Chess960: Start Position Number

Biff asked how to work out the corresponding number that goes with the start position. A few months ago you could type into Google something like "RQKNBNRB" and it would hit Mark's list of SP's and their corresponding number and so it was easy. Now if you do it, you have to dig into the second page of Googles search result to find it. So here is another quick knock up in this post.

1. Ctrl-F (search for text in your browser)
2. Type in the SP such as RQKNBNRB, or an SP number it doesn't matter
3. Your browser should take you there.

Courtesy of Mark Weeks: http://www.mark-weeks.com/cfaa/chess960/c960strt.htm

|  SP | White    

| 960 | BBQNNRKR

|   1 | BQNBNRKR

|   2 | BQNNRBKR

|   3 | BQNNRKRB

|   4 | QBBNNRKR

|   5 | QNBBNRKR

|   6 | QNBNRBKR

|   7 | QNBNRKRB

|   8 | QBNNBRKR

|   9 | QNNBBRKR

|  10 | QNNRBBKR

|  11 | QNNRBKRB

|  12 | QBNNRKBR

|  13 | QNNBRKBR

|  14 | QNNRKBBR

|  15 | QNNRKRBB

|  16 | BBNQNRKR

|  17 | BNQBNRKR

|  18 | BNQNRBKR

|  19 | BNQNRKRB

|  20 | NBBQNRKR

|  21 | NQBBNRKR

|  22 | NQBNRBKR

|  23 | NQBNRKRB

|  24 | NBQNBRKR

|  25 | NQNBBRKR

|  26 | NQNRBBKR

|  27 | NQNRBKRB

|  28 | NBQNRKBR

|  29 | NQNBRKBR

|  30 | NQNRKBBR

|  31 | NQNRKRBB

|  32 | BBNNQRKR

|  33 | BNNBQRKR

|  34 | BNNQRBKR

|  35 | BNNQRKRB

|  36 | NBBNQRKR

|  37 | NNBBQRKR

|  38 | NNBQRBKR

|  39 | NNBQRKRB

|  40 | NBNQBRKR

|  41 | NNQBBRKR

|  42 | NNQRBBKR

|  43 | NNQRBKRB

|  44 | NBNQRKBR

|  45 | NNQBRKBR

|  46 | NNQRKBBR

|  47 | NNQRKRBB

|  48 | BBNNRQKR

|  49 | BNNBRQKR

|  50 | BNNRQBKR

|  51 | BNNRQKRB

|  52 | NBBNRQKR

|  53 | NNBBRQKR

|  54 | NNBRQBKR

|  55 | NNBRQKRB

|  56 | NBNRBQKR

|  57 | NNRBBQKR

|  58 | NNRQBBKR

|  59 | NNRQBKRB

|  60 | NBNRQKBR

|  61 | NNRBQKBR

|  62 | NNRQKBBR

|  63 | NNRQKRBB

|  64 | BBNNRKQR

|  65 | BNNBRKQR

|  66 | BNNRKBQR

|  67 | BNNRKQRB

|  68 | NBBNRKQR

|  69 | NNBBRKQR

|  70 | NNBRKBQR

|  71 | NNBRKQRB

|  72 | NBNRBKQR

|  73 | NNRBBKQR

|  74 | NNRKBBQR

|  75 | NNRKBQRB

|  76 | NBNRKQBR

|  77 | NNRBKQBR

|  78 | NNRKQBBR

|  79 | NNRKQRBB

|  80 | BBNNRKRQ

|  81 | BNNBRKRQ

|  82 | BNNRKBRQ

|  83 | BNNRKRQB

|  84 | NBBNRKRQ

|  85 | NNBBRKRQ

|  86 | NNBRKBRQ

|  87 | NNBRKRQB

|  88 | NBNRBKRQ

|  89 | NNRBBKRQ

|  90 | NNRKBBRQ

|  91 | NNRKBRQB

|  92 | NBNRKRBQ

|  93 | NNRBKRBQ

|  94 | NNRKRBBQ

|  95 | NNRKRQBB

|  96 | BBQNRNKR

|  97 | BQNBRNKR

|  98 | BQNRNBKR

|  99 | BQNRNKRB

| 100 | QBBNRNKR

| 101 | QNBBRNKR

| 102 | QNBRNBKR

| 103 | QNBRNKRB

| 104 | QBNRBNKR

| 105 | QNRBBNKR

| 106 | QNRNBBKR

| 107 | QNRNBKRB

| 108 | QBNRNKBR

