Chess for Computer: The New Training Ground of Chess Masters

Friday, 1. January 2010

Every generation has something to boast. The 19th century boasts the advent of writers, sculptures, painters and poets. In the pre-war period is the avenue in the rise of heroes and leaders. However, have you ever asked yourself what might be the legacy or something that our generation can boast? Indeed, our generation can boast the full realization and flourishing of technology. With this, we are able to make the world a better place to live in.

Since we are talking about technology, it is very obvious that we can never do away talking also about its advances that brought benefits on us. The most prominent and widely known among this is computer. It is said that we have made another “mind” of humans after the development of computers. After it, there came the birth of internet, a new speed-of-light of Earth. Little did we know that such tandem would bring about a new and everlasting legacy that our generations can now boast.

The primary audiences of this tandem are the professionals, workers, well-known and ordinary people and more especially the youth. We have always been the catch basin of the benefits of computer and internet. What are the benefits of these? Of course, it will only fall under two categories: education and entertainment. In facet of education, we are able to access all necessary things that are needed for us to learn more. And more especially, our favorite lies in the facet of entertainment.

In entertainment, here we have the realm of gaming and one of the sought-after games because of its intellectual and thrilling appeal is chess. Because of technology, we are now able to play it with the innovations made in the computer. Thus, we now have chess for computer. All you need to do is to download the game chess for computer and the rest will be entertainment.

Taking into consideration the thousand games that plague the internet, we must always consider their credibility when it comes to giving us the most satisfaction in playing chess in our computer. One of the most credible when it comes to chess entertainment is Chessmaster Challenge which gives you not only the thrill of playing the game but also the monopoly of good ideas for they are not only a downloadable chess game but also a mentor that would bring out the chess master in you.

In addition, they are also going to teach you the basics of chess. So regardless of your status in playing chess, you will not be left out because they have programs that will help you go on to the latter part of their program. After teaching you the basics of chess, they are going to improve your strategy and it might even be way for you to find your own style in playing chess. After these preliminaries, they will you the privilege to compete with other world-class chess players.

Surely, this chess for computer will really give you the chance to improve your skills to be the best chess player in your own respect. Who knows, you might be the new chess master that is going to challenge the new generation of chess master wannabes.

Modern Ideas about Black Chess Openings

Saturday, 5. December 2009

Stonewall Defense Variation is a one of the many variations used in Black chess openings. The effect of this attack to the White is debilitating once the Black gets the right tempo. However, this opening is seldom played in many tournaments but can be seen in the lower levels play. Actually, the Stonewall Defense is the counterattack of the Black against the Stonewall attack by the White. This opening can develop moves in specific sequence in favor of the white. Nevertheless, Black can also develop the same formation by using Dutch Defense. If the Black is not cautious, the Stonewall Attack could initiate devastating attack. This will give disadvantage to Black in gaining strong positions and to play tactically over White.

Another chess opening that can be used by Black is the Blackburne Gambit. The Black can make a gambit and when the White accepts, it would guarantee winning the game. Likewise, the Black can win over the opponent because of the 7 moves that possibly could checkmate the opponent. For players who would want to have good end games, the Budapest Gambit is an ideal opening that you can play. On the other hand, if you want to play an unusual opening, you can try the Hippopotamus Defense where the Black possesses strong defense early in the game and on the middle game could launch counter attack. Another Black opening is the St. George’s Defense that lets the Black to attain different positions early in the game. This opening is similar to French Defense.

For chess enthusiasts who are bored with their worn out defenses, you can try modern chess ideas on Black openings. There is a book out in the market authored by Gary Lane that serves as a repertoire for Black. The book teaches different variations, Unorthodox Openings as well as Flank Openings. Likewise, it is beneficial for beginners because in every chapter there are example games that are supported by explanations. It also discusses the combat lines in the older and modern ideas. The primary concern of the book is to provide knowledge to players in achieving decent position with a less effort. Illustrations of selected games could help the Black obtain winnable position especially if the White lacks understanding and careless in the game. The Scandinavian and the Chigorin Openings are the modern ideas for the Black that could be learned easily.

