Semi-Noob Looking to Learn...

[cgannon64]

I think I'm kind of a noob at chess. I hope to join the Chess Team next year (my bro says I'm better than most of them...) and I just want to see how good I am. I don't really know openings or anything like that...anyone interested in giving me some lessons while we play?

maybe he was just being nice

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Do you accept my challenge then?

1. e4 (king pawn opening)

 

[cgannon64]

Sorry for the delay.

1. e4 e5

Oh, and don't worry, I at least know the King's Pawn opening.

feels so weird to post again

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 (king knight's game)

 

[cgannon64]

Sorry for not checking this thread, I hope you are still on hedgehog. Bah, I'll set up a chess board. I suck at playing in my head.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6

Thought about doing Nf6, but I think this is a better defense.

you better still be online...

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3

Your move is called "closed variation". There are a lot of "best" moves this early in the game. Some alternatives are: Nf6 (more agressive, but good), d5 (risky, but frees the other bishop), f5 (hints of the king's gambit... a gambit is a move when you sacrifice a pawn to gain momentum, and your opponent has the option to accept or decline it...), and so on...

Now a little word of advice... Don't do the same mistake i did. It is in fact counter-productive to learn a lot of openings at an early stage. You have to gain a little experience to understand them...

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by hedgehog

Your move is called "closed variation". There are a lot of "best" moves this early in the game. Some alternatives are: Nf6 (more agressive, but good), d5 (risky, but frees the other bishop), f5 (hints of the king's gambit... a gambit is a move when you sacrifice a pawn to gain momentum, and your opponent has the option to accept or decline it...), and so on...

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6

You know, I actually don't like Nc6 that much anymore. Not that its a bad move, but its a little too defensive for my liking. I would have been really ticked if you did an offensive move...but at least you played defensive as well.

hope youre on

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2

burrowing into my defenses and preparing king-side castle... still playing without board...

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by hedgehog
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2

burrowing into my defenses and preparing king-side castle... still playing without board...

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6

Just noticed that you moved. Want to stack the center? I'll play ball. Although I'm trying to put pressure on that e4 pawn. And unfortunately, I don't like my position all that much. My black bishop is locked in. I'll probably move him to castle, but the center is going to have to light up for him to be useful.

game (finally) on

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3


The center is going to heat up... It seems that people who say they are newbies are really not (myself included). I have played about 2000 games of chess and spent many hours analysing various other games... Yet I still consider myself a newbie. This is partly because now and then I play against a really good player (2000+) and they always bring my feet back on the ground...

P.S. I don't think anyone here can believe me that I played a game against Garry Kasparov once, but that's another story... ;-)

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by hedgehog

P.S. I don't think anyone here can believe me that I played a game against Garry Kasparov once, but that's another story... ;-)

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be2

Tell me more! Did you win?

i beleive you

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be2

The game goes:
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be7 I guess this is what you mean...
6. O-O

 

[cgannon64]

Sorry for the delay, I had some trouble posting. I PM'd you my move, but lets see if I can post again.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7

Sorry about that typo. I know notation, I just somehow pressed 7 instead of 2... If you did Castle Kingside under the wrong impression (i.e. that I moved Be7) just tell me and you can change it.

so did you win

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4

I need to gain some central control...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O

I thought about a few options, mainly taking that pawn, but I think if I have a little self-control, I can gain the center in this situation.

of course, you have to play along

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O
8. d5!

I thought about a few options, mainly taking that pawn, but I think if I have a little self-control, I can gain the center in this situation.

lol

You should trust your instincts. Too much self-control cgannon

 

[Aphex_Twin]

just to make sure we are on the same track here...

The current position, after my move:

 

[cgannon64]

Damn it! I never see the obvious moves, only the overly complex chains. I think that is my major weak point in chess.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O
8. d5 Bd7

Anyway, I think this is the only way I can lose a major piece instead of two. Every other scenerio I looked at, I lost two major pieces. I must say, you do have VERY nice coverage of the center. Those two knights, combined with the open file for the queen and some pawns give you lots of control.

I keep on forgetting to do the most important thing in play-by-(e)mail of posting chess - take time for your moves! I have SO much time to think, and yet I rush.

for the record ive never used the wallbash smilie twice in one post

 

[Aphex_Twin]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O
8. d5 Bd7
9. dxc6

Quite obvioust...

 

[cgannon64]

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d3 d6
4. Be2 Nf6
5. Nc3 Be6
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O
8. d5 Bd7
9. dxc6 Bxc6

Do you think there was any other way out of that situation, besides Bd7? It was the best I saw...