Chess/Questions Answered by Expert Louis Lima
| Subject | Date Asked |
| improving positional chess | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: Is there any good method for studying or any kind of exercises to help me improve my understanding ... A: In my experience, the best way to improve one's positional understanding is by approaching the ... | |
| Chess Clock Question | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: When the chess clock shows that your opponent has run out of time, how do you properly announce that ... A: There is not protocol on what to tell your opponent when his/her flag falls. I usually just point at ... | |
| Chess | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: Is there a possibility that black can move first? A: No. The rules of chess clearly state White must move first. It would be an illegal move for Black to ... | |
| how to improve calculation | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: As my question subject suggests I have problem calculating complicate chess positions. Although I ... A: This is one of the best questions I've been asked on AllExperts. It's an excellent question. ... | |
| your article on B + N mate | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Good morning from Yorkshire, England. I discovered your 10 minute videos on You Tube on the subject ... A: Attached kindly find the PDF file. Most chess literature close to the category you described can ... | |
| Rating improvement and use of Monroi PCM | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: Louis Lima. I just found your Channel in YouTube and I commend you and applaud your excellent work ... A: Although the rating jumps are higher at the USCF 1300 level, it is very difficult to get that many ... | |
| Ready to learn real chess... | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I have been playing chess for a number of years and can beat most everyone I know. The problem is ... A: It would help to get an approximate idea of your strength. Do you know what your approximate rating ... | |
| Queen moves | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: My daughter seems to think a queen can move like a knight as in l shape and jump . that is not true ... A: You are correct. The only piece that can jump over other pieces is the knight. I made four ... | |
| beginner | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I am a beginning chess player and have a question about how to build tactics quickly. Prior to ... A: I like how you have developed a specific goal, which allows you to measure your chess improvement. ... | |
| Chess Question | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm a beginner at chess and am trying to work out a problem as well as get practice on algebraic ... A: No worries. OK, the answer lies in the weak rook on c8. As I said earlier, it is weak because it has ... | |
| check | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: My king was checked by my opponent's bishop. I interposed a knight that simultaneously checked his ... A: The answer is yes. His king is in check and he must either move his king to a safe square, or ... | |
| question re. 9 yr. old | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 91/2 yr. old son who started school chess in the fall. It's been 6 months and he has a ... A: Below is my own opinion to your question. However, I do not have experience with children and chess ... | |
| Winning | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I have been asked to find out if you can only win a game of chess by a checkmate or is there another ... A: That is correct. You can only win a game of chess by checkmate. In tournament competitions or games ... | |
| rating? | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: Lima, I played some competitive chess many, many years ago and would like to get back in to it. At ... A: I've been steadily making progress and currently at 1800! Letter designations are still in use. ... | |
| chess visualization | 8/31/2007 |
| Q: There's so many books on chess but so little useful materials on chess visualization. I like to ... A: In my opinion there is a plethora of training ways and materials to help one visualize better over ... | |
| chess | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: How should I study chess to improve? What is the best way to study chess? A: Before I can answer this I need to have an idea of your chess ability. Could you tell me a little ... | |
| Checkmate | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: Can you accidently move your King into a checkmate position, remove your hand from the King. Your ... A: In the situation you describe you must put the king back where it was and make another move with ... | |
| Checkmate | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: Can you accidently move your King into a checkmate position, remove your hand from the King. Your ... A: In the situation you outline it is not possible for your opponent to take your king, even if you ... | |
| Grob attack! | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: I recently have been playing the Grob for white and have won many short and long games with it.How ... A: Unfortunately the opening is not my strength, so I would recommend that you redirect your question ... | |
| Self training | 7/9/2007 |
