Tags: play chess, play chess, play chess online, play chess online, chess, online chess, backgammon online
Chess Forum
blitzbrain.com << online chess - < chess - chess > - chess online >>
| From | Message | Posted by aandersen
blitzbrain.com
3/31/2008
05:33:10
Play online chess |  Subject: Help ! (with openings)
Message:
I’m trying to learn something about opening theory. The idea being that with a bit more knowledge, I might have some idea about where the game is going rather than being bounced around by circumstances as I seem to do now. So, I bought a book and started reading it but I’m stuck on chapter 1 verse 1. I’m looking at something called the C3 sicillian. I’m fine with the first moves (e4 c5) but then we come to C3. The author seems to set great store by this move without really explaining what is so good about it. I’m no expert (and possibly this is why I’m not getting it) but to me the move seems boring, pointless and almost gives the initiative to black at this early stage.
Can anyone out there help me with this one?
Yours sincerely
Confused from London
| Posted by lighttotheright
blitzbrain.com
3/31/2008
07:39:05
Play online chess |
Message:
The c3 variation is OK; but from your description, it sounds like the author may have over-hyped it. I cannot be sure of what the author stated about it, since I only have your perception from your post.
To understand the move, you must understand the motive behind it. The opening is a struggle to force the play into lines that you feel comfortable playing instead of your opponent. Presumably, e4 is played because it is considered the strongest first move by many. This can sometimes be true regardless whether you like a tactical or positional style game. 1. e4 usually turns into a tactical game. 1. ... c5 turns that tactical game into one that is non-symmetrical. 2. c3 turns the game back into a more positional one. Many people don't quite understand positional play.
When Black played 1. ... c5 he was not likely to have wanted to play a positional game. So, 2. c3 is good in that it goes directly against much of the intent of Black's first move. It supports a possible d4 advance, which is good in the struggle for the control of the center. You stated that c3 seems to be a wasted move; yet, the normal line with Nf3 can be considered just as wasted because the knight will be soon forced into an early second move. So, the main difference is whether you want a slug-fest or a dance. A lot of people cannot dance, so they prefer to slug it out in a tactical game. And then there are those people that consider 'boxing' as a form of dance. It can get confusing.
Most people play e4 because they want tactical play. It just seems strange to some that white would abruptly change the presumptive character of the game like that. Despite this, 2. c3 is fine. It is just unusual.
| Posted by schnarre
blitzbrain.com
3/31/2008
09:11:18
Play online chess | Hmmnnnnn
Message:
The move 2. c3 essentially forces direct confrontation by preparing a later d4 to force Black into exchanges (e.g., 2. c3 Nc6, 3.d4 cxd4, 4. cxd4--here White has the center squares), or to supplement other moves (e.g, 2. c3 Nc6, 3.Nf3 d6, 4.d4 cxd4, 5. cxd4 Bg4, 6. Bb5). To put it simply, it's the "I'm going to grind you down!" move.
———
Anand Is World Chess Champion Again — Viswanathan Anand, the world chess champion, took advantage of a major error by Veselin Topalov to win the 12th and final game of their title match on Tuesday in Sofia, Bulgaria. The match had been tied at 5.5 points apiece. In addition to the title, Anand receives 1.2 million euros (about $1.5 million at current exchange rates). Topalov’s share of the prize fund is 800,000 euros, or about $1 million. Anand, an Indian grandmaster, became world chess champion by winning a tournament in Mexico City in 2007. He last defended the title in a match against Vladimir Kramnik, a Russian, in October 2008. Topalov, a Bulgarian, is a former world chess champion. He lost a bitter title match to ...
Posted by marinvukusic
blitzbrain.com
3/31/2008
10:07:19
Play online chess | ...
Message:
"The author seems to set great store by this move without really explaining what is so good about it."
Exact quote would be nice.
In any case this is a good opening and I would recommend putting the effort in at least first 10 pages or so (maybe author's position will become clearer from his comments).
———
Title Match Is Tied With One Game to Go in Regulation — There is one more regulation game left in the World Chess Championship match in Sofia, Bulgaria. If neither Viswanathan Anand of India, the titleholder, or Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, win on Tuesday, they will have to go to overtime. On Sunday, they drew Game 11. It was the seventh draw in the match, though, like some of the other draws, it was not without drama. Anand had White and opened with the English — the first time in the chess match he had done that. No doubt he switched openings to try to catch Topalov off-guard, but it did not work. The players followed well-known theory for 10 moves, and then Topalov deviated from earlier games, though it was a minor ...
Posted by aandersen
blitzbrain.com
3/31/2008
12:01:07
Play online chess |
Message:
Thank you folks for your responses. I have decided that i will carry on reading and also when i've finished some of my current crop of games, i will try to find some games where i can experiment with this. I think that pehaps some practical experience will help me to understand.
Once again, thank you all.
———
Anand's missed opportunity — The chess World Championship is on a knife-edge. But Anand could have made a mark in this game. Anand and Topalov go into the 12th game of their chess match today with scores level. If drawn, tie-break rapid games will be played on Thursday. Topalov's declaration before the match that he would neither offer nor accept a draw has clearly had a liberating effect on both players, resulting in one of the most entertaining world chess championship finals we have seen in years. All the games have been long and hard-fought, so it's hardly surprising that tiredness is affecting play. Anand missed several chances to win in game 9, Topalov had a promising endgame in game 10 but ...
Posted by schnarre
blitzbrain.com
4/03/2008
15:00:13
Play online chess |
Message:
Glad we could help mate! Good luck, & good hunting!
———
Playing for the World Title, Minus Any Fireworks — Before a world chess championship match, players spend months looking at their opponent’s games and studying opening systems, often with the aid of chess computers and databases. They also hire trainers, who are called seconds, to help. It is a time- and labor-intensive process. That is one of the reasons that fans look forward to the chess matches. They want to see what the players will do and what new ideas they have discovered, particularly in the openings. The current world chess championship match between Viswanathan Anand of India, the titleholder, and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria has been as closely contested as predicted. But there have been no eye-opening innovations. Game ...
Posted by wschmidt
blitzbrain.com
4/08/2008
11:55:52
Play online chess | My two-bits...
Message:
get a book or look at a website that focuses on good opening principles rather than trying to learn the nuances of a particular line at first. There are several good books out there that talk about controling the center, piece development and pawn structure. That stuff is way more important to learn than specific lines at the 1200-1500 level.
———
With Another Draw, Chess Championship Match Remains Tied — Game 10 of the world chess championship match between Viswanathan Anand of India, the titleholder, and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, ended in a relatively uneventful draw on Friday. With only two games remaining in the best-of-12 series, the players are tied with 5 points apiece. If the match should remain tied after the last two games — which is a real possibility at the moment — it would go to a tie-breaker of four rapid games (each player starts with 25 minutes and has 10 seconds added to his time after each move). Such a tie-breaker was used in the 2006 world chess championship match between Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. After each player won a game, and one ended ...
Posted by ionadowman
blitzbrain.com
4/08/2008
13:23:10
Play online chess | Also ...
Message:
... find a database that features games with this opening. Play through wins and losses (and draws). It's not a bad idea for the first few games at least just to play them through without thinking too deeply into the lines, but observing how the game shapes, and look out for motifs (tactical or strategic) that seem to recur in several games. Does the pawn structure seem pretty much the same in most games? (Yes or no). If so, what's the upshot? If not, is it because emphasis is on some other aspect of the game e.g. piece play or direct attacks on the king, say.
Cheers,
Ion
|
| | | | |
|