Retro-analytical problems, where solvers logically deduce what must have occurred before a given position is reached, include many interesting sub-genres. Proof games are a popular type that’s regularly featured on my chess problem site. Ano...
Today I played with the best player from Nepal, Candidate Master Bibek Thing. He played the Spanish opening and I replied with the old steinitz defense, where black plays very solidly d6, Bd7. We both missed an opening trap where I could lose...
Previously on this blog I've looked at how one can estimate the values of the pieces, based on the number of moves they have from each square. This post has the same goal of estimating piece values, but will use a different approach- random chess ...
Your opponent has just hit their clock and now it’s your turn to move. Out of all the possible options on the board, how do you decide which move to play? Some people may automatically play whatever move first catches their eye. Others may...
Dear Earthlings, I bet you have already seen movies, books, games, or similar media about hostile aliens invading Earth to destroy us for no reason. Usually, they are just evil and enjoy annihilating random planets for fun. But of course, their ...
Australia scooted up the standings at the 2024 Olympiad on Saturday after defeating our "little brother" across the ditch, New Zealand, by a margin of 2.5-1.5 and we will now play our Commonwealth cousins England in round five. Interestingly, a fe...
#fourknights #openingtactics #history About a week ago, I had this really fun and tactical game of the Four Knights Italian with Black (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4). This was an unrated daily game against a new friend and subs...
Today I played with Manfredi La Barbera from Italy, a young talented player. He played 4...Nge7 against the Ruy Lopez to suprise me. I became too optimistic and played Ba3 to force his f8 rook the the good e8 square, because I wanted to attac...
Two years on from our tight match against Ukraine at the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai, Team Australia, who are proudly sponsored by Integral Diagnostics (IDX) and DGT, once again paired with the chess powerhouses. This time, Team Ukraine featured four...
Today I played against Mohamed Saeed Laily, a young talented player from the United Arab Emirates. He played the exchange variation of the slav defense with a kingside pawn storm. I made a mistake and I was forced to sacrifice a pawn to stop ...
Hello everyone, welcome back to another blog post! Today, I will be going over what I believe to be the most straightforward study habits to improve your chess game. As I'm starting my own chess coaching journey, what better way to kick things off...
Emanuel Lasker was the second World Chess Champion, holding the title for 27 years (1894–1921), the longest reign among all world champions. He earned a PhD in mathematics and was known for applying his knowledge and skills, including psycho...
Chess tournaments can be grueling, mentally and physically. While you might not be running marathons, the mental exertion during games can drain your energy faster than you think. Staying hydrated and fueled is just as important as studying your o...
Hey there! Today I bring you a post about the first round of the Olympiad in Budapest, a city I've always wanted to visit. I've passed there several times, but only on my way to Serbia. However, it's definitely on my list of countries to visit ...
The second round of the 2024 FIDE Olympiad pitted dangerous teams against top seeds and there were several drawn matches among these clashes. Norway-Canada was one such match where Norway, the higher seeds were left ruing their decision to rest th...
The Chess olympiad started yesrterday in Budapest, Hungary. There are many side events. I joined to Olympiad Expo Classic, which is a 9 round swiss tournament with players from 12 countries. My oponent was a 10 years old hungarian talent Almos...
#chessnutgo #travelchess #wumpus 🔥 Chessnut Store (Affiliate Link): https://www.chessnutech.com?sca_ref=4294516.IoYAy1V8Gt🔥 Or use my coupon code for a discount on checkout: CHESSNOOB64 I've been in Melbourne for the last co...
This year’s Olympiad is hosted by the beautiful city of Budapest. And since Hungary is the host country, it’s only fitting that we take some time to discuss Hungarian chess. Hungary has an impressive record in the Olympiad - w...
Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official World Chess Champion, delivered a masterful performance in his famous game known as 'The Battle of Hastings,' where he punished an uncastled king. Can you identify the critical move in this game? I have a s...
Team Australia, proudly sponsored by Integral Diagnostics (IDX) and DGT, kicked off the 2024 FIDE Olympiad in style by posting round 1 wins over Saudi Arabia and Brunei Darussalam. All three debutants, IM Rishi Sardana, Zhiyuan Shen, and Alaina Vi...
The first high-level international chess tournament I ever followed was a previous Chess Olympiad. After that, I've made sure to closely follow each subsequent one, paying special attention to the team sent from my country, Canada. Today's post wi...
Yesterday I solved many puzzles from the Woodpecker method book. You can also study it on Chessable at https://www.chessable.com/the-woodpecker-method/course/10582/ You can solve the exercises and watch the games wi...
Yesterday I started my training pretty late, but still went well. I solved 7 puzzles from the Woodpecker method book. You can also study it on Chessable at https://www.chessable.com/the-woodpecker-method/course/10582/ ...
Before we get to the game, I just want to share a quick thing with ya: A few years ago, I started chess Coaching, although I was still an innocent child (Yes, I am very innocent) back then, I enjoy helping players improve at the game we love. It...
Paul Morphy was the unofficial world chess champion and undoubtedly the strongest player of the mid-19th century. He played many brilliant games, but this is one of his finest ideas. Can you find Morphy's move? I have a special bonus for you! ...
