Kaze Araki Tutorial: Chess Logic and Planning for Beginners (A Step by Step Approach)

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Kaze Araki

Libertarian Communist
#1
Most of the time, Beginners - while knowing how to move the Chess pieces, lack a clear constructive plan to win the game. This tutorial aims to supply readers with a basic understanding on how to approach a game. All games revolve around the same question: "how to improve one's position", and we will take the following 2 hours game as a good example;

[chess][Event "ChessCube Game"]
[Site "www.chesscube.com"]
[Date "2011.06.27"]
[Round "-"]
[White "uvrastogi44@chesscube.com"]
[Black "deathrhapsody@chesscube.com"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1977"]
[BlackElo "1655"]
[Time "16:49:53"]
[TimeControl "3600"]

1. d4 d5 2. f4 Nf6 3. c3 Bf5 4. Qb3 Qc8 5. e3 e6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 c5 8. a3 c4 9. Qd1 Be7 10. Nh4 Be4 11. Nhf3 Bf5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. fxe5 Ne4 14. Nf3 Qd8 15. Be2 Bh4+ 16. g3 Be7 17. Qa4+ Kf8 18. Rg1 h5 19. Bd2 a6 20. Qd1 g5 21. Bc1 g4 22. Nd2 Ng5 23. Rf1 Rc8 24. Rf2 Nh3 25. Rg2 Bg5 26. Bf1 Bxe3 27. Re2 Bxd2+ 28. Bxd2 Ng1 29. Rf2 Nf3+ 30. Rxf3 gxf3 31. Qxf3 Qb6 32. Qf2 Qb3 33. Bg5 Rc6 34. Rc1 Rb6 35. Bf6 Rg8 36. Qf4 Qxb2 37. Be2 Rb3 38. Bxh5 Rxc3 39. Rxc3 Qxc3+ 40. Qd2 Qa1+ 41. Bd1 c3 42. Qh6+ Ke8 43. Bg5 c2 44. Bc1 cxd1=Q+ 45. Kxd1 Qxd4+ 46. Bd2 Qa1+ 47. Bc1 Qxe5 48. Qd2 Bg4+ 49. Kc2 Qc7+ 50. Kb2 b5 51. Ka1 Bf5 52. Bb2 Qb6 53. Bd4 Qc6 54. Qf4 Rg4 55. Qb8+ Kd7 56. Bb2 Rc4 57. Qa7+ Kd6 58. Qb8+ Kd7 59. Qa7+ Qc7 60. Qg1 Qc5 61. Qe1 b4 62. Qd1 bxa3 63. Qd2 axb2+ 64. Kxb2 Qb5+ 65. Ka3 Qa4+ 66. Kb2 Rb4+ 67. Kc1 Rb1# 0-1[/chess]

uvrastogi44 (1977) vs deathrhapsody (1655)
Time Control: 60 Minutes [each].

1. d4 ...
Apart from the standard e4, d4 is another solid move by White that aims to control the center (e4,e5,d4,d5 squares). The pawn move occupy the d4 square while taking control of e5 and c5 with its reach. In summary, White's first move insert control on two key central squares; d4 and e5.

1. ... d5
Likewise, Black also want to claim some stakes on the center as well, and the pawn move insert Black's control on d5 and e4 squares. With these two moves sequences, both players insert their influences on the central squares.

2. f4 ...
This is a rather aggressive move by White, aiming to insert a strong control on the e5 square. A more mainstream move by White is 2. c4 ... which aims to deflect Black's control of the center by giving away a pawn (gambit). The game will then follow a long and heavily studied Queen's Gambit Lines of which for the purpose of this tutorial - are omitted. Going back to the topic, how should Black react to this provocation?

One must remember that every move in Chess always leave a weakness, and a good player always know how to exploit that weakness. While f4 is inserting strong control on the center, it is nevertheless is obstructing the natural flow of White's dark-square Bishop. Black has a plan, and that is to limit the movement of this Bishop.

2. ... Nf6
A simple developing move that aims to enforce Black control on e4 square. White in the future would like to make the move e4 to liberate the movement of it's dark-square Bishop, but this move is now not that easy to accomplish because Black has a Knight and a pawn inserting pressure on that square.

3. c3 ...
A rather questionable move by White. White has made three pawn movements while leaving its pieces dormant. Not a very good way to play because even though White is opening the line for its Queen, White is terribly lacking in development, and Black is eager to punish White's passivity.

Black wanted to castle, but the move e6 will locked in Black's light-square Bishop and this is not what Black desire - a locked in Bishop is less usable than a free one. At this point, Black is given two options; two play Bf5 or e6. The question lies in the activity of White's light-square Bishop, which option will give the Bishop its full potential?

Bf5 will give the Bishop free reign on the King-side, while the move e6 will give the Bishop activity on the Queen-side (with the move Bd7). Both seems to be logical, but here I remember once again White's strong control on the e5 square. Eventually White's King-side Knight will occupy that important square (Nf3-Ne5) and I may need the Bishop to stay on the King-side in order to eliminate that Knight if it is necessary.

3. ... Bf5
And so, I decided to keep the Bishop on the King-side.

4. Qb3 ...
White is attacking Black's b7 pawn, how should Black react? The easiest move is b6, but this move will weaken Black's position considerably because the c6 square is now only defended by the Queen-side Knight. b6 is OK if Black light-squared Bishop is to be inserted into the b7 square hole, but since Black has committed that Bishop on the King-side, the pawn move b6 is a bad move now.

But Black has another idea that we will see in several moves ahead.

4. ... Qc8
A subtle move, defending the pawn in b7, but also with a specific idea involving the pawn break c4 which will undermine White's control on e5 square.

5. e3 ...
Yet another pawn move by White, notice how White's dark-square Bishop is now completely hemmed in behind White's own pawn. White is playing very passive, which is very awkward considering its extremely aggressive second move (f4).

6. ... e6
Opening way for Black's dark-square Bishop and eventually the castling of Black's King.










To be continued...
Commentaries and questions are welcomed.
 
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