Many of you likely have seen something about the recent Chess18 event in Utah that featured many loved chess streamers. The image I used for this blog I particularly saw go around! Writing this blog comes from a place of many different per...
The ideas within this blog I truthfully think could make a huge difference for a lot a people. As such it is quite a read with some of my own personal experiences/thoughts and other information that is important for you to understand so that you c...
Over the many years I have played chess, I have frequently been asked some form of the question “What is a good book to read to improve my chess?” It is a question I have asked other chess players myself, and a question that I am sure ...
I have had many times in my life where I have gotten the opportunity to show off some of my best moments. Those moments can be a lot of fun and a good reminder (since mistakes are easier to remember) that I do have some great moves and games over ...
This blog is a bit of a tricky one because I feel like if any part of studying is neglected the most it is the endgame. I think a lot of people still know most of the very basic endgames, but let’s be honest how often when it comes to chess ...
Positional play! Which, for myself and those I have talked with over the years, seems to be the most confusing thing for chessplayers to know how to work on. I remember my years of growing up trying to figure it out feeling like I was at times pla...
Do you ever feel like you hear people mention tactics and calculation a lot when it comes to improving at chess? (Any of my students reading this are likely nodding their heads). Well, for those that like solving puzzles, the good news is that it&...
This topic is one I seem to get asked the most about! The truth is there are a lot of chess players out there that are willing to work hard, but they don’t know what to work on. That is what I want to talk about today, and in my next few blo...
I want you to imagine what would happen if you went a few years without playing chess or doing anything chess related. After all that time a friend challenges you to a game, to which you accept and sit down ready to play. How would you expect your...
Hello everyone! It has been a while since I have updated my blog, but that was partially intentional! In previous blogs, I have posted the videos that I have done for a video series on Instagram around my 8 Fundamental Principle for ...
Over the years I have had lots of coaches and I am really grateful for the opportunity I had to work with them. It seems like each of them has had a part in who I have become as a chess player and coach, and it has influenced me greatly in seeing ...
Hello everyone! I have been meaning to post again for quite a while, but life passes by so quickly and suddenly I realize how long it has been. For the next while I will be sharing a video series that I did for Instagram right here on chess.com-...
I recently read a news report right here on chess.com about the recent Old Masters Rapid Tournament. In the news report, a few of the Masters are quoted with one sentence remarks about how chess has changed, which is something that is very difficu...
About four weeks ago I played in my first tournament in two and a half years! My previous tournament was the 2017 US Junior Championship (which is a tournament I am now too old to play in 😅.) For several years I haven't played in too ma...
Over 9 years ago I delved into my thoughts about respect in chess specifically around the idea of when is the appropriate time to resign. It actually turned out to be one of my most viewed and commented on blogs. Likely because no matter what leve...
Hello chess.com! It has been a little over 5 years now since I have updated my blog, so I figure it’s about time! Besides posting blogs, some of you may have noticed that I have been absent from the chess scene altogether. Fr...
Now it begins, the change. Now as I mentioned in Part 1 (which if you haven't read click here: http://www.chess.com/blog/KaydenTroff/the-end-of-one-road-beginning-of-another-part-1), I will now talk about the changes I made from a few tourname...
Hey Chess.com! It's been quite a while! I've wanted to write another blog for the last few months but one thing after another and I've never gotten to doing it. But here it is finally! In my last blog, I talked about playing in the 2013 U...
In my last blog, I talked about having the opportunity to play in the 2013 US Championship (http://www.chess.com/blog/KaydenTroff/living-the-good-life). That was the beginning of the tournament and included pictures of some of the players ge...
IM Danny Rensch blogs about the US Championship-Great! Being invited to the US Championship-Amazing!! Watching the US Championship players get hair and makeup done-Priceless!!! It has always been an exciting experience to watch the US Champi...
I was asked recently by a fellow chess.com member (chessmaster102) who is writing an article for his local chess club newspaper to answer some questions about my chess. Since I’d spent the time anyway…I thought it might make an interesting blog. ...
There are many young players out there, and many that have dreams of becoming GMs and maybe even one of the top in the world someday. I am definitely one of those young players that dreams of becoming one of the top players in the world someday, ...
Hey everybody! It has been a long time since I have last blogged, but it has been pretty crazy with the Holidays! And chess is always pretty busy for me! But with all the craziness I still figured I need to blog about the World Youth Chess Champio...
I am reporting in from the WYCC. I just finished my last round and won in the World Youth Chess Championships!!!! I tied for first at 9/11 and I am told that the first tiebreak is head-to-head matchup. Since I beat the other kid with 9 that mea...
For years I have only been able to watch the USCL (Since Utah doesn’t have a USCL Team), but this year I have the chance to be a GOTW (Game of the Week) Judge! Every week in the United States Chess League I get to vote on the three candidate game...
