Introduction A few years ago, I started a blog series on web scraping with Python and applying that to getting the USCF data to do some neat analysis. That was shortly after my twins were born and I severely overestimated the amount of free time ...
Being a chess junky who also does analytics for a living, I find myself asking funny questions about the game. One of these situations had arisen recently as I was following the results of a local chess club's Club Championship. After 6 rounds a...
Hi all, Here is our third YouTube video at Metrowest Chess Club on a crushing attack by Bobby Fischer against Pal Benko. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted and since I've become a National Master. I wanted to let everyone know that I have been working with the Metrowest Chess Club, the largest chess club in all of New England, to produce some lect...
Another year in the books, and what a year it was! Our team, On Topalov Yo' Mamedyarov, returned with the same lineup from the last few years: Board 1 - IM Denys Shmelov Board 2 - Robert J King (yours truly) Board 3 - Todd Chase Board 4 - Matt...
What is the difference between a 1900-2000 and a 2100-2200? This is a question that I see posted on a lot of forums here on chess.com and on sites like Quora. So what is the answer? At this level, there usually isn't a large tactical difference. ...
Since my last article a few months ago, I've been able to pick up over 100 rating points and am now sitting around 2140. As I stated last time, I have been working on some key aspects of my game and I am finally seeing the fruits of my labors. In ...
I am on a mission to raise my rating to 2200 in the next 6 months, so I felt that to do this I need to be beating masters instead of settling for draws and beating up on class players. I have felt that I have had the raw skills to become a mast...
I haven't been able to play much rated chess since the NJ team tournament as I was busy with a new job, buying a home, etc... I found myself with some free time last Tuesday and so I went down to the Metrowest Chess Club looking for a side game, ...
Hi everyone, it's time for my annual blog on the US Amateur Team East tournament held in Parsippany, NJ. This is one of my favorite events of the year for several reasons. One of the biggest chess parties of the year Tons of friends show up that ...
This game was played at the Metrowest Chess Club in Natick, MA. The MCC is one of the largest active chess clubs in the country and is frequented by many of the strongest players in MA. After a disappointing loss against Vadim Martirosov last w...
I posted a blog on this event last year saying that it was the most fun chess event I had ever been to and 2014 delivered on that hype again! My team, Vitaly Ryabinin (named for a friend who could not attend), consisted of the same 4 teammates fro...
This was my first year attending the US Amateur Team East tournament and it was awesome, despite a poor personal performance. The tournament is extremely well organized and the energy level is unparalled. The Parsippany Hilton was a great venue wi...
I've been playing chess seriously for the past 3 years and there has been one player who has been my proverbial white whale, John Curdo. John is a legend here in MA, he has won the MA state title 16 times ! John and I have had many epic battles. I...
I played this game last night against a well known master in the area. I had played him once before and I spoiled a very nice advantage in that game. In fact, this game was my first win over such a highly rated player. I was able to manage a draw ...
I played this game this past week and it was one of my most exiciting. I grabbed the initiative early and this was the result.
Last night I played FM John Curdo again and for the second encounter in a row, I earned a draw. This game was a really tough fight for me. I felt that at points I had an advantage and then I would make some inaccurate moves and then in the later ...
This position is one that would have occured in a game between a friend of mine and an FM but my friend missed this continuation....but I cannot blame him. Fritz 6 and Rybka 2.2 also miss the winning line even after letting them think for a while....
The Benko gambit is a fun opening that suits my playing style quite nicely. The idea is that Black sacrifices a pawn in order to have active counterplay against the Queenside. In the following game I played against Mike Odell (~1930 USCF) we follo...
Here's a game I played against a strong member of my club. I knew to expect a version of the Dutch and I had prepared some lines involved in attacking with h4-h5. I thought that I would be able to rip through and score a quick point with an attack...
Although I already posted this game in the forums, I wanted to put this as part of my blog. It is one of the strongest games that I have played against high rated opposition. What made this game tougher is that Josh is one of my good friends and w...
This is the first draw that I've achieved with such a highly rated opponent. I've been playing chess again for about 7 months after taking about 13 years off (I'm 26 now and I was not strong as a kid). I'm happy with the result but I know that I ...
RobKing
United States 
My name is Rob King and I am a National Master that lives just outside of Boston,MA. I'm not here to sell you anything, I just want to share my knowledge and passion for chess and analytics. Feel free to message me on here or email me at robking1983@gmail.com on anything related to both.
