the following position after ...Kxf5

A. Free rook!
B. White must force perpetual.
C. 1-0

I share this animation of a classic game with the group:

what's up with the king's knights

Without calculating any lines: I wouldn't touch that rook. It just looks too dangerous; I can't imagine Black survives this.

With calculating:


Retro question: What was White's last move? Rf1xPf5?

How did Black's king get to g6?

Yes, last move was Rf1xf5.




Qb3+ with the king on f7, met with Kf7-g6.

Here's a link to the game...it was an odd one. My opponent was happy to follow the play of some GM draw, and I think didn't realize how much worse Black's position was in that game.

White to move

Hero blundered Nb5
Looking for a move and evaluation

A White better
B Black better
C +/- <1.00
D Interesting need an engine



Help please

p.s. will post PGN of this Sicilian bit later if I need to find a blunder.

Either the position has an extra lightsquared bishop on the board for White (c4 and f5), or this was an extraordinarily bizarre game.

It's probably meant to be a Black bishop.

Ah, on f5. OK, that makes sense. In that case, [b] Black is better, starting with Bf4+.

Question from a beginner-type: When I'm looking at analysis of positions, I often see people talking about how one side or the other has/does not have good control of the light/dark squares, or how a particular move would strengthen/weaken said control. And most of the time I just cannot see it. It seems to me that I'm just not seeing the board in the right mindset or something.

Is there anything I can do about that, other than just staring at diagrams until it starts to click together?

I think it would help if you posted a specific example. Not that I don't get the question, but it helps to talk about it.

Agreed that an example would help, so just post the next one that comes to mind. One place I often see this discussed is in speaking about central pawn breaks, but I'm not sure whether that's what you mean...

Sorry for the extra bishop. Black has Bf5.

It was white's move.


I did not cover the potential Bf4+ ---> So I was wondering if there was a move to save the position.

start by examining the pawn structure. Look out for squares in your camp (your 4 ranks) that cannot be controlled by your pawns anymore. for example: You have pawns on c4 d3 e4. Now d4 is a dark-squared hole. If you have exchanged or lost your dark-squared bishop you might be in trouble on those squares.
Ideally you want to set up a pawn phalanx (pawns abreast of each other) in the centre to control all the squares. Or you want to have pawn chains (pawns protecting each other on same-coloured squares) and the pieces, most importantly the bishop, controlling the squares of the other colour.

1. Focus on the middle of the board.
2. get a classic called pawn power by Hans Kmoch (sp?). Lots of odds names for pawn types put will teach you the liberating pawn pushes you need for certain positions.
3. Tactics...ency of middle game positions by informant

I think you kind of have to wait for a certain progression of ideas to unfold in your mind.

First, you'll start noticing certain features like open files and diagonals a bit more, and begin to appreciate the tactical issues they can bring.

Then, you'll start noticing weak pawns and begin to get more comfortable targetting them.

Then, you'll notice a weak square where you can plop down a piece, and begin to appreciate what a piece can do on a nice, weak square.

Then, you'll notice that there's a weak square, but your opponent controls it at least equally, and you have to fight for it.

Then, you'll begin to notice how you can begin to manipulate the position to *create* weak squares and pawns.

Then, finally, you'll notice how entire color complexes can be weak and how that influences the game.

Blitz/bullet is about two things, openings and intuition. Regarding openings, if you get surprised during the opening in a 3/0 game, you're toast. You have no time to figure it out over the board and the opponent probably knows it better than you. And intuition is key in blitz games because thinking time is so limited. There's a reason the best classical players are the best blitz players. If you want to get better at blitz, get better at chess. All of the talk about time management and other blitz strategies are just window dressing.

New supertournament in norway 2013
http://www.vg.no/sport/artikkel.php?artid=10078033

Black's idea here with 12...O-O! followed by his 14th move (!!) is absolutely fantastic.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1508278

qf3 is fantastic is right

Playin my first serious tournament after long hiatus, Lithuanian Chess Champ Semifinal. Top 6 places get an invite to the final, a round robin tournament with some stronger GM's and IM's.

results, pairings and stuff : http://chess-results.com/tnr65669.aspx?art=2&rd=3&lan=1 (2318 FM = me)

live games should be somewhere in here starting tomorrow: www.chessfed.lt ---> Partijos GYVAI in the top right corner , or just live.chessfed.lt (doesn't seem to be up yet)

1 game per day, starting 5pm (GMT +2), so like 9am central US time. Board 1 with white against #1 seed tomorrow, wish me luck