BRIEF FIVE HUNDRED OVERVIEW

FIVE HUNDRED card game RULES AND STRATEGY

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• Now download a free 3-game trial of Championship Five Hundred All-Stars to test your knowledge. Take advantage of our easy interactive tutorial, or play a real game. (Choose from five difficulty levels through the Settings menu.) Access the tutorial by simply clicking the Tutorial button on the first game screen you see.
• For more information about Championship Five Hundred All-Stars, please visit our Championship Five Hundred All-Stars Information Page
• For expert tips and techniques, please visit our Five Hundred Tips page.

VIEW RULES FOR OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-STARS TITLES HERE:

        

Here at DreamQuest, we don’t just make games, we also havean ever-increasing knowledge base of chess techniques to help you improve your game!

Chess Techniques:

• Chess Strategy: Top 5 Gameplay Tips from Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
• Chess Strategy: Ten Top Tips from National Master Dan Heisman
• Chess Strategy: Keep Your Center Strong
• Best Chess Openings: The Ruy Lopez
• Best Chess Openings: Italian Game
• Best Chess Openings: French Defense
• Best Chess Openings: Caro-Kann Defense
• Best Chess Openings: Pirc Defense
• Best Chess Openings: Sicilian Defense

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< Previous: Best Chess Openings, Italian Game Next: Best Chess Openings, French Defense>

Best Chess Openings: Sicilian Defense

What makes the Sicilian opening one of the Best Chess Openings, is that has proved statistically, to be the best Black response, to White’s opening of e4.

The chess opening is characterized by the moves 1. e4 c5. The usual continuation of 1.e4 c5 is 2.Nf3, which leaves Black with the following options: 2…d6, 2…Nc6, and 2…e6. Continuing the sequence is the White’s move of 3.d4, and this is known as the Open Sicilian, and has in it different variations which are discussed below.

The Open Sicilian has some popular variant sequences:

1) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3. Black’s response in the fifth move forms and ends up with the following variations:

Najdorf Variation: Black’s response by a6. This is Black’s popular chess strategy by his response of 5…a6 which is intended to gain room in the centre by its most possibile subsequent move of e5. By a6, Black also takes away the possible check by White at Bb5. Thus the sequence of this variation ends in 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6.

Dragon Variation: Black’s response by g6. The sequence of the Dragon variation is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6. In this variation, Black uses the chess strategy by bringing his king side pawn to g6 making way for possible castle. However, it also allows White to caste and thus causing a racelike situation since the castle for both the players.

Classical Variation: Black’s response by Nc6. The sequence of the Classical Variation in Sicilian Defense is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6. Black develops his queen side Knight and the move is often replied by White’s 6.Bg6.

Scheveningen Variation: Black’s response by e6. The sequence of the Scheveningen Variation is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6, which can be followed by White’s 6.Be2.

2) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. Note that the exchange of pawns has already taken place at d4, and Black should respond now as move four. Black’s response in this stage is charecterised by the following variations.

Sveshnikov Variation: The sequence of this variation is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 with Black’s developing his king side knight to Nf6 forming a threat to the White’s pawn at e4. However, this situation is easiliy resolved by White’s backing the pawn with his Nc3 while at the same time developing his Knight.

Accelerated Dragon: The variation is when Black plays g6 at the fourth move in response to White’s 4.Nxd4, when at the same time making way to develop his Bishop to g7.

Kalashnikov Variation: Black’s playing 4…e5 is followed by the moves 5. Nb5 d6.

3) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. Black continues to advance his pawns by an e6 when White has developed his Knight to Nf3. The move however gives way to develop Black’s dark-squared Bishop.

Taimanov Variation: Black plays 4…Nc6 developing his Knight and also intends for development of his king’s Bishop.

Kan (Paulsen) Variation: In response to White’s 4.Nxd4, Black plays a6. By this move, Black prevents Nb5 or even Bb5.

Four Knights Variation: This variation is characterized by the moves 4…Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 where all four Knights in the board are in development.

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If you’d like to learn more chess techniques, or How to Play Chess, check out these other articles:

• Chess Strategy: Top 5 Gameplay Tips from Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
• Chess Strategy: Ten Top Tips from National Master Dan Heisman
• Chess Strategy: Keep Your Center Strong
• Best Chess Openings: The Ruy Lopez
• Best Chess Openings: Italian Game
• Best Chess Openings: French Defense
• Best Chess Openings: Caro-Kann Defense
• Best Chess Openings: Pirc Defense

What the heck is Euchre!?

(experienced players skip to the bottom of this article)

Euchre is a four-player trick based game having 2 teams of 2 with partners sitting across from one another. Then taking a standard 52 card deck, you will remove cards 2 through 8 which leaves 24 cards to be dealt. Each player will then be dealt 5 cards, dealing clockwise either 2 or 3 cards at a time. That is a decision left to the dealer.