| 109 | QNRBNKBR

| 110 | QNRNKBBR

| 111 | QNRNKRBB

| 112 | BBNQRNKR

| 113 | BNQBRNKR

| 114 | BNQRNBKR

| 115 | BNQRNKRB

| 116 | NBBQRNKR

| 117 | NQBBRNKR

| 118 | NQBRNBKR

| 119 | NQBRNKRB

| 120 | NBQRBNKR

| 121 | NQRBBNKR

| 122 | NQRNBBKR

| 123 | NQRNBKRB

| 124 | NBQRNKBR

| 125 | NQRBNKBR

| 126 | NQRNKBBR

| 127 | NQRNKRBB

| 128 | BBNRQNKR

| 129 | BNRBQNKR

| 130 | BNRQNBKR

| 131 | BNRQNKRB

| 132 | NBBRQNKR

| 133 | NRBBQNKR

| 134 | NRBQNBKR

| 135 | NRBQNKRB

| 136 | NBRQBNKR

| 137 | NRQBBNKR

| 138 | NRQNBBKR

| 139 | NRQNBKRB

| 140 | NBRQNKBR

| 141 | NRQBNKBR

| 142 | NRQNKBBR

| 143 | NRQNKRBB

| 144 | BBNRNQKR

| 145 | BNRBNQKR

| 146 | BNRNQBKR

| 147 | BNRNQKRB

| 148 | NBBRNQKR

| 149 | NRBBNQKR

| 150 | NRBNQBKR

| 151 | NRBNQKRB

| 152 | NBRNBQKR

| 153 | NRNBBQKR

| 154 | NRNQBBKR

| 155 | NRNQBKRB

| 156 | NBRNQKBR

| 157 | NRNBQKBR

| 158 | NRNQKBBR

| 159 | NRNQKRBB

| 160 | BBNRNKQR

| 161 | BNRBNKQR

| 162 | BNRNKBQR

| 163 | BNRNKQRB

| 164 | NBBRNKQR

| 165 | NRBBNKQR

| 166 | NRBNKBQR

| 167 | NRBNKQRB

| 168 | NBRNBKQR

| 169 | NRNBBKQR

| 170 | NRNKBBQR

| 171 | NRNKBQRB

| 172 | NBRNKQBR

| 173 | NRNBKQBR

| 174 | NRNKQBBR

| 175 | NRNKQRBB

| 176 | BBNRNKRQ

| 177 | BNRBNKRQ

| 178 | BNRNKBRQ

| 179 | BNRNKRQB

| 180 | NBBRNKRQ

| 181 | NRBBNKRQ

| 182 | NRBNKBRQ

| 183 | NRBNKRQB

| 184 | NBRNBKRQ

| 185 | NRNBBKRQ

| 186 | NRNKBBRQ

| 187 | NRNKBRQB

| 188 | NBRNKRBQ

| 189 | NRNBKRBQ

| 190 | NRNKRBBQ

| 191 | NRNKRQBB

| 192 | BBQNRKNR

| 193 | BQNBRKNR

| 194 | BQNRKBNR

| 195 | BQNRKNRB

| 196 | QBBNRKNR

| 197 | QNBBRKNR

| 198 | QNBRKBNR

| 199 | QNBRKNRB

| 200 | QBNRBKNR

| 201 | QNRBBKNR

| 202 | QNRKBBNR

| 203 | QNRKBNRB

| 204 | QBNRKNBR

| 205 | QNRBKNBR

| 206 | QNRKNBBR

| 207 | QNRKNRBB

| 208 | BBNQRKNR

| 209 | BNQBRKNR

| 210 | BNQRKBNR

| 211 | BNQRKNRB

| 212 | NBBQRKNR

| 213 | NQBBRKNR

| 214 | NQBRKBNR

| 215 | NQBRKNRB

| 216 | NBQRBKNR

| 217 | NQRBBKNR

| 218 | NQRKBBNR

| 219 | NQRKBNRB

| 220 | NBQRKNBR

| 221 | NQRBKNBR

| 222 | NQRKNBBR

| 223 | NQRKNRBB

| 224 | BBNRQKNR

| 225 | BNRBQKNR

| 226 | BNRQKBNR

| 227 | BNRQKNRB

| 228 | NBBRQKNR

| 229 | NRBBQKNR

| 230 | NRBQKBNR

| 231 | NRBQKNRB

| 232 | NBRQBKNR

| 233 | NRQBBKNR

| 234 | NRQKBBNR

| 235 | NRQKBNRB

| 236 | NBRQKNBR

| 237 | NRQBKNBR

| 238 | NRQKNBBR

| 239 | NRQKNRBB

| 240 | BBNRKQNR

| 241 | BNRBKQNR

| 242 | BNRKQBNR

| 243 | BNRKQNRB

| 244 | NBBRKQNR

| 245 | NRBBKQNR

| 246 | NRBKQBNR

| 247 | NRBKQNRB

| 248 | NBRKBQNR

| 249 | NRKBBQNR

| 250 | NRKQBBNR

| 251 | NRKQBNRB

| 252 | NBRKQNBR

| 253 | NRKBQNBR

| 254 | NRKQNBBR

