Thread: Chess question.

  1. #1
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    Chess question.

    So on the news, they showed the opening of the Danish Masters tournament. The time came, the "gentlemen, start your engines" was announced, and then "PLAY!".

    And then it happened, nothing.

    I should say that I don't play chess. I know how the pieces basically move, and have sufficient intellectual interest in seeing something like this played, that I do watch the big grand master games when they are shown, (rarely). It is always the same though.

    The clocks start ticking, and the players sit there like they've no idea what to do.

    Yet, I know there are well known openings, and well known defences against them. Indeed, the higher up in the game you go, the further back in time matches are analysed.

    So you know that x is playing the 1935 Hoi Sin variant of the King Prawn opening and y is defending it with the Dodgy Curry variant of the Indian defence.

    My point is that in the top games, it can be 20-30 moves into the game before anything new is played.

    So if you have prepared an opening, why sit there thinking about the first move? Or the second, or any of them as long as your opponent plays the response you've prepared? Why waste the clock now, when you may need that time later?
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  2. #2
    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    Sizing up your opponent. Sure, there are tons of well known openings, but chess isn't just about the technical stuff. You need to determine before the first move what your opponent's strategy is, what their playing style is, and use a counter strategy that's most effective against them.

    Or it could just be a psych out.
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  3. #3
    Cheesy Poofs! PJYelton's Avatar
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    Many people play slowly at the beginning for several reasons. For non-masters a major concern is messing up if you move too fast. It happens quite often where you know what the next ten moves are going to be, then make a move too quickly only to realize you accidentally skipped a move putting yourself in a terrible position (happened to me!). Plus, with so many variations on just about every opening, never do you have an idea beforehand which opening you'll be playing unless you've played the opponant often, and even then he often times surprises you. Every opening has several different ways to go at just about every move level, so just because you know he's playing XYZ defense doesn't mean you know where he's going to move. And with so many variations, its nearly impossible to have them all memorized off the top of your head, and need to study the board awhile to remember the variations and pick the ones that suit you best.

    Plus moving quickly put's your mind in an anxious state, not good for chess Better to relax and enjoy the game, theres NOTHING worse than losing a game in the opening, feels like you got cheated out of a game without a fight. That said, there are tons of people who move instantly, practically throwing their pieces at the board and slamming the clock, usually those people who play LOTS of blitz chess.

  4. #4
    I am me, who else?
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    Well its a lot of mind games involved too... I never got to the master level... however watching some IMs and GMs play, you notice it is very much a mind game and sizing up your opponent. It could be many things, because the opening is so important you need to think of what you need/want to do.

    Of course with higher level chess you have teams of helpers watching the other guy play, but sometimes inspiration strikes, or you have to rethink your preparation, or simply need to relax as pjyelton said. Chess is not for the hasty that much is for certain

  5. #5
    In your face... ha ha ha Liger86's Avatar
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    I can say one thing, some start out by moving the white knight and this move can mess up your starting strategy; even if you consider that it is not the best starting move actually.

    Another point is that it is very unwise to cook up a strategic plan before the first move of the game is made.
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  6. #6
    Rad gcn_zelda's Avatar
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    They're formulating a plan to secretly assassinate their opponent before they have a chance to move.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by gcn_zelda
    They're formulating a plan to secretly assassinate their opponent before they have a chance to move.
    Hmmm maybe when I was playing I shoulda thought of doing that... but back in HS thats usually noticed far quicker

  8. #8
    Cheesy Poofs! PJYelton's Avatar
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    Speaking of chess, whatever happened to the cprog chess tournament?

  9. #9
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    They're still considering the first move!

    Sorry, couldn't resist!
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  10. #10
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Sizing up your opponent. Sure, there are tons of well known openings, but chess isn't just about the technical stuff. You need to determine before the first move what your opponent's strategy is, what their playing style is, and use a counter strategy that's most effective against them.
    But if we're talking about games at grandmaster level, both players would (or should) be prepared for the game.
    You cant determine what your opponent's style is by staring (unless you're Mikhail Tal), you can only do so by analysing that player's games.

    I think that more likely it is just a need to calm the nerves before actually playing the move.
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  11. #11
    The C-er
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    Seems strange to me. Grandmasters have usually spent a lot of time preparing for their opponent. The top GM's have a team of guys doing this too, and they use computer analysis.

    So I would say it would have to be psychological.

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