The title of this article probably sounds absolutely crazy to you since gasoline makes fires stronger. Yes, in real life it is absolutely impossible to put out a fire with gasoline, but here we are talking about the wonderful world of chess, where...
We are pleased to recognize FM Amir Hadzovic as the Chess.com Coach of the Month for April 2022. Amir has won youth championships and defeated grandmasters, but it his excellent coaching that separates him from most chess masters. With m...
The 2021 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships will start on December 26. We covered the greatest rapid games ever several weeks ago. What about blitz? How to watch the 2021 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship live You can watch...
These days only a lazy person doesn't speculate about the year when GM Alireza Firouzja will become the World Champion. Indeed, it is very difficult for me to imagine what kind of an event could prevent the current world #4 (he actually hit the #3...
It is amazing how all contemporary world champions were born somewhere on the outskirts of the giant empire rather than in its greatest cities and chess centers, such as Moscow or Leningrad. GM Anatoly Karpov was born in Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk obla...
Hey, chess lovers! October was a good month for chess learners; we added a cool new game analysis tool to help you improve after every single game you play! And that's not all! Let's review what happened on the site last month! Web...
After the fourth game of his 2016 world championship match versus GM Sergey Karjakin, GM Magnus Carlsen famously said, "I don't believe in fortresses!" What he probably meant is that even though fortresses do exist in chess, the majority of the po...
The "PRO" in the PRO Chess League stands for Professional Rapid Online. It's certainly all of these things. And now with the Arena Royale event running from September 16-24, it's time to review the greatest rapid games in history. How to watch t...
Have you ever had your pawn captured as if it had moved only one square, but you had moved it two squares? If so, were you confused and scared? Well, you are not alone. More and more members are contacting our support team with heartbreakin...
Chess.com's newest Coach of the Month is NM James Canty III! Canty is a familiar face on Chess.com and Twitch. Whether he's enriching Arena Kings with his witty and insightful commentary or flexing his sharp tactical skills on stream, the "Jedi ma...
From the very origin of our beautiful game to the current global online chess phenomenon, India has contributed significantly to the world of chess. Historical records show that the 8x8 chessboard dates from the days of Mahabharata and Ramayana. B...
Written By Olya Kaye There are extraordinary people out there like GMs Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Bobby Fischer, Judit Polgar, and her sisters who took an ordinary game of chess to the next level. They have inspired the worl...
The three most important methods of improving your chess skills are games, analysis, and puzzles. Chess.com adds about 1000 new puzzles every day and has recently passed the 200k puzzle threshold. The puzzles are satisfying because they tend to ha...
Beth Harmon, the main character of "The Queen's Gambit," not only inspired millions of viewers to pick up the game of chess. Many fans like her not just for her winning moves on the chessboard, but also for her wardrobe. The huge effect that "Th...
Endgames. The word, alone, may conjure up feelings of happiness, dread, or even despair for many chess players. Some adore the endgame while others despise it. There is a grain of truth in the old Soviet saying that amateur chess players "play t...
Ask a dozen chess players what their favorite square is, and quite likely you'll get a dozen of different answers. I suspect all four central squares (d4, d5, e4, and e5) will be on the list. While it is difficult to dispute the importance of...
Not many people know this, but a few centuries ago, chess had a piece so strong that it had to be replaced by a weaker one—the queen. It's hard to believe, but the age-old game of chess wasn't always like the one we know and love today. Th...
The news that the player formerly known as Igors Rausis returned to the chess arena under a new name has shocked the chess world. Chess.com spoke to the former grandmaster, who now uses the name Isa Kasimi, in an attempt to understand more of the ...
There are many well-known world champions, challengers, candidates, world-class players, national champions, and grandmasters in chess circles. The best players our game has ever seen are constantly celebrated and for good reason! However, there a...
Chess is a “theoretical” game, and books on chess theory are plentiful. It is also a very “practical” game because chess theory has to be worked out in practice—on the chess board! This splendid book builds on the suc...
Are you a champion of the black and white squares? No, not the chessboard—the crossword puzzle! In today's article, you can prove yourself a champion of both by completing the following crossword puzzle and demonstrating your knowledge of ...
Social distancing and mask wearing is a hot topic for many chess players. Take a look at Facebook pages of many masters and grandmasters, and you'll see plenty of discussions about COVID-19, some have called it a worldwide scam. Such conspiracy th...
Learn the strengths and weaknesses of each piece and how they can help you win games! Try The Challenges! Not what you're looking for? Go back to the video guide. Using Your Bishops: Bishops are most useful when controlling lo...
Learning basic checkmates is one of the most important things a chess player can do when starting their journey through the magnificent labyrinth of chess. By learning the following checkmates, you can avoid some quick losses and maybe even notch ...
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, many people considered it mostly a nuisance that would be gone sooner rather than later. These days, popular opinion has shifted to another extreme. Life will never be quite the same even when the pandemic is fi...