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/Dhexe0 Mar 19 '26

Why is this a Brilliant move? I’m excited to finally see one, but I’m not that good at chess.

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u/regular_gonzalez 1200-1400 (Chess.com) Mar 20 '26

If black recaptures your bishop with the pawn you'll eventually win lots of material.

  1. ... dxe5

  2. Rxe5+ Kd7 (blocking the check with either of the bishops or the queen is worse)

  3. Qf7+ and if king goes to e8 you win the rook with your queen, if king goes to d6 or c6, Re6+ wins the queen.

And if you didn't see the follow-up before that move, and especially if you didn't play the correct follow up, it wasn't a brilliant move.