Chess/Questions Answered by Expert Chuck Kinzie
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Chess Indoor Game - Reinventing - Maths Application. | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: Re engineered Chess Board Layout. where the Total Number of squares will be 144 i.e. 12 square ... A: Your "expanded" version of chess should lead to some really interesting games. The games that ... | |
| Check mate or draw | 7/7/2011 |
| Q: I'm learning chess and using the chess game that comes with windows 7. I'm white and the game ends ... A: The position you gave me is a draw. A player automatically draws a game if BOTH of the following ... | |
| Chess - finishing question | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I was hunting down check mate with positions covered by my queen, bishop and rook. My question is ... A: Wayne. Thanks for your question. It is against the rules for a king to directly attack another ... | |
| Chess | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: How do I checkmate a lone King with a King and a rook? A: Here is a link that will give you a clear explanation on how to mate with a King and a rook: ... | |
| Chess Training | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I love playing chess, but am not very good at it. I am in my late 50's and have played off and on ... A: In my opinion, the best way to become adept at tactics is to solve tactical puzzles until you're ... | |
| Castling rules | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking for a more thorough explanation of the castling procedure and also a book that explains ... A: The only restriction on the rook in castling is that it can't have already moved. Even if the rook ... | |
| last moves | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: Can we kill all pieces except a pawn and a king? A: I assume you're asking about capturing pieces and pawns. (I think that is what you meant by ... | |
| Knight vs Bishop | 5/30/2010 |
| Q: According to piece value, they're equal. In a ussual chess game that lasts 20-30 min, which piece ... A: Tom. Thanks for your interesting question. Generally speaking, knights are better than bishops ... | |
| Check mate king with Another king? | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: Can I check a king with another king? A: Phil. Thanks for your question. No, a king can never capture another king. It is illegal for a ... | |
| Chess tournament | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I am going to run a chess tournament. I don't want chess clocks and it's a non-rated tournament. How ... A: Since the tournament is going to be about twenty players, then I recommend pairing players based on ... | |
| Chess tournament | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I am going to run a chess tournament. I don't want chess clocks and it's a non-rated tournament. How ... A: Dan. Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, if clocks aren't being used, there might be some ... | |
| checkmate with castle & king | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: can I checkmate with castle & a king A: Yes, a castle (usually called a "rook") and a king can force checkmate. Here is a link that will ... | |
| a 5899 move game??? | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I am studying the nature of the futile and absurd and came cross the fact that the most moves ... A: Unfortunately, I have no insights on the question of how many moves a game can theoretically go. I ... | |
| draws | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: If you get your opponent into a situation where they are not in check but cannot move without ... A: If the player on the move is not in check AND he has no legal moves, then the game is a draw by ... | |
| Learning Chess | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: i have always wanted to learn how to play chess and decided its time to start. Is there any advice ... A: I'm sure that you will find chess to be a most rewarding and enjoyable hobby. Here is a website ... | |
| Chess Evaluation +/- ?! | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: Reading chess moves, I come across these symbols ++/-,+/- or ?! or variations to them... What do ... A: Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your question. I don't have my own computer, and I ... | |
| Chess | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: Once you move a chess piece to a position on the board can you keep your hand on that piece and ... A: A move is considered complete when you take your hand off of the piece. If you don't like where you ... | |
| Check | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I am relearning chess after many years of not playing.If the BLK king is in check, can a BLK piece ... A: Ben! Thanks for your question. If the Black King is in check, then there are three ways to get out ... | |
| patterns | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: How many moves does it take for a knight to reach a square that is one square diagonally away from ... A: The knight is a very strange beast indeed. It actually takes FOUR moves for a knight to get to a ... | |
| Help | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: what happens if all the pieces are gone except the two kings and one queen on the board? Is it stale ... A: A player with a King and a Queen against a lone King can force checkmate. However, he has to be ... | |
| How to improve in Chess | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: I have played chess for 2 years, but have now reached a point whereby I find it difficult to ... A: William! Thanks for your question. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. Now that Christmas is ... | |
| first moves allowed by pawns | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I have always played in UK and told that the first pawn to move by each player may move 1 or 2 ... A: In the Official Rules of Chess published by the International Chess Federation (F.I.D.E.), you can ... | |
| chess move | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: I am currently playing my police chief in a game and I fear he has me? Our current positions are as ... A: I'm sorry, but it would not be ethical for me to give advice about a game in progress. Sorry 'bout ... | |
| Queen pawn openings | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I will be starting to play in tournaments regularly starting this week, and i plan to play d4 a bit. ... A: If you open with 1 d4, then the most common responses are 1...d5 and 1...Nf6. If you play 2 c4 ... | |
| The Caro-Kann Defence | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: As I have been looking at various openings, I have noticed the Caro-Kann. The opening looks very ... A: I often play the Caro-Kann in tournaments myself. It is a very solid defense and often frustrates ... | |
| king being in check | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: when in check can the king take the piece that put him in check? A: Yes, the King can take the piece that put him in check. The only exception is that the King cannot ... | |
| en passant | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Is there a time limit when capturing a pawn through en passant? I've read that you must take the ... A: Raul! The en passant rule can be really confusing! When Levens says that "the en passant capture ... | |
| en passant | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: Is there a time limit when capturing a pawn through en passant? I've read that you must take the ... A: Raul! Good question! No rule in chess causes more confusion and misunderstanding than the en ... | |
| Spectator etiquette/punishment | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: My son recently participated in his first chess tournament. He did really well, considering it was ... A: Nicole! I'm sorry that your son had to endure such a blatant flouting of the rules and etiquette of ... | |
| Chess Question | 2/15/2008 |
| Q: Can a king which is in check with a pawn protected by the players king move his king adjacent to the ... A: John! A King can NEVER move to a square immediately adjacent to his opponent's King. Furthermore, ... | |
| CKECKMATE USING YOUR KING | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: if I only have a Pawn and a King remaining, and my opponent only has a King remaining, can I use my ... A: Happy New Year, Tom, and thanks for your question! It is illegal to put your king right next to ... | |
| chess question | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: if your king is in check, is it possible to switch spaces with the pawn once in the game to get out ... A: There are only three legal ways to get out of check: 1. Move the King to a square that is not ... | |
| Etiquette dependant upon pieces | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: Ive been playing about 3 years online only. Generally people are quite nice, but occasionally a ... A: Amanda! Thanks for the interesting question. Since it is almost impossible to lose if you're the ... | |
| why chess is in sports? | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: could you please answer me why chess is in sports and why we call chess sport??? i wanna logical ... A: I do not myself consider chess to be a sport. It's listed under "sports" in the World Almanac ... | |
| 2 turn checkmate | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: this is brandon and i have a question about 2 turn checkmate my dad says there is one and i dont ... A: White can get himself mated in two moves. This is called "The Fools Mate". White's first move: ... | |
| chess | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: How to defeat the opponent if I have one knight and he has nothing. A: If all you have is a knight and a king (no other pawns or pieces), then the game is a draw. One of ... | |
Chess
Answers by Expert:
Chuck Kinzie
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer basic chess questions regarding opening, middlegame and endgame strategy and tactics. I cannot answer questions about positions with subtle nuances that require Grandmaster or computer analysis.
Experience
I have been playing in chess tournaments for over thirty years.
Organizations
United States Chess Federation
Publications
I have a chess blog: http://www.chuckychess.blogspot.org
Education/Credentials
I earned a United States Chess Federation Expert rating in 1987.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.