Quote from: Timelord2067 on September 17, 2015, 12:51:54 AM

Quote from: letsplayagame on September 17, 2015, 12:47:53 AM

Quote from: Foxpup on September 16, 2015, 04:32:34 AM

So now it's five votes for Rfd1 (languagehasmeaning, jjacob, abacus, neochiny, and myself) and three for a4 (Timeloard2067, actmyname, and Taras). I hope I've got it right this time.

So has the community decided on Rfd1? Or are people still debating the choice?

I don't know why they're talking about how they're going to eventually surrender, my suggestion for a4 hasn't changed.

Sometimes move order means everything, other times it is less important. Although there are some important differences between Rfd1 and a4 it is possible that some future positions could transpose.

If you plan on playing two moves at some point try to compare the options available to your opponent based on the move order you choose. Sometimes the answer is obvious (when one move order involves a check or capture with a forced response and another move order gives an opponent multiple choices) and sometimes it is not. Giving your opponent a choice could be good (if their best response leads to a transposition while other responses are mistakes) or it could be bad (where the best response leads to a position better for your opponent than would occur with the more forcing move order).

Sometimes you will see a good player repeat a position several times before making a different move. This could be to gain time on the clock before time control. It could also be to give an opponent a chance to make a mistake knowing that their best response would be to repeat. The concept is similar. If you are risking nothing to give your opponent a chance to make a mistake, it might be wise do to so. Of course exceptions could exist such if your opponent is the one in time trouble and repeating a few moves would help him/her reach time control.