Chess Philosophy: come talk chess with this proto master!

General
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Hi everyone. I’m Sam, and as many of you probably already know, I’m a chess nerd. I have played chess my whole life, and it is a lifelong goal of mine to reach the National Master title and rating of 2200 United States Chess Federation. I have recently started a chess Youtube channel and I will be posting my games here. However, I would like the main purpose for this thread to be just chess philosophy in general. Want to talk about chess in any capacity? Just ask any question or strike up any topic and I’ll unequivocally be interested if it’s chess. Trust me, it’s been my hyper-fixation for about 25 years.

I consider myself a proto (primitive, not yet certified, not yet official) Master as I have been rated as high as 1900 USCF and have a new surefire strategy to rocket to NM in just a few years. My plan? Don’t blunder.

All that said, let’s talk chess. Feel free to ask me anything but here are a few suggestions: rules, fundamentals, openings, middlegames, endgames, tactics, strategy, positional play, dynamic play, tournament advice, online advice, general advice, specific advice, chess titles, chess levels of play, making money in chess, chess psychology, tournament stories, chess club stories, childhood chess stories, etc etc

FAQ: (to be made)

Link to my chess youtube channel: https://youtu.be/F-RHJ9XVHX4?si=l-4JV-z6MQl92b6z

You can watch my games or simply listen to my channel like a podcast for the philosophical talk about the greatest game in the world: chess

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My new video. Feel free to discuss or just to start off by asking any general questions

A handful of games in and we’re into the 2000s

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How would you recommend I improve my skills for the midgame? I always seem to find myself in a deadlock that I can only get out of by sacrificing material or making tenuous maneuvers

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Chess!, didn’t know you liked chess like that. I’m an online only player for now cause I’m struggling to find some real life clubs and my Elo is still in the 400s. So do you have any beginner videos?

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What do I do in this position?

Mega Chessatron
Mega Chessatron1265×716 33.7 KB

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Have you ever thought about creating an interactive story about chess?

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@Player1126 For improving in the middlegame, you should take stock of the opening after about 10 moves. Try to assess your position’s strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses, and make a plan that utilizes those factors. If you’re in a deadlock, stay patient, try to play good, flexible moves that avoid material loss

@Coy_Cok I am a chess nerd at heart. It can be hard to find real chess clubs in some areas. Fortunately my state has always had a few options. But the great thing about online chess is you can play anytime, anywhere. As far as beginner videos, I’m going to cycle around and play all the lower rating levels soon as Lichess started me off at 1500 which is a strong intermediate level

@Kaoru Resign :laughing: I’m imagining my pawns bum rushing and getting yeeted like soldiers against Sauron

Many times, although I had never managed to make something work. Now, I have concrete plans to write 64 Knightmares, where you find a cursed chess book, when I reach NM.

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Fight back!

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@ChanceOfFire Haha hell yeah. I honestly want these as like figurines now

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THIS SOUNDS SO SICK OMFG. also i would try to add in the chess convo but i dont know how to play even a little decent. perhaps i will hop back on chess dot com for a few months and return….

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Thanks, I’m excited to work on it but I have 400 points to go by my own measure. Feel free to watch my videos, they’ll give you a big leg up over other 400s :slight_smile:

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noted!! i will ask, do you have any preferred openings and why if so?

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Yes, and I believe everyone until Grandmaster should have preferred openings. Playing an opening that doesn’t suit you is like playing a role in a play that you’re not prepared for and didn’t want. Here are my openings:

White:

Reti:
This is a closed opening. It is like D4, but more flexible. I would recommend to players 1500+ who want to be able to control the opening flexibly, whether it’s getting closed structures in general or avoiding certain Black openings and lines.

Queen’s Gambit:
A closed opening. This is a highly reliable and high quality opening that can lead to many different styles of positions, but tends tends toward positional play. I would recommend for any player

Jobava London:
A closed opening. This is a very fun, aggressive, and tricky opening. However, it is a little tricky to play. I would recommend it to players 1600+ who want an interesting fight every game

London System:
A closed opening. An extremely flexible opening where you can checkmate in 10 moves or get positions that are less exciting than filibusters. Recommended to all players, especially those who like their light square bishops, and active knights

King’s fianchetto:
A closed opening. Play when you want a bishop as the main defender and just want to play chess with minimal theory. This gives the opening move away but it is perfectly good and can be played be anyone

Black:

Caro Kann: my favorite opening in chess! A closed opening. You get lots of fascinating, imbalanced fights where white has a middlegame advantage and prospects for checkmate and black has a solid position that will be very promising if it can reach an endgame. Recommended to players 1200+ who like imbalances and don’t mind being cramped in the opening

Scandinavian:

A closed opening. Similar to the Caro Kann, but you trade getting a more free position for having to move your queen a lot. Recommended to 1200+ players who like imbalances, and or the Caro Kann

Slav:
A highly reliable and high qaulity opening. A closed opening. It can involve all kinds of positions but tends towards positional play. Recommended to all players

Semi-Slav:
The Slav’s tough younger brother. A closed opening that can have positional play but can just as easily be very tactical and theory heavy. Recommended to players 1500+ who like imbalanced, aggressive/flexible openings

Queen’s fianchetto:
A very flexible opening when you just want to play chess against White with minimal theory. It is a perfectly good opening, but be careful not to get too cramped. Recommended to players 1200+

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That’s fascinating! Very similar opening preferences. I only play 1.c4 as White. As Black, only 1.e4 c6 and 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6. Just take it easy, you know? Move pieces around. Push a pawn here and there. Enjoy a nice, polite game of slow maneuvering.

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A man of culture as well :teacup_without_handle: :man_in_lotus_position:

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New video: my first loss in the series!

(“You can’t beat me if I don’t blunder” blunders)

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Opinion on the Bongcloud Opening and the

Summary

viability of vibrating anal beads

as a stealth communication tool in chess tournaments?

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The only bongcloud openings I play are with my bong

It sounds pleasurable but not very effective or stealthy

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New video. In this game I play vs a 1900 and talk about treating your pieces like your children

In this game, I was dead lost vs a 1900 but got some assistance from my cat, Aurora