Chess

[Gustaran]

I don't really think it's a question of style. At a certain point in your chess development you simply have to start backing up your 'instincts' through calculation if you want to make further progress. Now of course if you are happy with your rating and don't have the time or motivation to spend 10-15 minutes per move that's fine. I'm not saying you have to do all this to have fun playing chess.

The example was designed to show that one way to make better moves and avoid tactical blunders is not some mysterious talent but can be learned by following a certain calculation pattern (along with lots of tactics and visualization practice).

[T-hawk]

Why the correct move is correct:

Nf5 threatens the queen, and it has no escape.

d8, e8, and f8 are all attacked by the white rook.
e7, g7, and d6 are all attacked by the white knight.
f7, e6, and e4 all lose the queen to a fork at Nd6.
c5 is attacked by the white pawn.
e5 and b4 lose the queen to a skewer by the rook against the black king.
e1, e2, and e3 are attacked by the white king.

But hitting that requires calculating through every single possibility, and there's no instinctive shortcut. Every single square matters -- every black piece is critical -- if any of the three black pawns or the king are anywhere else, the attack doesn't work.

[Gustaran]

@T-hawk: I think you have a typo in your first move.

[David Corperial]

Gustaran, I should also mention that I am much more used to live chess, where you can't calculate out nearly as much as that.

[Sian]

depends on what you put in the word "live chess" ... i'm playing live tournements in my local chess club (2hours+30minutes by move 40) and I'm playing on one of their teams in club matches. And I'm certainly at a point with my chess skill that what i should get used to is to calcuate more and not just move my first instinct move (which nonetheless have a rating ~1500, so i have a great baseline to move from) ... looking over the board and considering what the threats are (for both sides) and poking each of the candidate moves is a viable way to do it, if you happen to sit in what looks like critical possitions ... specially with looking closely at knightmoves theres a lot of good to be found since they're not as easily deciphered where they can reach in x turns and what they can influate doing this

[Kuro]

I haven't looked at the spoilers or fully studied the line since I'm leaving right now, but...

Wouldn't Nd5 be the right move It attacks the Queen, protects the pawn and allows Ra5+, while the Queen cannot check the White Queen without being taken.

EDIT: And looking at them, Nf5 was better, oh well...

[David Corperial]

My live chess was at 60 minutes tops per game. Also, if nobody noticed, I made a comment on the group main page that after the tournament, maybe realms beyond should do a team game, maybe in the group or against another group.

[Jkaen]

Will set up a team game once this tourney is done, what I have added for now which may be interesting, but take up less time while we are still playing the tourney is a team vote match. Think it will be interesting to see what discussions we have

[Gustaran]

My live chess was at 60 minutes tops per game.

60 minute games and you just make the move that comes to your mind first? Even in my 10 minute games I calculate the mainline.
Allow me to post one last example in a very simplified position to make my point:

(White to move)


White has 3 sensible moves:

a) 1. d4
b) 1. Kf4
c) 1. Ke3

Which move should he make? Impossible to say without looking ahead.

Will set up a team game once this tourney is done, what I have added for now which may be interesting, but take up less time while we are still playing the tourney is a team vote match. Think it will be interesting to see what discussions we have

It seems like the game already started? Maybe not so good while the tournament is still running?

[Jkaen]

Team game I will wait as that is several games.

The vote chess game is essentially just playing 1 extra game which most of us should be able to handle