Master Chess Info

Is chess prowess mainly a matter of IQ?

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:15:07 +0000

While chess has been associated with brain power or high IQ, it is not the only factor to attain chess mastery. Sometimes, nature has to be complimented with nurture to become fully realized. But yes, IQ does matter. Grandmasters can safely be assumed to have IQs of over 160 or even 180. This simply means that there is a significant correlation between innate intelligence and chess prowess. Good chess players have high spatial intelligence–this is their capacity to create a system of knowledge (knowing that) and experience (knowing how). This system must be properly stored (memory) and well-managed (logic, analysis, abstraction, adaptation). Normal individuals do not have the capacity to solve and re-solve complex problems and sub-problems while keeping the objectives clear–things usually encountered in the game.

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What’s the value of getting a chess computer?

admin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:22:02 +0000

If you are seriously taking chess as a sport, then getting a chess computer can be a very good partner to train yourself. While playing games with real players can be fun, player to player this scenario is being slowly taken over by man vs. machine situations. Great players today will find that even the slowest computer still running today can still put up a challenging match. The latest chess computers available commercially today are way too much for even good players. Not a few grandmasters conceded that they struggle with computers today. Cheap chess programs are available for normal desktop in most homes so getting yourself one should not be a problem.

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Philippino Staunton Chess Set in Sheesham wood

admin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:06:00 +0000

There is nothing to say much about this set except that its just one of many other common chess sets around. Although the pieces are individually carved from sheesham, the set in general, hardly offers new exciting features. If you want to put chess in bad light, go ahead and use this set. Even seasoned chess players may even agree with you that this set is simply too boring. The knights look uninteresting and so are the other pieces. The 4.5 inches (~11.25 cm) king lacks, it seems to me, the command presence you often find in majestic king pieces. This set is just another waste of a good wood.

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Three Year Old chess master…

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:52:06 +0000

Here we have a Three Year Old chess master… well not quite (as the video later reveals) but there is potential there.

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Chess Federation Official Rules of Chess

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:08:55 +0000

The U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess is the only official rulebook for chess. Serious players at every level as well as chess club teachers, directors, and tournament sponsors should have it on hand during every match. This new edition features the latest rules, including guidelines for the popular game of speed chess, an updated quick rating system, and the latest conventions of governing tournaments. It also contains explanations of every legal move, a guide to calculating lifetime rankings, guidelines for sponsoring and running a tournament, and a lesson on how to read and write chess notation.

[Printed on nside of flap of book] The U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess is the only official rulebook for chess. Serious players at every level as well as chess club teachers, directors, and tournament sponsors should have it on hand during every match. This new edition features the latest rules, including guidelines for the popular game of speed chess, an updated quick rating system, and the latest conventions of governing tournaments. It also contains explanations of every legal move, a guide to calculating lifetime rankings, guidelines for sponsoring and running a tournament, and a lesson on how to read and write chess notation.

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Random House Puzzles & Games; 5 edition (August 12, 2003)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0812935594

ISBN-13: 978-0812935592

Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.2 inches

Get your Copy of United States Chess Federation’’s Official Rules of Chess, Fifth EditionÂ NOW! Before itâ€™s too late.

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Chess Instructor 2009

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:59:49 +0000

Book Features:Â Training Methods, Chess in Schools, Exercises, Top Coaches Explain, the Benefits of Learning Chess, Interviews, Tools, Reviews, etc.

In the last decade there has been a phenomenal growth of chess within the educational community.

The popularity of chess is no accident: in an era of compulsive zapping of TV channels, violent gaming and mobile chatter, learning chess means improving basic skills (like analysis, decision making, strategic thinking, stamina, and dealing with stress) while interacting meaningfully with other pupils. A great job for motivated teachers and coaches.

The Chess Instructor 2009Â aims to give answers to all these questions, and more.Â Michael BasmanÂ explains how he puts 70,000 British schoolkids to play, every year, andÂ Simen AgdesteinÂ tells about his work with super talent Magnus Carlsen.

This compendium is for chess training at all levels. With a multi-colored mosaic of articles, it aims to raise topics for discussion, and to get chess teachers at local schools to learn from top coaches, as well as the other way around. With ready-to-use teaching exercises for all levels.

Get your CopyÂ of The Chess Instructor 2009: The New in Chess Compendium for Chess Teachers, Coaches and ParentsÂ NOW! Before it’s too late.

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Chess Sets

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:35:26 +0000

An introduction to chess sets

There are almost as many different types and styles of chess sets as there are chess players. It may be hard to decide upon a particular set, but itâ€™s relatively easy to narrow your choices down to a particular category. Hereâ€™s a look at the major categories that are available everywhere:

Theme Chess Sets

Travel Chess Sets

Â Wood Chess Sets

Glass Chess Sets

No matter what material you choose, there is a chess set thatâ€™s right for your taste and budget. Instead of buying a set, consider buying the board, pieces and pawns separately. That way, instead of ending up with a chess set thatâ€™s another ‘me too’, you can design one thatâ€™s uniquely yours!

