Checkmate or Taking a Queen!

Submitted by ADK on Fri, 06/27/2008 at 11:54am.

I have noticed that if given the oppurtunity people would rather take a Queen rather than put someone else in Checkmate!!! I think I know the reason why. It all begins when you can Mate someone but they deliberately put their Queen in harms way in order to distract their opponent. Just think people will figure Ooooh look a Queen and they would take it?! Believe me it worked on me a few times... I was playing my Brother and my Dad intervened since he was in a losing situation and he recommended sacrificing his Queen. Of course I was unaware that it was actually a TRAP!!! The second I took him he Forked me and I lost my oppurtunity to Mate him! In the Endgame, With my greater material, I prevailed. But I was so blinded by the Fact he was giving me a seemingly "FREE" Queen I forgot all about Mating him!!! What's your view on this matter... Comment & Enjoy!

ADK

» posted in ADK's Blog

| 159 reads | 5 comments

Comments:

by ADK - 2 months ago
Santa Clarita, CA United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 8239

Well actually it was going to be Mate next move... It was against my Brother too.

AND no the point is that leaving a "Seemingly FREE Queen" out was a Trap!!!

I mentioned in the Blog that I was blinded when he gave up his Queen...

I forgot all about Mating him and I took the Queen.

In turn he Forked my King and Queen... Making me unable to Mate him anymore.

{Well I did, but it took 20 more moves than it should've.}

ADK

by Vance917 - 2 months ago
Rockville, Maryland United States

Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 377

What is the question? Is it:

1. Given the choice between a queen or a win, which do you choose?

Or is it:

2. Given the choice between a queen in the hand or a potential check mate five moves down the road (in the bush, so to speak), which do you choose?

Even the first question is not always so clear, as winning fast is not always the objective. Maybe you and your opponent are having a good conversation that you do not want to end abruptly. But putting this aside, for the second question, there may be some uncertainty that passing up the queen will actually lead to the desired check mate. Is each opponent move truly forced, or is it possible that you may have overlooked something? I overlook moves all the time, so one could defend the position (told to me by a very wise chess player):

Take first, and ask questions later!