For example: As the dealer you must deal clockwise but you can choose if you’d like to deal 2 cards to the left, then 3 to your partner (across from you), then 2 cards. If that is the method you choose, when dealing the second pass you must pass 3, 2, then 3. Ensuring all players have 5 cards. This method is the most common when playing Euchre, however it’s up to you as the dealer as long as you make 2 properly sequenced deals.

Now you’re saying to yourself:

“Okay, you said 24 cards are used to play, yet I’ve only dealt out 20. What about the remaining 4!?”

Glad you asked, the remaining cards are called the kitty but are also sometimes called:

• the “trump pile”,
• the “nest”,
• the blind,
• the kit
• the grave,
• or the buried

The top card of the kitty is then turned face up and players will begin bidding. This is where the dealer will ask all of the players in turn if they want that card to be the trump suit. If they agree they will respond with “pick it up” or “order it up” and the card is added to the dealer’s hand, who will have to discard a card face down in order to only have 5 cards. However, if they don’t agree on the face up card being trump, each player is given the chance to choose a different suit as trump. If they cannot agree on a trump, the hand is declared a misdeal and the deal is passed to the player on the dealer’s left. (This will change depending on the variation of Euchre you’ve decided to play.)

Once the trump suit has been selected, any card in that suit trumps (out-ranks) any other card. In Euchre the highest-ranking card is the Jack of the trump suit, followed by the other Jack of the same color. The cards are then ordered from highest to lowest A, K, Q, 10, and 9.

The remaining cards rank in the normal order A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9.

For a complete introduction on how to play Championship Euchre All-Stars, please use our interactive Euchre card game Tutorial, accessible from the game’s Help menu. Simply click the [Menu] button in the lower left corner, select [Help], and then select [Tutorial] in our Championship Euchre card game.

Maybe you’re already a seasoned player but would like some strategy tips please visit Euchre Links Commandments for a large list of strategy guides.

It’s official, Alpha Colony‘s new Kickstarter launches October 19th. We know we’ve been kind of quiet lately, but we’ve been hard at work on the GDD, concept art, and a web-based prototype for you to play.

We’ve also secured some outside, private funding so our target funding goal should be substantially less than before!

< Previous: Best Chess Openings, Caro Kann Defense

Best Chess Openings: Pirc Defense

Pirc Defence, though relatively a new chess opening, it is still considered one of the best chess openings. Pirc defence even though sounds to pronounce the same way as it is spelt, it is actually Pronounced “peerts”. The opening is named after the Slovenian International Grandmaster Vasja Pirc.

The response of Black by d6 is to the White’s most common start of e4. Pirc Defence chess opening is defined by the Black’s responses and moves of 1…d6, 2…Nf6, followed by …g6 and …Bg7. Within these moves, Black seems to have allowed White to claim an impressive-looking centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Thus the sequence remains 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6. The Pirc defence chess strategy has the following deviations:

Modern or Robatsch Defence: The common sequence of 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 is dropped off by Black’s delaying or omitting the development of his Kinight to f6.

Pribyl System or Czech Defence: At move three Black plays 3…c6 instead of the Pirc’s g6. However, the chess strategy is brought back to Pirc style if Black later decides to play g6. However, Black also has alternatives of …Qa5 and …e5 with the strategy to challenge White’s centre. This also helps Black expand on the queenside with …b5.

 Common Deviation: The deviation is defined by Black’s change of move in the third moves, and thus the sequence ends with 1…d6 2…Nf6 3…e5, paving way for exchange of points by White’s 4.dxe5. The sequence then continues 4…dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Bc4 Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6. 

Philidor Defence: In the above sequence of moves, White also has alternatives such as 4.Nf3 instead of going in for exchange at 4.dxe5. White’s playing 4.Nf3 is known as the Philidor Defence.

Austrian Attack: The chess strategy is attained after the moves 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 in the Pirc Defence sequence of 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3. White gains a powerful centre with his pawn placements on d4, e4 and f4, which establishment may push Black for a counter with …e5.

Classical (Two Knights) Strategy: The Classical (Two Knights) chess strategy is defined by the moves 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0. The chess strategy where White’s both the Knights and the King side Bishop are advanced. Black’s King side Knight and King side Bishop are also advanced. Both players play castles. Black’s common responses is of moves 6…Bg4, 6…c6 or 6…Nc6, with 6…Bg4.

