Calculation Training

Guys, guys, GUYS !

You are NEVER supposed to use a chess engine until AFTER the problem/game is over! Don't do that!

 

I only spoiled it for myself though , after I gave up on finding the move . I’m sure I’ll be looking at these types of sacs from now on.

Hello , I saw that thread today , and Like The Idea ! I want to make my contrubution to it : I had A good position which existed A Few days ago OTB . I cant post it in board , but I had FEN of it :

1nq2r1k/r6P/4pppP/1b1p4/8/1pR1P1Q1/1P1K1PB1/6NR

Black to move here , The question is "What is The evaluation of 1...Qxc3+  " ?

( It can Also be good If somebody put it with table , I would Do it but unfortunately I cant Do it ) 

 

It is A bit Sad that at 3. position , some critical variations Hadnt been discussed after 1.Nd4 . One member explained Why it is very good positionally , but it is only half of  story . Real challenge is If black can prevent that plan , or not . 

First look is 1...Nbc6 , now 2.Qb2 is bad due Bc4! , change WSB's , and black should equalize easily at least . But 2.Nxe6! prevent that , black has to play fxe6 Because Nxb4 Nxc7 cost them A piece and Game . After fxe6 white is much better even though black is still in Game due bishop pair , weak black centre and a5 knight staying bad on a5 , Also an extra pawn . Probably Pretty close to winning but not an easy win due extra pawn being doubleattack 

Now Another question came , What after 1...exd4 2.cxd4 ? White pawns locks scary If White can mobilize pawns and limit black pieces , but If black can change some minor pieces , they can hold . There are some variations that black can sacrifice A knight on d4 , but that end with A probably Losing endgame due being one pawn down ( for example , 2...Nb3 3.Rad1 Nc6 4.Qc3 Nxd4 etc ) 

A problem for black is after 2...Nbc6 white has 3.Qc3 prevent black changing some pieces from c4 . And it is only possible due black cant play Nbc6 before exd4 , which free c3 square .

Go back and read again...I said I can't understand why you would assume you were a better player.  Kind of a big difference .  I never said I was a stronger player than you.  What I did say was in response to you saying my chess was so bad you could not believe I found a move because you did not even find it.  A fairly clear statement that you, not I, consider yourself better.  Oh, and you opened with an aspersion about me using an engine to find Nd4.  My response was actually quite restrained.

Calling me a loser to try and get your way is a little sophomoric, can we agree?

Please take this vendetta elsewhere (or better, let it go).  I will be putting in a ticket for your disruption of the overall thread here if you keep going.

Yes, that is exactly what "aspersion" means...an implication without directly saying something.

You might do better in life if you started to perceive the world as it actually is...I daresay it would help your chess game, as well.  Reported and blocked.

It's a simpler one, black's back rank is incredibly weak and his king can't move either. It's one of those positions where white could play almost any move and still be winning.

The two ideas would be either to double up your rooks and exploit the back rank, or get your queen to g7 as quickly as you can. It's quicker to get your queen to g7 than doubling those rooks so 1. Qf6 Qb4. 2. Qf6 Qf8 and the black queen is lost.
Other line would be Rd5 Qb6, Rhd1... having said that black Q blocks d8 quite nicely, the best move is almost definitely Qd6, but like I say, not many bad moves in this position.

I am sorry that DaddyReza's muting ended up removing this position (temporarily) if you were still analyzing it.  I mean, I don't think I am to blame, but I am sorry nonetheless for the unintended consequence.

For those who really like this thread, this article may also be of interest...

https://www.chess.com/article/view/more-pawn-structures

I do the same thing too! I often imagine what openings were played to reach the current position; I think it helps one develop a better feel for different structures and a more open mind to where the game can go from different deviations. 

By the way, this position did begin from the Kmoch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense. When I post the "solution" to this position, I was considering including the opening moves; I'll post them for you @PawnstormPossie  (Others may think like us and be curious how this position came to be as well). Of course, this position was simply one example I used to illustrate the theme (of "sacrificing" material to create an intimidating pawn center), but this theme is good to know for all openings.

Thank you for posting this relevant article; It is very similar to what this current position gets at. Pawn structure is so important to chess, but it seems that usually only advanced players actively study pawn structures. Although I can understand why, I think that this is a mistake; all chess players (all skill levels) could benefit from pawn structure study.

