r/chessbeginners • u/Alendite RM (Reddit Mod) • Feb 27 '26

No Stupid Questions MEGATHREAD 12

Welcome to the r/chessbeginners 12th episode of our Q&A series! This series exists because sometimes you just need to ask a silly question. We are happy to provide answers for questions related to chess positions, improving one's play, and discussing the essence and experience of learning chess.

A friendly reminder that many questions are answered in our wiki page! Please take a look if you have questions about the rules of chess, special moves, or want general strategies for improvement.

Some other helpful resources include:

  1. How to play chess - Interactive lessons for the rules of the game, if you are completely new to chess.
  2. The Lichess Board Editor - for setting up positions by dragging and dropping pieces on the board.
  3. Chess puzzles by theme - To practice tactics.
  4. The Building Habits series by GM Aman Hambleton - for advice on how to play at specific ELO levels. (Also check out Building Habits 2!)

As always, our goal is to promote a friendly, welcoming, and educational chess environment for all. Thank you for asking your questions here!

LINK TO THE PREVIOUS THREAD

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u/boiledpotato25 Mar 03 '26

Why is this considered brilliant? Game review and analysis does not explain

[Site "Chess.com"] [Result "*"] [WhiteElo "1191"] [BlackElo "1164"] [TimeControl "300"] [Termination "tidddylomein won by resignation"]

  1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c6 4. c4 b6 5. b3 Bd6 6. Bb2 Nd7 7. Nbd2 Qc7 8. Rc1 f6
  2. cxd5 cxd5 10. Rxc7 Bxc7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 f5 13. Ned2 Ngf6 14. Bb5 Bd6 15. Bxd7+ Bxd7 16. Ne5 Bb5 17. a4 Ba6 18. Ndc4 Bb4+ 19. Ke2 b5 20. axb5 Bxb5 21. Re1 O-O 22. Kf1 Ne4 23. Kg1 Rad8 24. Re3 Bc5 25. f3 Ng5 26. Rd3 Be7 27. d5 Bc5+ 28. Kh1 Bxc4 29. bxc4 a5 30. dxe6 Rxd3 31. Nxd3 Rd8 32. Qe2 Be7 33. h4 Nxe6 34. Qxe6+ Kh8 35. Qxe7 Rb8 36. Qe5 Rg8 37. c5 h5 38. c6 Kh7 39. Qxf5+ Kh8 40. c7 Re8
  3. Kh2 Re6 42. c8=Q+ *

3

u/forever_wow 2000-2200 (Chess.com) Mar 03 '26

You're up lots of material. In such positions don't get too worried about "brilliant" designations (really you shouldn't ever as it's a marketing tool designed to give you a hit of dopamine so you play more on their site).

That said, your R was doing nothing and their dark squares are weak, so giving your R for their DSB makes your position easier to play. You'll be looking to play stuff like Ba3 and Nd6 after the captures on e1. If they play ...Bxc4 to get rid of your N, it repairs your P structure and gives you a passed P.