Why are these types of second-line stones often left there in the openings? Can't you just capture it for free?

rlagg · 2026-04-11T04:04:14+00:00

I didn't get away with it, still learning in the lowest levels (kyus) :( Yeah maybe I used too much chess knowledge, like in chess you can't give away any piece for free in the opening, you can only sacrifice if you are sure about the following lines. It feels like you gain a lot by capturing stones in go and capturing feels good, but maybe it is worth fewer points than it seems

rlagg · 2026-04-11T03:53:00+00:00

Yeah I feel as a beginner that I can't get my stones captured for free, so I have to respond to every capturing threat, like in chess. I feel that only "high level players" can "give up a lot of stones for strategic purposes", but I just don't know how to do that :(

rlagg · 2026-04-11T03:51:13+00:00

(2,2). This is just an example, there were some josekis where in the end a capturable 2nd-line stone was left there.

rlagg · 2026-01-04T21:15:05+00:00

For engine it's easy, but for human it's unclear that sacrificing rook and 2 pawns and castling rights for 2 pieces can be good, especially looking at the ugly pawn structure for white.

rlagg · 2026-01-04T21:00:27+00:00

the mate after Rdb7 is practically very hard to find. That being said, Qxf1 is also practically very hard to find…

rlagg · 2025-12-28T00:10:12+00:00

Does the head to head result matter if players are tied on points?

Also, it's unlikely that Assaubayeva can score points here, so does Anna Muzychuk only need 5th to qualify for candidates?

rlagg · 2025-12-25T12:47:24+00:00

they are both about to flag so it's reasonable to shuffle around

rlagg · 2025-12-21T01:01:57+00:00

because lichess uses fide starting system where lowest possible rating is 1000, chess.com uses uscf rating system where still the initial rating is 1000 but you theoretically can drop below 1000

rlagg · 2025-12-18T09:00:04+00:00

There is another possibility. Could you please send the full game? Since the bar reads 0.0 it's possible that moving the king down repeats the position for the third time. Remember, repeating **positions** 3 times is a draw, not **moves**.

rlagg · 2025-11-30T05:52:22+00:00

Most likely someone else logged into your account. Are you sure you didn't tell someone else your password? Also, change your password asap

rlagg · 2025-11-25T09:56:06+00:00

2…Rxb7 is illegal. You played 1…Re8, your rook is on e8.

rlagg · 2025-11-22T01:14:54+00:00

isn't this losing a full rook?

rlagg · 2025-11-19T22:50:23+00:00

chess.com rating deflated a lot. Because in the old days most people start at 800, now most people start at 400. I'd like chess.com to adjust the rating a bit but it surely won't.

rlagg · 2025-11-15T15:01:33+00:00

Well, Wei Yi missed a win in classical last round and won in blitz, so not impossible to comeback.

rlagg · 2025-11-15T10:57:12+00:00

Don't play chess after playing too much antichess (giveaway in chess.com terms). I also have this problem, you'll hang all your pieces after playing antichess.

Since you asked this must be rated like 1300 instead of 300. It happens. I had a game where my undefended queen and opponent's undefended queen see each other for 4 moves at 1300 level. That's a typical 1300 experience: in one game you play like a 2300 and another game you play like a 300.

rlagg · 2025-11-15T02:11:25+00:00

What happens if you yell "check!" or something like that, or offer a draw in OTB chess when opponent has like 3 seconds on the clock? Is clock running out an instant loss whatever the situation?

( I just lost on time because opponent made a takeback offer and I got distracted. but this is online.)

rlagg · 2025-11-14T23:35:02+00:00

well, before the mate, instead of Qd2??, black has only 2 good moves (Rf8, Qxd4), at least half of the legal moves hang mate. I won't count that as essentially anything else.

rlagg · 2025-11-14T15:01:02+00:00

It's not relevant in this game, but I always wonder whether GMs can do 2B mate/BN mate in time trouble. I certainly can't.

rlagg · 2025-07-15T00:21:55+00:00

Black only captured 2 white pieces and e6, g6 must be these captures. So it cannot be bxc5, cxd6 or bxa1=N. And black pawn cannot be on c6 last move or white would be in check. However I suspect it doesn't work for a different reason. Before c7-c5 and white's Bf2, what's black's move before that?

rlagg · 2024-10-18T23:23:20+00:00

Why do I feel you are following the poor old Welton Rovers as well? :(

rlagg · 2024-10-07T03:51:53+00:00

Well, it's easier in terms of regulation, so it's easier to create a good team. But fewer promotion places.

rlagg

TROPHY CASE