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 I was going to post this yesterday, but the site conveniently went offline for maintenance and I had to go to bed. Anyway, I hope you all had a happy Veterans Day. I wanted to share with you guys a chess tradition my hometown has. Every Thursday ...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-look-at-lifeThu, 12 Nov 2009 19:26:48 -0800http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-look-at-lifeThere hasn't been much to discuss around here lately. I have noticed a new box when you try to edit an article that says "Publish Date." Does anyone know what this feature does? And does anyone know what the "Main Image" thing when you submit a po...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-study-in-stalemateSun, 25 Oct 2009 17:10:12 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-study-in-stalemateI can't believe it's already time for another anniversary post. And yes, I have been on chess.com for a full two years now. This site has truly come a long way in a relatively short time. I have to admit, there have been some disappointing moment...http://blog.chess.com/benws/chesscom--two-yearsSat, 10 Oct 2009 15:22:04 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/chesscom--two-yearsI would like to thank everyone who commented on my last blog post regarding whether or not I should buy MCO, 15th edition. Despite some loud cries that it is not at all useful, I still will probably buy it anyway. But I am currently trying to see ...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-small-updateSun, 27 Sep 2009 18:31:20 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-small-updateI need some help from you guys here at chess.com. I'm currently thinking about purchasing Modern Chess Openings, 15th Edition. However, I recently read some reviews saying that it wasn't as great as it advertises itself to be. What do you guys thi...http://blog.chess.com/benws/simultaneity-paradoxSat, 12 Sep 2009 19:15:01 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/simultaneity-paradoxwow, I really haven't been posting much in the last few months... just a little update with what's going on with me lately: I'm still here- don't worry. In a month, I plan to celebrate two years (has it really been that long?) on this site. I've...http://blog.chess.com/benws/landas-immortalMon, 07 Sep 2009 11:41:25 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/landas-immortalSince I can't really think of anything to post about here in China, I guess I'll discuss another tactical motif. Today we shall examine the DOUBLE CHECK. Basically, it's when a piece discovers a check while also checking the king itself. This sit...http://blog.chess.com/benws/no-room-to-hideThu, 18 Jun 2009 22:35:13 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/no-room-to-hideThe 1966 World Championship Match was between Petrosian and Spassky. After 11 games, Petrosian was up two points and landed fantastic combination in the 12th-but alas, he could not finish it. This draw enabled Spassky to eventually level the score...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-vexing-drawSun, 14 Jun 2009 13:19:50 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-vexing-drawIt's a historic day...I have just graduated from 8th grade! Looking back, I'm sure I've come a long way since i first started middle school. Anyway, to celebrate the occasion, I found this wonderful little gem the other day and wanted to show it...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-little-gemMon, 08 Jun 2009 16:26:08 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-little-gemThis game between Spassky and Kholmov is a highly interesting one. Early on, Spassky makes the suicidal-looking decision to sacrifice a whole rook for apparently nothing, and then trades down into an endgame. However, as it transpires, his passed ...http://blog.chess.com/benws/flight-of-fantasyTue, 02 Jun 2009 16:18:12 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/flight-of-fantasyThis is another game from the 19th century. It is filled with sacrifices, as white literally throws away his entire army for the mate. I know it is far from a perfect game, but it is still fun to watch. The final position is also somewhat incredib...http://blog.chess.com/benws/locked-doreFri, 29 May 2009 13:12:10 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/locked-doreEfim Petrovich Geller (1925-1998) was one of the great Soviet chess masters. He played in the Candidates events an amazing 6 times, and had a positive or equal score against many of the greatest masters of his time. In this game, the new world ch...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-picturesque-positionSat, 23 May 2009 17:49:26 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-picturesque-positionThis game is a very complex one. The queens are traded early, but Pinter decides to sacrifice some pieces to lure the white king out of its own territory, and then brings in his king to set up a mating net. There is also a unique moment when you s...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-rare-occurenceWed, 20 May 2009 15:55:10 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-rare-occurenceDavid Bronstein is credited by many with making the King's Indian Defence famous. In the Prague tournament of 1946, he created two "twin" games from which "modern chess began." See if you can spot the similarities. any thoughts at all? post a com...http://blog.chess.com/benws/the-big-explosionThu, 14 May 2009 15:05:00 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/the-big-explosionThis game contains one of the greatest (as considered by several masters) combinations ever. Whether you agree with them or not is up to you. In any case, it features two nice exchange sacrifices and once again shows how powerful passed pawns are....http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-fine-combinationMon, 11 May 2009 12:35:02 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-fine-combinationI'd like to recommend a book for all of you guys to read. It's called The Kings of New York by Michael Weinreb. It really makes me wonder (and you might wonder too) how chess can be so readable a topic. Basically, there is a school in New York ca...http://blog.chess.com/benws/the-kings-of-new-yorkSun, 26 Apr 2009 15:30:13 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/the-kings-of-new-yorkI have to admit: I get too ambitious in my games more times than I would like. And sometimes, that can lead to disaster. Take the following game. I grabbed at a pawn in the opening, knowing that I would have to weaken my kingside. My opponent the...http://blog.chess.com/benws/too-ambitiousFri, 03 Apr 2009 09:06:03 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/too-ambitiousThe French is tough to crack, as most of you guys have probably experienced yourselves. Here is a game I found that shows you how to defeat this opening. Korchnoi uses lots of pawn & piece sacrifices and combines those with lots and lots of w...http://blog.chess.com/benws/defeating-the-frenchMon, 09 Mar 2009 12:34:43 -0700http://blog.chess.com/benws/defeating-the-frenchWe all find ourselves in dire need of defense sometimes. However, defense is not all pulling your pieces back into your own camp. Defense requires a knowledge of tactics to pull through. Here are some examples:               As yo...http://blog.chess.com/benws/defensive-stanceThu, 05 Mar 2009 15:21:07 -0800http://blog.chess.com/benws/defensive-stanceI've decided I should actually try and do something with my blog. I'm not a very good teacher, but maybe I can provide some new ideas you guys have never thought of before. So today I'll talk about INTERFERENCE. It's best illustrated with an exa...http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-reason-to-interfereSat, 28 Feb 2009 16:06:45 -0800http://blog.chess.com/benws/a-reason-to-interfere