I am new to tournaments and am confused by some of the opening boards. Typically, the tournament game looks like the beginning of any chess game...no pieces moved on either side. But a few times, I have had a new tournament game appear in my Inbox in which pieces have already been moved...not by me....I guess automated?

Can anyone explain this?

Set-piece games are those that start from a position other than the standard set-up.

Set-piece games can be created and sent to you by individual players. There are also set-piece tourneys; that would have been in the description when you signed up for the tourney.

Originally posted by MontyMoose
Set-piece games are those that start from a position other than the standard set-up.

Set-piece games can be created and sent to you by individual players. There are also set-piece tourneys; that would have been in the description when you signed up for the tourney.

In tournaments it may be to explore a specific opening. I am currently playing in a Scandinavian tourney where each game starts with a White pawn on e4 and a Black pawn on d5. I am getting a lot of experience from both sides of the board for that opening.

There could also be Fisher-type games where the Knights and Bishops are reversed in position or other differences. One idea behind that type is to take you away from memorized lines.

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Originally posted by Landisqueen170
I am new to tournaments and am confused by some of the opening boards. Typically, the tournament game looks like the beginning of any chess game...no pieces moved on either side. But a few times, I have had a new tournament game appear in my Inbox in which pieces have already been moved...not by me....I guess automated?

Can anyone explain this?

Originally posted by venda
I think you are talking about Thematic tournaments.
These are tournaments set up to mimic a certain opening sequence i.e the French defence advance variation.
These tournaments will always have the letter "T" in a square displayed alongside.

Originally posted by MontyMoose
In tournaments it may be to explore a specific opening. I am currently playing in a Scandinavian tourney where each game starts with a White pawn on e4 and a Black pawn on d5. I am getting a lot of experience from both sides of the board for that opening.

There could also be Fisher-type games where the Knights and Bishops are reversed in position or other differences. One idea behind that type is to take you away from memorized lines.

.

Being unclear on what a thematic tourney is didn't stop you from winning two of them! 🙂

Tournament 18676
Tournament 18322

Originally posted by MontyMoose
Being unclear on what a thematic tourney is didn't stop you from winning two of them! 🙂

Tournament 18676
Tournament 18322