| 255 | NRKQNRBB

| 256 | BBNRKNQR

| 257 | BNRBKNQR

| 258 | BNRKNBQR

| 259 | BNRKNQRB

| 260 | NBBRKNQR

| 261 | NRBBKNQR

| 262 | NRBKNBQR

| 263 | NRBKNQRB

| 264 | NBRKBNQR

| 265 | NRKBBNQR

| 266 | NRKNBBQR

| 267 | NRKNBQRB

| 268 | NBRKNQBR

| 269 | NRKBNQBR

| 270 | NRKNQBBR

| 271 | NRKNQRBB

| 272 | BBNRKNRQ

| 273 | BNRBKNRQ

| 274 | BNRKNBRQ

| 275 | BNRKNRQB

| 276 | NBBRKNRQ

| 277 | NRBBKNRQ

| 278 | NRBKNBRQ

| 279 | NRBKNRQB

| 280 | NBRKBNRQ

| 281 | NRKBBNRQ

| 282 | NRKNBBRQ

| 283 | NRKNBRQB

| 284 | NBRKNRBQ

| 285 | NRKBNRBQ

| 286 | NRKNRBBQ

| 287 | NRKNRQBB

| 288 | BBQNRKRN

| 289 | BQNBRKRN

| 290 | BQNRKBRN

| 291 | BQNRKRNB

| 292 | QBBNRKRN

| 293 | QNBBRKRN

| 294 | QNBRKBRN

| 295 | QNBRKRNB

| 296 | QBNRBKRN

| 297 | QNRBBKRN

| 298 | QNRKBBRN

| 299 | QNRKBRNB

| 300 | QBNRKRBN

| 301 | QNRBKRBN

| 302 | QNRKRBBN

| 303 | QNRKRNBB

| 304 | BBNQRKRN

| 305 | BNQBRKRN

| 306 | BNQRKBRN

| 307 | BNQRKRNB

| 308 | NBBQRKRN

| 309 | NQBBRKRN

| 310 | NQBRKBRN

| 311 | NQBRKRNB

| 312 | NBQRBKRN

| 313 | NQRBBKRN

| 314 | NQRKBBRN

| 315 | NQRKBRNB

| 316 | NBQRKRBN

| 317 | NQRBKRBN

| 318 | NQRKRBBN

| 319 | NQRKRNBB

| 320 | BBNRQKRN

| 321 | BNRBQKRN

| 322 | BNRQKBRN

| 323 | BNRQKRNB

| 324 | NBBRQKRN

| 325 | NRBBQKRN

| 326 | NRBQKBRN

| 327 | NRBQKRNB

| 328 | NBRQBKRN

| 329 | NRQBBKRN

| 330 | NRQKBBRN

| 331 | NRQKBRNB

| 332 | NBRQKRBN

| 333 | NRQBKRBN

| 334 | NRQKRBBN

| 335 | NRQKRNBB

| 336 | BBNRKQRN

| 337 | BNRBKQRN

| 338 | BNRKQBRN

| 339 | BNRKQRNB

| 340 | NBBRKQRN

| 341 | NRBBKQRN

| 342 | NRBKQBRN

| 343 | NRBKQRNB

| 344 | NBRKBQRN

| 345 | NRKBBQRN

| 346 | NRKQBBRN

| 347 | NRKQBRNB

| 348 | NBRKQRBN

| 349 | NRKBQRBN

| 350 | NRKQRBBN

| 351 | NRKQRNBB

| 352 | BBNRKRQN

| 353 | BNRBKRQN

| 354 | BNRKRBQN

| 355 | BNRKRQNB

| 356 | NBBRKRQN

| 357 | NRBBKRQN

| 358 | NRBKRBQN

| 359 | NRBKRQNB

| 360 | NBRKBRQN

| 361 | NRKBBRQN

| 362 | NRKRBBQN

| 363 | NRKRBQNB

| 364 | NBRKRQBN

| 365 | NRKBRQBN

| 366 | NRKRQBBN

| 367 | NRKRQNBB

| 368 | BBNRKRNQ

| 369 | BNRBKRNQ

| 370 | BNRKRBNQ

| 371 | BNRKRNQB

| 372 | NBBRKRNQ

| 373 | NRBBKRNQ

| 374 | NRBKRBNQ

| 375 | NRBKRNQB

| 376 | NBRKBRNQ

| 377 | NRKBBRNQ

| 378 | NRKRBBNQ

| 379 | NRKRBNQB

| 380 | NBRKRNBQ

| 381 | NRKBRNBQ

| 382 | NRKRNBBQ

| 383 | NRKRNQBB

| 384 | BBQRNNKR

| 385 | BQRBNNKR

| 386 | BQRNNBKR

| 387 | BQRNNKRB

| 388 | QBBRNNKR

| 389 | QRBBNNKR

| 390 | QRBNNBKR

| 391 | QRBNNKRB

| 392 | QBRNBNKR

| 393 | QRNBBNKR

| 394 | QRNNBBKR

| 395 | QRNNBKRB

| 396 | QBRNNKBR

| 397 | QRNBNKBR

| 398 | QRNNKBBR

| 399 | QRNNKRBB

| 400 | BBRQNNKR

| 401 | BRQBNNKR

