[The Chess] ICJ vs Pinback -- with commentary!

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:12 am

Feel free to post in this thread as much ya like. MUCH YA LIKE!

The first thing I am going to do -- as white -- is move my right side knight out. I don't want him trapped and I want to clear space for my queen and so forth. 2 of my last five games she got taken without moving.

So I am moving:

Nf3

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:50 am

A few words on the purpose of the opening:

The aim of the opening is twofold: Fold one is to take control of the center of the board, defined loosely as the d4, d5, e4, and e5 squares. From the center, one's pieces gain the most mobility, the most strategic potential, and the most tactical possibilities.

The second fold is to mobilize ("develop", in chess-speak) your pieces (as opposed to pawns. "Pieces" are the non-pawn guys.) Your pieces are largely useless in their original position, so you gotta get 'em OUT there, and get 'em ON THE CASE as soon as possible.

In general, these folds are accomplished by doing the following things, in the order listed below. Note, these are not hard-and-fast rules, these are just general guidelines which most of the standard openings follow to one extent or another (never 100%, but rarely less than, say, 85%, a number I just made up):

1. Move out the central pawn(s). This immediately takes control of center squares, as well as unblocking the bishops and queens.

2. Develop the knights/bishops (generally, knights first). These, your "minor pieces", are the next to come out. Being less valuable than rooks or queens, they're less vulnerable to attack in the early going, and thus can strike out with little fear.

3. Develop the queen, but not too far out. If you boldly thrust the queen out into the middle of the board, the opponent will enjoy chasing her around all over the place, all the while developing his own minor pieces, and taking a huge lead in momentum.

4. Develop the rooks, usually on the back rank of the board, aiming up the board (rather than what ICJ did in his last game, which is to move the rooks UP the board, and aim them sideways.) Rooks are valuable, and thus, like the queen, are very vulnerable to attack from minor pieces.

Okay? Again, none of these rules are hard and fast, but they will serve you very well, and are the basis of good chess in the beginning.

With this in mind, let's look at Jonsey's move:

1. Nf3

A perfectly reasonable first move. Now, note than 99% of all chess openings start with either 1. d4 or 1. e4, but Nf3 is also used occasionally, transposing later into other, more standard openings (for instance, 1. Nf3... 2. e4... ends up looking exactly like 1. e4... 2. Nf3...).

The knight develops, and controls two of the center squares (d4/e5). We like that.

Note, however, that it does not "make room for the queen", as Jonsey mentioned. The queen is still just as stuck as ever, as are the bishops. This is why, generally, moving one of the central pawns out is more urgent than moving the knight out. Playing "1. e4", for example, takes control of a vital central square, and makes room for the King's bishop to move out, and makes room for the queen to move out.

Whew. Do I get to move now? Excellent.

1. ...d5

As stated, I've moved out a central pawn to take control of at least part of the center, as well as make room for my Queen's bishop to move out at some point. In the beginning, I'm trying to gain control, and I'm trying to gain space to move around in, and I'm trying to develop my pieces. 1. ...d5 accomplishes (to some extent, anyway) the first two goals, and makes it easier for me to accomplish the third goal soon.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 12:01 pm

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 12:55 pm

Strong, solid move. Weak explanation. I can only help people who truly want to be helped.

2. ...e6

Supporting the other pawn, and exercising control on d5 and f5. Also, freeing up the Q and the B. A natural progression.

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 1:10 pm

pinback wrote:I can only help people who truly want to be helped.

I truly want to be helped. Won't you help me suck slightly less at chess?

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 1:16 pm

pinback wrote:Strong, solid move. Weak explanation. I can only help people who truly want to be helped.

I think you explained why I "went there" in your own post above it.

Gunning for the center --> c3

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:11 pm

Good thought processes. However, note that c3 is mainly a hindrance to further development. For instance, the only places your Queen's knight can move now is a3 (way out of the way), or d2 (blocking your bishop and half-blocking your queen.)

I think moving the other knight out to c3, or perhaps doing something with the bishop or something might have been a little bit better, but no major damage done. (And remember, it might actually be the greatest move in the history of chess, and I just suck too much to realize it.)

Interestingly, the move made a majority of the time in the position we were just in is: 3. c4, the so-called "Queen's Gambit", which seeks to give up the c4 pawn in exchange for greater freedom of movement and more control over the center. As this is a fairly advanced topic, we'll table that particular discussion for later.

3. ...Nf6

The natural counterpoint to your Nf3, teaming with the pawn on d5 to put pressure on e4. Plus, another developed piece! BOOYAH! Also, I'm preparing to castle Kingside.

