NEW CHESS THEORY

NCT I - INTRODUCTION

The «New Chess Theory» is an original contribution to the theoretical research enterprised, through all past centuries until the present time, to get a better understanding of our favo(u)rite board game. Hence the new step ahead, presented in the following pages, leans strongly upon the long previous walking of all chess theorists. Moreover, the teaching design that we propose here expresses well the proper advance of our thought.


NCT I-A - Everyone has
his own way for improving
his chess understanding


Consequently we think that the better way, for a novice or not very experienced chessplayer, is to progress in the chess game knowledge by rediscovering, stage after stage, all ideas highlighted, now as well as by the past, in view to reveal and explain chess secrets. Our own way, for these players, young, inexperienced, or wishing to reinforce their theoretical asset, consists in the three level teaching method developed on this website and composed, in this order, by :

1o) Classical Chess Theory
2o) Modern Chess Theory
3o) New Chess Theory

Now for all chess player, like you, we are sure, having a solid practice of the chess game and more owning enough basic theoretical knowledges, the best way is to go on, precisely here, in our company, for penetrating silently and quietly in an unexplored territory of Chess Land !! ...


NCT I-B - A new
epistemological break

Like we have already specified, the study undertaken here is in keeping with all background chess knowledge of the present time, we mean the «Current Chess Theory». For historical reasons, this one is composed of the «Classical Chess Theory» and the «Modern Chess Theory».
 We have well seen that transition from the first theory to the second one corresponded to a real epistemological break; in other words new ideas proposed by the last one was downright innovative and didn't only square with a foreseeable continuation of the classical point of view.
 Actually, it is easy to realize that main ideas presented in particular by Nimzowitch and Reti was, at this time, very anti-establishment, like it appears clearly in their writings... and in the rather vigorous reaction of their adversaries, like in an exemplary way Tarrasch.
 It is significant to specify here that if the «New Chess Theory», you will soon discover in this pages, is innovative enough for constituting a new epistemological breaking from current interpretation, on the other hand this new theory does not have strictly any anti-establishment feature. This, in the first place, is the result of our total respect of general opinion of high level chessplayers, incomparably more experimented and perceptive that us. But moreover we never had such an intention.
Our process is quiet and scientific... searching for increasing chess comprehension by an unexpected way ... And having found in this work, since already four years, a very keen pleasure, we think it is fair to share with you our secret passion !


NCT I-C - An original
course of research

The first characteristic of our work is using a pragmatic and descriptive methodology, much easier to understand and much better adapted to the subject than the use of a heavy mathematical conceptualization.
This way, we may affirm that our «New Chess Theory» is primarily a pragmatic approach of the «Noble Game of Chess» and not an abstract theory.
In the second place, the conceptual unit of our study results from what its principal discussion thread is the meticulous examination of the energy dissipated, on the chessboard, during a chess game.
 More precisely, it is impressive to note that the chessboard behaves, during the course of a game, exactly as if it were subjected to the theory of Relativity of Albert Einstein.
It is right to recognize that Tarrasch was the very first one to highlight the released energy, in the course of a chess game, and the way in which one can oppose it to the matter, here identifiable with the material available by each camp.
Also, in spite of its too great dogmatism, we plead for a second reading of the inspired work of Siegbert Tarrasch. We gladly join him in starting point, even if we look further into the exploration of this crucial way.


NCT I-D - A solid
conceptual background

It is impossible to develop a new theory without making use of new concepts representing its governing ideas. However, better is worth to limit their number and it is exactly what we did.
Main ideas of the «New Chess Theory» are, without any doubt, the following ones:

  • Pivot Games and ECB-Classification: The notion of ECB (ECO Codes Base)-Classification is closely connected with the ECO-Classification and is a refinement of this last, clearly presented in the chapter V of the New Chess Theory (NCT V), but also in the Chess Glossary of this website. The concept of Pivot Game allows to structure and organize this ECB-classification.


