The opening of a game of chess is a battle between two equally matched armies. |
Opening a game of chess is a battle between two equal armies. |
There is no known method that will secure one player a decisive advantage over the other regardless of what the opponent does. |
There is no known method that guarantees a player a decisive advantage over another, regardless of what the opponent does. |
If there were, chess as a professional sport would most likely cease to exist. |
If it existed, chess as a professional sport would probably cease to exist. |
Winning a game of chess depends on one's opponent making inaccurate moves. |
Winning a game of chess depends on the opponent making inaccurate moves. |
The question "What is an inaccurate move?" can best be answered by trial and error. |
The question "What is an inaccurate movement?" can best be answered by trial and error. |
Take the opening position shown in the diagram. |
Take the opening position shown in the diagram |
It is White's move. |
It's White's move. |
Why do almost all serious players begin by moving either a central pawn or the king's knight? |
Why do almost all serious players start by moving a central pawn or the king's horse? |
Simply because the results of millions of chess games have given these moves a better reputation than the alternatives. |
Simply because the results of millions of chess games have given these moves a better reputation than the alternatives. |
So you could say that White 'knows the secret' - except that after a handful of games have started with the same opening move, Black starts to realize that some ways of responding are better than others. |
So you could say that White 'knows the secret' - except that, after a handful of games have started with the same opening move, Black begins to realize that some ways of responding are better than others. |
Then White comes to know what to expect from Black. |
So White knows what to expect from Black. |
Carry on this process over several centuries, bearing in mind that most chess positions contain a few potential moves that are just as good as one another (and some that are not as good but that might just throw an opponent off guard), and you will end up with enough opening theory to fill several encyclopedias. |
Continue this process for several centuries, keeping in mind that most chess positions contain some potential moves that are as good as each other (and some that are not so good, but that may just leave the opponent off guard), and you end with enough openness theory to fill several encyclopedias. |
The question is who can remember the most. |
The question is who can remember the most. |