| 402 | BRQNNBKR

| 403 | BRQNNKRB

| 404 | RBBQNNKR

| 405 | RQBBNNKR

| 406 | RQBNNBKR

| 407 | RQBNNKRB

| 408 | RBQNBNKR

| 409 | RQNBBNKR

| 410 | RQNNBBKR

| 411 | RQNNBKRB

| 412 | RBQNNKBR

| 413 | RQNBNKBR

| 414 | RQNNKBBR

| 415 | RQNNKRBB

| 416 | BBRNQNKR

| 417 | BRNBQNKR

| 418 | BRNQNBKR

| 419 | BRNQNKRB

| 420 | RBBNQNKR

| 421 | RNBBQNKR

| 422 | RNBQNBKR

| 423 | RNBQNKRB

| 424 | RBNQBNKR

| 425 | RNQBBNKR

| 426 | RNQNBBKR

| 427 | RNQNBKRB

| 428 | RBNQNKBR

| 429 | RNQBNKBR

| 430 | RNQNKBBR

| 431 | RNQNKRBB

| 432 | BBRNNQKR

| 433 | BRNBNQKR

| 434 | BRNNQBKR

| 435 | BRNNQKRB

| 436 | RBBNNQKR

| 437 | RNBBNQKR

| 438 | RNBNQBKR

| 439 | RNBNQKRB

| 440 | RBNNBQKR

| 441 | RNNBBQKR

| 442 | RNNQBBKR

| 443 | RNNQBKRB

| 444 | RBNNQKBR

| 445 | RNNBQKBR

| 446 | RNNQKBBR

| 447 | RNNQKRBB

| 448 | BBRNNKQR

| 449 | BRNBNKQR

| 450 | BRNNKBQR

| 451 | BRNNKQRB

| 452 | RBBNNKQR

| 453 | RNBBNKQR

| 454 | RNBNKBQR

| 455 | RNBNKQRB

| 456 | RBNNBKQR

| 457 | RNNBBKQR

| 458 | RNNKBBQR

| 459 | RNNKBQRB

| 460 | RBNNKQBR

| 461 | RNNBKQBR

| 462 | RNNKQBBR

| 463 | RNNKQRBB

| 464 | BBRNNKRQ

| 465 | BRNBNKRQ

| 466 | BRNNKBRQ

| 467 | BRNNKRQB

| 468 | RBBNNKRQ

| 469 | RNBBNKRQ

| 470 | RNBNKBRQ

| 471 | RNBNKRQB

| 472 | RBNNBKRQ

| 473 | RNNBBKRQ

| 474 | RNNKBBRQ

| 475 | RNNKBRQB

| 476 | RBNNKRBQ

| 477 | RNNBKRBQ

| 478 | RNNKRBBQ

| 479 | RNNKRQBB

| 480 | BBQRNKNR

| 481 | BQRBNKNR

| 482 | BQRNKBNR

| 483 | BQRNKNRB

| 484 | QBBRNKNR

| 485 | QRBBNKNR

| 486 | QRBNKBNR

| 487 | QRBNKNRB

| 488 | QBRNBKNR

| 489 | QRNBBKNR

| 490 | QRNKBBNR

| 491 | QRNKBNRB

| 492 | QBRNKNBR

| 493 | QRNBKNBR

| 494 | QRNKNBBR

| 495 | QRNKNRBB

| 496 | BBRQNKNR

| 497 | BRQBNKNR

| 498 | BRQNKBNR

| 499 | BRQNKNRB

| 500 | RBBQNKNR

| 501 | RQBBNKNR

| 502 | RQBNKBNR

| 503 | RQBNKNRB

| 504 | RBQNBKNR

| 505 | RQNBBKNR

| 506 | RQNKBBNR

| 507 | RQNKBNRB

| 508 | RBQNKNBR

| 509 | RQNBKNBR

| 510 | RQNKNBBR

| 511 | RQNKNRBB

| 512 | BBRNQKNR

| 513 | BRNBQKNR

| 514 | BRNQKBNR

| 515 | BRNQKNRB

| 516 | RBBNQKNR

| 517 | RNBBQKNR

| 518 | RNBQKBNR

| 519 | RNBQKNRB

| 520 | RBNQBKNR

| 521 | RNQBBKNR

| 522 | RNQKBBNR

| 523 | RNQKBNRB

| 524 | RBNQKNBR

| 525 | RNQBKNBR

| 526 | RNQKNBBR

| 527 | RNQKNRBB

| 528 | BBRNKQNR

| 529 | BRNBKQNR

| 530 | BRNKQBNR

| 531 | BRNKQNRB

| 532 | RBBNKQNR

| 533 | RNBBKQNR

| 534 | RNBKQBNR

| 535 | RNBKQNRB

| 536 | RBNKBQNR

| 537 | RNKBBQNR

| 538 | RNKQBBNR

| 539 | RNKQBNRB

| 540 | RBNKQNBR

| 541 | RNKBQNBR

| 542 | RNKQNBBR

| 543 | RNKQNRBB

| 544 | BBRNKNQR

| 545 | BRNBKNQR

| 546 | BRNKNBQR

| 547 | BRNKNQRB