Pirc Defence is a chess strategy for Black to focus on to defend the center while at the saMe time developing both the Knight and Bishop at the king side with the early on moves …Nf6 and …Bg7. In this position, the queen side Bishop has easy development. Therefore, while Black moves his dark square Bishop to g7, Black can now look to control the dark squares in the middle and at the same time allowing his light square bishop a great diagonal to develop. This is an impressive opening for Black. However, Black if black is not careful, there are chances that White can cause much pressure on the kingside of Black, which would limit the development of Black’s pieces.

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If you’d like to learn more about How to Play Chess, check out these other articles:

• • Chess Strategy: Top 5 Gameplay Tips from Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
  • Chess Strategy: Ten Top Tips from National Master Dan Heisman
  • Chess Strategy: Keep Your Center Strong
  • Best Chess Openings: The Ruy Lopez
  • Best Chess Openings: Italian Game
  • Best Chess Openings: French Defense
  • Best Chess Openings: Caro-Kann Defense
  • Best Chess Openings: Sicilian Defense

DreamQuest Games is looking for Art Interns!

Graphic Artist Design Intern:

The ideal candidate is an expert in Photoshop. Can produce art assets of specific dimensions quickly. Candidate should keep files organized and well-labeled. Should be familiar with vector shapes and masks.

3D Modeler Design Intern:

Should understand the basics of modeling, texturing and animation in Maya.  Will work on a student team to create assets for new games. Should be able to produce assets quickly based on concept art. Familiarity with paint-overs and game production pipelines is a plus.

Please send a resume, along with a portfolio link or art samples to eve@dreamquestgames.com

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Championship Gin, like all DreamQuest card games, feature our life-like cast of colorful characters but with the convenience of playing whenever you’d like.  If you need a refresher on the rules for Gin Rummy our DreamCoach(tm) interactive tutor is for you! Not only does it show what to play, but why to play it… just like a live, personal tutor! For new players, Championship Gin’s interactive tutorial makes it easy to learn how to play Gin Rummy.

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Next: Best Chess Openings, Pirc Defense >

< Previous: Best Chess Openings, French Defense

Considered one of the best chess openings, the chess strategy looks quite advantageous for Black as it reaches a better pawn structure in the end game.  The Caro–Kann Defence is so named after the chess players Horatio Caro of England and Marcus Kann of Austria. These two players analyzed this opening in 1886. Caro-Kann Defence is a chess strategy of a common defense against the King’s Pawn opening. The chess opening is characterized by the moves 1. e4 c6. The usual continuation is 2. d4 d5 with variations as below:

Classical Variation:
The Classical Variation also known as the Capablanca Variation after José Capablanca who was a Cuban chess player and held the title of grandmaster. The variation is of the moves 1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4, 4.Nxe4 Bf5. Exchange of pawns is initiated by Black at e4 . Black’s move of Bishop to f5 forces White’s Knight to move or defend. The White’s usual move then is to move the Knight to g3 to threaten the Black Bishop or to any other defensive or dominating move.

Modern Variation:
Considered a solid positional line, the modern variation is a strategy defined by the moves 1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) dxe4, 4.Nxe4 Nd7. It is also called Smyslov Variation and Karpov Variation after the chess players Vasily Smyslov and Anatoly Karpov respectively. Exchange of pawns at e4 is followed by Black’s bringing its Knight by the move Nd7.

Exchange Variation:
Exchange variation is defined by the moves 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5. The variation is also known as Panov–Botvinnik Attack.  Panov–Botvinnik Attack is named after the chess players Vasily Panov and Mikhail Botvinnik. It begins with the move 4.c4. It is considered the solid way for Black to escape the e4 move.

Advance Variation:
Advance variation is a 3…Bf5 variation that follows with the moves 1.e4 c6, 2.d4 d5, 3.e5 Bf5. Earlier and for many years the variation was not considered best as it gives black a position like that of the French Defence, and with the exchange of the light-squared Bishops, Black’s game then depends on White’s light-squared weakness. However, the variation has gained popularity after the aggressive lines like 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 and moves like 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5. The variation is often used in top-level play.

Caro Kann is considered a solid and a reliable chess opening for Black with its sound position which is without weakness without weaknesses, thus almost forcing White to do something active and this early, failing which Black has opportunity to develop and gain a fine positional game. It is not a surprise to find the Caro Kann chess opening being often played by grandmasters.

Try Championship Chess Free

If you’d like to learn more about How to Play Chess, check out these other articles:

• • Chess Strategy: Top 5 Gameplay Tips from Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier
  • Chess Strategy: Ten Top Tips from National Master Dan Heisman
  • Chess Strategy: Keep Your Center Strong
  • Best Chess Openings: The Ruy Lopez
  • Best Chess Openings: Italian Game
  • Best Chess Openings: French Defense
  • Best Chess Openings: Pirc Defense
  • Best Chess Openings: Sicilian Defense

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