If Buckle had entered the Tournament list [in 1851], and been pitted against Staunton, I think he would have proved victor, as the fine edge of Staunton's play was then taken off, a fact amply demonstrated in his matches with Anderssen and Willia...
Chess.com member Mahilewetsll asked: “Hello. I’m almost 17 years old. What can I reach in chess? How long will I need to do it?” Dear Mr. Mahilewetsll, I get this kind of question a lot (from people 10 to 60). Think about this in a logical manner...
In studying chess, which of the two phases should students focus on most? Or should they concentrate on another aspect of chess altogether? It reminds us of other eternal questions, like what is the meaning of life, why is there something rather...
Paul Morphy circa 1858 I had come across this blurb in an 1886 edition of the "British Chess Magazine" under the sub-title, "Foreign News" : The estate of the late Paul Morphy...
Among the less-trodden paths White can follow against the Sicilian Defense is the system with the seemingly paradoxical combination of Nc3 and Bb5. To my knowledge, this variation, unlike most of the other anti-Sicilians, has no name....
Let this video guide serve as the official reference point to help you find Chess.com videos on your favorite chess players throughout history! Chess.com has enjoyed lessons from the best coaches and players within our game. Hopefully, you&rsquo...
This article was published in the "British Chess Magazine" three months after Paul Morphy's death. It was obviously written as a memorial to Morphy and meant to showcase his genius as well as an attempt to explain his winning techniques. Th...
Knights are tricky little pieces. Often seen dancing around the board like little mischievous imps, knights have the power to bewilder and confuse even the strongest of grandmasters. I want to take a deeper look at one particular knigh...
In its 10th season, the United States Chess League brought its action live to Chess.com. This annual contest between the strongest chess cities in the United States brought together a congregration of enthusiastic spectators to commentate, critici...
It is impossible to become a world champion without mastering every facet of the game. Most champions, however, are remembered for their proficiency in one particular area of the game. To this end, Wilhelm Steinitz is remembered as the founder o...
For a long time, the Petroff Defense (also known as the Russian Defense) has been a very solid weapon in situations where a draw is acceptable for Black. Through the end of the 20th century it featured prominently in top level tournaments, especia...
To the chess-players of England the 18th century was just a fading memory. Philidor had died and Verdoni, a man with a forgotten first name, took up his reins as professional at Parsloe's in London until he himself died in 1804. At this poi...
This series is about chess lessons and how a chess teacher tries to push key points home. If you are looking for a chess teacher, don’t grab anyone that comes along! Take your time, take a lesson or two from various teachers so you can get...
Last week, we examined the depths of my chess ineptitude for the first 21 moves of a recent blitz game played on the Chess.com live server. Join me, grandmaster Roman Dzindzichashvili, and the fictional voice of Stockfish 6 as we now analyz...
Garry Kasparov, the 13th world champion, is closely connected to the King's Indian Defense. Indeed, he has created much of the foundation of what the opening is today. Yet, early on in his epic rivalry with Anatoly Karpov, Kasparov restricted hi...
Mr. Bone(Aug. 31, 1810 - Dec. 14, 1874) William Bone, along with the Rev. Horatio Bolton, is considered to have been one of the two best early English chess problemists. John Augustus Miles, a problemist (who knew them both and studied th...
The response from the Chess.com community has been overwhelming. Readers demand to see more of my ungainly intermediate chess. Once again, the brilliant grandmaster Roman Dzindzichashvili has stooped down to my level to analyze ...
Is chess art? I bet that’s not the first time you’ve been asked that, or something like it. To the basic question, all kinds of answers have been offered, sometimes logical, sometimes passionate, sometimes contrived. Many might wonde...
The 2015 edition of Norway Chess was a memorable event in several ways. Above all, it heralded the resurgence of Veselin Topalov and Viswanathan Anand, who both stormed through the field and turned in 2900+ performances. Topalov won the tournament...
In today's world of competitive chess, it is easy to imagine that you have to surprise your opponent every time. That you have to continually rotate your openings to avoid preparation. That you cannot develop a deep understanding of an opening wit...
Many players dream of getting chess lessons, though they aren’t quite sure what it would be like. The fact is, the experience (for both the student and teacher) depends on several factors: Question: Does the student want to learn or does h...
"This match is, in respect of its vicissitude, perhaps the most remarkable in the annals of chess." - from I. O. Howard Taylor's obituary of John Jacob Löwenthal in "American Chess Journal" of Sept. 1876 At precisely n...
After six rounds of the Zalakaros Open in Hungary, I had four points -- which was not a bad score, since the average of my opponents' ratings was high. Earlier in the tournament, I was sure that it was time for me to give up chess, or at...
From time to time I put together various reader questions and comments (while ignoring the “Die Silman Die!” raves) and share them with the good folks on Chess.com. I try to give a good mix of subjects so that there will be a bit of so...
