Recently, I started learning a new game. Nothing crazy, just something different from chess. It’s been nice to be back in the shoes of an improver who is early in their journey actively striving to get better at something! It’s been a ...
If you’ve ever sat down against a lower-rated opponent then you’ve probably felt it before: that little voice in your head whispering “I should win this game.” On the surface, it feels harmless and maybe even motivating. Af...
Since March 2025, I’ve played in nine tournaments. Across those events I faced lower-rated opponents in 29 games, finishing with a score of 26 wins, 3 draws, and 0 losses. That’s not a flex, it’s just the reality of what being a ...
When it comes to chess improvement, most players know the "big three": Chess.com, lichess.org and Chessable (especially if you're working on openings or tactics). These platforms are fantastic in their own right but if you're serious about broaden...
The opening phase is done and you find yourself in the middlegame. It's up to you to figure out how you're going to improve your position, how you're going to make progress and ultimately you're trying to decide what is going to be your plan for...
Your opponent has just hit their clock and now it’s your turn to move. Out of all the possible options on the board, how do you decide which move to play? Some people may automatically play whatever move first catches their eye. Others may...
Hey everyone! Yesterday I continued the tactic puzzle educational speedrun with the third episode. In this speedrun I am working from a 400 tactic rating eventually up to a 3000+ tactic rating while explaining my thoughts on the puzzles and how ...
Hey everyone! In today's video I'll be working to solve a progression of fork/double attack tactics. The first set of puzzles we'll solve will be in the 1000-1500 tactic rating range, the second set of puzzles will be 1500-2000 and the third set...
Hey everyone! Yesterday I continued the tactic puzzle educational speedrun with the second episode. In this speedrun I am working from a 400 tactic rating eventually up to a 3000+ tactic rating while explaining my thoughts on the puzzles and how...
Hey everyone! In today's video I'll be showing you how to score 50 in puzzle rush survival mode. I walk you through how to solve the first 50 puzzles correctly and explain the thinking process that can help you to improve your own puzzle rush ru...
Hey everyone! Today I began a tactic puzzle educational speedrun where I work from a 400 tactic rating eventually up to a 3000+ tactic rating while explaining my thoughts on the puzzles and how to solve them. If you’re interested in chec...
Hey everyone! I’ve been busy over the past few weeks working on recording episodes for my new podcast and I’m excited to share the first episode with you all in this blog post! The name of the podcast is the “Chess Chatter Podc...
For this week, we will be taking a look at six positions that came from the first round of the Reykjavik Open that took place in Iceland. You can post your answers in the comments below. The number of the puzzle and which side is to move is in the...
Below is five trivia questions that you can use to quiz yourself and stump your friends Thanks to everyone who answered in the comments! The answers can be found below. Answers:1. C2. B3. C4. B5. C
In the intricate world of chess, evaluating positions accurately is the foundation for turning static advantages into a winning advantage. Chess is not merely a game of capturing pieces; it is a strategic battle where foresight and understanding o...
I'm very excited for the release of my third Chessable course "The Benko Blueprint: From Theory to Practice" focusing on a newer way of playing the Benko Gambit (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 e6!) and learning all about "compensat...
Defending in chess is an essential skill that every chess player should master. It's not only about avoiding blunders or preventing the opponent from carrying out their plans, but it's also about creating counterattacks and turning the tables. In ...
One of the first things that we learn as chess players is the three basic goals of the opening phase of all chess games: 1. Control the center of the board2. Develop your pieces3. Castle your king Along with these three goals, we also learn va...
You're down material. You have no compensation. Your opponent is objectively winning and you have a lost position. We've all been in this kind of situation. You may feel hopeless, waiting for your opponent to finish you off. You make a few perfunc...
During this coaching session with my student Jack we begin with calculation exercises and puzzle warm-up. This is followed by doing a playthrough of a game I played when I was rated close to 2000 way back in the past. During the video there will b...
During this coaching session with my student Travis we focus on various attacking principles, how to build up the pressure on an opponent's position and then execute the final tactic to win. We do all of this by playing through a game that the fou...
My student Gary recently tied for first place in a tournament and gained close to 30 rating points while crossing 1700 USCF at the same time. The video below is a recording of a coaching session that we had together after the tournament had finish...
Welcome back to the blog! I am going to continue with my tournament recap from the recent IM Norm Invitational that I played in about two weeks ago. If you didn't see the previous round 3 recap then you can check it out here: CLICK ME. S...
Welcome back to the blog! I am going to continue with my tournament recap from the recent IM Norm Invitational that I played in about two weeks ago. If you didn't see the previous round 2 recap then you can check it out here: CLICK ME. Spoile...
Welcome back to the blog! I am going to continue with my tournament recap from the recent IM Norm Invitational that I played in about a week ago. If you didn't see the tournament information and round 1 recap then you can check it out here: CLICK ...