KeSetoKaiba wrote: I'll post the first "real position." This is a famous position, but it is a good one to begin with for calculation practice - especially if you've never seen this one before. Spend at least 10-15 minutes thinking before you check the hidden text below for the game details, but only the game details will be there; I won't post the "solution" until perhaps a few days from now. For those too eager to wait for the solution, then you can use the game details to find the game on your own, or use an engine to point out the best line. White to move.Game details: Edward Lasker v George Alan Thomas, London England, 29 Oct. 1912, Casual Game 1-0

@KeSetoKaima

First , I want to say sorry for posting A position ( or it's FEN ) without Asking You .

About Kmoch variation , The reason it is Often misnamed is it Almost always transpose Saemish as More as white plays a3 , and Unless black misplayed A lot or both sides stay away from Saemish positions , This is unavoidable .   As I see , it rarely stay at Kmoch territory , which is generally with black playing Bxc3 without a3 played , or white playing a3 late and black not taking bishop .

and I can say The Main problem isnt white playing e4 , but saving The centre with no counterplay . Black shouldn't allow that .

and , If that Came from Kmoch , it seems black went for A rare sideline : I never seen f6 - e5 plan against that .

Ditto.  I have the basics down, but I have yet to be able feel like I can just look at the pawn structure and reliably use what's there to factor correctly into my evaluation.  Keep improving piece positions?  Make a pawn break now or wait til later?  Which pawn break is better when they are similar?  Better to forego a pawn break to hold the bishop pair longer?  Etc.

I can evaluate all these questions and I weigh them somehow, but I am not always feeling rock solid about how to value the pawn structure considerations vs. other considerations.  Then again I wonder if even titled players get 100% confident with these choices ...

I thank you for recognizing this; it shows a lot about your careful and thoughtful nature  but I like to follow the old saying in this situation: "no offense intended; no offense taken." No worries, I might take a closer look into that position soon; it is nice if other people are involved too. If anyone has a position they want to display, then feel free to private message me and I'd probably be happy to share it. I want the positions to be of high quality (and I still have a few more positions in mind I could show), but it is nice is other people offer recommendations too. I'd like to take part in this calculation training too, but of course, it isn't really the same when I personally search for the puzzles to post (as I know the entire line, or at least the first move). 

By the way, I originally discovered this position in my opening study since I usually play the Kmoch Variation against the Nimzo-Indian Defense. I'll post the move order to this position when I reveal the "solution" and I'm sure it will clear up more questions about how this position came to be

You're probably a stronger player than me right now @PawnstormPossie, but I'd play it

This is true for some people, but I'd play the Nimzo-Indian as Black or White. I find the resulting positions are almost always exciting. Usually play turns sharp for sure, but this is the kind of game I'll usually like getting when I play. I usually don't play 1...Nf6 as Black (although I sometimes will), but the Nimzo-Indian is often times interesting from either side

(Speaking about The moves 9...a6 and 10...c5 ) 

After a certain level, making positional mistakes , especially that early isnt due not knowing ideas , but mixing ideas or positions .

Actually , The plan black tried ( c6 , a6 ) is not a very unpopular plan , even A good one , but not at there , it is A good plan at Saemish variation , especially at The variations white castle Q-Side . At Saemish white generally waste A Few moves for strenghten center , and when their King is queenside white cant open lines here easily .

Probably black thought they can apply similiar strategy here . White prevented it with A timely d5 , without d5 black can play b5 , with A timely d5 , black cant Do that bc c6 would be hanging , and even they waste A tempo to protect them , opening q-Side lines only help white .

Black made A bad decision and try to close queenside , but This removed black's options , and with 2 tempo Loss ( a6 and c6) , white prepare queenside play without much problem ,  and black couldnt create counterplay effectively or prevent white's play .

Black should have made A move keep their structure flexible ( probably sth Like Qc7 ) , The thing is white cant just prepare b4 Because it Does Nothing , white cant just pressure d6 Because black can play A timely c5 or cxd5 . Black Also can try play A timely b5 , even though it is risky . Even though white is still better , black have play , and it is much More playable.

at least it is my opinion .

Also my position is still waiting with a Sad face at Last page to be analyzed .