A4C Chess Group News

Luck in Chess

Chess is a game of perfect information - all the information about the game (the position) is available to both players.  No pieces are hidden, no dice roll will determine how you can move next.  Despite this, chess is so exponentially complex that no-one can foresee all eventualities - even Grandmasters or computers, so luck can play a role.

At my lowly level luck is even more evident - a good example is below from one of my casual blitz games.

[Date "????.??.??"]
[Result "0-1"]
[FEN "r3r1k1/p2q1ppp/2pb1n2/3p1P2/8/P1N1B2Q/1PP3PP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 1"]
[White "Opponent"]
[Black "Me"]
[Event "Casual Blitz Game"]

1... c5 { Overlooking the fact that the d5 pawn is now inadequately defended.  }  2. Nxd5 { Which my opponent tries to take advantage of...but I now realised that in fact my pawn IS indirectly defended after all!  }  2... Nxd5 3. Rxd5 Bxh2+ { Discovering an attack on the rook at d5 from my Queen.  The fact that this combination existed was pure luck...if it hadn't I would have simply hung a pawn for nothing.  }  4. Qxh2 Qxd5 { and I went on to win  }
0-1

Added by February 23, 2008 (4:36PM)

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