Without full knowledge about the Chogorin, a player may think that it is implausible because it goes against some basic instructions in chess opening. The Black should sacrifice some of the piece by exchanging the Bishops for Knights. However, through the exchanging of piece several tactical openings could surprise the opponent. This opening makes the game runs quickly. Moreover, you can also try playing the Scandinavian Defense that would give White a more struggling and confusing response to Black.

Therefore, if you want to learn more modern tactics in the game, you should learn the details of the different opening positions. This modern ideas in chess opening is being adapted by Kasparov and other chess masters playing in Grandmasters game. As you study the book, you will find and learn openings that would help you go across many games.

Computer Chess Online

Friday, 2. October 2009

Chess game is really a very interesting kind of game that demands a lot of mental expertise and skills. It is a game that is played indoors by two opposing players. Chess game is played on a chess board where the two players use chess pieces. The chess board is squared shape with 64 alternating color of black and white squares in 8 by 8 grids. The chess pieces are 32 all in all, which are divided into two, thus each player get 16 chess pieces each that comprises eight pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, one queen, and the most important piece, one King. Each of the players has one same colored set of sixteen chess pieces. The main goal in playing chess game is to capture as many chess pieces of your opponent until you captured his King. When the king is captured, the game ends and whoever did the capturing wins the game.

Today, with the use of a computer and internet, they have made it possible for chess games to be played online. This made the chess game more popular and even enjoyable to play with. There are many computer chess online that can be played by many chess lovers around the world. It is very accessible to all the chess enthusiasts anywhere and at anytime in the world. This is why more and more chess players are choosing the computer chess to enhance their skills and learn more about the chess opening, chess strategies, chess tactics, end games, advance combinations of moves, and many other more.

The online chess games can be found and played on many different websites that have servers in chess playing. These games of chess can be played over the internet or downloaded onto your laptop or PC and then play. There are many designed features of the online chess games, this include the blitz chess which is timed and played fast; the bullet chess or the lightning chess which is very fast; the correspondence chess which is played by mail; and the computer chess which is played with the computer.

Those chess players especially beginners in chess game find the computer chess very helpful in their study and continuous practical learning of the said game. Whenever they need to learn or practice chess moves, they do not have to look for a human coach or opponent to teach them. They will just open their laptop or PC for computer chess games either online or downloaded, and then they can learn and play chess games. Mostly, computer chess is difficult to win over, because it has an almost perfect analysis of the every move. However, it can be the perfect tutor for you if you can have the best suitable software for your skill level.

So, if you want to learn more about chess moves and all about chess games, you can employ computer chess to aid you. It’s just a click away to becoming one of the many chess masters that we respect today.

The Objectives and Aims of Chess Games Opening

Monday, 24. August 2009

Opening has two general definitions in terms of chess: a game level and a series of moves. Players of chess are well aware of these meanings that various articles and books not explain the difference and may shift without being aware from one definition to another. It is the first level of the game where the players take heed of their tactics since winning chess competition highly depends on the opening. It is also defined as the set of preliminary moves of the player.

Established sequences of opening strategy are known as the move commenced by defenses, made as a response by Black or White. Chess experts have identified various names for sequences. One of which is the theoretical novelty or the latest series of moves in the opening. On the other hand, a tactic that is revealed and used only during the competitive tournament is known as a prepared variation and at most times an alarming weapon in top-class chess tournaments.

In terms of superior levels of tournaments, obtaining for a better location when competing as White or Black is the primary objective of players. The concept with this is that White has a bit initial advantage since at most times it is the first to take a move. Another purpose has slowly become more powerful during the1950s. It is the idea that the idea of the chess games opening is to make forceful imbalances to both players, which will distinguish the stranding of the middle game as well as the deliberate plans selected by the two parties. For instance, White will attempt to utilize his pair of bishop and space benefit to accumulate an attack against Black’s kingside while the latter will try to look on simplifying exchanges a defense against the undermined pawns on the queenside of White. Another goal, which is parallel to the past ones and become familiar from the start of 19th century, was to attract the competitor into the kind of position where the opponent is more comfortable and familiar with. This tactic is commonly used by transpositions, wherein the game that actually begins with another opening can achieve the position that is commonly formed by another opening.