  • Purity of an opening: This idea is closely connected with the ECB (ECO Codes Base)-Classification and moreover is a basic concept of this classification. Briefly an n-opening O is the suite of n first White and Black moves of a concrete chess game. Let us consider an opening selected among the 500 items of the ECO-classification, names Xuv, where X=A, B, C, D, E, u=0, 1, 2,...,9 & v=0, 1, 2,...,9. For example C89 corresponds to X=C, u=8, v=9. All n-opening or all game classified Xuv is said a Xuv-opening; thus all n-opening or all game classified C89 is a C89-opening.

    In this context we examine with precision the purity of the considered opening O relatively to the Xuv-opening. In particular, an Xuv-pivot game must answer a strict criteria of purity.


  • Elementary pawn-structure and pawn-figure complex: Considering a position P on the chessboard, it is possible to recognize in it some specific basic structures and, this way, to establish similarities between various positions. In this study we must distinguish the intrinsic pawn-structure, determining largely the nature of the game in progress, from the pawn-figure complexes difficult to classify and being able to vary ad infinitum.


  • The Chessboard Geometry; Critical lines and points: Everyone understands the fundamental importance of the geometry of the chessboard on the course of a game. To show the relevance of this idea we prove, using many examples, that a chess game is mainly characterized by the critical role that play, in this one, some particular points and lines, clearly determinate and specific to this game.


  • The Spectrum of a position: Let us consider a Position P of a given chess game, such that we know clearly what is the player having to play. By convenience we say that P is "even" if White has to play and "odd" if it is the turn of Black to play.

    The Spectrum of P is rightly the arborescence of all playable lines, starting from P, with a depth of analysis of a reasonable number of moves depending on P, able to preserve the position and to reinforce it if possible. This judgement is evidently relative to White if P is even and Black if P is odd.


  • Energy, Initiative and Spectrum: All commentators and modern theorists of the chess game insist on the crucial importance, for a player, to arrive on the initiative. We also do it by coupling initiative and energy.

    But the most original contribution of the «New Chess Theory» consists in showing in what the nature of the spectrum, and more precisely the «width of the spectrum», for each player, is clearly revealing the situation prevailing on the chessboard, and in particular the initiative available to each one.


  • Matter and Energy: At the beginning of a part, vis-a-vis with the starting position, all is «matter» on the chessboard. One can identify the «energy» like the resultant of imbalances intervening in the course of a game.

    Obviously there are several kinds of imbalance but, as it is known, most spectacular result from voluntary sacrifices. Then it is right that «matter is transformed in energy». All this will be accurately examined. Always in connection with the initiative and of course the evolution of the spectrum of both camps.



    • NCT I-E - A well structured
    chess theory lecture

    We use the abreviations:

  • CCT: "Classical Chess Theory"
  • MCT: "Modern Chess Theory"
  • NCT: "New Chess Theory"

    • Under the name of New Chess Theory we develop an original way of thinking chess. Main ideas of this conceptualisation may be resume like this:

  • The NCT concerns only the "Fundamental Chess Theory": in other words is only related to the unfolding of a Chess game from the first move to the end of the Pre-Endgame (see: Pre-Endgame in the Glossary or in NCT IV - "Unfolding of qa game"); but all our formalism breaks down with the approach of the Full-Endgame (see: Full-Endgame in the Glossary or in NCT IV - "Unfolding of a game"), which is fully in conformity with our ideas.


  • There is rigorously no contradiction between the NCT and the MCT (or the CCT): Far from us the idea to refute or only to take the opposite course of present opinions about chess theory. One can simply specify that the NCT is a deepening of "modern" designs developed since Philidor.


