In this post, we’ll look at one of the most important chess skills: calculation. To keep it simple, I’ll leave you with one key idea - always compare at least two moves before you decide. That position comes from the game Robert Byrn...
My chess friends, this summer I have been spamming you with updates about chess in Andorra, especially the 41st Andorra Chess Open. But the action was not limited to our country. Our players packed their bags and spread out across Europe to play i...
Hey Impressive Chessers! It’s been awhile* but for very good reasons! Last week, my wife Traci and I welcomed our first baby into the world! I think she’s very cute, so be warned, I’ll be sprinkling photos throughout this blog ...
Welcome everybody, to another brilliant edition of blitz 'n' memes. If you're a fan of puzzles taken from amateur online blitz tournaments, then you have come to the right place, because that is what I do. As always, the tactics have bee...
Accompanying a child in their early chess years is more like tending a fire than following a manual. Blow too hard, and you put it out; neglect it, and it dies down. In between— with the right amount of air and good material— the flame...
Afternoon everyone. Lots here - I have had nothing else to do! Still not great here, but on the mend - with thanks to those who have expressed concern. With time to kill, I revisited this lovely book, which I had dug out for pictures las...
In a sense the high-water mark of Nimzowitsch’s career. Nimzowitsch had an astonishing success at Karlsbad 1929, scoring +9, and to outright win two consecutive international tournaments, even if the quality of the opposition was somewhat lo...
Hi there! Today I bring you a different kind of blog, but a very important one, especially if you’re at that crucial point where you want to move from 1600 to 1800 ELO. This phase can feel very frustrating, but at the same time it’s ...
Chess has grown at an accelerated pace—not only in terms of popularity and logistics, but also in the depth of understanding of the game itself. Many are amazed by the remarkable level shown by today’s young chess players, who are capa...
Good afternoon everyone. Just a simple bit of sharing and chat today. I have been off work sick for a while - not pleasant - but the benefit has been being able to follow some chess online, live. ( for you young people of the internet generation...
The Charlotte Chess Center is one of the premier chess institutions in the United States. What began as a small community initiative has turned into a major American chess hub, hosting some of the most prestigious national and international tou...
Last week, Ediz Gurel stunned the chess world with a brilliant queen sacrifice against Denis Lazavik. The queen sacrifice almost always creates a striking picture on the board. Why is that?The queen is the most valuable piece in chess. Beginn...
Dear Chess Friends! Following my recent workshop on "Major Piece Endgames", I’m thrilled to share key insights and game fragments that captivated our audience. Whether you missed the live session or want to revisit the ideas, this post bre...
This next match is probably going to be my favourite of the entire round: Romantic Rumble: Isidor Gunsberg vs. James Mason When comparing which of two things is "better," you obviously have to define what exactly you're measuring. In our ca...
Have you ever heard the old stories about chess driving people mad? From tortured grandmasters to wild tales of hallucinations at the board, the game has long carried a reputation for pushing minds past their limits. Some countries even took the f...
Anyone who knows me well, both in real life and on this website, is also well aware that I just love stories and movies about comebacks and fightbacks. And who doesn't? From Rocky Balboa's comeback in Rocky III, where he rises from doubt and defea...
Hope everyone is having a great summer! Here's a short update from us in Fair Play. In our July efforts, we closed 116k accounts for Fair Play violations. 20 of these accounts were titled players. These numbers represent a slight downturn from t...
Hello, curious minds thirsting for the truth! This is Vanessa Holmes, the greatest chess detective on this website. Today, I invite you to join me in uncovering more undeniable facts about the world of our beloved game. Secrets that players and ...
If you’re stuck under 1000 elo, it’s usually because your openings are all over the place. When I first started, I had no plan, I just moved pieces in a way that “felt” right. Then I learned three simple principles that cha...
As far as the European chess scene was concerned, Alexander Alekhine had died somewhere in the tumult surrounding the Russian Revolution and Civil War — a rumor that would at some point get folded into the story (which may actually have happ...
Dear Chess Friends! A chess game without a plan is like a ship without a rudder – drifting toward defeat. In my workshop "Game Plan," I revealed how elite players transform complex positions into winning strategies. Watch the full recordin...
A Conversation with NM Vignesh Anand Vignesh achieved a US Chess rating of 2202 and the title of National Master by scoring 4/4 points at the Plano Swiss, in May 2025. “I think the biggest piece of advice is playing every chess game like...
Today’s update brings you new tools, smoother training, and serious potential for Elo gains! For the first time ever, you can now run engine analysis right inside the app… powered by the strongest open-source engine on the pl...
After seven years of playing chess competitively, I finally surpassed a United States Chess Federation rating of 2200 and thus achieved the long-awaited National Master title. Unlike many other players, my journey to National Master took an extrem...
My last blog was very unfortunately timed, and as a result, not many people saw it (but you can, see here). Therefore, there's probably not a lot of people who knew Schallopp was even part of the last match. The vote obviously had a smaller turnou...
