8272 Players currently online!
Man vs. Machine - good luck!
Turn-based games at any time!
Vote for the best move to win!
Do you have what it takes?
Sharpen your tactical vision!
Get advice and game insights!
Learn from top players & pros!
View millions of master games!
Your virtual chess coach!
Perfect your opening moves!
Test your skills vs. computer!
Find the right private coach!
Can you solve it each day?
Bring it all together!
Beginners, start here!
Make friends & play team games!
News from the world of chess!
Search all Chess.com members!
Find local clubs & events!
Who's the best of your friends?
Read what members are saying!
cROOKed_KNIGHT
MrEdCollins
Black's play is on the queenside... he has more space on that side and it's a bonus that White just castled on that side. Thus, 1... a4 looks good. The b3 knight must retreat to a1.Black still needs to decide where to place is QB, but his rooks probably belong on the a and b files.Note: The FEN that is listed is slightly incorrect, as neither player can castle any longer. (The FEN states castling is still possible.)
ahhh, I was not sure how to remove the option to castle after setting up the board, but thanks for your insight.
I hope there are some more opinions out there too. I feel like a healthy debate always assists the learning process.
KageLord
I'd personally rather play Black, but I think the position is roughly equal. Maybe a very slight edge (less than a point) to Black.
As for moves, I'd try 1... a4 2. Na1 f6
waffllemaster
White would be nearly winning... if a4 didn't throw that knight into the corner for what looks to be a very long time. But even temporarily a piece down in this way white isn't looking so bad.
Oh, actually a4 followed by a3 and I don't like white so much anymore :p
White's pieces seem just a tiiiiny bit misplaced... meanwhile black's play is happening right now.
losingmove
a4 was my first thought after about a 90 second scan of the board
Nevermind... white just plays b3... I'd almost rather be white.
kagelord says ...f6, which seems really annoying, so it's probably a good move. If black can't find this move I think I'd still rather be white even with my knight cast away to the corner. White's moves just seem easier to find.
Estragon
Well, ...a4 must be played immediately, else White gets in Bb5 and prevents it. So then 1 ... a4 2 Na1 and Black should leave the Na1 where it is - ...a3 3 Nb3 lets him back into play. So better to attack the bulwark of White's position, the e5 pawn, with either ...d5 or ...f6 (which is also forcing, given the Qf3). Black is still well behind in development, but may be able to hold on, especially with White's Na1 kept aside.
JeffGreen333
I also like a4, but I don't like black's opening at all. Too many holes on the dark squares and the light-squared bishop is stuck on the back rank. Black should have played d5 early in the game, to grab some of the center and give the light-square bishop a path to enter the game. Not sure if a4 is enough to compensate for all of this, but it's a start. Btw, playing against yourself doesn't improve your game very much, since you always know what your opponent is thinking. However, if you simply must do it, then try flipping the board around when it's black's move. It appears to me that you were sitting behind white the entire game, as white's opening is solid and black's is weak. I'd highly suggest studying some books on opening theory instead of playing against yourself though. The fact that your d pawn hasn't moved yet and you allowed white to get his e pawn to e5 without being challenged makes me think that your opening theory knowledge is lacking.
Wow, yeah, Nb3... I can't see much of anything tonight : /
Who is the Best Chess Player - Norway 2013
by geoffalford 3 minutes ago
Massive Discouragement
by Daneel_Olivaw 3 minutes ago
1st Chess.com World Chess Championship
by jetfighter13 4 minutes ago
B vs. N Game #1
by Reb 6 minutes ago
Improve Chess and Intelligence
by goldendog 7 minutes ago
We need more amateurs to post their annotated games.
by jetfighter13 9 minutes ago
WANG HAO BEATS CARLSEN AND ANAND
by Elubas 13 minutes ago
setting up game time.
by Heritage140 13 minutes ago
i can't escape chess but i must!
by ilikeflags 13 minutes ago
Chess rating accuracy
by alanlee222 14 minutes ago