Posts Tagged chess games
Chess tips: Useful tips for novices to approach the middle game
Posted by in General on December 7, 2009
In the game of chess, the most fascinating and challenging segment is the middle game. In comparison to the other two segments, the opening game and the end game, there is not enough material to walk us through this vital segment of the game, the middle game. Even after more than 1400 years of existence in this world, there is no clearly defined strategy or blue book that can be prepared or used with conviction in the case of this middle game. And absence of any specific strategy or approach in this aspect is the most important reason, I personally believe, for the fascination of this game and the challenge to the minds.
The innumerable books, tons of material available in the writings of great chess players and the large collection of games that can be instantly accessed through the Internet, all fall short of meeting the requirements in the Middle game, and the human element, the thinking process, new and innovative tactics and the novel strategies deployed in this stage of the game make this the King of the games or the Game of the Kings.
If one were to gain proficiency in the game of Chess, one needs to do a lot of analysis as well as hard work and practice, especially in the middle game. Playing online chess with players from different places and having different types of approaches to the game, using the computer and the Internet, might help in speeding up your practice in this vital segment.
I would like to briefly highlight the importance of the middle game and provide you with some basic ideas that will help you in approaching this segment of the game.
What actually is the middle game, in the first instance?
Well. In simple terms, middle game is that intermediate part of the game that starts at the end of the opening stage and ends at the beginning of the end game. Does it appear vague to you? You are absolutely right. While there is some sort of clarity with regard to the end of the opening game, or the beginning of the middle game, there is still not much clarity with regard to the start of the end game of the end of the middle game.
Without dwelling much into the research of when the opening stage ended or when the end game begun, let us look at some of the fundamental aspects that every player, especially in his early stages of learning process, should bear in mind.
The basic ingredients that are required for a player to handle the middle game stage of the game should include the following things: a) Safety of his King; b) Material strength and positional values, and c) space for movement of the pieces or simply mobility of the pieces in the board.
It is the middle game in which both the players display their mental, analytical and strategical proficiency. Attack will be the keyword in this stage and both the players will be targeting the opponent’s King. As long as you ensure that your King is safe and secure, you have a better chance of launching attack on the opponent and devise innovative tactics and chess strategies that often include luring the opponent with sacrifice of one or two minor pieces.
How you approached the opening game will be reflected in your capability in terms of material strength and positional importance in the middle game. If you commit any calculation errors or misjudgment in the opening stage, then you may find it difficult in the middle game. Not only the equality of the material in comparison with your opponent, but also the position of the pieces has a vital role to play in the middle game. Sacrificing unnecessary pawns in the opening game or blocking the movement of the bishops or Knights by blocking their movement are the things that you should avoid and allow for free movement of the pieces in the board.
Once you ensure that these fundamental things are given adequate attention, you can have a fairly fascinating and exciting middle game in which you can challenge your opponent’s mind with confidence.
How Do Computer Chess Programs Work In Online Chess
Posted by in General on November 1, 2009
When online games were introduced in the World Wide Web, they open up opportunities for computer programmers to develop different versions of online games. Among the many online games that are developed, online chess games are the most popular. Although the programming of chess game is some kind tricky but the concepts of online chess are easy to understand. Evidently, online games would not materialize without the computer chess program.
Computer chess programs are used in tournaments like the one that was created by Larry Atkin, the Odessa. This program symbolizes the pattern of the eight by eight arrays of numbers that is equivalent with the pattern of the chessboard. Positive and negative numbers represent the chess pieces. Most computer chess programs are consist of modules that include evaluation function, quiescence function and generator. However, despite of these features of the programs, still it cannot calculate the millions chess positions involve.
Understanding the module is important for you to use properly the chess program. As stated, evaluation function is the first module that observes the possible move that a player can make from the original position. It also provides list of the possible situations and the corresponding move. The next module involves an algorithm that determines the concepts and strategies. It acts like playing the real chess that requires both players to respond in every move in chess openings, king’s safety as well as in defenses. On the other hand, the quiescence acts in evaluating the end position and the other possible move. Just like in the traditional chess game, every move from the opening to the end game is significant in winning the game.
Aside from Odessa, other computer chess programs emerged and developed with different new ideas. Kaplan created a program Turbostar as the product of his brute thinking. Because of his special knowledge in computer programming, he decided to improve the chess program with his ever-changing concept. He was a national master and a Junior Chess Champion when he created Turbostar. Up to this writing, the chess program created by Kaplan is still being used in playing online chess.
However, because of the innovation in technology, more powerful computer chess programs override those previously created. Fujitsu LLC developed a chess program SPACE that is considered as super computer that can process around 1.3TB raw details. It has also the capability to analyze the over 4 million games all over the world.
Time will come that because of the ever changing improvements in technology, thousands of computer chess programs would be created that would match or even surpass the ability of humans. Like what had happened before, it is more likely possible that a computer would defeat human player in a chess battle. However, although computers can work fast but they are not perfect. As a product of human knowledge, computer programs also have weaknesses that are inevitable. Indeed, man is gifted with talents and skills to develop chess programs that help chess players to understand the challenging game of chess.