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Thread: Let's stick to Chess

  1. #1
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    Let's stick to Chess

    A lot of Chess players should learn this opening.

    Why, you ask? It puts you in a super strong position able to attack almost at will.

    It has variations so try to study and master as many as you are able to.

    Per this article, your chess masters usually avoid using this opening since they know of the weakness. But you won't be playing chess masters so will win a huge number of games once you master this one opening with variations.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Attack

    The Stonewall Attack is a chess opening; more specifically it is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game. It is characterized by White playing 1.d4, 2.e3, 3.f4 and 4.c3, usually playing 5.Bd3 as well, even though the moves are not always played in that order (see transposition). The Stonewall is a system White sets up, rather than a specific variation. If White puts up the Stonewall formation it is called a Stonewall regardless of how Black chooses to defend against it. When Black sets up a Stonewall formation, with pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5, it is a variation of the Dutch Defense.

    General remarks[edit]

    As the name implies, the Stonewall setup is a solid formation which is hard to overrun by force. If Black fails to react energetically to the Stonewall setup, White may launch a lethal attack on the black king, typically by playing the knight from f3 to e5, advancing the g-pawn to drive away the defending black knight, and making a well-timed bishop sacrifice at h7 (seeGreek gift sacrifice) when White can bring one of the major pieces (queen and/or rook) to the h-file. Often this attack is so powerful that White does not need to develop the knight on b1 and bishop on c1. Traditionally, chess computers have been vulnerable to the Stonewall because the positions are usually without clear tactical lines. White simply prepares for an assault by bringing pieces to aggressive posts, without making immediate tactical threats. By the time the computer realizes that its king is under attack, it is often too late. This, however, is not the case with newer chess computers.
    The downsides to the Stonewall are the hole on e4, and the fact that the dark-squared bishop on c1 is completely blocked by its own pawns. If Black defends correctly against White's attack, these strategic deficiencies can become quite serious. Because of this, the Stonewall Attack is almost never seen in master-level chess any more, although it is seen occasionally among club players. However, Black playing the Stonewall variation of the Dutch Defense is seen occasionally at master level.
    Black has several ways to meet the Stonewall. One choice which must be made is whether to fianchetto one or both bishops; Black can meet the Stonewall with a ...b6 and ...Ba6 aiming to trade off the dangerous white bishop on d3, and a kingsidefianchetto with ...g7-g6 takes away White's idea of attacking h7. An early development of Black's light-squared bishop to f5 also cuts across White's plans.

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    Angry

    Saudi Arabia gets away with barring Israelis from chess tournament...

    Int’l Chess Federation Takes Flak For Allowing Saudis to Bar Israelis From World Champs
    December 27, 2017 – The international chess federation is under fire for a decision to allow Saudi Arabia to host the world championships – for the first time – despite the kingdom’s refusal to comply with the body’s non-discrimination statutes.
    Ahead of the King Salman world championships now underway in Riyadh, the federation known by the acronym FIDE touted the fact that it had negotiated permission for female players to compete without wearing a hijab or headscarf, or the abaya, the body-covering black cloak Saudi women must wear in public. Instead, women are required to wear “dark blue or black formal trouser suits, with high necked white blouses.” FIDE noted that the absence of a strict Islamic dress requirement for women was “a first for any sporting event in Saudi Arabia.”

    It came just months after FIDE took flak after allowing Iran to host a women’s chess competition and require players to wear the hijab. Several high-profile players boycotted that event. But while FIDE secured permission to have the dress requirement relaxed for the Dec. 26-30 event, it appeared to unable to shift the Saudis on another key dogma – the boycott of Israel. FIDE said in an earlier statement that it “has raised with the organizers that there may be problems for players from certain countries.” “FIDE has not been advised that any player will not be able to participate,” it said. “FIDE is continuing to work with the organizers to ensure that visas will be issued to all players who have confirmed their participation.”

    FIDE was able to get the Saudis to back down on an initial refusal to provide visas to players from Iran and Qatar. Iran is Saudi Arabia’s chief regional rival, and the kingdom is leading a campaign to isolate Qatar over allegations of support for extremism. In a Dec. 24 statement, FIDE announced the breakthrough on Iran and Qatar. FIDE has been working very hard and in a discreet manner to organize and safeguard the process of entry visas for all participants of the event,” it said, adding that Iranians and Qataris were free to take part. “As everybody clearly understands from the above, FIDE and the Saudi organizers are always ready to welcome any participant,” it said. But the statement was silent on Israel.

    In a letter to FIDE, Israel Chess Federation head Zvika Barkai pointed out the absence of any reference in the statement to Israel, despite its claim that “FIDE and the Saudi organizers are always ready to welcome any participant.” Barkai asked FIDE to give an assurance that planned future Saudi-hosted events would be canceled, for compensation for Israeli players who were denied visas, and for FIDE to make clear such a situation will not happen again. FIDE’s handbook states that the federation “rejects discriminatory treatment for national, political, racial, social or religious reasons or on account of sex.” FIDE did not take up an invitation to comment on the situation regarding the Israeli boycott, but executive director Nigel Freeman said in an email that “FIDE will issue a full statement after the end of the event.” Queries sent to the Israel Chess Federation brought no response by press time.

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