I play a lot of bullet chess, and have noticed that players who have a slightly higher rating than me are easier to 'bluff' than lower-rated players. If I make a move that looks right for the position, they will often trust that it works tacticall...
When you study the games of very strong players, you start to notice a few patterns. Most players have favourite strategic themes that they employ in game after game. Petrosian saved countless lost positions with a well-timed exchange sacrifice, ...
I'm no psychologist but it strikes me that there must be at least two different information processing pathways in the brain: a cognitive pathway and an affective one. In other words, thinking and feeling. The cognitive pathway is slow, rational, ...
I played my twin brother in a suite of blitz games recently. Last time we played, a few months ago, I had a bit of an edge, maybe 60/40. We have similar ‘serious chess’ ratings but I’m more of a specialist at blitz and bullet. I got trounced. Th...
Ah, a cheery subject for Christmas! Let me establish that I love my friends and family and spending time with them. However, the introspective personality needs something to get lost in, lest it become lost in itself. Music, films, books – game...
I'm not a particularly strong player. Or, to put it another way, you're never going to see me with a very high rating. Serious, competitive chess does not appeal to me greatly and I much prefer blitz, casual games, and learning more. Neverthele...
I like chess concepts that have vivid images or interesting names attached to them, as it makes the concept more engaging and memorable. 'Pawn Avalanche', 'Swallow's Tail Mate', 'Orangutan Opening' all conjure an image that entertains you as well ...
Chess psychology is not just about selecting opening variations that will psych out your opponent, it's also about mastering yourself. Some players can just sit and calculate without emotion at the chessboard, but I'm not one of them. I feel ecsta...
Introduction I'm a chess coach by trade (mainly schoolchildren) so I figure I'll give my blog an educational bent, though random musings will also be on the menu. Making a commitment to blogging also seems like a concrete way to focus on improv...
