20. Rd2 7 votes Rd2 (boolberry, dre1982, languagehasmeaning, hueristic, xmrpromotions, Foxpup, abacus) 3 votes Bf4 (gotmilk_, ErisDiscordia, newb4now) 1 vote Qa3 (Timelord2067) 1 vote Nf4 (jjacob) I can understand why counting votes is a chore with the current format. Your idea for another voting only thread (ran by someone else) is a good one. Once it is created I can link to it in the OP here. The community can decide who the moderator (if needed) should be, so long as it is not me.
Thanks for the link proposal and sorry for my late reply.  It seems that also quoting/updating the table after every new vote is working well. Surely better than before. Let's see how it works and in case start that new vote only thread. If this happens we can talk more about chess in this thread without worrying about confusing the vote counters. I can post more puzzles and am willing to help analyze our current game once it is over.
That would be awesome, both the post game analysis and the puzzles! Now, I'm curious about a thing... Am I the only one who always thought that the aperture in the head of a Bishop piece represented a medieval armory? It seems I was wrong...  |
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That vote only thread sounds smart. Will OP start that or will you? Why do you think it should be moderated? So that only votes are posted and not anything else?
Exactly, only votes in a clear and agreed one row post (we should discuss how vote changes or 2nd choice must be declared). It's important to decide if it should be moderated or not, because this option is only available when you start a new topic and you can't modify it after. About the thread starter, I think that OP would be the natural choice here, but if I remember well he asked for someone else to count the votes. I also see Taras or Foxpup well suited for this task. If I am trusted enough, I am available too. Another option would be for every voter to quote the previous voter and update a running tally of voting totals. Compliance may become difficult to enforce but in theory this should be easy.
That should improve the current situation, but as you wrote, I've some doubts about its compliance. Update including the last vote:I vote Qb3 too.
18. Nd2 dre198218. Qb3 - 9 VOTES - [Foxpup, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, Timelord2067, boolberry, XMRpromotions, ErisDiscordia, abacus, newb4now] 18. Rd2 - 2 VOTES - [gotmilk_ (you meant Rd2, right?), Hueristic] 18. Ne1 - 2 VOTES - [ObscureBean (I'm assuming you voted for it), dre1982] 18. e5 Hueristic |
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I think that, with the increase of number of partecipants and relative discussions, counting the votes is becoming more difficult and time consuming.
I propose, as a quick-and-dirty solution, to split this thread with a twin one to separate the future gathering process of votes from all the rest. This should greatly improve the readability.
I haven't still created this new parallel thread because I would like to know your thoughts about the idea itself, what must be posted where and if the new thread should be moderated. It should work, don't you think?
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I vote for 18. Qb3. It seems the best move among our few options and Foxpup has posted a good exit strategy. Is this correct?
Yes, I've counted the same votes. Here is the update with my one and Heuristic's change. 18. Nd2 dre198218. Qb3 - 8 VOTES - [Foxpup, jjacob, languagehasmeaning, Timelord2067, boolberry, XMRpromotions, ErisDiscordia, abacus] 18. Rd2 - 2 VOTES - [gotmilk_ (you meant Rd2, right?), Hueristic] 18. Ne1 - 2 VOTES - [ObscureBean (I'm assuming you voted for it), dre1982] 18. e5 HueristicWe don't have many good options. 18. Qb3 is as good as any, I guess. Our stupidly advanced a-pawn is proving to be a crippling weakness (which is why I was against advancing it in the first place) and we'll probably have to let it go at some point. I just don't see how we can maintain it in the long run.
Was 14.a5 really that bad? (just asking) I mean, the other options we had didn't like me too much: 1) if we don't move a-pawn -> we lost the pawn captured by bxc4 giving it for free 2) if we axb5 -> the black moves axb5 again, opening the a file and I was a bit scared of it. With a5, which is still surviving for now, we forced the Queen move and, considering the quiz OP posted, it seems also the Knight in Nb8. |
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17. Be3
That's the reason we moved h3.
