Newsgroups: rec.games.chess.misc Path: info!dregis From: dregis@exeter.ac.uk (D.Regis) Subject: Re: Transpositions (Was "Traxler ?? Variation) Message-ID: Organization: University of Exeter, UK. References: <19970217191700.OAA29123@ladder01.news.aol.com> <5eavci$hjd@news.istar.ca> Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 10:38:35 GMT In article <5eavci$hjd@news.istar.ca> "Pierre G. Boutquin" writes: >LystonW wrote in article >> At present, the Nimzo is classified in ECO as Exx; the Caro-Kann, as Bxx. > >Wouldn't it be better to come up with a classification system based on the >characterisitics of the position, so that every position is classified just >once? (Probably easier said than done, I know.) > But the easiest way to define opening positions is by the preceding moves. After "1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5" you will get a chorus of "Schliemann!" from a group of chess players, but what on earth is "r1bqkbnr/pppp2pp/2n5/1B2pp2/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R", what would you call it, and how would you index it? Transpositions will be the bane of any classification system anyhow. The well-known transpositions between the Caro-Kann Panov Attack and the Nimzo-Indian, or the Panov and the Semi-Tarrasch, will still need to be noted. The latter is: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 or 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 Now, say 98% of games starting 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 don't transpose to positions that arise by other move orders, so it's pointless not calling this the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Similarly for the Caro-Kann. Call them anything else but the Nimzo and Caro and we're all in more trouble than when we started. Classify under B14 or E40-something? I don't mind which, as long as you refer me from one to the other. Even if you set up a whole system based on the definitions of positions, what you would want to do with it is to examine the theory and practice of games with that position using various moves and move orders, and then you are back trying to spot and reference transpositions. And planning how to get to that position in a game, you need to be able to spot and use transpositions and move orders. Unless we go back to the ancient Arab practice of starting from certain fixed start positions ("tabiya") this will always be with us. [Good thing too: I'm always trying to use move order to get my opponents to play lines/positions that I don't think they know, on the basis that I'll play anything!] -- May your pieces harmonise with your Pawn structure and your sacrifices be sound in all variations D _ / "()/~ Dave Regis &8^D* Exeter Chess Coaching Page etc.: || \_/| = DrDave on BICS http://www.ex.ac.uk/~dregis/DR/chess.html ~\ / "...what else exists in the world but chess?" _|||__SHEU ~/sheu.html -- NABOKOV "Contribute!" -- Doug Attig From info!dregis Thu Feb 27 09:50:14 GMT 1997 Article: 5622 of rec.games.chess.analysis