Coming off the worst tournament of my career, and starting 1/4 in the 2019 Canada Zonal, it seemed that my NM title would have to wait. I had put everything into this Easter weekend - $500+ in fees and hotels, time off work, months of preparatio...
At the start, my opponent and I were 2 points in elo apart. By the end of it, the gap widened to 154. I thought I was just playing chess. I didn't realize I was watching someone destroy themselves - or that I'd recognize myself in their desperatio...
People die all the time. Celebrities, war casualties, the elderly, the world is filled with people passing away and into the next life. We're almost used to it. In fact, with this pandemic, it really feels like the numbers don't mean anything anym...
Hello! You are all cordially invited to play in the McGill Rapid on April 29, a $1000 prize fund Rapid tournament at the University. Venue: Shatner Building (SSMU Building) 3480 McTavish St., Lev Burkhman Room 203, Montreal, Qc. Sets provided, ...
I am pleased to be the new president of the McGill Students' Chess Club as of the 2016-2017 school year. Check out our video montage of 15-16 below! Website: ssmu.mcgill.ca/chess Toodles, HJY
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to write for the Hygge Rebel, a blog maintained by my friend Diamond. As I am told, hygge is loosely translated to "the Danish ritual of enjoying life's simple pleasures." Lovely word. Here is my submission....
I remember my first Quebec Junior Chess Championships as if it were yesterday. How do I remember it so vividly? Part of it is because I have a very respectable memory. Part of it is because the event was just a month ago. I know what you’re...
I've been playing in chess tournaments since 2006, but up until this year's Montreal Open, I have yet to win a national-level (FQE/CFC) tournament. The closest I've come to winning my section was, fittingly, the Montreal Open three years ago. Com...
Happy September! With the new FIDE ratings this month, I am proud to say that I am officially FIDE rated!!!!! in all three time controls for OTB My Standard rating of 1925 is 282nd among active FIDE members in Canada My Rapid rating is 1937 ...
Hey guys! I hope your summer is going well :) I know you haven't heard from me in a while. You can also see my increasing number of timeouts! Recently, I've been spending my time on vacation in Ontario as well as on a site that I discovered call...
All rook endings are drawn. -- Siegbert Tarrasch Chess fanatics should be all too familiar with this quote. Mr. Tarrasch, a prominent chess teacher, also suggested that rooks belong behind passed pawns. But as theory has progessed, we can under...
Here is a game where I willed myself and snatched the win out of my opponent't hands. In the enndgame, he offered draw twice and I refused. Remember folks, always fight to the bitter end: the end may not be so bitter! Time control: 25 min...
Hey everyone! There is only one more week before the 2015 Quebec Open, the largest chess tournament in the Province of Quebec. To spice things up, this year the QO has merged with the 3e rencontres internationales des échecs francophones, a tourna...
Hi everybody! If you have been following my blog, you would have seen that I recently had the chance to play four games, earning a 2-2 split. That recap can be found here: http://www.chess.com/blog/yk333218/blitz-with-im-milanovic-2-2-tied-matc...
Hello everybody! I hope you are well :) Two weeks ago, I blogged about how I beat the Expert Computer for the first time. www.chess.com/blog/yk333218/my-first-victory-vs-computer-on-expert-2000-mode As a concluding remark in that blog, I said t...
Hello! As I prepare for the Quebec Open happening next month, there are two events in which I'm also looking at: the Qc Open Blitz and Rapid tournament. Those time controls are 3+3 and 15+5, respectively. Last night, I had the privilege of sparr...
Hello! I hope you are doing well! I often get asked what is the difference between my level and that of lower rated players. Here is my latest answer: Some differences between a 1900 and 1400 Sharper tactical awareness Stronger positional play ...
Hello everyone! I know I have been posting a lot recently, but currently I am preparing to play in the 3e Rencontres internationales des échecs francophones the biggest OTB chess tournament held in the Province of Quebec. It will...
So on chess.com, there are four ways to play a game (from the "Play" drop-down menu) Turn-based chess (including tournaments) Live chess Vs. a computer Vote Chess Today I was playing the third. Link: http://www.chess.com/play/computer I've beat ...
In chess, it is a known cliché to "move with purpose," "play with a plan," "anticipate your opponent's moves." We've all heard them myriads of times. But, it's easier said than done. Really. Most of us like to speed through games regardles...
In the chess world, bullet games are meant to be fast. With only 1 or 2 min to start on the clock, and a few seconds of incrememnt at most, bullet games should be able to finish within 2-5 minutes. Or, so I thought. Last month, I was playing a...
Hey everyone! As President of my School Chess Club, I get to organize events and help others with their chess. Recently, I stumbled upon one of my member's game, played on chess.com: As much as I was glad he won the game, I was appalled that he...
"I'm gonna relax with a 1 0 game!" said no one ever. Of all the time controls I've played, 1 0 is by far the most stressful. Not only do you have to beat your opponent, you also have to beat the time and computer lag. And you face the blundering ...
So I was playing a casual game of blitz, when I encountered this position: Looks calm, right? After a Grand Prix attack formation along with Bb5+, Black is well developed, the Bishop is active, and White is just about to complete development. A...
On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, the Marianopolis Chess Club had the privilege of inviting IM Jean Hébert to play simul with students at Marianopolis College during Activity Period. IM Hébert is the highest rated player that the College has ever in...