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I like both the suggested b3 and h3. With b3 we'll have a better final position after reacting to the Black c4, while with h3 we could then move the Bishop to e3, where I think we really need it to be. But before my vote, I would like to ask you what do you think about the following move, if it could work or if it deserves one or more question marks.  Let me introduce... 16. e5After this, Black will need to move the Knight in f6 (he can't take our pawn with the other Knight because of our Bishop). Now, where can he move? There are only few options, and they all seem favourable to us: Ne8 (the Knight has been pushed back to the starting line, we can move Be3) Nh5 (sort of like above, we can move Be3) Ng4 (now we can play h3; after that the Knight in g4 will not take the e5 pawn because it isn't a favourable swap for him) Ne4 (forget about it: we would take the Knight with dxe4 or Nxe4) Nd5 (now Be3 is precluded to us, but we could decide to swap the Knights with Nxd5. Black'll then move exd5 letting us, if it's worth it, to move our pawn to e6 with suicidal tendencies to break the castle wall). What do you think? |
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My idea is that we can still play e4 now and meet Rac8 with Re1. Then after he plays c4 we can play dxc4 (or even d4) and we still have our pawn on e4 sufficiently defended. If you don't like the idea of moving our rook again we can play b3 after Rac8 instead of Re1
You've sold me on it. 15. e4 for me too, please. Here is a recap including my vote: 15. e4 6 votes (boolberry, ErisDiscordia, gotmilk_, dre1982, Foxpup, abacus) 15. Bc7 2 votes (Febo, jjacob) 15. Ng5 1 vote (bitcoinboy12) 15. Ra3 1 vote (Timelord2067) 15. Rac1 1 vote (neochiny) (Edit: I hope it's right, but I see there is some differences from the graph Taras has posted while I was writing this) Rac1 plz... since e4 is not good because our d3 pawn will be weak in the end. like the a5 pawn...
and Bc7 is just a useless move since unless you guys want to exchange it.
Our d3 pawn is probably a dead man walking already, waiting for his own sacrifice to capture the black c-pawn when he moves.  I would say 15 Bc7.
We drive away the Rook and we can always bring our bishop back (if it is attacked).
The problem here is that we'll probably drive the Rook in a still favorable position, i.e. on c1. In this case we have to come back with the Bishop, with very few advantages for us. Maybe we could look again at Bc7 once the d file is open (if our Rook is still on d1). |
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My vote is for a5.
Let's force the Black to the only two allowed moves to save his Queen (as languagehasmeaning wrote: Qc6 or Qa7).
The threat on the f2 diagonal is a bit scaring, but I think we should have the time and the options to react when the alarm bell rings (i.e. Black moves the c-pawn).
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Oh and I just recalled read a while ago that placing someone on Ignore holds weight with the trust list as well, but where that explanation is I'm not sure.
there was nothing like that. just this fancy feature. not sure why it was disabled but theymos said it was expensive. That was an useful, very useful feature. I missed it especially after the cages of the newbie jail were opened. It permitted to save your time by skipping without worries some long useless posts before you read them entirely. In the thread you linked, seems that the intention of theymos was to reinstate it at a later time: Why was this removed? Or are you going to make me find the relevant post in this 12 page thread...?
Liam
The feature took up too much of the servers resources so it was disabled: I have temporarily disabled this feature unless you are logged in. It is very expensive. I plan to make it less expensive soon, but this requires many changes.
I've had to totally disable this feature. I will fix it in a few days.
Back on topic. I like your idea OP to add the DT level, but please do not rely (only) on the colours differences. It isn't a matter of a limited palette, but mostly the fact that there may be many issues with them, like misconfigured displays or daltonic people. Furthermore, you still have to remember which colour means what. |
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ah ok my bad, ill post my own thread with the chess board cakir had posted sorry for the inconvenience...
No worries. Feel free to stick around and join the existing game if you wish. Yep, I was going to post the same thing. Why don't you join us if you like to play chess? OP — the Anonymous Grand Master — said he hopes to see more members involved as the game goes on.  BTW, I'm a bit surprised that only 5 or 6 (edit: rather 7 or 8 ) of us, among the bct community, are playing this epic battle against a real chess GM. |
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I like the idea of Be3 but based on the reasoning of my prior post I don't think we are ready for it now.
13. Be3 Ng4 is very annoying
We may need to play h3 first.
Jeez... you're perfectly right! After reading your prior post I had the impression we could postpone h3 after the Ng4... I didn't pay attention to the fact that our Bishop will already be on e3 and so under the attack of Ng4. As you said, this will be very annoying, we would be forced to move again the Bishop. On the other side, starting with the pawn and only then the Bishop, looks maybe a bit too long to me. Ok, a4 for me too, please. In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?
This obviously can vary, but the options clear to me are: 13. a4 bxa4 ---> 14. Nxa4 (check to the Queen) 13. a4 [Black doesn't swap] ---> 14. axb4 or a5 or wathever based on what Black moved |
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In short 13. a4 is a simpler plan we can play right away, but what is our follow up?
