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 Leave it up to Chess.com to vote on an opening that I don't play personally. When the votes started coming in, I said, "boy." Now I have to learn a new opening.  I am glad I did.  I have probably played around the Scotch and didn't even know it ...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-scotch-gameSat, 04 Apr 2009 10:43:39 -0700http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-scotch-gameUnderstanding your opening for the average player begins with these ideas. Are you looking for a closed position or an open position? Do you know the advantages of each type? Knowing what weaknesses and strengths exist in your chosen opening will...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-part-iiiWed, 25 Mar 2009 05:35:13 -0700http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-part-iiiThe 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament starts today in Nice, France. This is as good as time as any to try your hand at blindfold chess.  I have done a little research and if you have any of the popular chess software programs like Chessma...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/you-can-play-blindfold-chess-tooSat, 14 Mar 2009 09:12:34 -0700http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/you-can-play-blindfold-chess-tooI had not planned on making this a series, but I am still getting questions on what to do in various positions.  So let's start at the top. We will cover general ideas that you can apply to any opening. It has come to my attention that the casua...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-part-iiThu, 12 Mar 2009 12:55:31 -0700http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-opening-part-iiWe have talked briefly about the "draw" skill.  It is certainly one of those skills that most GM/IM/SM possess. The next skill we will talk about is the skill of "tactics."  This is an easy skill to talk about since it is the one that gets most...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/what-chess-skills-are-in-your-bag-part-iiTue, 10 Mar 2009 15:03:44 -0700http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/what-chess-skills-are-in-your-bag-part-iiEvery chess player whether they are beginner or master can do at least one thing in the game of chess.  The stronger you get the more things or skills you develop. Beginners learn how to move the pawns first. The next two pieces are probably the...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/what-chess-skills-are-in-your-bag-part-iThu, 05 Mar 2009 11:58:16 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/what-chess-skills-are-in-your-bag-part-iAre you the type of chess player who doesn't have a lot of time to study?  Chess books are too difficult to understand?  You can't seem to get your rating about 1400-1600?  Tired of loosing to your friends? or the computer? There is one sure w...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/magic-bullet-chess-improvementWed, 25 Feb 2009 14:48:17 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/magic-bullet-chess-improvementI had been planning this post all weekend. Once I finally logged into chess.com and made my moves on various boards, I broke my own rule.  I made a rushed move.  Now I have done this periodically over the last year.  It would appear every 3-4 w...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/concentration-drills-pt1Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:12:38 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/concentration-drills-pt1This topic seems to have generated a lot of conversation and personal messages, so I will elaborate here to the group. Let me begin by saying. Saving Fritz evaluations in the notes field is not recommended for the following reasons: You are crea...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/fritz-is-not-your-friend--ready-set-notes-pt-2Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:09:58 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/fritz-is-not-your-friend--ready-set-notes-pt-2What a week we have in store for us. Starting Feb. 17th the Kamsky-Topolav match finally begins. I have been waiting for this matchup for over a year.  I personally believe that Topolav is a favorite, but I know Kamsky has some novelties prepared...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/strongest-week-of-chessSun, 15 Feb 2009 07:20:36 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/strongest-week-of-chessSerious chess. This post is not for the casual player. I believe that if you have a favorite opening, you should know it inside and out.  For some people, this is how they get a favorite opening. By studying an opening so well that it becomes na...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-openingSat, 14 Feb 2009 06:12:56 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/understanding-your-openingSome players have not utilized the "notes" feature available on every turn-based game.  The "notes" tab is located next to the "details" tab on the right side of your game screen. This is a good place to document your ideas while you are thinkin...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/learning-while-playingMon, 09 Feb 2009 23:04:30 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/learning-while-playingEveryone has their ups and downs in chess. Some people have more downs than ups.  However, without losing you can't win. I have been celebrating over the last couple of days some wins I have coming in some of my games.  I felt as if I was walki...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/how-to-lose-in-chessSun, 08 Feb 2009 12:00:55 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/how-to-lose-in-chessAre you so excited about chess and chess.com that you can't wait to see if anyone has moved?  Do you sleep with your laptop computer? Is chess.com your default browser page? If you answer yes to any of the above questions, you might be an addict...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-addict---moving-while-sleepySun, 08 Feb 2009 05:53:38 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-addict---moving-while-sleepyThis is another one of those common questions I hear when working with students.  When I am considering a draw offer made by my opponent I look at the overall position.  I ask myself, what would need to happen for me to loose this game? I don't...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/when-do-you-accept-a-drawSat, 07 Feb 2009 12:48:52 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/when-do-you-accept-a-drawI am reading "Excelling at Technical Chess" by Jacob Aagaard. I am early in the book but already he has said some meaningful and helpful things. One of which I will share with you right now. Pieces should be activated in descending order. This m...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/excelling-at-technical-chessSat, 07 Feb 2009 09:26:41 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/excelling-at-technical-chessI get this question all the time. Chess isn't fun with the computer winning all the time. Or, why even play with computers being so strong? or Aren't you afraid of computer cheaters? The answers to these questions and many more are simple.  I do...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/how-to-use-the-computer-to-improve-your-chess-gameWed, 04 Feb 2009 23:47:46 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/how-to-use-the-computer-to-improve-your-chess-gameHow much time do you dedicate to chess in a day/week?  There was a survey done somewhere on the interent, where it was basically stated that amateurs spent a couple hours a day and the strength of the player increased exponentially by the number ...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-hoursWed, 04 Feb 2009 23:09:34 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-hoursThis is my first post of the New Year. Let me say Happy New Year to all those I haven't spoken with already. I have big plans for chess this year.  This is the year that I will dedicate myself to making 2200 OTB.  I have done it several times o...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/20092Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:07:59 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/20092There has been a lot of controversy coming out of Dresden in the last 24 hours.  It would appear as if their reporting mechanism has broken down. Many sites are reporting erroneous results on games. Even the official site has errors in multiple p...http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-olympiad-dresden---rd-4-pairingsSun, 16 Nov 2008 07:52:43 -0800http://blog.chess.com/shootfilm/chess-olympiad-dresden---rd-4-pairings