  • The NCT is based on the following technical principles:


    • i) The course of a Chess game may be specified, as it is indicated in:

    NCT IV - "Unfolding of a game"

    ii) The opening corresponds to a very reduced number of objectives easy to describe. An accurate study, based on two new concepts (Totally Pure Opening & Pivot Game), permits to exploit the ECB-Classification (ECBC:):

    NCT V - "Opening new understanding"

    iii) A position can be broken up into a reduced number of basic components and thus easily comparable with other similar positions. At a careful study of a position are mainly consecrated three chapters:

    NCT X - "Chess pawn structure I"
    NCT XI - "Chess pawn structure II"
    NCT XIII - "Pawn-Figure Complex"

    iv) Dynamic characteristics of a position will be make explicit; in particular in chapters:

    NCT XIV - "Anchorage"
    NCT XV - "Sustained pressure"
    NCT XVI - "Offensive strategy"

    v) The main objective of a Chess player, after a satisfying development of his pieces, is to seize the initiative. We project a new light on this concept by showing that the initiative is expressed in terms of spectrum. In fact, this is the spectrum evolution of each of both players which truly determines the becoming of a Chess game:

    NCT VII - "Control and domination"
    NCT VIII - "Spectrum of a Position"

    vi) A relevant study ends up highlighting that in a Chess game there is, as within the framework of Albert Einstein's relativity, a permanent exchange between Matter and Energy, which expresses all the dynamism of a position:

    DCC - "Dynamic Chess Classification"
    NCT XVII - "Mater and Energy"
    NCT XVIII - "Choice of a plan"

    vii) Our opinion is that grandmasters use for a long time the NCT without being aware of it!... In light, we have the modesty to think that we will not learn anything to a very strong player. On the other hand, that you are a beginner or more experimented chess enthusiast, a weak or rather strong player there is not any doubt that discover the NCT, you impregnate of it and lastly put it into practice will propel you on a surprising level:

    NCT IXX - "Keys of success"
    NCT XX - "Test and Evaluations"
    NCT XXI - "Remarks"
    NCT XXII - "Your comments!"


    NCT I-F - A strong
    technical support

    We will finish this first chapter by explaining an essential aspect of the use of this website. You dispose, at all moments, of powerful information, investigation or research tools, presented below, which are envisaged to be used permanently and in parallel:

       The "Current Chess Theory Lecture" (CCT & MCT)
       The "New Chess Theory Lecture" (NCT)
       The "Chess-Theory Glossary"
       The "Chess-Theory ECB-Classification"
       The "Research by Chess Theoretical Themes"
       The "Chess-Theory Analysed Games"
    The three first ones are the principal sources of information, concerning the chess theory, available on this website. The three last, of which we must explain the use, represent either a help with comprehension, or a mode of research.

    1o) The "Chess-Theory ANALYSED GAMES":

    You will find, on this website, an increasing number of analyzed chess games. Those are proposed primarily like an illustration of the «New Chess Theory». Thus, there is a very clear complementarity between the "theoretical course" (available in the «CHESS THEORY» sector of this website) and our "analyzed chess games" (available in the «ANALYSED GAMES» sector of this website).
    In our analyses we examine with precision how intervene, during the course of a game, main theoretical concepts, such as they appear in the three level of our teaching (in the CCT, MCT & NCT).
    But we lay a particular accent on the «New Chess Theory» because, on the one hand it is more complex conceptually, and on the other hand the concepts which intervene there are less familiar.

    2o) The "Chess-Theory ECB-Classification":

    We point out that this significant part of the website is always under construction for many years. However the "ECO Codes Base" that we propose here is the now operational one and you certainly can use it with profit.
    A first menu enables you to access the five basic pages A, B, C, D, E of the ECB-classification:

    Chess Openings : ECO Codes Base
    (ECB (ECO Codes Base) Classification)

       A    B    C    D    E

    In addition to a presentation and a classification of main lines of play, we propose a growing number of chess games online, classified according to the ECB-Classification. Consequently you have an effective system of specialized research, accessible starting from the menu below:

    Search games in the ECO Codes Base
    (Click for using the CT Search Engine)

    Theoretical Opening Analysis
    		0023
    		xTOAN
    Traps & Short Games
    		0040
    		xTRAP
    All Analyzed Games
    		0175 xANGA
    Classical Grandmaster Games
    		0063 xCGMG
    Recent Grandmaster Games
    		0103 xRGMG
    Correspondence Games
    		0045 xCORG
    Briefly Commented Games
    		0049 xBCGA
    Non Commented Games
    		0120
    		xNCGA

