On August 28 2013 05:03 Biff The Understudy wrote: ##vote e2 - e4
Oh, I just noticed that this vote was in the wrong format: it didn't include the move number. Didn't make a difference this vote, since 1. e2-e4 won handily anyway, but please make sure to include the move number next time you vote if you want your vote to be counted. Reason I think it important to insist on this point of the format is that it allows people to find your vote for a particular move using "find"—maybe not so important when the thread consists mostly of votes, but potentially important if the thread ever gets more cluttered, and/or if you vote for a move in advance of the voting period for that move, say, if you know you won't be around for the voting period.
Speaking of which, I'm going to bed now, so I won't be around to "officially" close the vote for a while. That's all right; as I said in the OP, the game runs by the thread, not the OP, so consider the vote closed as soon as this voting period ends, in 20 minutes from now.
By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Here's his explanation of the Open Sicilian (which is what this game is heading for):
On August 30 2013 01:22 qrs wrote: By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Does not mention the exploitation of the open c file for black and open d file for white, and the inherent weakness of black's d pawn, which is a bit strange. That's one of the most important feature of the sicilian after all... But I guess you can't do so much in a short youtube video.
On August 30 2013 01:22 qrs wrote: By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Does not mention the exploitation of the open c file for black and open d file for white, and the inherent weakness of black's d pawn, which is a bit strange. That's one of the most important feature of the sicilian after all... But I guess you can't do so much in a short youtube video.
Books books books
Yeah, you make good points. I agree with you that those are some pretty fundamental ideas as well (meaning, they're true in almost any variation that the game might take), and it's a bit strange that he didn't even touch on them. On the other hand, I think perhaps that actually points up his strength as a teacher: he's very good at identifying just a small number of basic themes and showing how they apply throughout the game, for a given opening. There are many themes at work in almost any opening—almost any chess position for that matter—and it can be very easy to get bogged down in them if you try to show as many as you can all at once: "this factor could make a difference if this happens, but this other factor could come into play if that happens...", etc.
I'm neither an expert chess-player nor an expert teacher, so I'm not qualified to comment directly on the choices Master Kelley makes in his presentations, but I can say that every time I watch one, I feel like I understand some of the thought processes behind an opening a little better than I did before. But you're right: they're not the be-all and end-all of opening knowledge.
On August 30 2013 01:56 Biff The Understudy wrote:
On August 30 2013 01:22 qrs wrote: By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Does not mention the exploitation of the open c file for black and open d file for white, and the inherent weakness of black's d pawn, which is a bit strange. That's one of the most important feature of the sicilian after all... But I guess you can't do so much in a short youtube video.
Books books books
Yeah, you make good points. I agree with you that those are some pretty fundamental ideas as well (meaning, they're true in almost any variation that the game might take), and it's a bit strange that he didn't even touch on them. On the other hand, I think perhaps that actually points up his strength as a teacher: he's very good at identifying just a small number of basic themes and showing how they apply throughout the game, for a given opening. There are many themes at work in almost any opening—almost any chess position for that matter—and it can be very easy to get bogged down in them if you try to show as many as you can all at once: "this factor could make a difference if this happens, but this other factor could come into play if that happens...", etc.
I'm neither an expert chess-player nor an expert teacher, so I'm not qualified to comment directly on the choices Master Kelley makes in his presentations, but I can say that every time I watch one, I feel like I understand some of the thought processes behind an opening a little better than I did before. But you're right: they're not the be-all and end-all of opening knowledge.
Yep...
He did a great job at explaining white's development lead, but again, I just don't agree on his analysis of black's forces and weaknesses. Black's pawn centre is much more a handicap than an asset, and often, black decisive move is when he finally manages to break his cramped central pawns and free his game.
And for anybody that has ever played against a Maroczy, you must know how much of a pain the weak d pawn is and how easy it is for white to attack this "great central pawn majority"
On the other hand he didn't mentioned that the c file open begs for a queenside minority attack and that the sicilian is playable for black not because he has a great pawn centre, but because he has a really mobile queenside.
I am not nearly as qualified as this guy is, but that seems like a strange misunderstanding of the sicilian for a Master.
On August 30 2013 01:56 Biff The Understudy wrote:
On August 30 2013 01:22 qrs wrote: By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Does not mention the exploitation of the open c file for black and open d file for white, and the inherent weakness of black's d pawn, which is a bit strange. That's one of the most important feature of the sicilian after all... But I guess you can't do so much in a short youtube video.
