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Horwitz Defense
The Horwitz Defense is a chess opening defined by the moves: :1. d4 e6 This response to White's Queen's Pawn Game, is named for the German chess master and writer Bernhard Horwitz (1807–85), who is known to have played it four times against fellow German master Daniel Harrwitz between 1849 and 1852. Players such as the English grandmaster Simon Williams often use 1.d4 e6 as a way of playing for the Dutch Defense while avoiding the Staunton Gambit (1.d4 f5 2.e4 !?). As such the opening has little independent significance. It is likely to transpose to other openings listed below. *Dutch Defense (after 2.c4 f5 or 2.Nf3 f5) * Keres Defense (after 2.c4 Bb4+) *French Defense (after 2.e4 d5) *Queen's Gambit Declined (after 2.c4 d5) *Sicilian Defense (after 2.e4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4) *Benoni Defense (after 2.e4 c5 3.d5). The ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' code for the Horwitz Defense is A40. A famous game was played in this defense betweeEdward Lasker and George Thomas.The Quee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bernhard Horwitz
Bernhard Horwitz (1807 in Neustrelitz – 1885 in London) was a German and British chess master, chess writer and chess composer. Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part of a group of German chess players known as "The Pleiades". He moved to London in 1845, where he became a British citizen. In 1846, he lost a match against visiting master Lionel Kieseritzky, and another against Howard Staunton, losing 15.5–8.5. His best chess result was winning a match against Henry Bird in 1851. He played in the first international chess tournament, London 1851, again beating Bird in the first round, but losing to Staunton in the second and József Szén in the third. Horwitz's ''Chess Studies'' (1851), co-authored with Josef Kling, is an important work on the endgame study and endgames in general. "Horwitz bishops", a configuration in which two bishops are aggressively placed on adjacent diagonals, are named a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Transpose In Chess
In chess, a transposition is a sequence of moves that results in a position which may also be reached by another, more common sequence of moves. Transpositions are particularly common in the opening, where a given position may be reached by different sequences of moves. Players sometimes use transpositions deliberately, to avoid variations they dislike, lure opponents into unfamiliar or uncomfortable territory or simply to worry opponents. See review at In chess the verb "transpose" means to shift the game onto a different opening track from which it started. Transposition tables are an essential part of a computer chess program. Transpositions exist in other abstract strategy games such as shogi, Go, tic-tac-toe and Hex. Examples Positions reached by different routes For instance, the first position can be obtained from the Queen's Gambit: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 e6 :3. Nc3 Nf6 But this position can also be reached from the English Opening: :1. c4 e6 :2. Nc3 Nf6 :3. d4 d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Chess Openings
This is a list of chess openings, organized by the ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' () code. In 1966, Chess Informant categorized the chess openings into five broad areas ("A" through "E"), with each of those broken down into one hundred subcategories ("00" through "99"). The openings were published in five volumes of ''ECO'', with volumes labeled "A" through "E". This is a list of chess openings by the ''ECO'' classification. A – Flank openings * White first moves other than 1.e4, 1.d4 (A00–A39) * 1.d4 without 1...d5, 1...Nf6 or 1...f5: Atypical replies to 1.d4 (A40–A44) * 1.d4 Nf6 without 2.c4: Atypical replies to 1...Nf6 (A45–A49) * 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 without 2...e6 or 2...g6: Atypical Indian systems (A50–A79) * 1.d4 f5: Dutch Defence (A80–A99) A00–A39 White first moves other than 1.e4, 1.d4: *A00 Irregular Openings :* Anderssen's Opening: 1.a3 ::* Anderssen's Opening, Polish Gambit: 1...a5 2.b4 :::* Bugayev Attack 2...e5 ::* Anderssen's Opening, Creepy Crawly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Encyclopaedia Of Chess Openings
The ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' () is a reference work describing the state of opening theory in chess, originally published in five volumes from 1974 to 1979 by the Serbian company Šahovski Informator (Chess Informant). It is currently undergoing its fifth edition. ''ECO'' may also refer to the opening classification system used by the encyclopedia. Overview Both ''ECO'' and ''Chess Informant'' are published by the Belgrade-based company Šahovski Informator. The moves are taken from thousands of master games and from published analysis in ''Informant'' and compiled by the editors, most of whom are grandmasters, who select the lines which they consider most relevant or critical. The chief editor since the first edition has been Aleksandar Matanović. The openings are provided in an ''ECO'' table that concisely presents the opening lines considered most critical by the editors. ''ECO'' covers the openings in more detail than rival single volume publications such as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benoni Defense
The Benoni Defense is a chess opening characterized by an early reply of ...c5 against White's opening move 1.d4. Most commonly, it is reached by the sequence: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4, d4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6, Nf6 :2. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4, c4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...c5, c5 :3. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...c5/3. d5, d5 Black can then Sacrifice (chess), sacrifice a pawn with 3...b5 (the Benko Gambit), otherwise 3...e6 is the most common move. (3...d6 or 3...g6 are also seen, typically Transposition (chess), transposing to main lines.) The Old Benoni Defense is characterized by :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4, d4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...c5, c5 This will usually transpose into a main line after 2.d5, but Black has other options such as an early ...f5. Etymology ''Benoni (given name), Benoni'' (or "Ben-Oni") is an ancient Hebrew name, still occasionally used, meaning "son of my sorrow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sicilian Defense
