# Chess game: MindWanderer vs Glee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404 "2005-02-10T15:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/41 "2005-02-12T09:37:18Z")
MW glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 Black is first to attack the h1-a8 diagonal. White will have to decide how to develop his f1 bishop (without losing the g2 pawn). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/42 "2005-02-12T09:43:09Z")
> [@Lazlo](#): > > How come all the ruckus is going on in _this_ thread? It’s like a tomb over in [ours.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=301811) > > Where’s the jealous smilie? From an early version of ‘Forest Gump’: “An SDMB chess thread is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/43 "2005-02-12T15:39:53Z")
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 My bishop is really hemmed in, but I’ve made your bishop and knight constricted as well. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/44 "2005-02-13T01:15:04Z")
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 See my post #31! ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/45 "2005-02-13T01:36:37Z")
It seems e4 is the standard response, but for some reason I like e3 better. Quite likely I’m wrong but I’d rather play the weird move and find out why’s it bad. I like e3 because my light squared bishop is better matched up against your pawns which are on dark squares. MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/46 "2005-02-13T14:23:36Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 > [@MindWanderer](#): > > It seems e4 is the standard response, but for some reason I like e3 better. Quite likely I’m wrong but I’d rather play the weird move and find out why’s it bad. I like e3 because my light squared bishop is better matched up against your pawns which are on dark squares. e4 is indeed standard. e3 is OK, just more passive. My a6 move must look mysterious, especially after my advice to develop pieces. The reason is that this position is hard for White to open up (by exchanging pawns). Therefore Black has time to set up his piece formation. Do I put my f8 bishop on e7 or g7? Does mt e7 pawn stay where it is (to guard d6), go to e6 or to e5? Well I know I don’t want a White Knight on b5 in any case. So I play the slow a6, because my King is in no danger in the centre. This ‘breaking the rules’ is tricky to explain, and can only really be learnt with experience. ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/47 "2005-02-13T15:30:36Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 This is a really weird position that I haven’t seen before, or anything like it really. Of course normally when I face a move like Nf6 I don’t know what to do. When I played my dad and learned some openings we ended up playing 4 knights opening a lot for some reason. I didn’t know anything about the modern openings until much later. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/48 "2005-02-13T15:49:01Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 > [@MindWanderer](#): > > This is a really weird position that I haven’t seen before, or anything like it really. Of course normally when I face a move like Nf6 I don’t know what to do. When I played my dad and learned some openings we ended up playing 4 knights opening a lot for some reason. I didn’t know anything about the modern openings until much later. This type of opening (where the White d pawn and Black c pawn have been exchanged etc) is known as a Hedgehog formation (really!). Black relies on his pawns guarding all the key squares. N.B. If White had played e4, I would have played e6 (not g6) to stop a White Knight dropping into d5. ---
**Author:** ![Sevo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sevo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/49 "2005-02-13T15:53:44Z")
> [@MindWanderer](#): > > When I played my dad and learned some openings we ended up playing 4 knights opening a lot for some reason. I didn’t know anything about the modern openings until much later. Watching “pros” play always reminds me how little I really know about this game! I can read a game and see the logic behind each move in retrospect…but not so good at deciding what the next move should be. Probably not alone in this, huh? 😃 I’m not sure who’s position I’d take if I walked up and was offered either side to play. To me (and my mediocre eye), white is more open & driving a wedge up the center but looks a little weak in the pawn structure. Black on the other hand is still a bit behind in development but looks explosive on the queen side. And despite the difference black still seems to have reasonable control of the center squares. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/50 "2005-02-13T16:54:05Z")
> [@Sevo](#): > > Watching “pros” play always reminds me how little I really know about this game! I can read a game and see the logic behind each move in retrospect…but not so good at deciding what the next move should be. Probably not alone in this, huh? 😃 Chess is easy to learn, but difficult to play well! I hope my brief comments are helping, but it’s simply not possible to explain exactly how an experienced player like myself knows what features of the position are most important. > [@Sevo](#): > > I’m not sure who’s position I’d take if I walked up and was offered either side to play. To me (and my mediocre eye), white is more open & driving a wedge up the center but looks a little weak in the pawn structure. Black on the other hand is still a bit behind in development but looks explosive on the queen side. And despite the difference black still seems to have reasonable control of the center squares. This is simply not a position that beginners reach. You are reasonably accurate with your assesment: - White has more space. - White has no ‘wedge’ at all in the centre (the key to such a breakthrough is a pawn break, supported by pieces. No sign of that). - White’s pawn structure is solid at present. However to make any progress, he has to advance, which potentially creates weaknesses. - Black is behind in development. Although this is risky in open positions, here Black can choose his setup based on what White does. - Black is not explosive anywhere!. After finishing his development, Black will consider d6-d5 (unless White plays e3-4, but this is an admission that e2-e3 lost time). - the key point for Black’s opening is that there are no central squares for White to occupy. ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/51 "2005-02-13T17:49:41Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 I just renewed my USCF membership recently and I’m thinking I might get involved in some correspondence games. I’ve really am enjoying being able to take my time and try to figure out a good move. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/52 "2005-02-13T18:51:10Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 > [@MindWanderer](#): > > I just renewed my USCF membership recently and I’m thinking I might get involved in some correspondence games. I’ve really am enjoying being able to take my time and try to figure out a good move. Correspondence chess can be much swifter if you use e-mail. Sadly there is nothing to prevent your opponent from using a computer. ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/53 "2005-02-13T21:11:23Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/54 "2005-02-14T10:32:18Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO (castles Kingside) ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/55 "2005-02-14T14:51:57Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO 11. OO I predict you are going to start a pawn storm very soon, or threaten my e pawn. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/56 "2005-02-15T00:29:14Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO 11. OO Nbd7 > [@MindWanderer](#): > > I predict you are going to start a pawn storm very soon, or threaten my e pawn. Black doesn’t do pawn storms in the Hedgehog! However any undefended pawn (or piece) is worth keeping an eye on… ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/57 "2005-02-15T11:50:21Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO 11. OO Nbd7 12. Qc2 I’m having a hard time coming up with a plan, it seems like there’s not a whole lot I can do to make progress. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/58 "2005-02-15T23:05:49Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO 11. OO Nbd7 12. Qc2 Nc5 > [@MindWanderer](#): > > I’m having a hard time coming up with a plan, it seems like there’s not a whole lot I can do to make progress. Well that is typical of this opening. White has more space and is under little pressure. But what progress can he make?! ---
**Author:** ![MindWanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@MindWanderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindWanderer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/59 "2005-02-16T13:55:09Z")
MW Glee 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. f3 d6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 OO 11. OO Nbd7 12. Qc2 Nc5 13. Rad1 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404/60 "2005-02-16T17:14:09Z")
_watches with interest, flirts with others_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chess-game-mindwanderer-vs-glee/289404.md?page=4)