tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011690536420808420.post1950403340151805421..comments2024-02-20T07:50:13.558+01:00Comments on Chess960 (FRC): TCEC C960 FRC3Mark Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011690536420808420.post-9313372108813718952021-04-19T10:12:29.078+02:002021-04-19T10:12:29.078+02:00Thanks very much for pointing that out. If we coul...Thanks very much for pointing that out. If we could use the word 'theory' for Fischer Chess (is that still your preferred name for it?), then we would call your discovery theoretically important. I've referenced your analysis in a new post:-<br /><br />17 April 2021<br />SP864, Reddit, Chessgames.com <br />https://chess960frc.blogspot.com/2021/04/sp864-reddit-chessgamescom.htmlMark Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101044127493771263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011690536420808420.post-50396664093735891202021-03-30T23:46:48.849+02:002021-03-30T23:46:48.849+02:00Hello Mark,
With respect to engines playing chess...Hello Mark,<br /><br />With respect to engines playing chess960, you might be interested in knowing the solution for Black in a particularly difficult SP we once discussed: http://chess960frc.blogspot.com/2014/10/another-difficult-sp-for-black.html<br />As a matter of fact, that SP (along with all the others) has been tested many times in computer games (http://ccrl.chessdom.com/ccrl/404FRC/). Quite a few replies have been tried for Black after 1.Ng3 by different engines but one of those deserves particular attention, as played by Houdini 5.01. Black can simply ignore White's threat:<br />1...c5!! (1...f6!? is also interesting but 1...Nf6? 2.Nf5 is worse as we've concluded, and my suggestion 2...g6 is a bit passive) 2.Nh5 (or 2.Nf5) 2...f6! 3.Nxg7+ Kf7 4.Nh5 Ng6.<br />This counter-intuitive gambit is in fact very logical upon a closer look; note that White's only piece (pawns included) that has moved so far is his h5-knight which will be forced to retreat soon. Meanwhile Black has already played ...c5 and ...Ng6, and is now intending ...d5 followed by ...Qg4! and ...Nf4!, gaining further tempi. The semi-open g-file can also be used rather by Black than by White (especially if the latter castles h-side).<br />One could draw certain analogies with some well-known 518 theory, e.g.: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3?! Nxe4! 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 d5 and Black is better despite his loss of the right to castle. Or 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5! 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6, etc., with compensation. I'm sure one can remember dozens of similar variations. Once novel and astounding, nowadays these 518 lines do not surprise us in the slightest - but that's just because we've become too accustomed to them, as opposed to the chess960 gambits!<br />After 4...Ng6, a blitz game Stockfish 8 - Houdini 5.01 (CCRL 2017) continued: 5.Nf3 d5 6.b4 b6 7.bxc5 d4!? (Morphy-style! However simple 7...bxc5 was also fine for Black) 8.Qa3.<br />8.Bxd4? fails to 8...Rxd4! 9.Nxd4 Qxc5 and one of White's knights will be lost, while if 8.cxb6?! (ignoring development altogether) then 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 Qh3! with a number of threats for the sacrificed material.<br />8...Qg4 9.Ng3 Nf4 (the roles are now reversed and it's White who has to play Rg1, because if 10.0-0? then 10...d3! 11.cxd3 Nxe2+ 12.Nxe2 Bxf3) 10.Rg1 bxc5 11.Qxc5 e5. And Black, who has a very strong initiative for two pawns, went on to win in a long and absolutely crazy fight!<br /><br />Best regards,<br />Andrey D.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986528477512655661noreply@blogger.com