# chess game: glee v Edward the Head **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 8, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990 "2005-02-08T14:03:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/1 "2005-02-08T14:03:29Z")
This is a training game between us. Since it is primarily for Edward’s benefit, let’s get his opinion on a few issues: Edward: - I can make helpful comments before during or after the game (or all three!). Which do you prefer? - there are usually some interested spectators. How do you feel about them making comments? - I can use either short algebraic (e4), long algebraic (e2-e4) or descriptive (P-K4). Which do you prefer? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/2 "2005-02-08T14:11:00Z")
> [@glee](#): > > This is a training game between us. > Since it is primarily for Edward’s benefit, let’s get his opinion on a few issues: > > Edward: > > - I can make helpful comments before during or after the game (or all three!). Which do you prefer? > > - there are usually some interested spectators. How do you feel about them making comments? > > - I can use either short algebraic (e4), long algebraic (e2-e4) or descriptive (P-K4). Which do you prefer? I think that the long algebraic will be better since that’s the way my work computer’s chess game works. That will make it easier for me to make sure I don’t make a mistake. You, or anyone else, can make comments at any time. You can even ask what I was thinking. I’m usually not around on the weekend, but am around during the day for the most part. I’m also in EST so I think I’m only 5 behind you. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/3 "2005-02-08T14:17:14Z")
OK, here we go! I’ll play White 😃 glee Edward 1. e2-e4 In the opening (the first 6-10 moves), you should try to control the centre (e4,e5,d4,d5), bring out as many pieces as possible and castle your King into safety. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/4 "2005-02-08T14:23:46Z")
ED THE HEAD! ED THE HEAD! TAKE HIS AND ROOKS AND MAKE HIM BEG! (I think chess would be enhanced by cheer squads) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/5 "2005-02-08T14:32:06Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > ED THE HEAD! ED THE HEAD! > > TAKE HIS AND ROOKS AND MAKE HIM BEG! > > (I think chess would be enhanced by cheer squads) 1. Your otherwise excellent chant doesn’t really rhyme. I’m not much of a lyricist myself, but how about: ED THE HEAD! ED THE HEAD! FROM HIS PENCIL TAKE HIS LEAD! 1. Chess would be enhanced by **any spectators at all**. We can only **dream** of cheer leaders… ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/6 "2005-02-08T14:41:11Z")
Ok then I’ll do C7-C5. I use [this site](http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/) for my opening studies. I’ve started using this opening because some of my programs use it and I’m trying to see how to counter it. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/7 "2005-02-08T14:56:32Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Edward, it’ll be easier to follow if we keep the moves together: > > glee Edward > > 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 > 2. c2-c3 > > Your opening (the Sicilian) is an exciting counter-attack. My pawn move prepares to play d2-d4 and recapture with a pawn. It’s boring, but does take the sting out of the opening. Your website is certainly friendly, but not written by a strong player. In this position, for example, Black is much better, not equal: [http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/fega-14a.htm](http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/fega-14a.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/8 "2005-02-08T15:25:39Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 g8-f6 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/9 "2005-02-08T15:33:58Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Edward, I hope it’s all right if I suggest we put the name of the piece in front of the move, as I did above. By convention, pawns don’t get mentioned, but the others are: N = Knight (K is reserved for King) B = Bishop R = Rook Q = Queen K = King Calling technical Dopers: the last time I did this, some kind soul put up a chess diagram every few moves. Any volunteers? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/10 "2005-02-08T15:54:59Z")
I do have out my board and I am following the game. I was going to say dead instead of beg but you can’t wish death on the board. and now Thereisnochessplayeraspowerfulas **GLEE!** Herulestheboardandmakesallofhisopponents **FLEE!** ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/11 "2005-02-08T15:55:14Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Calling technical Dopers: the last time I did this, some kind soul put up a chess diagram every few moves. Any volunteers? After not finding a java applet for chess positions in my blog (there is one but it doesn’t work for chess variants and I was never sure how to make it work), I just made chess positions encased in code tags or pre tags. I use lowercase for white, uppercase for black Not sure how well this will work on SD but: ```auto abcdefgh -------- 8 |RNBQKB R 7 |PP PPPPP 6 | N 5 | P p 4 | 3 | p 2 |pp p ppp 1 |rnbqkbnr ``` ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/12 "2005-02-08T16:33:46Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 I can put the letter in front no problem. I’ve never had to write down the moves before, though I do understand it. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/13 "2005-02-08T17:51:47Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 4. d2-d4 White steadily builds a pawn centre, although Black has several choices how to counter. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/14 "2005-02-08T18:54:22Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 4. d2-d4 c5xd4 You’re gonna give me a spanking aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/15 "2005-02-08T19:18:16Z")
> [@Edward The Head](#): > > You’re gonna give me a spanking aren’t you? Screw cheerleaders. Now we’re talking about how to make chess more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/16 "2005-02-09T12:28:04Z")
> [@Edward The Head](#): > > glee Edward > > 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 > 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 > 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 > 4. d2-d4 c5xd4 > 5. Ng1-f3 I’m going to use a tactic, actually. You can’t play d4xc3 without allowing Qd1xd5. This is called a **pin** - where one piece can’t move without losing a valuable or undefended piece standing behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/17 "2005-02-09T15:32:53Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 4. d2-d4 c5xd4 5. Ng1-f3 e7-e6 What happened to all my cheerleaders? I need some help here, you know grab a couple of his pieces or something. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/18 "2005-02-09T15:42:07Z")
glee Edward 1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. c2-c3 Ng8-f6 3. e4-e5 Nf6-d5 4. d2-d4 c5xd4 5. Ng1-f3 e7-e6 6. c3xd4 The centre situation is clear. White has more space, due to the e5 pawn. Black has a good square for his knight on d5. White will find it easy to bring out all his pieces with his extra space. He will castle on the king-side (because the open c-line makes it risky to castle the other side). Black may have difficulties developing the bishop on c8, but has a a solid position. His likely choices next move are: - d6 (challenges the centre) - b6 (develops the c8 bishop - Be7 (prepares to castle) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/19 "2005-02-09T15:51:09Z")
What if Ed moved Bf8-b4. This puts white in check. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990/20 "2005-02-09T18:03:03Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > What if Ed moved Bf8-b4. This puts white in check. Check is not usually a problem for an experienced player. In this case I offer the exchange of bishops by Bc1-d2. Once the bishops are exchanged, one of my knights will head for d6, which is a splendid ‘outpost’ (a square not guarded by an opposition pawn, but defended by one of mine). The black bishop is the natural defender of d6… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-glee-v-edward-the-head/288990.md?page=2)