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Openings Theory

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:06:22 +0000

Openings Theory is based on top class games to provide recommended variations for the opening. This way the openings have become somewhat standardized, although there are so many lines (variations) that one should not think that the game has any simplified. There are many variations that are considered to be correct for both WHITE and BLACK, resulting in positions that have equal chances for both. There is no need for one to memorize any openings.

Â This will be done to some extent through experience, but relying on healthy, analytical thinking is always best. Most openings have a name, for example â€˜Spanish Gameâ€™, â€˜Sicilian Defenceâ€™ etc. One needs to know which moves characterize each opening in order to classify a game. Similar openings usually lead to positions with similar features. Furthermore, every opening has many possible variations, many of which do also have a name. A major classification depends on the first move. Accordingly, an opening may be Open, Semi-Open or Closed. An opening is Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 and BLACK replies 1.e5. It is Semi-Open if WHITE starts with 1.e4 but BLACK does not reply 1.e5 and it is Closed if WHITE does not play 1.e4.

Below are some of the most common Open openings :

Spanish Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) : WHITE threatens the black pawn at e5 with 2.Nf3 and BLACK supports it with 2.Nc6. Now WHITE plays 3.Bb5 threatening the pawn again, since he may first capture on c6, then on e5.

Italian game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) : WHITE prepares to castle whilst maximizing his piecesâ€™ mobility. The move 3.Bc4 controls the d5 square and thus inhibits the freeing move d7-d5. It also keeps an eye on f7, a slightly weak square in the opening and one immediately relevant to the Black Kingâ€™s safety.

Scotch game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4) : WHITE plans to quickly open the lines for his pieces. The usual answer is 3.exd4 and now WHITE may either take his pawn back with 4.Nxd4 or play 4.c3, a variation known as the â€˜Scotch Gambitâ€™.

Four Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6) : This opening is more stable for WHITE, but also not too demanding, since 3.Nc3 poses no immediate threats.

Phillidorâ€™s Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6) : This opening leads to closed positions, but tactics are still on.

Russian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) : An interesting opening that is not used very much nowadays.

Bishopâ€™s Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4) : This very old opening is seldom used nowadays.

Kingâ€™s Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4) : WHITE opts to capture the f-pawn later (after 2.exf4); BLACK will have to settle for some defence if he wants to keep the material advantage.

Below are some of the most common Semi-Open openings :

French Defence (1.e4 e6) : BLACK is preparing to play the freeing move d7-d5.

Â Caro-Cann Defence (1.e4 c6) : BLACK is preparing to play d7-d5 here too; a major difference to the French Defence is that the Bc8 will develop more easily, since the e-pawn does not restrict him.

Scandinavian Game (1.e4 d5) : BLACK tries to have active play and opens the position himself.

Alechkinâ€™s Defence (1.e4 Nf6) : BLACK does not care about moving the same piece again, in case WHITE plays 2.e5. If WHITE advances his central pawns, BLACK will undermine his centre with side-thrusts (d7-d6, c7-c5 etc).

Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5) : This opening is the most widely used. It offers fair possibilities for both and usually leads to wild tactics. Below are some of the most common Closed Openings :

Queenâ€™s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) : If BLACK captures on c4, WHITE will manage to capture on c4 later.

English Game (1.c4 e5) : Usually leads to closed positions.

Kingâ€™s Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d6) : An opening rich in tactics and strategy; it has earned much popularity and is used at top-class games.

Dutch Defence (1.d4 f5) : This opening leads to closed strategic positions. 18.Slav Defence (1.c4 c6) : This opening leads to symmetrical, drawish positions, with strategic considerations playing the most important role. It is best for a player to get busy with only a handful of openings and improve his knowledge and experience on them. Every opening has a key idea, which, once perceived, will be easier to implement on the board.

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Two knights opening

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:47:50 +0000

AÂ short chess tutorial demonstrating the tactic of usingÂ two knights to open up the game.

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Alekhine Defence

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:00:18 +0000

Alekhine’s Defence is a chess opening beginning with the moves

1. e4 Nf6

It is named after Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it in the 1921 Budapest tournament in games against Endre Steiner and Fritz SÃ¤misch. Four years later, the editors of the Fourth Edition of Modern Chess Openings (MCO-4) wrote, “Nothing is more indicative of the iconoclastic conceptions of the ‘hypermodern school’ than the bizarre defence introduced by Alekhine … . Although opposing to all tenets of the classical school, Black allows his King’s Knight to be driven about the board in the early stages of the game, in the expectation of provoking a weakness in White’s centre pawns.” White’s imposing mass of pawns in the centre often includes pawns on c4, d4, e5, and f4. Grandmaster Nick de Firmian observes of Alekhine’s in MCO-15 (2008), “The game immediately loses any sense of symmetry or balance, which makes the opening a good choice for aggressive fighting players.”[4]

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