Quick role-swap this month. Varun usually writes the Chessalyz updates because he handles the technical side while I focus on chess, but May’s headline improvement is on the coaching quality of Matty (our AI coach), so I’m taking this ...
Before you make your first move against a higher-rated player, the rating gap is already doing work on you. You’ve seen the pairing sheet. You know their number is bigger than yours. And somewhere in the back of your head, a little voice sta...
A student recently told me about all the chess books he was working through. Seven of them. At the same time. He wasn’t slacking. He was genuinely putting in hours, rotating between strategy books, endgame manuals, game collections, and a ...
Most chess players understand that over-the-board tournaments are the most serious version of competitive chess. You show up, sit across from your opponent, shake hands, and play with real focus because the environment demands it. Nobody is scroll...
Some of my most improved students over the past 12 years have one thing in common, and it’s probably not what you’d expect. It’s not that they solved the most puzzles, or that they studied endgames religiously, or even that they ...
The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament starts tomorrow (March 29) in Pegeia, Cyprus, and it’s going to be one of the most exciting chess events in a long time. Eight of the world’s strongest players competing in the Open section and eight...
You’re sitting down at the board for a tournament game. Maybe you lost last round and you’re still thinking about it. Maybe your opponent is rated 200 points higher than you and you’ve already convinced yourself that you’re...
This is another monthly guest post written by my co-founder Varun Kumar. Varun is the technical mind behind Chessalyz.ai. He builds the features and squashes the bugs while I focus on the chess side. Today he’s walking you through our newest...
Let’s be honest about how most of us actually train chess: We open an app, solve some puzzles, play a few blitz games, maybe watch a YouTube video, check the engine after a tough loss, and call it a day. It feels productive but it’s mo...
A while back, GM Daniil Dubov made headlines when he called Fabiano Caruana “arguably the least talented player in the top 20-30.” It caused a stir in the chess world and everybody had their own take on whether Dubov was being disrespe...
This guest post is written by my co-founder Varun. Varun is the technical mind behind Chessalyz.ai. He builds the features and squashes the bugs while I focus on the chess side. Today he's walking you through everything we shipped this month, from...
You’ve reviewed your games. You’ve drilled tactics. You’ve memorized your opening lines through move 15. And yet, you’re still making mistakes that you know you shouldn’t make. Here’s a thought: what if your b...
You didn’t lose that last game because you don’t know chess. You lost because your thinking process broke down for a move or two. Maybe three. That’s all it takes. One moment you’re playing solidly, the next you’ve ...
It’s hard to believe that Varun and I started working on Chessalyz.ai almost a year ago now. Back in February 2025, we had an idea for a tool that could help players analyze their games in a more meaningful way. Not just “here’s ...
After another year of playing, coaching, creating, and building, there’s been one main takeaway that I’ve come to appreciate more and more as the year comes to an end: the importance of community. Throughout 2025 I did it all in the ...
When you sit down for an important game, what does your brain remind you of? If you’re like most chess players, it helpfully replays that time you hung a piece in a winning position. Or when you lost on time with mate in two. Or that embarra...
Most players study everyone’s games except their own. They binge YouTube recaps, grind opening theory and analyze Grandmaster positions they’ll never face. Then they wonder why their rating hasn’t moved in six months. It’...
A few days ago, I listened to a podcast about League of Legends. It’s actually a game I used to play a lot but haven’t picked it up in a while. During the podcast, one segment caught my attention though. It was a discussion on how to m...
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 ...
