dan's blog: chess

Showing posts with label chess. Show all posts

Friday, August 01, 2025

Steinitz-Lasker WCC 1894, game 6, move 53. d6

why can't the black queen take the pawn on d6?

Thursday, April 03, 2025

Monday, December 26, 2022

the names of chess diagonals

Here are the (un)official names of the chess diagonals.

Saturday, December 03, 2022

Blunders I have known

In this position, from the game https://lichess.org/FmzpourH/black , black took the bishop and fell apart soon after... but 27...Qh5! is the move, with threats to take the Bishop, but also Bxh2+.

If after Bh2+ if Kf1 then Qd1#

Here I played Bb2? but I had Bxg6 and then b5,

removing both guards of the black bishop on e7. I went on to draw. https://lichess.org/Dab2BPjP/white#22

Monday, October 31, 2022

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Saturday, December 25, 2021

chess axioms

remember "CCT"

...checks,

...captures, and

...threats

1. to take is a mistake

2. neutralize invading pieces

3. can I counterattack

If you are behind in material, trade pawns, not pieces. If you are ahead in material, trade pieces, not pawns.

when attacked on the wing, open the center.

a flank attack is best met by a reaction in the center.

"Chess, like love and music, has the ability to make man happy." -- Tarrasch

the longer it takes to win, the more difficult it is to win.

"As a rule, you should try to occupy a blockading square with a piece." - Karpov

if the tactics aren't working out, switch the move order.

For a plan: ask yourself what you would do if you had two or three moves in a row.

Make your opponent make the captures in your favor.

Throw out the move, but not the idea.

Patzer sees a check, patzer plays a check.

When behind in space, trade pieces.

If your opponent's pieces are working better than your own, trade them off.

Fixed or blockaded pawns become stationary targets.

"...a winning position can and has to be improved and perfected before material is won and it becomes a technical win." --Seirawan

Try to create play on the side of the board on which you have the advantage.

When faced with a choice of protecting a passed pawn by a rook (passive role) or sacrificing the pawn to make more active use of the rook, after careful consideration, sac the pawn.

The rook belongs behind the passed pawn, yours or the opponent's. --Tarrasch

In isolated pawn positions, trading pieces benefits the player who is facing the isolated pawn.

The player who has more space tries to keep pieces on the board.

Open positions favor the player who is better developed.

Invite all your pieces to the party!

Don't open fresh lines to a better-developed opponent.

"It's important to continue playing accurately." -Daniel Naroditsky

Don't make unnecessary pawn moves in the endgame.