    Specialized researches
    (Click to access specialized researches)

    Selection by Chess Players
    		 PLAYERS  
    Selection by Chess Openings
    		OPENINGS
    Selection by Theoretical Themes
    		 THEMES   

    For example, if you wish to know the list of all pages corresponding to the games of current Grandmasters, then you click on the initials: "xRGMG". You must then be patient because the search engine of the website will seek all these pages and will provide you in roughly thirty seconds the listing of internal links corresponding.
    Now we wish give a very special attention to the "Research by Chess Players", but especially to the "Research by Theoretical Topics".

    3o) The "Alphabetical Research by Chess Players":
    By the following menu you may access to the twenty-five specialized pages of our "Alphabetical Research by Chess Players".

    Alphabetical Research by Chess Players
    (Click on the appropriate letter to find
    out all references to a Chess Player)

       A    B    C    D    E
       F    G    H    I    J
       K    L    M    N    O
       P    Q    R    S    T
       U    V    W    X    Y,Z

    For example, if you wish to find all the games of Garry Kasparov classified in the "ECO Codes Base (ECB)" you have first to choose the letter "K" in the above menu and then to click onto this one. The second step consists in selecting in the page K the suitable name: "Kasparov". You must then be patient because the search engine of the website will seek all these pages and will provide you in roughly thirty seconds the listing of internal links corresponding.
    Note however this important point: we quoted the name of Garry Kasparov, but it was possible also to indicate your own name!!... Indeed, it is enough that you address to Chess-Theory one or more games of you so that they are analyzed and reproduced one day or another on the website; and in this way that your name appears in these listings.
    But, unfortunately all this represents a considerable work for the poor webmaster of this website, which must admit having, in this field, at least two years of delay!... However every game submitted will be one day or another published... It is an engagement!... A solemn engagement indeed.

    4o) The "Alphabetical Research by Theoretical Themes":
    At the top of each page, by clicking on «Search» one obtains the access to the "Search Engine" of the website, but also to the following internal link giving access to the "Alphabetical Research by Theoretical Themes":

    ECO Codes Base - Reseach
    (Research by Theoretical Chess Themes)

    Theoretical Chess Themes
       Research on the site by
    Theoretical Chess Themes

    The above link leads to the following menu by which you may access to the twenty-five specialized pages of our "Alphabetical Research by Theoretical Themes".

    Alphabetical Research by
    Chess Theoretical Themes
    (Click on the appropriate letter to find
    out all references to a Theoretical Theme)

       A    B    C    D    E
       F    G    H    I    J
       K    L    M    N    O
       P    Q    R    S    T
       U    V    W    X    Y,Z


    NCT I-G - How to use the
    "Alphabetical Research
    by Theoretical Themes"?

    We have to add some explanations concerning the "Alphabetical Research by Theoretical Themes". We propose you 743 items regrouped into the following topics:

    A :

    Active, Activity, Advantage, Air Lock, Attack

    B :

    Base (Basic), Battery, Battle, Bishop, Blockhouse, Blocking, Break (Move), Brillant

    C :

    Castle (Castling), Center, Center Formation, Cheak (Mate), Classification, Combination, Compensation, Contact, Control, Coordination, Critical

    D :

    Defense, Developing, Development, Domination, Double(d), Duo, Dynamic Chess Classification

    E :

    Encyclopedia, Endgame, Endgame Type, Exchange, Exchange appreciation

    F :

    File, Fixed, Fork, Formation, Free, Front

    G :

    Game, Game (Dynamic Classification), General

    H :

    Half-Chessboard, Hole, Home

    I :

    Idea, Initiative, Intermediate

    J :

    Jerico

    K :

    Key, King, Knight

    L :

    Lever, Line, Losing

    M :

    Majority, Mate, Mate (number of moves to checkmate), Mating, Minority Attack, Mistake, Mobile, Mobility, Move

    N :

    Neutralization, Novelty

    O :

