Chess

[michigancat]

I've been playing a little online chess lately, and want to get better, but I hate trying to figure out the tactics with all the stupid numbers and letters:


WTF Example:

    * King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4
    * Queen's Gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4

    This is the most played "gambit", but it is technically not a gambit since white can guarantee the recovery of his pawn (most simply 2. ..dxc4 3. Qa4+, but usually more subtle lines).

    * Evans Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
    * Rousseau Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5
    * Smith-Morra Gambit: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 intending 2. ..cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3
    * Two Knights Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 with 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 likely to follow.
    * Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (BDG): 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 followed by 4.f3
    * From's Gambit: 1.f4 e5
    * Staunton Gambit: 1.d4 f5 2.e4
    * Budapest Gambit: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
    * Scotch Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4
    * Latvian Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5
    * Blackburne Shilling Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!

    This is not a true gambit by Black, since after 4.Nxe5!? Qg5! Black wins material. White can (and from this position should) play a gambit himself with 5.Bxf7+! Ke7 6.0-0! Qxe5 7.Bxg8 Rxg8 8.c3 Nc6 9.d4, when White's two pawns and rolling pawn center, combined with Black's misplaced king, give White strong compensation for the sacrificed bishop.

    * Elephant Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!?
    * Englund Gambit: 1.d4 e5?!
    * Italian Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4
    * Fried Liver Attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7
    * Albin Counter-Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5

Will I get any better if I just practice?

[ECN]

i used to be scared of you.

[TheShocker]

I've been playing a little online chess lately, and want to get better, but I hate trying to figure out the tactics with all the stupid numbers and letters:


WTF Example:

    * King's Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4
    * Queen's Gambit: 1.d4 d5 2.c4

    This is the most played "gambit", but it is technically not a gambit since white can guarantee the recovery of his pawn (most simply 2. ..dxc4 3. Qa4+, but usually more subtle lines).

    * Evans Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
    * Rousseau Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5
    * Smith-Morra Gambit: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 intending 2. ..cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3
    * Two Knights Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 with 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 likely to follow.
    * Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (BDG): 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 followed by 4.f3
    * From's Gambit: 1.f4 e5
    * Staunton Gambit: 1.d4 f5 2.e4
    * Budapest Gambit: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
    * Scotch Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4
    * Latvian Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5
    * Blackburne Shilling Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4?!

    This is not a true gambit by Black, since after 4.Nxe5!? Qg5! Black wins material. White can (and from this position should) play a gambit himself with 5.Bxf7+! Ke7 6.0-0! Qxe5 7.Bxg8 Rxg8 8.c3 Nc6 9.d4, when White's two pawns and rolling pawn center, combined with Black's misplaced king, give White strong compensation for the sacrificed bishop.

    * Elephant Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!?
    * Englund Gambit: 1.d4 e5?!
    * Italian Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4
    * Fried Liver Attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7
    * Albin Counter-Gambit 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5

Will I get any better if I just practice?

Just play like a complete maniac. Go in with mindset of crazy arabian suicide bomber. All the little nerds trying to follow their chess strategy guides will be completely thrown and they won't know what hit them.

[TheShocker]

i used to be scared of you.

You should be answering my video question. Quit slacking.

http://www.ksufans.com/forums/index.php?topic=14643.0

[michigancat]

Thanks for the help, dickwads.

[kougar24]

I suck ass at chess, sorry. My buddy once beat me in 6 moves. Granted, he ended up going to Princeton on a full-ride, but still. I suck.

[fatty fat fat]

both will help. practice better imo.

[michigancat]

both will help. practice better imo.

thx and god bless.

[asava]

Thanks for the help, dickwads.

practice. but i do find it helpful to read about the different types of offenses and defenses. it is a highly complex game, that i am not smart enough to completely understand, let alone play well. keep practicing. start thinking 3 or 4 moves ahead, and then just keep adding to that number when you get comfortable. i can't claim to be any sort of expert or anything close to it. i haven't played in like 2 years and i have really forgotten everything.

good game though.

[fatty fat fat]

repetition helps with everything in life. everything else is just fluff imo.

[kougar24]

repetition helps with everything in life. everything else is just fluff imo.

That was deep.

[asava]

repetition helps with everything in life. everything else is just fluff imo.

what about my heroin addiction?

[ECN]

i play yahoo chess, and have over 2,000 games logged. seriously.

i got better buy people getting mad at me for dumb moves.

thats all it takes.

[michigancat]

No one ever makes fun of me.

This one guy I played today did this a lot, though:

:-)

[TheShocker]

If anyone feels like losing at some Yahoo chess just let me know.

[ECN]

No one ever makes fun of me.

This one guy I played today did this a lot, though:

:-)

prolly cause you were setting him up for a win. 

[jeffy]

The key is to play someone live - not on the computer.  Keep looking suspiciously over their shoulder.  Each time they turn around, move/remove a piece or two (just not the King).  I've won many games this way.

[michigancat]

No one ever makes fun of me.

This one guy I played today did this a lot, though:

:-)

prolly cause you were setting him up for a win. 

It was weird...I ran out of time first but still won.

[ew2x4]

The secret is to use your pawns to their full potential. If you're able to position them well, you're set. I always try to take the middle of the board and leak the queen and rooks out through the cracks to the sides and attack from there. Castle your King, then full attack from the left side.

[treysolid]

The secret is to use your pawns to their full potential. If you're able to position them well, you're set. I always try to take the middle of the board and leak the queen and rooks out through the cracks to the sides and attack from there. Castle your King, then full attack from the left side.

this is very good advice - castling is always my fourth move.  i usually let my knight and bishop roam the left side and leak out my rook and queen on the right.  (my left rook guards the king).  some advice rusty - don't just give away your pawns.  if you go on the offensive and advance them, cover them with power pieces (knights and queens).  the only time i ever sacrifice a pawn is if i move the other guy out of position.

[ew2x4]

The secret is to use your pawns to their full potential. If you're able to position them well, you're set. I always try to take the middle of the board and leak the queen and rooks out through the cracks to the sides and attack from there. Castle your King, then full attack from the left side.

this is very good advice - castling is always my fourth move.  i usually let my knight and bishop roam the left side and leak out my rook and queen on the right.  (my left rook guards the king).  some advice rusty - don't just give away your pawns.  if you go on the offensive and advance them, cover them with power pieces (knights and queens).  the only time i ever sacrifice a pawn is if i move the other guy out of position.

Best advice right there. Using them to funnel and block is vital.

[AzCat]

Chess ...

... is about as interesting as watching paint dry.

[KSt8er]

learn how to attack with your knights as a tandem and implement other pieces as the opportunities come, and conversely learn how to thwart anyone who knows how to use their knights.  They can be very effective at sending a good defensive setup into disarray. 

Find someone to play who doesn't mind time in-between moves,  studying the board and the variations of all possible moves can take some serious time.  The speed game is not good for learning, and generally is not played by better players, despite the games they portrayed in Searching For Bobby Fischer.   

[FBWillie]

I'm horrible at chess, but my dad taught me a move that will defeat anyone in 4 moves.   There's only one way to avoid it, and nearly everyone falls for it atleast once.