Continue putting pressure on the queenside until we can break open the c- or d-file. Exactly how we do that depends on how Black responds. Black may well want to open up the position immediately with 13... c4 to open up the diagonal for his queen, so we should maintain the threat of a5 just in case his queen becomes a problem. @abacus, have you decided yet? 13. Be3 Thanks for waiting me! I was still trying to look at the conseguences of a Be3 played now, but I know my time is over (I could never play a real match with a game clock, lol). Let's do so: considering I see the consensus going for a4, my vote here is for Be3, to get some opinions from you all (in case this move is worth it). If there is an oversight in Be3 or some draw to break then I'll go with a4 without doubt. |
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I'm leaning towards d4 to make the Rook earn its keep.
No good! It makes the Black rook earn its keep! After 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4?? Bxf3 loses the exchange one way or another) 14... Rac8 (or 14... Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Rac8, same difference), we'll have to give up the c-file to unpin the knight. I was looking to d4 too, but this analysis has made me change my mind. My vote for Rac1. I'm the third who thought d4 was a good move... Now I'm looking better at a4 but I would like to wait a few hours before my decision. |
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So now it's five votes for Rfd1 (languagehasmeaning, jjacob, abacus, neochiny, and myself) and three for a4 (Timeloard2067, actmyname, and Taras). I hope I've got it right this time.
So has the community decided on Rfd1? Or are people still debating the choice? More than 24 hours have elapsed from the last vote... hehe... voting for Rfd1... it is the best move i can see...
a4 is useless for me... even if i am black..i can crash white when white do it...
Do we all agree we've reached the consensus for Rfd1? It seems so to me... (Rfd1: recursive acronym of Rfd1 for de w1n!!!)  |
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So far we have four votes for a4 (Timelord2067, actmyname, languagehasmeaning, and Taras) and two votes for Rfd1 (abacus and myself). There is also one vote for Rac4 (jjacob), but that is not a legal move. We will wait until everyone's done debating a4 vs. Rfd1 and for jjacob to correct his vote before deciding.
We are 3-3 until now, languagehasmeaning switched to Rfd1. I would like to change my vote from a4 to Rfd1. It sounds like you agree with me that a4 does not accomplish much if black just responds with Qb6
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Thanks - I don't think it's wise to remove the King's protection by moving that Rook.
My suggesting a4 was to enable the other Rook a chance to break out.
If we move Rad1, we will weaken the a file, making the pawn road (a4) more difficult to defend. About the King protection, both our Rooks are still on the first row and probably they'll remain there until there're so many pieces on the chessboard. With Rfd1 I think we can consider the King still well defended in our crowded castle. |
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Let's take control of d file with Rfd1. Can't wait to open the battle with d4.
Sorry if my question is a little dense, I 'm not up with all the terminology, are you wanting to move the Rook on f1 to d1 or the Rook on a1 to d1? The Rook on f1 to d1. If I've well understood algebraic notation, this is what the f in R fd1 states. With only one Rook left, a simple Rd1 would have been enough. |
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Let's take control of d file with Rfd1. Can't wait to open the battle with d4.
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Or did you just figure "Black attacks the bishop, White saves the bishop, so we're equal" without considering the other effects on the position?
I hope you will not be deluded by me but... Yes, to be honest, that was what I intended. I'm afraid I've used the wrong verb (to contrast with) when what I really wanted to ask was: Are we sure Bf4 is a good move? Black could easily attack with Nh5 and force us to move back. Now I know Nh5 isn't going to happen and why. Beginners often make moves such as that in the hope that their equally inexperienced opponents will not see the attack (which works often enough that they don't understand what they're doing wrong), but any half-decent player would never even consider such a move. Experienced players always assume the opponent will defend correctly, and will not attack unless it gives them an advantage even if defended (or there is no defence possible). For example, Black did not play 8... b5 because he expected to take our queen (although he obviously would have if we didn't move it!), instead he did it to get his bishop out while we were busy rescuing the queen.
Yep, this should already be in my background (at least I hope), but sometimes it is hard for me to recognize a bad move, like Nh5 in this case. When I played with friends years ago, we always let each other to move again to avoid oversights and trivial errors. We often called the check to the queen, too. Now I'm going with a lot of CTRL-Z! |
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If so, I don't see many options other than move our bishop back.
Right, to e3. That's not the best square for the bishop, but h5 is a far worse square for the knight, so I don't see many options for Black other than to move his knight back, wasting a tempo. The black knight is quite useless on h5, as knights on the edge of the board generally are. Then Bf4 for me too, please. I had the sensation there were some advantages to us with Bf4, but I am still not used to these lesser details (well, not so small details if you're playing against a GM). Thanks for your explainations, always interesting. Isn't Bf4 easily contrasted with Nh5?
How can you say that when you already refuted Nh5 correctly? Sorry Foxpup, but I'm not sure if I've well understood your meaning... Did I refuted Nh5?  |
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