Submitted by
Skwerly on Thu Jul 2, 2009 10:42am.
Are you embarrassed each time you thump a rook down on the chessboard in a blitz game because the weight inside rattles badly? You are not alone; my own pieces did this very thing for quite some time. Then one day I got motivated and d... Read more »
566 reads | 11 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
sanjayd1998 on Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:53am.
White to play and mate in two.
Hint: A close look at Black's possible moves shows that in every single case White can reply with an immediate mate. It follows that a waiting move would solve the problem. But this is another typical example of dec... Read more »
392 reads | 6 comments | 1 vote:
Submitted by
KnightPawn28 on Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:07am.
Once upon a time, chess was a game for kings! How irresistible it is to note that this graceful and imaginative game indeed inherited a touch of nobility. Everything about this game was carefully crafted yet, what brings it to life is two creative... Read more »
199 reads | 4 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
sanjayd1998 on Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:54am.
White to play and mate in two.
Hint:Black threatens to take on b1, so White must create a strong threat. At the moment White's queen is under-employed, doing nothing more than cover b4 and c5, a job which could equally well be performed by a bi... Read more »
167 reads | 6 comments | 1 vote:
Submitted by
Pyke on Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:14am.
Figured I would share them. I analyzed them in Fritz 9. Click on "Moves List" to see the proposed variants. Some interesting games, in my opinion. I nearly blew the second one. I finished the tournament 2-1-2 (two bye's, due to a conflict on the m... Read more »
118 reads | 3 comments | 0 votes:
Submitted by
sanjayd1998 on Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:25am.
White to play and mate in 2.
Hint:Black has a whole range of powerful threats, including 1...Nxd3 and 1...Bxb7 so white's first move has to be fairly blunt. A sacrifice may be necessary.
Since black threatens to play 1...Nxd3 or 1...Bxb7, White... Read more »
177 reads | 1 comment | 1 vote:
Submitted by
sanjayd1998 on Sat Jun 27, 2009 4:44am.
At the moment all White's mating threats are covered by the four black pieces on the back rack, so how can white break the deadlock?White to play and mate in two.
Hint:If you check all black's available moves, you will find that all but two allow... Read more »
123 reads | 1 comment | 1 vote:
Submitted by
IM Silman on Sun Jun 21, 2009 11:58pm.
Doomclaw asks:I am fairly new to tournament chess, but in the few OTB tournaments I have played I can’t seem to avoid getting very nervous before and during my games, which sometimes causes me to blunder. Can you make suggestions on how to stay ... Read more »
2981 reads | 33 comments | 3 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:05am.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Political Tangent
As most of you know who regularly read my column, I like to dwell on the lighter side of chess. I sit down and think outrageous thoughts about chess and then put 'em down on paper... Read more »
782 reads | 3 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
IM Silman on Mon Jun 8, 2009 12:57am.
Anon asked:I’m a fairly new player with a low rating. My first question addresses the person who asked whether becoming a world class player at the age of 44 was out of the question and Andrew replied yes, it is; how about 21? I’ve bought some... Read more »
4262 reads | 52 comments | 6 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Tue Jun 2, 2009 6:38am.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Volunteers
I just got through doing some volunteer work for a local public television station in my area. We had a TV auction that lasted for a week and I was doing some auctioneering on live telev... Read more »
807 reads | 3 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
IM Silman on Sun May 31, 2009 11:53pm.
Rabbi Evan Gary asks:
Could you recommend a good old classic book (the more classical the more interesting) giving theoretical (perhaps even some philosophical, esoteric) information about Chess? Thank you very much.
Dear Rabbi Gary:
On... Read more »
3113 reads | 27 comments | 5 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Tue May 26, 2009 7:15am.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)The REAL Chess Player Quiz
So you think you're a chess player. You play in tournaments. You play in your local club events. You play on Chess.com. You're even a member of your country's fede... Read more »
1748 reads | 18 comments | 3 votes:
Submitted by
IM AndrewMartin on Sun May 24, 2009 11:21pm.
Unfortunately this is the last Q&A Chess.com column from International Master Andrew Martin. I'm sure you will join me in thanking Andrew for his insightful columns and wishing him all the best for the future!
But if you still have an un... Read more »
2394 reads | 37 comments | 5 votes:
Submitted by
Enormous_Gastropod on Sat May 23, 2009 9:52am.
The brouhaha over using opening tables and chess books during correspondence play has puzzled me for a little while now. I figured I’d throw my two cents into the debate and see if I come out unscathed (or unflamed) however unlikely that may be.... Read more »
1072 reads | 36 comments | 0 votes:
Submitted by
IM IMCheap on Thu May 21, 2009 8:19pm.
Being a chess second of #14 female player in the world WGM Natalia Pogonina, I would like to share with you her article on home preparation and advanced chess (originally published at her website - Pogonina.com). Hope you'll find it useful:
The a... Read more »
1533 reads | 7 comments | 5 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Wed May 20, 2009 7:04am.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Tip of the Iceberg
There is a general consensus of opinion among non-chess players that the game is a dry mathematical exercise that attracts stuffy, boring people. If only they could get a look i... Read more »
1187 reads | 12 comments | 1 vote:
Submitted by
smalugu on Mon May 18, 2009 5:26pm.
This is final 3rd game of the westfield quads and god I am tired by even the third game. I was very fine with a draw, in the toss I won and took white. its a each 45 minutes game and quad championship, so I get to play the remaining 3 top rated pl... Read more »
238 reads | 5 comments | 0 votes:
Submitted by
IM AndrewMartin on Sun May 17, 2009 10:45pm.
International Master Andrew Martin from England presents a regular series of articles to answer any questions that Chess.com readers have about the game of chess.
If you want to ask Andrew a question, then send an email to askandrew@chess.com a... Read more »
1660 reads | 12 comments | 5 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Tue May 12, 2009 10:55am.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Busy, Busy, Busy
I was just browsing over my collection of old Chess Life magazines. I have them going back to the 1970's. Anyway, the issue that caught my attention this time was the 50th annive... Read more »
1148 reads | 12 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
IM AndrewMartin on Sun May 10, 2009 10:51pm.
International Master Andrew Martin from England presents a regular series of articles to answer any questions that Chess.com readers have about the game of chess.
If you want to ask Andrew a question, then send an email to askandrew@chess.com a... Read more »
1796 reads | 4 comments | 3 votes:
Submitted by
_ishan_ on Sun May 10, 2009 4:52pm.
I just played this game online (on ICC), and i thouht it was a good example of an attacking game. Some analysis would be helpful.
Read more »
272 reads | 8 comments | 2 votes:
Submitted by
Ozzes306 on Fri May 8, 2009 6:20pm.
Often, whenever you are about to win, or if checkmate is inevitable, your opponent somply resigns instead of playing the game out to its fullest extent. Why is this? Is it because they simply wish to save time, or is it to prove that they know tha... Read more »
217 reads | 10 comments | 4 votes:
Submitted by
NM Zug on Wed May 6, 2009 4:52pm.
The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Chess in Outer Space
If you're a chessplayer and you've seen the movie, "2001, A Space Odyssey", then you're probably familiar with the scene where Hal (the computer) is playing a game of chess with ... Read more »
877 reads | 10 comments | 1 vote:
Submitted by
IM AndrewMartin on Sun May 3, 2009 11:34pm.
International Master Andrew Martin from England presents a regular series of articles to answer any questions that Chess.com readers have about the game of chess.
If you want to ask Andrew a question, then send an email to askandrew@chess.com a... Read more »
1648 reads | 10 comments | 2 votes: