Forum

Winners of Chess champ...  - 960 Arena will be announced here 

BioThe player's full name is Gukesh Dommaraju and they confirmed to Chess.com that they prefer to be called by their first name, Gukesh. Indian GM Gukesh Dommaraju is the current world chess champion, defeating GM Ding Liren in the FIDE World Championship on December 12, 2024. He is the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history, at 18 years and six months old, shattering the previous record of 22 years and seven months which was set by GM Garry Kasparov in 1985. Gukesh became the challenger to the world championship in April 2024 by winning the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament with a score of 9/14, which also made him the youngest-ever Candidates Tournament winner. A chess prodigy, Gukesh earned the GM title at 12 years, 7 months and 17 days of age—narrowly missing GM Sergey Karjakin’s record at the time by 17 days. In July 2022, he achieved a live rating of 2700, the fourth-youngest player to ever do so. In September 2023, he was ranked eighth in the world and first in India—ending GM Viswanathan Anand's 37-year reign as India's top-rated player. Early Chess Career (2013-18)Second-youngest Grandmaster In History (2019)Additional Tournament Success (2019-22)Becoming World Champion (2023-24)As World ChampionEarly Chess Career (2013-18)Gukesh learned to play chess when he was seven years old. It’s rather late compared to other prodigies. For example, two of the most famous chess sensations in history, GMs Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen, both learned how when they were five years old. Some learn even earlier. Nevertheless, Gukesh, who hails from Chennai, India—the same city as GM Viswanathan Anand—can partly thank his environment for thriving so early. He was introduced to chess by his school, which is part of the Velammal group of schools across Chennai responsible for talents like GMs Murali Karthikeyan, Aravindh Chithambaram and, most famously, Praggnanandhaa R. Gukesh’s first coach at the school, Mr. Bhaskar, helped the youngster become a FIDE-rated player within six months of learning the game. Two years later, while being trained by Mr. Vijayanand, Gukesh found success at the international level. At the 2015 Asian School Chess Championships, he won the under-9 section and also earned the candidate master (CM) title. Gukesh topped his first major win with plenty of success in 2018. At the Asian Youth Chess Championships, he won five gold medals: under-12 individual classical, under-12 individual rapid and blitz, and under-12 team rapid and blitz. Even more important in the same year, Gukesh captured the under-12 title at the World Youth Championships with 10/11 points. Second-youngest Grandmaster In History (2019)On January 15, 2019, Gukesh became the second-youngest chess grandmaster in history by scoring his third GM norm at the 17th Delhi International Grandmaster Open. He was 12 years, 7 months and 17 days old at the time, which means he missed Karjakin’s record by just 17 days.

The Caro-Kann Defense is a popular chess opening played by Black in response to White's 1. e4, characterized by the early move 1... c6, which aims to create a solid pawn structure, often leading to a balanced middlegame with good endgame potential, considered a reliable choice for players seeking positional play and stability over sharp tactical battles; it's named after Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann, the chess players who analyzed the opening extensively.  Key points about the Caro-Kann Defense:Defining move: 1... c6  Playing style: Considered a solid and positional opening, often leading to good endgame positions for Black.  Advantages:Flexible: Can adapt to different playing styles with various variations.  Good pawn structure: Black often has a well-organized pawn center.  Less theory-heavy compared to other openings, allowing players to focus on middlegame strategy.   Common Caro-Kann variations:Classical Variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3  Exchange Variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5  Advance Variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5  Fantasy Variation: A more aggressive line with early queenside pawn play   How to play the Caro-Kann:Control the center:While not directly occupying the center with pawns, Black aims to maintain influence over the central squares through pawn placement and piece activity.  Develop your pieces:Black should prioritize developing their pieces, especially the light-squared bishop, to maintain pressure on the board.  Counter-attacking potential:While primarily a solid opening, Black can look for opportunities to counterattack White's initiatives, particularly in the Advance Variation.   Who should play the Caro-Kann?Beginners:Due to its solid nature and relatively straightforward theory, the Caro-Kann can be a good choice for players learning chess.Positional players:Players who prefer to build a strong pawn structure and focus on middlegame strategy will enjoy the Caro-Kann.  

Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen[a] (born 30 November 1990) is a Norwegian chess grandmaster. Carlsen is a five-time World Chess Champion, five-time World Rapid Chess Champion, and the reigning (shared with Ian Nepomniachtchi) eight time World Blitz Chess Champion. He has held the No. 1 position in the FIDE world chess rankings since 1 July 2011 and trails only Garry Kasparov in time spent as the highest-rated player in the world.[1] His peak rating of 2882 is the highest in history. He also holds the record for the longest unbeaten streak at the elite level in classical chess at 125 games.[2][3] A chess prodigy, Carlsen finished first in the C group of the Corus chess tournament shortly after he turned 13 and earned the title of grandmaster a few months later. At 15, he won the Norwegian Chess Championship, and later became the youngest ever player to qualify for the Candidates Tournament in 2005.[1] At 17, he finished joint first in the top group of Corus. He surpassed a rating of 2800 at 18, the youngest at the time to do so. In 2010, at 19, he reached No. 1 in the FIDE world rankings, the youngest person ever to do so. Carlsen became World Chess Champion in 2013 by defeating Viswanathan Anand. He retained his title against Anand the following year and won both the 2014 World Rapid Championship and World Blitz Championship, becoming the first player to hold all three titles simultaneously, a feat which he repeated in 2019 and 2022.[4][5] He defended his classical world title against Sergey Karjakin in 2016, Fabiano Caruana in 2018, and Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2021. Carlsen declined to defend his title in 2023, citing a lack of motivation.[6] Known for his attacking style as a teenager, Carlsen has since developed into a universal player. He uses a variety of openings to make it harder for opponents to prepare against him and reduce the utility of pre-game computer analysis.[7] In 2025, he signed with esports organization Team Liquid.  Childhood[edit]Carlsen was born in Tønsberg, Norway, on 30 November 1990[8][9] to Sigrun Øen (1963–2024), a chemical engineer, and Henrik Albert Carlsen, an IT consultant.[10] The family spent one year in Espoo, Finland, and then in Brussels, Belgium, before returning to Norway in 1998, where they lived in Lommedalen, Bærum. They later moved to Haslum.[11] Carlsen showed an aptitude for intellectual challenges at a young age. At two years, he could solve 50-piece jigsaw puzzles; at four, he enjoyed assembling Lego sets with instructions intended for children aged 10–14.[12] His father, a keen amateur chess player,[13] taught him to play at the age of five, although he initially showed little interest in it.[14] Magnus has three sisters; he once said his original motivation to study chess seriously was a desire to be able to beat his elder sister.[15] Playing style[edit]Carlsen had an aggressive style of play as a youth,[509][510] and, according to Simen Agdestein, his play was characterised by "a fearless readiness to offer material for activity".[511] As he matured, Carlsen found that this risky playing style was not as well suited against the elite of the chess world. When he started playing in top tournaments, he had trouble getting much out of the opening. To progress, Carlsen's style became more universal, capable of handling all sorts of positions well. He opens with both and , as well as , and, on occasion, 1.Nf3, thus making it harder for opponents to prepare against him and reducing the effect of computer analysis.[512][513][514] He said in 2015 that the middlegame is his favourite part of the game as it comes down to "pure chess".[512] In a 2016 interview, Anish Giri said: "Magnus and I are very close in terms of style, but in our approach to the game we're total opposites. Magnus tries to put the accent only on play, getting away from preparation, but for me preparation plays an enormous role."