| 548 | RBBNKNQR

| 549 | RNBBKNQR

| 550 | RNBKNBQR

| 551 | RNBKNQRB

| 552 | RBNKBNQR

| 553 | RNKBBNQR

| 554 | RNKNBBQR

| 555 | RNKNBQRB

| 556 | RBNKNQBR

| 557 | RNKBNQBR

| 558 | RNKNQBBR

| 559 | RNKNQRBB

| 560 | BBRNKNRQ

| 561 | BRNBKNRQ

| 562 | BRNKNBRQ

| 563 | BRNKNRQB

| 564 | RBBNKNRQ

| 565 | RNBBKNRQ

| 566 | RNBKNBRQ

| 567 | RNBKNRQB

| 568 | RBNKBNRQ

| 569 | RNKBBNRQ

| 570 | RNKNBBRQ

| 571 | RNKNBRQB

| 572 | RBNKNRBQ

| 573 | RNKBNRBQ

| 574 | RNKNRBBQ

| 575 | RNKNRQBB

| 576 | BBQRNKRN

| 577 | BQRBNKRN

| 578 | BQRNKBRN

| 579 | BQRNKRNB

| 580 | QBBRNKRN

| 581 | QRBBNKRN

| 582 | QRBNKBRN

| 583 | QRBNKRNB

| 584 | QBRNBKRN

| 585 | QRNBBKRN

| 586 | QRNKBBRN

| 587 | QRNKBRNB

| 588 | QBRNKRBN

| 589 | QRNBKRBN

| 590 | QRNKRBBN

| 591 | QRNKRNBB

| 592 | BBRQNKRN

| 593 | BRQBNKRN

| 594 | BRQNKBRN

| 595 | BRQNKRNB

| 596 | RBBQNKRN

| 597 | RQBBNKRN

| 598 | RQBNKBRN

| 599 | RQBNKRNB

| 600 | RBQNBKRN

| 601 | RQNBBKRN

| 602 | RQNKBBRN

| 603 | RQNKBRNB

| 604 | RBQNKRBN

| 605 | RQNBKRBN

| 606 | RQNKRBBN

| 607 | RQNKRNBB

| 608 | BBRNQKRN

| 609 | BRNBQKRN

| 610 | BRNQKBRN

| 611 | BRNQKRNB

| 612 | RBBNQKRN

| 613 | RNBBQKRN

| 614 | RNBQKBRN

| 615 | RNBQKRNB

| 616 | RBNQBKRN

| 617 | RNQBBKRN

| 618 | RNQKBBRN

| 619 | RNQKBRNB

| 620 | RBNQKRBN

| 621 | RNQBKRBN

| 622 | RNQKRBBN

| 623 | RNQKRNBB

| 624 | BBRNKQRN

| 625 | BRNBKQRN

| 626 | BRNKQBRN

| 627 | BRNKQRNB

| 628 | RBBNKQRN

| 629 | RNBBKQRN

| 630 | RNBKQBRN

| 631 | RNBKQRNB

| 632 | RBNKBQRN

| 633 | RNKBBQRN

| 634 | RNKQBBRN

| 635 | RNKQBRNB

| 636 | RBNKQRBN

| 637 | RNKBQRBN

| 638 | RNKQRBBN

| 639 | RNKQRNBB

| 640 | BBRNKRQN

| 641 | BRNBKRQN

| 642 | BRNKRBQN

| 643 | BRNKRQNB

| 644 | RBBNKRQN

| 645 | RNBBKRQN

| 646 | RNBKRBQN

| 647 | RNBKRQNB

| 648 | RBNKBRQN

| 649 | RNKBBRQN

| 650 | RNKRBBQN

| 651 | RNKRBQNB

| 652 | RBNKRQBN

| 653 | RNKBRQBN

| 654 | RNKRQBBN

| 655 | RNKRQNBB

| 656 | BBRNKRNQ

| 657 | BRNBKRNQ

| 658 | BRNKRBNQ

| 659 | BRNKRNQB

| 660 | RBBNKRNQ

| 661 | RNBBKRNQ

| 662 | RNBKRBNQ

| 663 | RNBKRNQB

| 664 | RBNKBRNQ

| 665 | RNKBBRNQ

| 666 | RNKRBBNQ

| 667 | RNKRBNQB

| 668 | RBNKRNBQ

| 669 | RNKBRNBQ

| 670 | RNKRNBBQ

| 671 | RNKRNQBB

| 672 | BBQRKNNR

| 673 | BQRBKNNR

| 674 | BQRKNBNR

| 675 | BQRKNNRB

| 676 | QBBRKNNR

| 677 | QRBBKNNR

| 678 | QRBKNBNR

| 679 | QRBKNNRB

| 680 | QBRKBNNR

| 681 | QRKBBNNR

| 682 | QRKNBBNR

| 683 | QRKNBNRB

| 684 | QBRKNNBR

| 685 | QRKBNNBR

| 686 | QRKNNBBR

| 687 | QRKNNRBB

| 688 | BBRQKNNR

| 689 | BRQBKNNR

| 690 | BRQKNBNR

| 691 | BRQKNNRB

| 692 | RBBQKNNR

| 693 | RQBBKNNR

