James Bond’s famous line “Does it look like I give a damn?” in Casino Royale (2006) shows his rebellious attitude. This same spirit is now shaking up the chess world. Freestyle Chess (once called Fischer Rando...
Hey Impressive Chessers On Thursday, February 27th, we lost the chess legend Boris Spassky. I never got the chance to meet the man, but I’ve heard countless stories of what a fine gentleman he was. I’m not the right person to write ...
I have an exciting chance for you! You can win a FREE 1-hour coaching session with International Master Mat Bobula! This is your opportunity to get personal coaching, expert advice, and useful strategies to become a better player. Opportun...
With this article, I am launching my new blog series, The Chess Hall of Fame: Birthday Tributes, where I will celebrate the birthdays of legendary chess players by sharing stories about their lives, styles, and memorable games. To begi...
Dear chess friends,Would you like to know my favourite gambit vs. 1.e4?It may not be what you expect...Other Gambits vs. 1.e4I can tell you that it is not:- The Stafford Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6);- The Elephant Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5...
In Winner's POV, we take a look at tournaments from the 19th century and see the games that allowed the top player to prevail. Some tournaments will be known and famous, others will be more obscure - in a time period where competition is scarce, I...
Why hello there, welcome to the Lightning Reports! The last time y'all heard from me, I played in Alabama's state championship back in September and attempted to defend my title with scarce preparation. Miraculously, and truly I mean it took a mir...
Round 3 of the Balkan League (Season 2) has officially concluded, but unlike the previous rounds, this one was marked by a noticeable drop in participation and lower overall scores. The intensity of the competition seemed to slow down, with only t...
Here is, in my opinion, the most brilliant game I've ever played. It is also an imperfect game that I could and arguably should have lost, but I love the struggle in the game, and in a sequence from move 17 to 20, I played three brilliant moves ac...
Afternoon everyone. I won't be posting for a few weeks. I have been asked to do a little project for a chess historian friend of mine, and then - my wife's health permitting - will be away for a week. I have been posting games on bluesky u...
Hello dear readers, As you all know, I am very worried about losing my Top Blogger badge after that ridiculous episode of the Duel Of Nations series, where I had the audacity to compare a small and irrelevant chess country with the powerful Mars...
From step-by-step piece setups for making tactics happen... Rare defenses that exploit the gap in every White opening... To tournament-proven opening prep that wins 9 times out of 10... This February roundup has it all!&...
Welcome everybody, to a super difficult edition of Blitz 'n' Memes. If you're a fan of puzzles taken from amateur online blitz tournaments, then you have come to the right place, because that is what I do. As always, the tactics have been sele...
Chess puzzles help players spot tactical ideas during real games. By solving puzzles regularly, you train your brain to recognize these patterns faster. This leads to fewer blunders and stronger play. Solving puzzles helps you: improve ...
Recently, we have been lucky to have interesting regulations in the largest chess events. In the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League tournament October 3-12, 2024, the pace of play was 20+0. This led to absurd situations, among others, in ...
After I posted my blog about breaking 2500, I got a lot of requests to share the spreadsheet I used to track my results. While I don't think this been some big key for improvement for me, tracking my blitz games and reviewing the data has been a g...
Hey Impressive Chessers! This blog is all about pressure, and boy, do people have a lot to say on this subject! We all know these words are all just a ruse to sneak in your games and puzzles without appearing narcissistic.Click --> Puzzle...
Be like water... - Bruce Lee Welcome everybody, to a perilous game...The Game of Death. The rules of the game are quite simple, not unlike Bruce Lee's unfinished classic of the same name, Game of Death centers around the protagonist (that'...
I the final round I played with International Master William Paschall from the United States. He played very solid in the opening. I got some space advantage, but used too much time in simple positions. When I decided to go for a sharp position,...
Studying chess openings is an essential part of improving your game. A solid opening repertoire helps you reach favorable middlegame positions and avoid falling into early traps. However, many players make the mistake of memorizing moves without u...
#tactics #traxler #romantic One of my goals starting last year and continuing into 2025 is to better learn the many and varied lines in the Traxler Counterattack. It was first promoted and described by Karel Traxler (1866-1936), a Catho...
Inside Washington Square Park’s Street Chess Community This guest blog post by 2024 Chessable Research Award winner FM Eugene Choi Yoo introduces us to one of the most famous street chess communities in the world. At Washington Square Park,...
Chess has again found its way into a TV game show. Recently a sequel to Jeopardy! selected chess as one of the six categories in its Double Jeopardy! round. The Show Jeopardy! Using Chess As A Clue On Celebrity Jeopardy! Easy Chess Clues On ...
Magnus Carlsen has never been one to shy away from innovation. With the launch of the Grand Slam Tour, he is once again challenging the status quo, pushing the boundaries of competitive chess. While this initiative excites many, it has also uns...