| Q: I'm going to be a freshman in high school after this summer is over, and I have not played any chess ... A: You have some instructive books in your collection! I would recommend for you to focus on these ... | |
| What is not said | 3/13/2007 |
| Q: I have seen many chess openings in literature like beginners chess but I haven't seen a book or site ... A: I take it that your description of what a proposed opening sequence means is the "main line" that ... | |
| concepts | 3/12/2007 |
| Q: What do think are the most important concepts to understand in a game of chess? And could try to ... A: I really apologize but I have been out of the country since 2/29 and returning on 3/18. I just got ... | |
| Tactics/openings | 2/25/2007 |
| Q: I need to know where to go to get tactical problems from real games that are more then four moves ... A: 1. Imagination in Chess: How to Think Creatively and Avoid Foolish Mistakes by Paata Gaprindashvili ... | |
| opening?? | 1/16/2007 |
| Q: Why is it important to have a good opening? A: Could you clarify your question? It is typically a good idea to know an opening well (e.g. typical ... | |
| en passent | 1/13/2007 |
| Q: what does it mean and when is it done A: I remember how confusing the en passant rule felt when I first began to learn how to play the game. ... | |
| chess | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Is there a reason that the queen always starts on her own color? Is it just convention? Would a ... A: There is no particular reason the Queen starts in her own color. It is part of the rules of the ... | |
| chess | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: How do you develop a good strategy when playing chess. WHat do you look for come your turn? A: These are difficult questions to answer in a few words because it very much depends on what your ... | |
| checkmate | 12/20/2006 |
| Q: my sister and i are learn as u go chess players. my question is can u actually move into checkmate ... A: You cannot move into checkmate, unless you are playing speed chess (e.g. five minutes or less for ... | |
| CHESS PUZZLE? | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: I recently bought 303 perplexing chess puzzles by Fred Wilson. I'm not really sure how to do chess ... A: I have seen Fred's book when visiting his bookstore in NYC, but have not read it. I will check out a ... | |
| Stalemate in 30 Moves? | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: Louis, Is there a rule that if you are down to only your king, or your king is your only moveable ... A: There is such a rule, though it is 50 moves, not 30 - and you are right, this is only if you have no ... | |
| Chess | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: Can you give me some strategys and tactics in chess? And also how can i train my self in playing ... A: If you are a very beginner and can afford to purchase some books, two wonderful books I would ... | |
| Chess | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: what is the best strategy in chess A: Your question is very large in scope, so I am afraid I cannot answer it. There are different ... | |
| king | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: If your kings in check and you dont move your king you move another piece is that still checkmate. ... A: If you are playing chess and not using a chess clock, then it would be illegal to make a move that ... | |
| chess | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: how does en passant work, i thought it was just the first pawn moves, but someone just did it half ... A: I remember how confusing the en passant rule felt when first began to learn how to play the game. ... | |
| Books | 8/14/2006 |
| Q: I have been playing chess for about 2 years now and am looking for some good books that will improve ... A: I would gladly examine your losses. Kindly e-mail them to TenderDragon@Optonline.net and allow me a ... | |
| Opposition and critical squares scenario - can white win? | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: Black has Kd5 White has Pd2, Kd1 It is white's turn. Black has control of the critical squares. ... A: In order for White to try and gain the opposition, the King must get in front of his pawn before ... | |
Chess
Answers by Expert:
Louis Lima
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions on proper self-training and chess tactics, but feel free to ask me anything related to chess and if I cannot answer it I will tell you.
Experience
I am a category A player with a FIDE rating of 1963, and a USCF rating of 1965. I have several instructional chess videos at http://www.youtube.com/chesslearning and author a review column for http://www.chesscafe.com and teach a Sunday chess class to kids at Tzu-Chi Foundation's Chinese School.
Organizations
Nassau Chess Club, Queens Chess Club, Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR)
Publications
Mobility Magazine, Moving Forward Monthly, www.schemingmind.com, http://www.chesscafe.com
Education/Credentials
Masters degree in Organizational Psychology with a specialization in Training and Development.
Awards and Honors
51st Nassau FIDE Futurity 2009 (3rd Place)
Queens July Open 2007 (1st Place)
North American Open 2005 (3rd Place in the U1600 Section)
2nd FCC Winter Swiss 2009 (3rd Place)
32nd Freeport Spring Swiss 2006 (3rd Place)
9th Queens Teams Champtionship 2009 (3rd Place)
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