| 694 | RQBKNBNR

| 695 | RQBKNNRB

| 696 | RBQKBNNR

| 697 | RQKBBNNR

| 698 | RQKNBBNR

| 699 | RQKNBNRB

| 700 | RBQKNNBR

| 701 | RQKBNNBR

| 702 | RQKNNBBR

| 703 | RQKNNRBB

| 704 | BBRKQNNR

| 705 | BRKBQNNR

| 706 | BRKQNBNR

| 707 | BRKQNNRB

| 708 | RBBKQNNR

| 709 | RKBBQNNR

| 710 | RKBQNBNR

| 711 | RKBQNNRB

| 712 | RBKQBNNR

| 713 | RKQBBNNR

| 714 | RKQNBBNR

| 715 | RKQNBNRB

| 716 | RBKQNNBR

| 717 | RKQBNNBR

| 718 | RKQNNBBR

| 719 | RKQNNRBB

| 720 | BBRKNQNR

| 721 | BRKBNQNR

| 722 | BRKNQBNR

| 723 | BRKNQNRB

| 724 | RBBKNQNR

| 725 | RKBBNQNR

| 726 | RKBNQBNR

| 727 | RKBNQNRB

| 728 | RBKNBQNR

| 729 | RKNBBQNR

| 730 | RKNQBBNR

| 731 | RKNQBNRB

| 732 | RBKNQNBR

| 733 | RKNBQNBR

| 734 | RKNQNBBR

| 735 | RKNQNRBB

| 736 | BBRKNNQR

| 737 | BRKBNNQR

| 738 | BRKNNBQR

| 739 | BRKNNQRB

| 740 | RBBKNNQR

| 741 | RKBBNNQR

| 742 | RKBNNBQR

| 743 | RKBNNQRB

| 744 | RBKNBNQR

| 745 | RKNBBNQR

| 746 | RKNNBBQR

| 747 | RKNNBQRB

| 748 | RBKNNQBR

| 749 | RKNBNQBR

| 750 | RKNNQBBR

| 751 | RKNNQRBB

| 752 | BBRKNNRQ

| 753 | BRKBNNRQ

| 754 | BRKNNBRQ

| 755 | BRKNNRQB

| 756 | RBBKNNRQ

| 757 | RKBBNNRQ

| 758 | RKBNNBRQ

| 759 | RKBNNRQB

| 760 | RBKNBNRQ

| 761 | RKNBBNRQ

| 762 | RKNNBBRQ

| 763 | RKNNBRQB

| 764 | RBKNNRBQ

| 765 | RKNBNRBQ

| 766 | RKNNRBBQ

| 767 | RKNNRQBB

| 768 | BBQRKNRN

| 769 | BQRBKNRN

| 770 | BQRKNBRN

| 771 | BQRKNRNB

| 772 | QBBRKNRN

| 773 | QRBBKNRN

| 774 | QRBKNBRN

| 775 | QRBKNRNB

| 776 | QBRKBNRN

| 777 | QRKBBNRN

| 778 | QRKNBBRN

| 779 | QRKNBRNB

| 780 | QBRKNRBN

| 781 | QRKBNRBN

| 782 | QRKNRBBN

| 783 | QRKNRNBB

| 784 | BBRQKNRN

| 785 | BRQBKNRN

| 786 | BRQKNBRN

| 787 | BRQKNRNB

| 788 | RBBQKNRN

| 789 | RQBBKNRN

| 790 | RQBKNBRN

| 791 | RQBKNRNB

| 792 | RBQKBNRN

| 793 | RQKBBNRN

| 794 | RQKNBBRN

| 795 | RQKNBRNB

| 796 | RBQKNRBN

| 797 | RQKBNRBN

| 798 | RQKNRBBN

| 799 | RQKNRNBB

| 800 | BBRKQNRN

| 801 | BRKBQNRN

| 802 | BRKQNBRN

| 803 | BRKQNRNB

| 804 | RBBKQNRN

| 805 | RKBBQNRN

| 806 | RKBQNBRN

| 807 | RKBQNRNB

| 808 | RBKQBNRN

| 809 | RKQBBNRN

| 810 | RKQNBBRN

| 811 | RKQNBRNB

| 812 | RBKQNRBN

| 813 | RKQBNRBN

| 814 | RKQNRBBN

| 815 | RKQNRNBB

| 816 | BBRKNQRN

| 817 | BRKBNQRN

| 818 | BRKNQBRN

| 819 | BRKNQRNB

| 820 | RBBKNQRN

| 821 | RKBBNQRN

| 822 | RKBNQBRN

| 823 | RKBNQRNB

| 824 | RBKNBQRN

| 825 | RKNBBQRN

| 826 | RKNQBBRN

| 827 | RKNQBRNB

| 828 | RBKNQRBN

| 829 | RKNBQRBN

| 830 | RKNQRBBN

| 831 | RKNQRNBB

| 832 | BBRKNRQN

| 833 | BRKBNRQN

| 834 | BRKNRBQN

| 835 | BRKNRQNB

| 836 | RBBKNRQN

| 837 | RKBBNRQN

| 838 | RKBNRBQN

| 839 | RKBNRQNB

| 840 | RBKNBRQN

