Today’s update brings you new tools, smoother training, and serious potential for Elo gains! For the first time ever, you can now run engine analysis right inside the app… powered by the strongest open-source engine on the pl...
After seven years of playing chess competitively, I finally surpassed a United States Chess Federation rating of 2200 and thus achieved the long-awaited National Master title. Unlike many other players, my journey to National Master took an extrem...
My last blog was very unfortunately timed, and as a result, not many people saw it (but you can, see here). Therefore, there's probably not a lot of people who knew Schallopp was even part of the last match. The vote obviously had a smaller turnou...
It’s not often that you meet someone who is so passionate about Chess and Rock and Roll but Chad Fondren isn’t your typical player. Chad owns and operates two School of Rock franchises (Seattle Downtown and Issaquah) and heads up the...
Probably the most common advice you hear in chess is that you should always look for forcing moves (aka checks-captures-threats, or CTT). Every chess content creator seems to have a post or Youtube video about that. Still, I think this advice can ...
Artistic endgames, also known as compositions or studies, can be far more than just a visual delight—they are a valuable tool for our chess improvement. We should not assume that, because these positions are crafted rather than drawn from in...
Dear Chess Friends! The a-file isn’t just a board edge – it’s a highway to victory. In my workshop "Playing through the A-File," we dissected how legends like Capablanca and Lasker turned this "quiet" file into a tactical super...
Attack is everywhere. You can find tons of videos, articles, and games about how to attack. Tal, the master of sharp attacks, became a chess legend. But let’s not forget that defense is just as important. Some players became world champions ...
I’ve been playing chess since I was a child and have competed in a wide range of events, from youth tournaments like the World U10-U18 Championships to elite competitions such as the Chess Olympiads, European Team Championships, and internat...
Hey chess friends! Whether you’re a long time online player or brand new to tournaments, I wanted to share everything I wish I had known before going into my first over-the-board (OTB) tournament. I’m still quite new to competitive c...
Hey Impressive Chessers! Chess teaching and chess playing are actually surprisingly different skills. Some of the most influential chess teachers like NM Dan Heisman*, NM Bruce Pandolfini*, GM Jacob Aagaard* and arguably the most famous chess co...
Understanding the center is not just about reading the score—it's about hearing the silence before the crescendo. In the first installment, we identified the four basic "blocks"—open, closed, fixed, and mobile—and the importanc...
The thing about chess is it is often seen as a hobby or past-time for those intellectually inclined. Hence we tend to see many chess themed banking or investment type adverts to signify that the company promoting the financial product or services ...
Fischer famously said, “I don’t believe in psychology, I believe in good moves!” Did he really believe that? I don’t think so. Intentionally or not, he kept opponents under constant psychological pressure by being unpredict...
#blitzchesschats #interview #scotchgambit Click to subscribe to my YouTube channel! Welcome to the third entry of Blitz Chess Chats! In this series, I speak to medical academics and researchers about their field of exp...
Chess Club Politika, captained by Miroslav Simonovic, reclaimed their World Chess League title in a thrilling final match against Team Iran Pro Several Grandmasters and International players featured in the event, and you can see the full resul...
A Conversation with National Master Joshua Sinanan “Every time you play a game of chess you become a better person.” Ken: I understand that you began your chess journey in a unique way? Josh: Although I learned to play chess at a...
Good afternoon everyone. Apologies for my absence - real life again rears it's ugly head! Lots here - but believe me I have cut it short. Normal thing with my blogs - dip in and out when you have time to spare. Those wishing to dig further can...
GM Arjun Kalyan’s first serious experience with coaching could not have been more testing. It was at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in his hometown of Chennai. As one of the assistant coaches for the Indian 'B' team in the open section, he prepa...
My job has turned into one where I have to wait for literal hours for my code to compile, leaving me with ample time to do chess stuff. Lucky me! For those that don't know what this blog series is all about, please see here. For those that do, l...
🎉 I’m thrilled to share with you that I’ve been honored to receive the FIDE Senior Trainer title from the International Chess Federation (FIDE)! ♟️This is the highest coaching and training rank, and it comes with very strict requiremen...
Esports World Cup 2025 The 2025 Edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) Chess Finals promises to be a thrilling showdown of skill, stamina, and strategy, featuring an inventive structure that combines classic competition formats with new innova...
A Conversation with National Tournament Director and FIDE Arbiter Jacob Mayer “I’ve been around chess tournaments for years, and I’ve noticed that chess can fulfill the social quota needs of kids (and adults) in ways that many ...
Are you curious to see how your favorite chess site compares against the competition? I went incognito and checked out websites - some major, some... very minor. From Chess.com and Lichess to the dark corners of the internet like SparkChess. What ...