Chess openings also have different aims. Mobilizing the pieces on helpful squares wherein they can have an effect to the game is one of its primary goals. The common strategy for this aim is the development of the knights to f3, f6, c3, and c6 and the pawns of the queen and king are shifted to give way for the bishops to position. The second aim is to take power of the center because it easily transfers the pieces to any part of the chessboard, which can definitely paralyze the other side. It also aims to assure the safety of the king by castling it at the beginning or bring it to the SIDE through artificial castling. It also prevents the weakness of the pawn and integrates the pieces.

There is no such thing as a structured technique as winning still lies on the players, not on the formulated and proposed tactics. The one with best move is still the winner.

The Nomenclature of Chess Opening

Monday, 24. August 2009

During the end of the fifteenth century, major alterations in the regulations of chess took place which heightened the speed of the game, consequently highlighting the significance of studying chess openings. One of the earliest about opening was the 0497 text by Luis Ramirez which presents an analysis, followed by works of Luis Ramirez de Lucena and Ruy López de Segura. The disagreement of Ruy López with Damiano’s merit of 2…Nc6 led to 3.Bb5, which was later named after Ruy Lopez or Spanish Opening. Starting the 1840s onwards, opening theory was studied more systematically and various opening variations were found and named at that time. Opening classification developed randomly and most names are historical incidents not from systematic principles.

The oldest openings tend to be called after geographic laces and notable people. Many were named after nationalities and cities, including English, Dutch, Vienna and Berlin. The name Catalan System was based on the Catalan region of Spain. But the most common basis of opening names are the names of chess players, not from the ones who first adopted it but to the player who made it popular or the ones who first printed an analysis of it. Examples of these eponymy names are Alekhine’s Defense, Ruy Lopez, the Réti Opening and Morphy Defense. Some names served as an honor for two people and some are descriptive, which are less popular type of chess opening names compared to other names. There are also openings with fanciful names, oftentimes these are based on animal names. This idea emerges and become popular during the 20th century. From then on, most usual and conventional series of opening tactics were given specific names. Some of the latest and extraordinary developed openings are the Hippopotamus, Orangutan, and Hedgehog.

As technology advances and the new generations are becoming more creative and imaginative, different terms for openings were also introduced. The popular terms are Defense, Gambit, Game, and Variation while the less common are Attack, Counterattack, System, Countergambit, Reversed, and Inverted. Defense, at all times, points to an opening made by Black and Gambit is an opening that requires giving up a material, which can be played by both White and Black. The word Game is usually used merely for a few of the oldest openings like Scotch Game, Four Knight Game and Vienna Game while Variation is used to depict a line within a more broad opening including the Exchange Variaton of the Queen’s Gambit Declined. On the other hand, attack, at times, is utilized to describe a destructive or provocative variation while Counter gambit refers to every gambit played by Black. Reversed an inverted is a game with Black opening played by White, or more seldom a White opening PLAYED by Black, examples include Sicilian Reversed and the Inverted Hungarian.

Only few openings are prefixed with the word Anti, such openings are designed to avoid a specific line if not existing to one’s competitor. Examples of such openings are the Anti-Marshall and the Anti-Meran Gambit, which disagreed with the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez and against the Meran Variation of the Semi-Siav Defense, respectively.

Internet Chess on Modern Age

Wednesday, 12. August 2009

Larry Evans, Walter Browne, Pal Benko and of course Bobby Fischer! Thought you may have heard the names somewhere? Chess! They were the famous chess master during the James Bond era. If you are a chess enthusiast, surely you are familiar with their histories in the chess world. But without doubt, their sovereignty over the chess table happened a long time ago. And the outlooks of people on chess have changed dramatically since Fischer step down from his world championship crown in 1975.

