May 27, 2006

• the opening.

  A long time ago when I used to be in High School, my chess coach would do something which he hoped would burn some basic opening theory into our brains.  Generally when we start meeting for the year we get a bunch of new people who come and try out and end up playing chess.  Our chess team was pretty liberal in that we weren't quite like a club, but not like a complete team either.  While people were asked to join the "team" there were enough guys to fill out the roster (actually quite a few more) that a number of guys can just come and learn and never have to compete, though it would be encouraged.  I really try and model my coaching/teaching after my coach as he made my High School experience in chess very pleasant.

  Okay enough memories, At the beginning of the year, we would go over openings and one trap in particular would be highlighted.  Coach Carpenter would set up the position on the demo board and then proceed to explain why Black's second move was so bad.  Then he would give us a variation where White makes a similar mistake on his third move.  He would take the entire instruction time to go over this, then he would give us this solemn warning and charge.  We are to be vigilant and check if any of our teammates will play this very bad move in the opening.  Once this happens (please note that my coach did not say "if" this happens) we will immediately name the opening after the player in question.  Without failure, every year, there was a different name for this opening.  Most of us learned our lesson and for those that don't a year of ridicule usually cured us of this move.  I was one of the former group.

  Here is the opening:

  

  1. e4, e5

  

  2. Nf3, f6?

  The question mark after black's second move is to indicate a bad move.  There are a number of variations, from this position depending on how black responds to white's moves.  They run the gamut from white winning a pawn to white willing the exchange to white sacrificing material for a misplaced black king and imminent mate.

  This one is a little more involved than just coming up with a mating attack, I need someone to:

  1. Tell me why this second move is so bad in the first place.
  2. Tell me White's third move.
  3. Tell me the three scenarios that can happen after this.  HINT:  One results in black losing a pawn, another in black losing large amounts of material, the third in black having his king chased to the center of the board and relentlessly attacked.

  Since this is a much more involved chess question, I will not be offering coffee or bonus coffee.  Rather, I will treat the winner out to lunch at a place of their choosing.  I only ask that the location be somewhere in Roscoe village.  I will also spring for coffee afterward.  Also in the spirit of things, I will be vigilant while I play people and if I see this (among my adult friends), I will name the opening after that friend.

  Since Casey had an issue about my chess snobbery, I will take any answer you give as long as it is intelligible.  Feel free to email or comment you answers, please note though that if you answer here, others may not be able to get a prize by answering.

  ***Extra bonus points if you can tell me know white can make the same mistake.

  • 5:52 pm
  • 3 Comments