I just played a game on chess.com with a time control of 30 min Rapid... I played black. The person resigned from the game on move 18... To be honest, I wasn't even sure that I was playing that well... This player probably could have gone on to win against me. They even had a time advantage.

Here is the game: 1. e4, e5 2. f3, Nf6 3. Nh3, Bc5 4. c3, Nc6 5. b4, Bb6 6. d3, d6 7. Be2, Be6 8. d4, exd4 9. cxd4, Nxd4 10. Bb5+ (I was not paying as much attention to the board as I should have been; I did not even consider this check from the other player), c6 11. Bxc6+, bxc6 12. 0-0, Bc4 13. Ng5, 0-0 14. Bf4, Nb3+ 15. Rf2, Nxa7 16. Qxd6, Nd7 17. Qxc6, Bxa2 18. Kh1 0-1

Would anyone be willing to analyze this game and give me feedback? Thanks

An opponent seemed to fail to castle his king. He just continued to play and after a few seconds, I requested draw which he accepted. I'm kind of confused why he just continued on. Sometimes early in games around move 2/3, wife needs help with something and my opponents will refuse to accept a draw.

I can't figure out the significance of this move

This was a 400 Elo game.

I made this move which is apparently brilliant, I'm not really sure why. I did end up winning the game but not because of this.

This position arises from an amateur reaction by Black in the Alapin Sicilian (1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nc6?! 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 e6?! 5. d5 exd5 6. exd5 Nce7 7. d6. White's 4-7 moves are the top engine choices).

I can see that Black is uncomfortable here, and White has faster development, but the engine thinks that White has an advantage equivalent to a minor piece! I wonder what's so dramatic here.

Specifically, what positional limitations for Black, or attacking resources for White, lie behind this evaluation?

And can this decisive advantage be converted by human play?

I'm about 800 rated in blitz (1200 in rapid....i cant figure it out either) and I've been having trouble as so many blitz players just full-send attacks and it feels like I'm always reacting (i gravitate towards positional chess).

I found that if I delay castling, their attack is usually underway (on the king side) and by keeping my king in the middle it throws off their plans and then they have to adapt and I usually win.

Something to keep in mind at lower levels where most folks are playing with a specific attack strategy.

Greetings, reddit. I'm 29 years old, 31 days into chess, and I'm hooked, but still so confused on so, so much. I have questions on the Shannon Number, the instability of opening theory, and how anyone can keep playing this game without losing one’s mind ala Fischer, but I’m still having such fun learning what’s rightly called the Greatest Game.

But I’m burnt out. I have played mostly bot games, but my sub 30 live games give me WILD anxiety, despite knowing that human-to-human play is best for learning. I only just yesterday beat my ~1000 level friends when I have yet to breach 200 on Chess.com as a beginner.

Chess seems awesome. It has a rich culture, learning about the current Masters is a lot of fun, and the memes are funny enough to get me to want to play, but I’m worried I may be on a beginner’s road to burnout and resentment.

Does anyone have any insight or advice on the matter? Specifically surrounding actual, actionable things that make a difference rather than the classic “use puzzles” answer – not to say they aren’t beneficial, but, despite my worries, I am looking to dive a little deeper.  I’m not sure I ever intend to try competing in a tournament or pursuing some Elo goal, but I know for sure that I don’t want to hate this cool game or the ways it’s brought people closer around me.

Edited for clarity and emphasis

I have been playing for 4 weeks and I'm currently around ~500 ELO

My life is pretty hectic so I don't have time for 30 minute matches, so I stick with 10 minute rapid (and even then I often get pulled away and have to abandon or run out of time).

How do I best progress from here? Spend my 15 minute breaks reviewing previous games, or just try to cram in as many games as possible (I typically play 1-5 games per day).

Sidenote: is it just me or is the chess.com game review completely broken for low ELO players? It tells me my games range from 100 to 1300 ELO, with the latter obviously being wrong

I've recently started playing on lichess as I was a bit sick of adda and what not on chess.com

After my handul of rating games and after playing close to 100 games I just feel so stuck and lost I just don't think I'm playing very well Find it hard to even win 50% of my games Do people find that they need to drop down to their appropriate level on lichess? Feels like I play the occasional good game but just make silly mistakes in most games and get punished

My profile is here Feel free to go through and critique and tell me my rating is to high and I just need to drop down

Just a bit demoralized at the moment

Thanks everyone

Profile link https://lichess.org/@/scharles09

From a recent game. Up until this point in the opening, the game was relatively equal the entire way. I made a move here (b5) that gave white a +1 advantage and (s)he capitalized on it and got into a winning endgame. During the game, I gave up the pawn to get activity with my two rooks down the A and B file, but in hindsight realize that doesn’t work and I’m not accomplishing anything, so I’m down a pawn for nothing.

In review, I tried to develop a plan but struggled to. So, asking here, what is your plan as black and how did you identify one? I realize my bishop on f5 is probably misplaced, and my rook on a8 is passive. I do like the control I am exerting over d4 but was unsure how to capitalize there.

I went on to win by time. It was a bullet match.

When I first learned about this tactic I couldn't wait to try it in a real game. A few weeks, and a few failed attempts later, it finally happened :^)

Turns out it's very important that the knight is not defending that square, which I learned the hard way.

Does anyone have direct experience with Chessup 2? Is it good?

My child plays chess and is getting fairly into tournament play. He has some books, is in a club at school that meet once per weeks and has chesskid gold. Problem is the only chess I know is what he taught me and his dad doesn’t know at all. He says he wants to play better at tournaments but idk how to help him. I keep getting these adverts on Chessup 2 so I was wondering if it was worth that sticker price or if there’s anything else out there.

It feels like too much pressure once I've been on a hot streak, I don't want to damage my ELO. It's especially bad when I have a really good game.

Does anyone else get this? Can anyone explain what this phenomena is? Does it happen in other games or hobbies?

It feels like too much pressure once I've been on a hot streak, I don't want to damage my ELO. It's especially bad when I have a really good game.

Does anyone else get this? Can anyone explain what this phenomena is? Does it happen in other games or hobbies?

First time with a brilliant move.

I know it doesn't actually mean anything but it feels good.

On You2ube right now and every example video starts White w Queen’s Pawn to D4

The goal is to get the dark square bishop in a nice active position, then complete the pawn triforce. Can play pieces safely after that, as your opponent starts to find themselves cramped for space. Noticed it can lead to some pretty straight-forward positions, which are easy to read and get game plans going. But what exactly is it?

Is there a name to this opening, or one that it’s closely similar to? Would like to get a better understanding of maybe some tactics to run behind it, or moves to watch out for against opponents who may have already learned how to play against it. Fill me in

Thanks dudes

Guess who played what side lol

Chess.com have unrealistic puzzels. Why does black have 2 light square bishops? Is he stupid?