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 Round 3: likesforests vs 1200 After a good night's sleep I was ready to rumble. More than once I stopped to admire the trophy that might soon be mine. Round 4: 1500 vs likesforests I'm up against a Russian who hasn't competed in a US tournamen...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-quotslowestquot-tourney-finaleSun, 22 Mar 2009 19:45:05 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-quotslowestquot-tourney-finaleThanks for all the advice and well-wishes going into my first 30/90, G/60 tournament. I brought a CD player but never found occasion to use it--there were too many exciting things happening on my board and around me! The first games went well. R...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-quotslowestquot-tourney-day-1Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:15:52 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-quotslowestquot-tourney-day-1We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzovich. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) Open Files:  Two Illustrative Games NN - likesforests, chess.com 2008 We already know wh...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-7Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:59:57 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-7We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzovich. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) §2.1 Introduction to "Open Files" The rook is the most difficult piece to bring into play...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-6Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:27:48 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-6We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzovich. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) §1.6 - Avoid grabbing pawns in the opening Nimzowitsch spends a chapter explainin...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-5Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:51:21 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-5We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzovich. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) §1.6 - How to Manage the Center Today I'm trying something interesting. I'm blend...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-4Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:30:09 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-4We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) Review We had a small break after lesson 2 "An Exchange Followed by a Gain of Tempo"...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-3Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:17:16 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-3We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) §1.4 An exchange followed by a gain of tempo Imagine you're running a race agai...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-2Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:59:09 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/strategy-of-my-system-lesson-2 We're learning chess strategy from the classic My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch. I'm your guide, likesforests. Grab a cold one, pull up a chair, and enjoy. :) §1.1 You develop a piece by moving it off the back rank and tow...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-system-lesson-1Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:43:29 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-system-lesson-1On July 25th I'll begin publishing a weekly series based on 'My System', a classic chess strategy book by Aaron Nimzowitsch. Many masters consider studying My System a key step to becoming a stronger player.   - Articles will feature a discussio...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-system---join-the-adventureFri, 18 Jul 2008 12:17:31 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-system---join-the-adventureSeveral people have asked me to post some of my games from the World Open. They were G/45 and despite placing in the top 5, the games weren't pretty. Blame it on the time zone or the hotel food. Maybe I just need to study tactics more. Round ...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-world-open-final-roundThu, 10 Jul 2008 19:41:28 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/my-world-open-final-round With 5 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses I was in the top 5 in my section at the World Open 2008.It was satisfying. I do not suck at chess. I played Russians, Chinese, Americans, and an Indian... older folks with experience on their side, younger f...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/world-open-victoryMon, 07 Jul 2008 10:47:15 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/world-open-victoryI'm competing in the World Open in a week or so.     My practice games make me wonder whether it'll be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde who actually shows up in Philadelphia. For example, here are a couple games I played this week: &...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/will-i-be-dr-jekyl-or-mr-hyde-at-the-world-openSat, 21 Jun 2008 12:45:40 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/will-i-be-dr-jekyl-or-mr-hyde-at-the-world-openQuestions, comments, and especially criticism are welcome. Remember to click the Move List button to see all the interesting variations. http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/mayet-anderssen-berlin-1851Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:10:22 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/mayet-anderssen-berlin-1851Q+P vs Q is more common than Q vs P, but it receives less coverage. That's probably because it is complex, and in fact humans knew little about this ending until the advent of tablebases revolutionized its study. Rook and Knight pawns usually ...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-queen--pawn-vs-queenThu, 10 Jan 2008 11:56:34 -0800http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-queen--pawn-vs-queen Happy Holidays! I bought a Palm Z22 and loaded Palm Hiarcs (ELO 2506), Morphy's 472 known games, and 24 issues of Endgame Corner. It's a great chess combo that lets me study while on the go. Cost:  $145 Battery Life (playing):  ...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/happy-holidays--palm-hiarcsWed, 12 Dec 2007 22:09:49 -0800http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/happy-holidays--palm-hiarcsThis is an exciting ending played by my friend dktransformation. I think it's practical and it contains interesting positions, mistakes, and nuggets of wisdom that we can learn from. I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to ask questions, offer a...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-a-practical-rrn-endingFri, 26 Oct 2007 14:54:45 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-a-practical-rrn-endingThis is my final article on the Frontal Defense. We look at positions from real games. These are complicated positions, so don't feel bad if you miss a move. The above commentary is completely my own, but Danielian-Miles is discussed in mor...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-ivThu, 18 Oct 2007 00:22:01 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-ivWe're going to look at Frontal Defense on the knight file today, and then examine some interesting games between strong players.   A. Knight Files  The Frontal Defense on a knight file works the same as on a central or bishop file, ...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-iiiWed, 17 Oct 2007 00:01:25 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-iiiNow that you know how wage a Frontal Defense, we're going to learn how to quickly evaluate whether a position can be drawn via this method.   A. The defending rook needs at least 3 squares of checking distance to hold the draw. B. If t...http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-iiTue, 16 Oct 2007 00:26:11 -0700http://blog.chess.com/likesforests/the-endgame-tactician-frontal-defense-ii