The English Language

[soheil_hooshdaran]

Why did he say "Black picks up a pawn"?
Does it mean "collect"?

[Roger de Coverly]

Does it mean "collect"?

He could have written "Black collects a pawn" or "Black gains a pawn" with equivalent meanings.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

Does it mean "collect"?

He could have written "Black collects a pawn" or "Black gains a pawn" with equivalent meanings.

I think maybe "collect" apawn refers to the principles of accumulating small advantages

[Ian Thompson]

No difference. But it doesn't sound a very seemly thing to do.

So
...you can afford to take time
means
...you can easily take time
or is there some difference?

"easily" is not the right word. "afford to" means being able to do something without adverse consequences.

For example, the game is one where White is attacking on the queenside and Black is attacking on the kingside. You could say White can afford to spend several moves neutralising Black's kingside attack before continuing his own queenside attack. You mean White's queenside attack will be just as good (or at least good enough still to win the game) after spending those moves defending the kingside as it would be without doing that.

[Ian Thompson]

Why did he say "Black picks up a pawn"?
Does it mean "collect"?

It probably means "wins" a pawn, but we'd need to see the whole sentence/paragraph to be sure.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

Why did he say "Black picks up a pawn"?
Does it mean "collect"?

It probably means "wins" a pawn, but we'd need to see the whole sentence/paragraph to be sure.

15...cxd4
Black picks up a pawn, attacks my Rook, and opens up the C-file for his Rooks.The World Champion must play with energy, or else I will succeed in consolidating my position.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What's the difference between
Train yourself to think in different ways
and
Make a habit of thinking in different ways?

Thanks in advance

[Barry Sandercock]

To train yourself is to teach yourself and a habit is a regular routine. So your two examples are not that different to each other, although the meaning is not really the same.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What does 'revealing' mean in:

the subtle lack of fidelity that can arise in the translation is in itself a revealing notion to develop and explore.

?Thanks in advance

[IM Jack Rudd]

From Webster's: "1. giving information or insight, esp. of a striking or significant nature, about something previously concealed or private."

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What is a solid defense like Caro-Kann?

[John McKenna]

What is a solid defense like Caro-Kann?

A question like that shows you are slipping and losing form.

A better effort would be -

What's the difference between a solid defence and a sound defence?

[Barry Sandercock]

Soheil hooshdaran wrote:
What is a solid defense like Caro-Kann ?

In this context, solid means sound or reliable.

[soheil_hooshdaran]

What is a solid defense like Caro-Kann?

A question like that shows you are slipping and losing form.

A better effort would be -

What's the difference between a solid defence and a sound defence?

Sound defense?

[John McKenna]

What is a solid defense like Caro-Kann?

A question like that shows you are slipping and losing form.

A better effort would be -

What's the difference between a solid defence and a sound defence?

Sound defense?

Sound defence!