    Obstruction, Open, Open File Attack, Opening, Opening ECO classification, Opposite, Opposition, Overload

    P :

    Pawn, Passed Pawn, Pawn Structure, Penetration, Piece(s), Piece Comparison, Pin(ned), Plan, Play, Counter Play, Position, Positional, Prisoner, Prophylaxis, Protection

    Q :

    Quality, Queen

    R :

    Ram, Rook

    S :

    Sacrifice, Safety, Series, Situation, Spatial, Spectrum (of a Position), Square, Strategy (Strategic), Structure

    T :

    Tactical, Tension, Theory (Chess Theory), Theory (Physics & Philosophy), Threat, Time, Trap, Tripled

    U :

    Unbalance (Imbalance), Unfolding (of a Chess game), Unity, Unprotected

    V :

    Variation, Violent

    W :

    Waiting, Weakness

    X, Y, Z :

    Zone, Zugzwang

  • How to use the "Alphabetical Research by Theoretical Themes"?

    • By the above table (menu) you access an alphabetical presentation of «Chess Theoretical Themes» proposed on the whole website. An original acronym system allows you to get accurately all page of the Chess-Theory website using words and expressions corresponding to those themes and this way to understand their relevance.
    Be careful that Chess-Theory website is a big one comprising between 1400 and 1500 pages! (in each language!). All researches are realised by the Chess-theory Search Engine in less than 30 seconds! ... Nevertheless be patient! Let us notice that pages referenced like this belong mainly to:

  • Chess Theory Lecture.
  • Chess Games Analysis.
  • Chess-Theory Glossary.
  • Chess-Theory Forums.
  • Chess-Theory Fundamental Articles.

    •      All corresponding concepts belong either to the CUCT: "Current Chess Theory" or to the NCTX: "New Chess Theory" developed on this website.
    Each acronym consists of four symbols: letters or figures: XYZT:... For example: PPPA: means "Protected Passed Pawn" and PLAN: means "Plan". When you click on such an acronym, the Chess-Theory Search Engine lists all pages containing this one and indicate for each page the number of occurrences.
    For a good use of this tool it is interesting to announce that the found pages do not present all the same interest and that it is thus wise to know to recognize them. Usually you will find the following type of pages:

    enva0299z ... eco_codes_base.php ... chess-theory search engine...: It is your page of origin, in the research menu, and it anables you to return there.

    enva04 ... glossary_chess_theory.php ... chess-theory's glossary...: It is a page of the «Chess-Theory Glossary» allowing you to access to the definition of the term or the expression for which you engaged a research.

    enthnct ... new_chess_theory...php ... new chess theory ...: It is a page of the «Chess-Theory Lecture» giving you in principle all necessary information about the term or the expression for which you engaged a research.

    endb0 ... analysis_games_chess.php ... chess-theory viewer ...: This page of «Chess-Theory Analysis» contains the analysis of a chess game, including an illustration of the term or the expression for which you engaged a research.
    Here is for the end two very simple examples. First of all you wish to find an analyzed game where figure a checkmate in 5 moves. You choose the letter "M" of the menu in view to access the M-page. Then you click on the acronym "MAI5" and, this way, you reach the page:

    endb037_analysis_games_chess.php ... chess-theory viewer, analysed game...
    In other words, you find effectively the «Chess-Theory Analysed game No 36», giving an example of Mate in 5.

    Now you are intrigued by the expression: «Totally Pure Opening» and you decide to engage a research at this subject. By clicking on the letter "O" you access the O-page. Then you search the term «Opening», and under the topic «Opening ECO Classification» you get effectively the expression: «Totally Pure Opening». So you click on the corresponding acronym "TPOP" and, this way, you reach the page:

    enthnct04_1_new_chess_theory...php ... new chess theory ...
    In other words, you find effectively the chapter of our «Chess Theory Lecture» where this concept is clearly defined and studied.

    ***

    NEW CHESS THEORY :

  • Next chapter :

    •   «NCT II - CHESSBOARD GEOMETRY»


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