Castling is another important part of the opening. In its current position, the King is vulnerable and not very well protected (see Debaser's "four-move mate" attempt). We want to get that badboy shuffled over to one corner of the board or another before niggas start cappin'.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:19 pm

pinback wrote:Good thought processes. However, note that c3 is mainly a hindrance to further development. For instance, the only places your Queen's knight can move now is a3 (way out of the way), or d2 (blocking your bishop and half-blocking your queen.)

But I wanted her protected, somewhat. I want to be able to move her if I choose -- i.e., if someone moves a knight to a position where she is gonna die because I stupidly left no option for her -- but I still want some defense there.

I, too, wanna castle. So in order to do that...

e3

Bill Cosby · Post by **Bill Cosby** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:20 pm

pinback wrote:before niggas start cappin'.

I'm putting you on <i>notice</i>, Mr. Potty-Mouth Dirty Laundry.

Bill

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:30 pm

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:But I wanted her protected, somewhat. I want to be able to move her if I choose -- i.e., if someone moves a knight to a position where she is gonna die because I stupidly left no option for her -- but I still want some defense there.

Understood. However, in reality, if you stare at the board for awhile, you'll see (and hence prove to yourself) that she's in no danger right now, and CANNOT be put in danger for several moves. In chess, as in life, the best defense is a good offense. Live life on the chessboard smartly, but aggressively. OMG CAMPER does not win many chess games.

I, too, wanna castle. So in order to do that...

e3

Okay. Notice that, while you have not played a particularly popular opening, you are still in much better position than in any of the previous five games you've played. GOD, am I a fabulous teacher!

Now, check this out:

4. ...c5

Does a few good things. First, major pressure in the center, and now I got LOTS of room down there to mess around in.

Note that if you reply by taking that pawn, I will re-take with my bishop, so in the space of 1 move, YOU will have LOST pressure in the center, while *I* will have DEVELOPED A PIECE, GAINED PRESSURE IN THE CENTER, and also MADE ROOM FOR CASTLING!

Not to influence your moves or anything.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:41 pm

Understood. However, in reality, if you stare at the board for awhile, you'll see (and hence prove to yourself) that she's in no danger right now, and CANNOT be put in danger for several moves. In chess, as in life, the best defense is a good offense. Live life on the chessboard smartly, but aggressively. OMG CAMPER does not win many chess games.

Okay. But now she is in a good position. She has pawns blocking her all over, but can still get out of there.

I want my right bishop to be able to do the robotron thing like yours can. I will move him out so I can castle.

bd3

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:42 pm

:(

So lonely...

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:50 pm

Why, Debaser? Didn't I offer to do teaching games with anyone who started a thread for it?

Did you start a thread for it?

EDIT: Yes, yes he did.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:14 pm

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:Okay. But now she is in a good position. She has pawns blocking her all over, but can still get out of there.

Blocking things with pawns is not necessarily a good means of defense. Whether the pawns are there or not matters not to the enemy piece which is moving there. The key to defense is making sure that the squares which would threaten a piece are controlled by you or the enemy.

Anyhow, the queen is the hardest piece to threaten anyway, because, except for the knight, any piece which could threaten the queen immediately become threatened by that very same queen!

I want my right bishop to be able to do the robotron thing like yours can.

The what? The Robotron thing?

I will move him out so I can castle.

bd3

Good deal.

...Nc6

Move out pawns, then knights, then bishops, then other stuff! I am following my advice to a tee!

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 2:36 pm

What, am I doin' this shit for my health over here??

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:01 am

pinback wrote:What, am I doin' this shit for my health over here??

I left my notes at work. I gotta see a pic of the board.

Reality Check · Post by **Reality Check** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 7:17 pm

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:
pinback wrote:What, am I doin' this shit for my health over here??
I left my notes at work. I gotta see a pic of the board.

Of course, this is why there are sites like Yahoo Games which let you and a friend play together in real time AND actually give you a picture of the board all of the time.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 10:12 pm

How would that facilitate a teaching game, where others could read along with the commentary as the game played out, and thus increase their own understanding of the Chess?

I.e.: Check THIS.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 12:35 pm

How about you teach me how to create the board, but teach me more by "doing" so I can learn from your example?

Because I'm gonna trounce you.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:54 pm

How to "create the board"? Download Winboard (URL in Debaser thread), then move the pieces in the order we've moved them so far (see below), then... LOOK at it. Then MAKE A MOVE. Then REPORT THAT MOVE HERE. Then SAVE THE BOARD. Then WAIT FOR ME TO MAKE MY MOVE. Then LOAD THE BOARD. Then MAKE ANOTHER MOVE.

ICJ - Pinback
--------------
1. Nf3...d5
2. d4...e6
3. c3...Nf6
4. e3...c5
5. Bd3...Nc6