Chess is a game played by two. Face to face over the chess table where the chessboard is laid open. Watching the tournament and even playing in the tournament is impossible to those who do not have money to support them. And looking for sponsors appears to be unworkable. That is why many people have thought that chess will not sprint for long. But chess enthusiast will not just stop there. Time passes so past and along with this, change do happen in all phases of life. And of course chess is included in that. Now we have the “internet chess” or for others it is known as “online chess”.

As the time moves to modern age, the age of computers and the age of internet, the way on how people can play the chess changed dramatically. From the traditional face to face to “Man vs. Machine” now we do have online games on chess. From Evans, Browne, Benko and Fischer of James Bond time, now in the modern age we have the names Alexandra Kosteniuk, Alexander Onischuk and of course Susan Polgar hitting the wave if internet chess.

Chess is now a click away from your grasp. Internet chess is made available in the web for you to meet fellow players. This is an opportunity to open a communication with other chess enthusiasts and to enhance your chess skills as well by watching others play on line.

Despite the downsides of internet gaming, internet chess have proven to be helpful to all chess enthusiasts and to those who wants to be one.

How can internet chess be of help to every chess aficionados and wannabes?

Do you believe in the saying “Practice makes Perfect”? Well, internet chess sites provide a room where you can play hundred of chess games just in a day which you can’t do with the traditional face to face way of playing chess. Internet chess also gives you an opportunity to watch the game of other players thus you learn from their tactics. Before the modern age, this privilege of observing a chess game was given only to a selected few who has the money to travel and go to chess tournaments. And one of the most helpful features of internet chess is that you can improve your skills by playing with tougher players. The opportunity in playing with the tougher is hard to come in the traditional face to face way of playing chess simply because you will just have to settle to who is available nut with the internet chess you can choose from a wide variety of players in the net.

So chess aficionados and wannabes what are you waiting for? Click those keyboards right away and search for the sites that best suits you.

Goodluck!

I Play Chess Online and It’s Fun!

Sunday, 19. July 2009

The online websites on chess games has portrayed a very important role in popularizing the chess game today. Now it is relatively easy for players of chess to access different resources in chess games such as tutorials, chess puzzles, game analysis, and even shop high quality equipments of chess through internet. Some chess grandmasters and some international chess masters have also designed and created chess websites of their own to be able to share their knowledge to all chess players who wants to seriously learn stuffs about chess.

Most of chess players today are playing the online chess games because there is great opportunity of meeting different chess players located in different parts of the world without really going out and flying in an airplane. Chess websites have a huge selection of chess players to choose from. One of the interesting features of most chess websites online is the chess tournaments and leagues where chess players around the world can participate and win absolutely amazing prizes.

There are loads of websites for chess games online today. Nevertheless, not all of them are credible and reliable. But, there are also some which can help you in being competent and master the chess game. These websites includes chess tutorial services, online game of chess, chess puzzles, and chess opening lists. I play chess online with my chosen website and it is really fun and exciting. Furthermore, you can learn a lot by playing chess games against players who are more skilled and experienced than you.

Tutorials in these chess websites are also satisfactory. You can learn a lot from the very basic up to more advance strategies and tactics. It includes the basic movements and basic strategy from setting up a board game to the game play itself. It is really amazing to play online chess games at home with your family just like this.

To Play Chess Online: OTB versus CC

Sunday, 19. July 2009

To play chess online is really fun and exciting. It offers certain alternatives to the traditional methods of chess game play such as OTB or over the board game play where chess players play against live or human opponents. In this kind of chess game, chess players sit together in front of a board in the computer and play a live chess game. It uses real time environments where the bullet chess games, blitz chess, and rapid games of chess can be played. Time controls and time management are being enforced for both of the chess players.

Another is the CC or correspondence chess where the chess games are done by mailing the moves or responds back and forth from the two opponents using what we called snail mail or for some use the regular postal services. They are allowed to have ample amount of time to think and consider a certain position and then make a move after careful consideration and send it back to their opponent. The next thing they are entitled to do is to wait for the reply.