| 841 | RKNBBRQN

| 842 | RKNRBBQN

| 843 | RKNRBQNB

| 844 | RBKNRQBN

| 845 | RKNBRQBN

| 846 | RKNRQBBN

| 847 | RKNRQNBB

| 848 | BBRKNRNQ

| 849 | BRKBNRNQ

| 850 | BRKNRBNQ

| 851 | BRKNRNQB

| 852 | RBBKNRNQ

| 853 | RKBBNRNQ

| 854 | RKBNRBNQ

| 855 | RKBNRNQB

| 856 | RBKNBRNQ

| 857 | RKNBBRNQ

| 858 | RKNRBBNQ

| 859 | RKNRBNQB

| 860 | RBKNRNBQ

| 861 | RKNBRNBQ

| 862 | RKNRNBBQ

| 863 | RKNRNQBB

| 864 | BBQRKRNN

| 865 | BQRBKRNN

| 866 | BQRKRBNN

| 867 | BQRKRNNB

| 868 | QBBRKRNN

| 869 | QRBBKRNN

| 870 | QRBKRBNN

| 871 | QRBKRNNB

| 872 | QBRKBRNN

| 873 | QRKBBRNN

| 874 | QRKRBBNN

| 875 | QRKRBNNB

| 876 | QBRKRNBN

| 877 | QRKBRNBN

| 878 | QRKRNBBN

| 879 | QRKRNNBB

| 880 | BBRQKRNN

| 881 | BRQBKRNN

| 882 | BRQKRBNN

| 883 | BRQKRNNB

| 884 | RBBQKRNN

| 885 | RQBBKRNN

| 886 | RQBKRBNN

| 887 | RQBKRNNB

| 888 | RBQKBRNN

| 889 | RQKBBRNN

| 890 | RQKRBBNN

| 891 | RQKRBNNB

| 892 | RBQKRNBN

| 893 | RQKBRNBN

| 894 | RQKRNBBN

| 895 | RQKRNNBB

| 896 | BBRKQRNN

| 897 | BRKBQRNN

| 898 | BRKQRBNN

| 899 | BRKQRNNB

| 900 | RBBKQRNN

| 901 | RKBBQRNN

| 902 | RKBQRBNN

| 903 | RKBQRNNB

| 904 | RBKQBRNN

| 905 | RKQBBRNN

| 906 | RKQRBBNN

| 907 | RKQRBNNB

| 908 | RBKQRNBN

| 909 | RKQBRNBN

| 910 | RKQRNBBN

| 911 | RKQRNNBB

| 912 | BBRKRQNN

| 913 | BRKBRQNN

| 914 | BRKRQBNN

| 915 | BRKRQNNB

| 916 | RBBKRQNN

| 917 | RKBBRQNN

| 918 | RKBRQBNN

| 919 | RKBRQNNB

| 920 | RBKRBQNN

| 921 | RKRBBQNN

| 922 | RKRQBBNN

| 923 | RKRQBNNB

| 924 | RBKRQNBN

| 925 | RKRBQNBN

| 926 | RKRQNBBN

| 927 | RKRQNNBB

| 928 | BBRKRNQN

| 929 | BRKBRNQN

| 930 | BRKRNBQN

| 931 | BRKRNQNB

| 932 | RBBKRNQN

| 933 | RKBBRNQN

| 934 | RKBRNBQN

| 935 | RKBRNQNB

| 936 | RBKRBNQN

| 937 | RKRBBNQN

| 938 | RKRNBBQN

| 939 | RKRNBQNB

| 940 | RBKRNQBN

| 941 | RKRBNQBN

| 942 | RKRNQBBN

| 943 | RKRNQNBB

| 944 | BBRKRNNQ

| 945 | BRKBRNNQ

| 946 | BRKRNBNQ

| 947 | BRKRNNQB

| 948 | RBBKRNNQ

| 949 | RKBBRNNQ

| 950 | RKBRNBNQ

| 951 | RKBRNNQB

| 952 | RBKRBNNQ

| 953 | RKRBBNNQ

| 954 | RKRNBBNQ

| 955 | RKRNBNQB

| 956 | RBKRNNBQ

| 957 | RKRBNNBQ

| 958 | RKRNNBBQ

| 959 | RKRNNQBB

Enjoy 960

Chess960: A Novice SP699 Game

Here is a Chess960 opening played informally that highlights how careful the opening attacker must be not to over-stretch during the opening. In the following opening, black exploits white's poor initial opening by aggressively claiming space in the center with the center pawns. However the center closes up and the flanks become weak. The assumption black makes is that:

Moving lots of pawns = space and lots of room to position pieces?!@#?