[515] [Carlsen] has been known to say that he isn't all that interested in opening preparation; his main forte is the middlegame, in which he manages to outplay many of his opponents with positional means. ... Carlsen's repertoire is aimed at avoiding an early crisis in the game. He invariably aims for middlegames that lend themselves to a strategic approach.Jan Timman, 2012[516]Garry Kasparov, who coached Carlsen from 2009 to 2010, said that Carlsen has a positional style similar to that of past world champions such as Anatoly Karpov, José Raúl Capablanca, and Vasily Smyslov, rather than the tactical style of Alexander Alekhine, Mikhail Tal, and Kasparov himself.[517] In a 2013 interview, Peter Heine Nielsen said: "The days of big novelties are over, and that fits Magnus' style well."[518] According to Carlsen, however, he does not have any preferences in playing style.[519] Kasparov said in 2013 that "Carlsen is a combination of Karpov [and] Fischer. He gets his positions [and] then never lets go of that bulldog bite. Exhausting for opponents."[520][non-primary source needed] Carlsen has also stated that he follows in the traditions of Karpov and Fischer, but additionally mentions Reuben Fine as a player who "was doing in chess similar to what I am doing".[521] Anand said of Carlsen in 2012: "Magnus has an incredible innate sense. ... The majority of ideas occur to him absolutely naturally. He's also very flexible, he knows all the structures and he can play almost any position." He also compared Carlsen to Boris Spassky in his prime, and stated that "Magnus can literally do almost everything."[522] Kasparov expressed similar sentiments: "[Carlsen] has the ability to correctly evaluate any position, which only Karpov could boast of before him."[523] When asked in a 2016 interview whether Carlsen's style resembles his own, Karpov answered: "It is quite possible. He grew up when I was in power, and perhaps he studied my games. He can convert a minimal advantage into a real one."[524] In a 2012 interview, Vladimir Kramnik stated that Carlsen's "excellent physical shape" was a contributing factor to his success against other top players as it prevents "psychological lapses", which enables him to maintain a high standard of play over long games and at the end of tournaments, when the energy levels of others have dropped.[525] Levon Aronian said in 2015: "Magnus' main secret is his composure and the absence of any soul-searching after mistakes during a game."[526] Tyler Cowen gave a point of view on Carlsen's playing style: "Carlsen is demonstrating one of his most feared qualities, namely his 'nettlesomeness,' to use a term coined for this purpose by Ken Regan, of the University at Buffalo.[527] Using computer analysis, you can measure which players do the most to cause their opponents to make mistakes. Carlsen has the highest nettlesomeness score by this metric, because his creative moves pressure the other player and open up a lot of room for mistakes. In contrast, a player such as Kramnik plays a high percentage of very accurate moves, and of course he is very strong, but those moves are in some way calmer and they are less likely to induce mistakes in response."[528] Carlsen's endgame prowess has been singled out for praise.[529][530][531] Jon Speelman, analysing several of Carlsen's endgames from the 2012 London Classic (in particular, his wins against McShane, Aronian, and Adams), described what he calls the "Carlsen effect": ... through the combined force of his skill and no less important his reputation, he drives his opponents into errors. ... He plays on for ever, calmly, methodically and, perhaps most importantly of all, without fear: calculating superbly, with very few outright mistakes and a good proportion of the "very best" moves. This makes him a monster and makes many opponents wilt.[532]An artificial intelligence approach, designed by Jean-Marc Alliot of the Institut de recherche en informatique de Toulouse ("Toulouse Computer Science Research Institute"), which compares chess grandmaster moves against that of Stockfish—a chess engine that outperforms all human opponents—rated Carlsen as the best player of all time as he had the highest probability among all World Chess Champions to play the moves that Stockfish suggested.[533] Carlsen also plays speed chess online under many screen names. He is known for meme openings such as the Bongcloud Attack and exceptionally strong play, despite banter and gags.[534]