Some internet correspondence sites allow up to 10 days of thinking before making or sending the move. Furthermore, in this way, you can consult and read some chess books or find tips online freely, to be able to learn more about that certain position, your opponent has come out. The correspondence chess play is enabled by the web browser’s provision based on boards and almost instant email notifications to avoid prolonged delays as well as expense that is caused by the posting of moves.

The online chess games have also enhanced chess by making the chess community worldwide accessible for chess players around the world regardless of the geographic location (as long as there is electricity and internet) or time zone they are in.

Playing Chess Online: Correspondence versus Live

Sunday, 19. July 2009

If it is your first time to be playing chess online you should distinguish first the difference between the email or correspondence chess servers and those servers that provides live chess. Your movements on the live chess servers are transmitted almost instantly to your opponent and vice versa. Thus, playing chess games in these servers almost feels like you are just playing the traditional over the board chess game- except of course that you need to use the computer mouse in moving the chess pieces and your opponent is not visible. Some of these popular servers for live chess plays are the FICS (Free Internet Chess Servers), ICC (Internet Chess Club), and many more.

In the correspondence or email chess, everything is a bit long drawn out because when you move a chess piece, that move is at the meantime stored on the computer server until the opposing player logs in or your opponent send you the reply email of move. Usually, it takes a few days for your opponent to respond and make his or her move. Some examples of correspondence chess game servers are the ChessWorld, FICGS (Free Internet Correspondence Games Server, and many other more.

Before you start to play in these correspondence chess game servers, you should check out their fine print. Some of these servers allow the usage of certain computer programs and some of them don’t. Make sure that you have chosen the appropriate server for your needs. For example, if you choose to play against human chess players only, you need to join the appropriate server for this.

So it is up to you, what suits your style in learning and playing the chess games. Just choose the one you like and opt for the best website online for the kind of server you can use.

More Chess Tutorials

Sunday, 28. June 2009

Chess game is one of the most challenging and brain stimulating game that ever existed in the world. An individual can learn the rules and basics of chess in just an hour but it takes a lifetime to master and be efficient in them. This chess tutorial is mainly designed to teach people the rules of chess in a simple and easy to understand method.

Chess is a game that is played by two opposing players on a square board composing 64 of alternating light and dark squares in eight equally divided rows and columns. The vertical columns on a chess board are called the files and the ranks are for the horizontal rows. The chess game match is won when one of the player maneuvers his or her chess pieces to checkmate the opponents’ King.

Each opposing players starts with eight pawns and eight key pieces: one king, one queen. Two rooks, two knights, and two bishops. The two opposing players are referred to as black and white regardless of the actual color of the chess pieces. The initial position of the chess board must be that light colored square should be at the bottom right corner of each player. The white pieces are set up in this order (from left to right) rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, bishop, knight, rook. The black chess pieces are set up on the opposite side and both the queens are on the same file because black queens take the dark colored square and white queen takes the light colored square. The pawns are positioned on the second ranks of each player.

The white is always the first one to move and both the players continue to alternate turns. Each chess piece moves uniquely. The king can be moved at one square in any direction at a time and capture the same way. It cannot move to a square where he can be considered attacked. The queen can be moved at any number of squares in any direction but may not pass through other chess pieces in the process. The rook moves in vertical or horizontal direction and also cannot pass through other chess pieces. The Bishop can move in any number of squares in diagonal direction. While the knight moves in an “L”, shape direction and can jump over any other chess pieces. The pawns can only move forward in one direction. However, when moving from the initial position, you can choose to move it in two squares or just one square. It also captures diagonally and not the same way as it moves.

The main objective of the game is to checkmate the opposing player’s king. Checkmate is when a king cannot escape the attack of the enemy’s piece and is impossible for that player to get out of that attack. This ends the game. Whoever captures a king wins the game of chess.

If you want to get better in playing chess, learn also the chess strategies and tactics after you get comfortable in the chess rules and basics.