The idea is to move first and think later! That might work in blitz, but if there is time for the players to think, then black's rapid space gain turns into a disaster. The game below highlights these problems black get's into:

1. Over extended pawns that absorb a lot of tempo moves
2. A pawn structure that closes in the center, but neglects the flanks
3. A pawn structure that blocks the pieces from being useful
4. A pawn structure that creates serious holes in the position that cannot be filled
5. The wasted tempo gives white the time to reorganize to exploit these things

SP699: Black over-extends and builds structural weaknesses into the position 

1. Nc3?! ...         This cannot be good because it blocks the queen.
1.       ... c6      Black develops the queen but this is questionable because in this case it is better to claim the center and develop other pieces before the queen.
2. d3?!  ...         Very conservative and after e4, white's light bishop will be blocked.
2.       ... d5      A center gaining move but it does not encourage an active path for the light bishop.
3. g3    ... e5?!    Black is now extending with a reflex pawn move, but without any consideration to the development of the pieces still on the back rank particularly the knights.
4. e4    ... d4      The center has closed up, but what about the flanks? White has played three pawn moves and black four. White has played out one piece and black none. Both white's bishops can develop but only one of black's bishops can. White's queens is blocked while black's is not. Doing the maths, you could frame an argument that white is actually up two tempo despite the locked in queen!
5. Ne2   ...         Black thinks that white's development is hampered, but in fact white does have a knight outpost already at c4!
5.       ... g5?!    This forces black into only one castling option on the c-side. The bizarre thing about this move, is that black has already condemned his dark bishop to passiveness, only made worse by this last move, because now the dark bishop cannot redeploy to the h6-c1 diagonal either! Black wanted to develop Ng6 but a knight would be passive on that square and would need to redeploy again.
6. Nd2   ...         White has already won the debate on how to make use of the knights!
6.       ... Bd7     Black is in a bind. The knights do not know where to go and the bishops are passive. White on the other hand has extra tempo to reorganize into a solid configuration with attacking chances later.
7. Bg2   ... Ng6
8. b3?!  ...         This move seriously weakens the c-side and gives black a development path for Nd8/Nc7/Nb5/Nc3 and a development path Bh8/Bg7/Bf8.
8.       ... Qc7?!   Black must develop the minor pieces. Anything is better than nothing at this stage.
9. Nc4   ... Ne6     The position is really showing signs of closing up.
10.Bd2   ...         Better was Bb4 perhaps.
10.      ... O-O-O?! Black plays into a long term trap. White will castle g-side and begin a serious c-side flank attack on the castled king. Much better was Bf6, developing the bishop finally.
11.a4    ... Bg7?!   Right idea but wrong execution. Bf6 because it does more work and is more flexible.
12.Ra2?! ...         Way to early to be thinking about doubling up rooks. Better is to complete development.
12.      ... Bf8?!   Wastes a move. Better was to begin a flank attack on the g-side with h5.
13.b4    ... f6?!    Black has no luxury to waste any more moves! It is a case of attack or die with ...h5.
14.c3?!  ...         White wastes initiative in an attack that is already underway. After the recapture, white can develop a minor piece to c3, but in all cases the development is fruitless. Better was b5! continuing the flank attack.
14.      ... dxc3
15. Bxc3 ... b5??    Black wastes yet another move and falls into the c-side flank attack trap more deeply by weakening the king's defenses. Black had total equality by counter attacking on the opposite flank with g4. By counter attacking, white's own king safety might have come into question. Black has forgotten that white can castle g-side into safety!

The rest of the game is undocumented because white's win is clear.

Chess960: Reborn in the USA?

Last post I talked about the difficulty commentating on traditional chess openings at the World Chess Championships. Well amazingly, there is a great Chess960 tournament in progress right now at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. The live video feed features three top GM's Yasser Seirawan, Hikaru Nakamura and Jennifer Shahade having some real fun in the 960 commentary. It's a must see:

Kings verse Queens (Men verses Women)

Chess960 lives!
Enjoy

Chess960: The argument against 960 that the media don't understand it

Listening to the commentary at the FIDE Chess world cup, I was struck by how hamstrung the chess commentators are when discussing traditional chess openings. These are the kind of thoughts they were expressing:
Commentator lines of thought:
"Well I'm not an expert in this theory"
"Well I can't comment much on this opening line a lot has been written on it"
"I guess he picked this line because he is familiar with it"

I've heard it said that another reason why Chess960 won't stick, is that the media don't know what to think about it. In Chess960, they cannot really report factual information on the game, like what type of opening the players have played. But what I actually hear them saying when commenting on traditional chess, are unspoken fears that what they might say has been written somewhere and proven incorrect.

I think that Chess960 will benefit commentators and the chess media. This is because commentators are free to say what they think during the opening! They do not have to feel constrained by "academic correctness". Often our human impulses on the Chess960 opening are all good and interesting. We like certain way of openings because they achieve pleasing things (like opening up a file or a diagonal). Even if the commentators are wrong, it doesn't really matter because there is no concrete theory on it to prove that they are wrong.

Let's imagine that every traditional chess commentator overcomes these issues by having a computer in front of them. How will that help Chess coverage? The audience probably have computers in front of them as well. And so the situation on commentary is even more ridiculous because there are no arguments other than semantic discussions about what are the best lines the computer thinks during the opening. The commentary is empty talk! But in chess960, the commentators can dispense with the computers, and can argue and debate and create some heat, which can only benefit in generating some real interest and personality.

This is why Chess960 will be a blessing for Chess, but people do not see it yet.

Enjoy 960.