The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: :1. e4 c5 The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4. Opening 1.d4 is a statistically more successful opening for White because of the high success rate of the Sicilian defence against 1.e4. '' New In Chess'' stated in its 2000 Yearbook that, of the games in its database, White scored 56.1% in 296,200 games beginning 1.d4, but 54.1% in 349,855 games beginning 1.e4, mainly because the Sicilian held White to a 52.3% score in 145,996 games. 17% of all games between grandmasters, and 25% of the games in the Chess Informant database, begin with the Sicilian. Grandmaster John Nunn attributes the Sicilian Defence's popularity to its "combative nature": "in many lines Black is playing not just for equality, but for the advantage. The drawback is that White often obtains an early initiative, so Black has to take care not to fall victim to a quick attack." Gran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queen's Gambit Declined
The Queen's Gambit Declined (or QGD) is a chess opening in which Black declines a pawn offered by White in the Queen's Gambit: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 e6 This is known as the ''Orthodox Line'' of the Queen's Gambit Declined. When the "Queen's Gambit Declined" is mentioned, it is usually assumed to be referring to the Orthodox Line; see " Other lines" below. The Orthodox Line can be reached by a number of different , such as 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5; 1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5; 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4; 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4; and so on. General concepts Playing 2...e6 releases Black's dark-squared bishop, while obstructing his light-squared bishop. By declining White's temporary pawn sacrifice, Black erects a solid position; the pawns on d5 and e6 give Black a foothold in the . The Queen's Gambit Declined has the reputation of being one of Black's most reliable defenses to 1.d4. In this situation, White will try to exploit the passivity of Black's light-squared bishop, and Black will try to rel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
French Defense
The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5, with Black intending ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, although some lines such as the Winawer Variation can lead to complications. Black's position is often somewhat in the early game; in particular, the pawn on e6 can impede the of the bishop on c8. Basics Following the opening moves 1.e4 e6, the main line of the French Defence continues 2.d4 d5 (see below for alternatives). White sets up a , which Black immediately challenges by attacking the pawn on e4. The same position can be reached by from a Queen's Pawn Game after 1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 or the declining of a Blackmar–Diemer Gambit after 1.d4 d5 2.e4 e6. White's options include defending the e4-pawn with 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2, advancing it with 3.e5, or exchanging it with 3.exd5, each of which leads to different types of po ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keres Defense
The Keres Defence (also known as the Kangaroo Defence or Franco-Indian Defence) is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. d4 e6 :2. c4 Bb4+ The opening is named for Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres. History This opening was known since the 1840s and was played by Henry Thomas Buckle in his fourth match game with Johann Löwenthal, London 1851. The standard reply today, 3.Bd2, was recommended by Howard Staunton. Discussion White can respond 3.Nc3, 3.Nd2, or 3.Bd2. The game often transposes to a Nimzo-Indian Defence, a Dutch Defence, a Queen's Gambit Declined, an English Defence, or a Bogo-Indian Defence. 3.Nc3 is likely to transpose into one of those openings: 3...Nf6 (Nimzo-Indian), 3...f5 (Dutch; Korn gives 3...Bxc3+ 4.bxc3 f5!, played by Buckle) 3...d5 (an unusual form of QGD), or 3...b6 (English). Black has the same options after 3.Nd2, except that 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 is a Bogo-Indian. After 3.Bd2, Black can continue with 3...Bxd2+ into a line of the Bogo-Indian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
!? (Interesting Move)
When annotating chess games, commentators frequently use widely recognized annotation symbols. Question marks and exclamation points that denote a move as bad or good are ubiquitous in chess literature. Some publications intended for an international audience, such as the ''Chess Informant'', have a wide range of additional symbols that transcend language barriers. The common symbols for evaluating the merits of a move are "??", "?", "?!", "!?", "!", and "!!". The chosen symbol is appended to the text describing the move (e.g. Re7? or Kh1!?); see Algebraic chess notation. Use of these annotation symbols is subjective, as different annotators use the same symbols differently. Moreover, an annotator's use of symbols is often influenced by the player's strength: for example, a positional misjudgment that an annotator might give a "??" if played by a strong grandmaster might pass unremarked if played by a novice. Annotators' use of punctuation may also be influenced by the result o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chess Opening
A chess opening or simply an opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established theory; the other phases are the middlegame and the endgame. Many opening sequences have standard names such as the "Sicilian Defense". ''The Oxford Companion to Chess'' lists 1,327 named openings and variants, and there are many others with varying degrees of common usage. Opening moves that are considered standard are referred to as "book moves", or simply "book". When a game begins to deviate from known opening theory, the players are said to be "out of book". In some openings, "book" lines have been worked out for over 30 moves, as in the classical King's Indian Defense and in the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense. Professional chess players spend years studying openings, and continue doing so throughout their careers, as opening theory continues to evolve. Players at the club level also study openings but the importance of the opening phase is smaller ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Staunton Gambit
The Staunton Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. d4 f5 (the Dutch Defence) :2. e4!? White sacrifices a pawn for quick development, hoping to launch an attack against Black's , which has been somewhat weakened by 1...f5. Black can decline the gambit with 2...d6, transposing to the Balogh Defence, but accepting the pawn with 2...fxe4 is considered stronger. Although the Staunton Gambit was once a feared weapon for White, it is rarely played today, since theory has shown how to neutralise it, and White scores only about 50 percent. The '' ECO'' codes for Staunton Gambit are A82 and A83. Gambit accepted After 2...fxe4, play usually proceeds 3.Nc3 Nf6. Main line: 4.Bg5 The main line runs 4.Bg5, first played by Howard Staunton against Bernhard Horwitz in London, 1846. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |