Online chess community where you can play chess, learn strategies and tactics, read chess news, see book reviews, find rules & tips, get free downloads, and more! http://www.chess.com/ 2007 Chess.com The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)The Troll Under My Chessboard I have come to the conclusion that William Shakespeare played chess.  This may not seem to be a startling revelation to you, but there's more.  It is my decided opinio... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---the-troll-under-my-chessboard Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:21:35 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---the-troll-under-my-chessboard Teaching Chess to Children and The Rasik Variation   Ripper asked: I would like to know what your suggestion is for Black when 1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 is played. Dear Mr. Ripper, This is one of those perfectly reasonable moves that every Sicilian pl... http://www.chess.com/article/view/teaching-chess-to-children-and-the-rasik-variation Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:17:51 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/teaching-chess-to-children-and-the-rasik-variation The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Winning and Losing One of the things we all learn as we grow older is good sportsmanship.  You know: being gracious and humble when you win and being congratulatory to the victor when you lose.  Bu... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---winning-and-losing Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:20:10 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---winning-and-losing I'm Singing Those Old Dragon Blues!   Dan asked: My question is about White alternatives to the Yugoslav attack in the Sicilian Dragon. Basically, I hate it! I'd definitely prefer something that didn't explode all over the board. Problem is, i... http://www.chess.com/article/view/rsquom-singing-those-old-dragon-blues Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:45:53 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/rsquom-singing-those-old-dragon-blues Chigorin Ruy Lopez and the Mystery of Statistics   Niranjan Navalgund asked: My question is about the Chigorin Variation of the Ruy Lopez. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 ... http://www.chess.com/article/view/chigorin-ruy-lopez-and-the-mystery-of-statistics Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:40:08 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/chigorin-ruy-lopez-and-the-mystery-of-statistics Too Much Opening and the Grand Plan Abhilash_007 asked: (In response to my article, HELP! I FEEL SO LOST WITHOUT A PLAN!). How do you decide it's time to map a grand plan?   Dear Abhilash_007, Grand plans are rare, even in grandmaster chess... http://www.chess.com/article/view/too-much-opening-and-the-grand-plan Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:33:01 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/too-much-opening-and-the-grand-plan The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Thanks Well, it's turkey time again (at least in the USA), and all of us are going to be sitting down at the dinner table to partake of one stuffed animal in order to stuff another. If you're like m... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---thanks Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:52:49 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---thanks Creating a Study Program Mr. Svorcan asked: I am self-taught chess player. I have read a few books and have some chess software (Fritz, Chessmaster, etc). I play chess regularly on the net but my "real" rating is unknown, however on some website... http://www.chess.com/article/view/creating-a-study-program Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:48:31 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/creating-a-study-program Unknown asked: What do you think is the best food to be eaten during a big tournament?   Dear whoever you are: Actually, this is quite an interesting question! Of course, most people eat all sorts of unhealthy things before an event, but shou... http://www.chess.com/article/view/things-that-go-down-your-throat-in-a-chess-tournament Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:27:13 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/things-that-go-down-your-throat-in-a-chess-tournament The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Chess Limericks I don't know of anyone who doesn't like limericks.  However, since they are a type of humor distinct to the English language, a good definition might be in order.  According to Wiki... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---chess-limericks Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:21:16 -0800 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---chess-limericks Chess training program for ratings < 1200 Disclaimer:These advice are taken from my personal (short) experience. They are written by a novice for the novice. I only release my ideas today to the public. Nobody ever tried these programs and I ... http://www.chess.com/article/view/training-program-for-beginners Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:58:51 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/training-program-for-beginners COMMENTING ON READER COMMENTS   Here are answers to various comments (in regards to my Q & A articles) by readers:   crowrevell says: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 is a strong answer to 2...Nc6. I'm not familiar with 2...g6, though it seems W... http://www.chess.com/article/view/commenting-on-reader-comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:25:11 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/commenting-on-reader-comments The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug)Notes on Notation Everyone today uses Algebraic notation to write down the moves.  When I started playing tournament chess in 1970, the only method available in the US was English Descriptive notati... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---notes-on-notation Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:36:45 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---notes-on-notation Veteran Jan Timman dominated the Staunton Memorial tournament, streaking to the finish. His only stumble was his seventh round encounter with a great Viktor Korchnoi.   Perhaps inspired by Korchnoi, Tim on rebounded in the next round by using ... http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-7-9-timman-triumphant Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:37:40 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-7-9-timman-triumphant Veterans Viktor Korchnoi and Jan Timman displayed their bona fides in the ealy rounds. Timman soared to first place while Korchnoi maintained a respectable 50%. Jan Timman showed true understanding of the Nimzo-indian with effective play against ... http://www.chess.com/article/view/stauntom-memorial-3-5-veterans-rule Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:05:12 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/stauntom-memorial-3-5-veterans-rule Here is a sparkling game from the second round.     http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-memorial-2-a-bold-four-pawns-attack Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:25:54 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-memorial-2-a-bold-four-pawns-attack We begin our coverage with a sparkling game from the first round of the 2009 Howard Staunton Memorial chess tournament. the grand tradition of this event was enhanced by the appearance of a Staunton gambit on the chessboard at Simpson's in the Str... http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-day-1-staunton-gambit-at-staunton-memorial Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:28:53 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/staunton-day-1-staunton-gambit-at-staunton-memorial Emanuel asked:How much time do you spend daily studying chess? Also were you naturally gifted or did you just keep working hard at it? What did you study to rise from 1000 to IM? Anything specifically or just anything chess related that you could ... http://www.chess.com/article/view/getting-past-plateaus Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:47:38 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/getting-past-plateaus The Open Fileby Life Master Mike Petersen (Zug) Only 2700's Need Apply NOTE to all those who read this article: I started this tournament with the goal of having some really good games you can find all in one spot, along with the idea of ma... http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---only-2700s-need-apply Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:59:05 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-open-file---only-2700s-need-apply Andrea Coda asked:I am playing online chess mostly as preparation for OTB tournaments, and I am focusing on slow games; I believe that at my level it is very important to reason through every move, trying to increase my board vision and analysis s... http://www.chess.com/article/view/time-management Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:11:28 -0700 http://www.chess.com/article/view/time-management