Forum

Category - Flank OpeningOpening Move Sequence - 1 b4ECO Codes - A00The Sokolsky Opening is also called Orangutan Opening or Polish Opening. It is named after Grand Master Alexei Pavlovich Sokolsky from USSR who wrote a short book on this opening in 1963.According to chess databases of historical tournament games, Sokolsky Opening is the least popular of the nine playable moves (out of twenty possible moves over all) available to White as first move. In other words it is very rare in tournament play.While it has failed to be popular through out its history, it has been used by several top chess players sporadically. Examples of such use include the Boris Spassky vs. Vasily Smyslov game during the 1960 Moscow Leningrad match and the Richard Réti vs. Abraham Speijer game held in Scheveningen in 1923. In fact, the name Orangutan Opening came in to being due to such a game. The game was played between Savielly Tartakower and Geza Maroczy in 1924. Grand Master Tartakower, visiting the New York Zoo with other players on the previous day, allegedly consulted an orangutan for the next day's opening move.Sokolsky Opening is classed with Flank Openings or Irregular Openings which start with moves other than 1.e4 or 1.d4. It has been categorized under A00 code in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings or ECO codes. A00 also include other rare openings.Moves and Variations1 b4The whole idea of this uncommon opening is based on certain tactical considerations regarding f6 and g7 squares as well as the Queen-side in general.After 1.b4, Black can reply in number of ways.Black can stake a claim to the center as dictated by classical opening principles (the very principles that White has flouted in making the move 1.b4). This can be done with 1...d5, 1...e5 or 1...f5. In case of 1.b4 d5, game may continue with 2.Bb2 Qd6 which threatens b4 pawn and supports the potential central pawn advance e5. If 1.b4 e5 is played, White usually will not take any notice of the threat to b4 from Bishop at f8. White will continue with the intended fianchetto: Bb2. As a result, Black gets the following options as second move: 2...d6, 2...f6, and 2...Bxb4Also possible are 1...Nf6, 1...c6, or 1...e6. 1...c6 aims for ...Qb6 and a5 and is called the Outflank Variation. 1...e6 aims for moves ...d5, ...Nf6 and finally for ...c5.Other more atypical replies for Black include 1...a5 or 1...c5. In case of 1.b4 a5, White will play 2.b5 to exploit the Black's weakness in Queen-side that resulted from 2...a5. Because of this, 1...c5 is considered better for Black. 1...c5 can also be used to avoid the book moves tied to other responses. After bxc5, Black will attack the pawn on c5 and then start an attack against the White's now weak Queen-side pawns.    Later I'll post some of my games using this opening (1.b4).And soon I'll try to play as black using 1...b5

Hey guys! some exciting tournament will be organize here in chess.com and that would be a group tournament, so all of you guyz ready for this? I just want to know if there is someone willing to represent our group for the tournament. Please post some of your games here, your games that you think the best of you. And please let us see your playing style, maybe we can help each other to improve our skills. In this way we can justify who it will be. I hope you can learn more in upcoming group tournament...  

      That's my first Tournament Win!!! How is it???

So How is it???????? That's the best (not counting first because I'm always excited for my first win) game that I've played (out of 6 where I won 4)??????????????????

So how is it? It would've take one more move to checkmate him! 34. Ke8 35. Qg8#! I like it! I had many sacrifices to control diogenals!!!Leave me some comments!!! I'm waiting!!!

I had post only the position on the board for our puzzle then after 7 days I'll post the answer. I hope this would be ok ^_^.This would be an easy puzzle for tactical players here.      I hope you enjoy this!!!  Solutions: (from here drag your mouse downwards to see the solutions) 1.Nf6 h6 2.Qxh6+ gxh3 3.Rg8# 1.Nf6 gxf6 2.Qxf6+ Bg7 3.Qxg7#

Find the Solution.           I hope you learn something here.  

The white's moves here is not recommended, I was just experimenting some moves that I think is playable. Even this is just experiment move I was able to play it well, and it is nice because I sacrifice my queen to able to checkmate him. Maybe there is a lot of mistakes here in this game, and your are free to comment in each move.      I hope you learn something here...    

We've seen a lot of games post here in chess.com, and we would like collect all your favorite games, the plan is to have a page were you can find some good stuff or tactical games, like in this forum. This would help our group to see old post games but still good to know, and even the new post games you can repost here. You can put the links of the site, but the links must be related to chess.com.You can repost the game if you want.   So lets start posting...  

That's my First game on Chess.com! I'm so excited! Give me some comments on my first game! I'm Waiting!!!

Now this is something that, I exspect happened to at least 50% of the people, it feels so horrible, especially when it's a game you're winning.  So, this is the topic where you can cry out. Let it go, haha:P *(say bad, filthy words). Show everyone: *THAT* is the reason your rating went down by a few points.Now I am going to say a dirty word: &^%$$#.Ok that had to be done.Now it's your turn. I'm in total harmony with myself now. It realy helps, haha:P  

My game in Free Internet Chess Server (FICS), this game was short not more than ten moves. Maybe my opponent doesn't know this opening, this opening I used is very rare in tournaments but playable against Sicilian.        Hope you learn something here...   

Collection part two

 Here's a game I played applying the Alekhine defence. I think it's a clever, but tricky opening strategy for black. The idea is that black allows white to establish a strong pawn center, wich may later become object of an attack. But you should be careful applying the Alekhine defence, white can have some tricky responses.  I think it's well worth to study this defence since I've not seen many people applying it, wich could mean not much beginners ( maybe even some experienced) people know about it.Ive read it scores a pretty high winning percentage for black, so well worth studying it. I will post a blunder you should *not* make applying the Alekhine defence in the near future. (* A blunder I made in another game).This game went without blunders on my part. ( at least no obvious ones). I like to hear your comments or ideas. Thanks for checking out.

I recently joined this group and was told I could show my games here. Here is one of my favorites, though my opponent started harrasing me after move 17. It was a rather lucky game for a beginner like me. This game has two morals. 1. If you are going to bring your queen out early, be very careful with it. 2. Try not to get overconfident until it is too late.

Another game I played against sicilian, it seems sicilian is becoming popular for a defense in opening e4 pawn. My opponent here is very agressive, he is the one first execute the attack. I defend and put my king into safe before I do my plan. Some of moves here can help you for additional learning in mating pattern.       I hope you learn something here...   

Let us change some environtment here, do you feel playing multiplayer games rather than one on one? Honestly the first time I saw MMORPG I hate it and saying it is a waste of time playing it for days, months, or even worst for years and paying for cards just to play it (not for free to play).  But suddenly I recently played MMORPG, my friend invite me. This game is somehow addictive too, you are playing with your friends, leveling-up your character, you want also to be the best player, and many more.  I'm just curious if you people playing chess would like to play such time taker games like MMORPG.  Me, for try playing it, I would say YES, because it feels like at home, having friends around playing at the same time .   By the way I play Lineage 2 at SEA servers.   I just want to see some opinions of chess lovers if you would also love games like MMORPG.   would you like it or not?  if you like it - what's your MMORPG?  thoughts...  

Another tactical game, Schliemann Defense, I played it recently and this time it is Lightning Blitz 2.0, really fast, that's why I didn't see that I have a pawn to move for a checkmate T_T. But still I was able to trap his king and mate him ^_^. Please do review the game, maybe some mistakes committed here. From now on I'll display an Opponent name in the board to give some respect to my opponent. I hope you'll enjoy this game.      I hope learn something here...   

A trap that works effectively on begginers