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A Move Like...

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  NM NoRematch
  #1 Apr 19, 2012

  A Move Like...

  This phase seems to get a lot of use by commentators and lecture givers, but I'm not sure I understand it's meaning.  It would seem to indicate that the side to move has a number of options and the move suggested is acceptable too.  For example in the starting position the speaker says:

  "A move like 1 e4 is good."

  I think to myself:  Yes moving a central pawn two squares and developing is good.  Well 1 d4 also moves a central pawn two squares and develops, so I guess 1 d4 is good.  I know 1 c4 is good because it looks a lot like 1 e4, I have mistaken the two moves on scoresheets many times.  1 g3 is not good since it is not a central pawn and it only moved one square anyway.  But, I'm not sure if 1 Nf3 is good because even though it develops a piece in the center, and kind of moved two squares, it's not a pawn.

  Another example, let's try the position after 1 f4 e5 2 g4??; the speaker says:

  "A move like 2...Qh4 is good."

  I think: Let's see, 2...Qe7, 2...Qf6 and 2...Qg5 must be good too since they all move the queen on the same diagonal.  Surely 2...Qg5 is good since it's only one square away from h4.  I also wouldn't be too surprised if 2...Nh6 was good because it also moves a new piece onto the h-file, just like 2...Qh4. 

  Maybe my interpretation of the phase is wrong.  "A move like..." could mean that the mentioned move is not included, but only similar moves are.   No, that won't work in the two previous example either.  

   Is there another meaning?  Perhaps I shouldn't be concerned with this and instead make some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the shows.