Books books books
Yeah, you make good points. I agree with you that those are some pretty fundamental ideas as well (meaning, they're true in almost any variation that the game might take), and it's a bit strange that he didn't even touch on them. On the other hand, I think perhaps that actually points up his strength as a teacher: he's very good at identifying just a small number of basic themes and showing how they apply throughout the game, for a given opening. There are many themes at work in almost any opening—almost any chess position for that matter—and it can be very easy to get bogged down in them if you try to show as many as you can all at once: "this factor could make a difference if this happens, but this other factor could come into play if that happens...", etc.
I'm neither an expert chess-player nor an expert teacher, so I'm not qualified to comment directly on the choices Master Kelley makes in his presentations, but I can say that every time I watch one, I feel like I understand some of the thought processes behind an opening a little better than I did before. But you're right: they're not the be-all and end-all of opening knowledge.
Yep...
He did a great job at explaining white's development lead, but again, I just don't agree on his analysis of black's forces and weaknesses. Black's pawn centre is much more a handicap than an asset, and often, black decisive move is when he finally manages to break his cramped central pawns and free his game.
And for anybody that has ever played against a Maroczy, you must know how much of a pain the weak d pawn is and how easy it is for white to attack this "great central pawn majority"
I watched a different video of his where he did mention the Maróczy bind as a position that White would love to achieve. I think the reason he didn't mention it in this one is that Black can play to make it difficult for White to achieve it.
On the other hand he didn't mentioned that the c file open begs for a queenside minority attack and that the sicilian is playable for black not because he has a great pawn centre, but because he has a really mobile queenside.
I am not nearly as qualified as this guy is, but that seems like a strange misunderstanding of the sicilian for a Master.
Well, one thing I am pretty sure of is that he has a better understanding of the Sicilian than either of us, but maybe you're right that he didn't choose the best aspects to emphasize. Or maybe it's a matter of style. Why don't you leave a comment or two on the video on YouTube? He's very responsive; he'll answer you.
On August 30 2013 02:48 Biff The Understudy wrote:
On August 30 2013 02:25 qrs wrote:
On August 30 2013 01:56 Biff The Understudy wrote:
On August 30 2013 01:22 qrs wrote: By the way, as a service to anyone who's playing or following this game: In the opening of the last TL Chess Match, hp.shell posted a link to some short video lectures by Dereque Kelley on various chess openings. I don't usually watch chess videos, but I really enjoyed these. Mr. Kelley has a real knack for clearly and concisely explaining the basic ideas behind an opening. His videos are a good resource if you're not so familiar with a particular opening and you want a quick overview of what it's about.
Does not mention the exploitation of the open c file for black and open d file for white, and the inherent weakness of black's d pawn, which is a bit strange. That's one of the most important feature of the sicilian after all... But I guess you can't do so much in a short youtube video.
Books books books
Yeah, you make good points. I agree with you that those are some pretty fundamental ideas as well (meaning, they're true in almost any variation that the game might take), and it's a bit strange that he didn't even touch on them. On the other hand, I think perhaps that actually points up his strength as a teacher: he's very good at identifying just a small number of basic themes and showing how they apply throughout the game, for a given opening. There are many themes at work in almost any opening—almost any chess position for that matter—and it can be very easy to get bogged down in them if you try to show as many as you can all at once: "this factor could make a difference if this happens, but this other factor could come into play if that happens...", etc.
I'm neither an expert chess-player nor an expert teacher, so I'm not qualified to comment directly on the choices Master Kelley makes in his presentations, but I can say that every time I watch one, I feel like I understand some of the thought processes behind an opening a little better than I did before. But you're right: they're not the be-all and end-all of opening knowledge.
Yep...
He did a great job at explaining white's development lead, but again, I just don't agree on his analysis of black's forces and weaknesses. Black's pawn centre is much more a handicap than an asset, and often, black decisive move is when he finally manages to break his cramped central pawns and free his game.
And for anybody that has ever played against a Maroczy, you must know how much of a pain the weak d pawn is and how easy it is for white to attack this "great central pawn majority"
I watched a different video of his where he did mention the Maróczy bind as a position that White would love to achieve. I think the reason he didn't mention it in this one is that Black can play to make it difficult for White to achieve it.
On the other hand he didn't mentioned that the c file open begs for a queenside minority attack and that the sicilian is playable for black not because he has a great pawn centre, but because he has a really mobile queenside.
I am not nearly as qualified as this guy is, but that seems like a strange misunderstanding of the sicilian for a Master.
Well, one thing I am pretty sure of is that he has a better understanding of the Sicilian than either of us, but maybe you're right that he didn't choose the best aspects to emphasize. Or maybe it's a matter of style. Why don't you leave a comment or two on the video on YouTube? He's very responsive; he'll answer you.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZvLw40t.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UaSSei4.png)