In chess, pawns are the smallest and most numerous pieces on the board. Each player starts with eight pawns, lined up on the second row for white and the seventh row for black. Though often underestimated, pawns play a crucial role in shaping the game. Movement and Capture Pawns move forward one square at a time but have a unique initial move option: on their first move, they can move forward two squares. However, they are always restricted to moving straight ahead unless they capture an opponent’s piece. Pawns capture diagonally, meaning they can only take an opponent’s piece by moving one square diagonally forward. This is key to understanding the pawn’s role in the game — while they move simply, they can dramatically change the course of the game through clever positioning and sacrifices. The Pawn’s Special Move: En Passant The en passant rule is a rare but fascinating move. If a pawn moves two squares forward from its starting position and lands beside an opponent’s pawn, the opponent can capture the pawn as if it had moved only one square forward. This must occur immediately after the two-square move. The Promotion One of the most exciting aspects of pawns is their potential for promotion. When a pawn reaches the opponent’s back row (the 8th rank for white, 1st rank for black), it can be promoted to any other piece, usually a queen, but sometimes a knight, rook, or bishop is chosen depending on the player’s strategy. This ability gives pawns the potential to dramatically increase their value. Pawn Structure Pawns form the foundation of a player’s strategy, often referred to as the “pawn structure.” A solid, well-placed set of pawns can control important squares, restrict the opponent’s movement, and even set up powerful attacks. However, pawns can also become weaknesses if they are poorly placed or “isolated,” meaning they have no other pawns of the same color beside them to protect them. The Pawn Chain A pawn chain refers to a group of pawns that are connected diagonally, creating a line of defence that is hard to break. Maintaining a strong pawn chain is a key part of both defence and offence. However, the chain can be broken if an opponent manages to attack it from a weak point. Pawns as “The Army” In the grand scheme of things, pawns may seem insignificant compared to queens or rooks, but they represent the foundation of a player’s strategy. Like soldiers on a battlefield, they often lead the charge, control space, and can be sacrificed to achieve a greater goal. A good player knows when to advance pawns, when to protect them, and when to use them as sacrifices in exchange for a better position or more powerful pieces. Key Pawn Strategies  • Pawn Majority: Having more pawns on one side of the board than the opponent can give you a strong advantage in the endgame. The extra pawns can be pushed forward and promoted.  • Backward Pawns: A backward pawn is one that is behind other pawns on the same file. These pawns can become targets for attack and are often weak.  • Doubled Pawns: When two pawns of the same color are placed on the same file, they are known as doubled pawns. This can be a disadvantage because they can’t support each other effectively and are vulnerable to attack. The Endgame In the endgame, pawns become much more important. With fewer pieces on the board, the potential for pawns to be promoted increases. Players often try to advance their pawns toward the opponent’s back rank, where they can be promoted, while also blocking their opponent’s pawns from doing the same. Conclusion Pawns are essential to every chess game, and while they might appear weak at first glance, they offer strategic depth. The pawn structure, promotion potential, and ability to control space are what make them such a powerful and flexible tool in the hands of a skilled player. Though pawns often sacrifice themselves for the greater good, they can ultimately lead to checkmate and victory, proving that even the smallest piece can hold immense power on the chessboard.

Guys , here are the top 10 most loved , used , played gambits for white and black

Dear Chess Friends, I played an OTB game in which a really instructive position occurred on the board, so I made a video about it, starting with the critical position. You can watch the full video (24 mins) with a FREE subscription to my Patreon channel here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/intuitive-and-119289342?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link The main topics what you can learn from this video: -  What is the intuitive/positional sacrifice? -  What do we get after an intuitive sacrifice? -  What is the effect of the intuitive sacrifice on the opponent? -  How to attack the king in the middle? -  A lot of tactical motives through beautiful lines I hope you'll find it useful. If you like it and you want to see my private educational videos, you can subscribe to my Patreon channel. I upload 4-8 hours of videos / month and you can learn about openings, strategies, tactics and endgames, too. I also upload daily puzzles in 4 levels every day. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write to me. Kind regards, Gabor