The Power of Thinking Half-A-Move Ahead of your Opponent
Here's a tricky position to get the ball rolling. It's a simple position and easy to understand, which makes you go "OMG" every single move. 6k1/8/4b3/8/8/6b1/1R6/3B3K w - - 0…
Misadventures of a Bishop: The Lockdown
Once upon a time, in our checkered battlefield, a bishop got stuck in its own quarters. The only thing it could see was a wall of pawns. Beyond it, in…
Bravest Sacrifices in Chess
There are two types of sacrifices, the obvious ones, and the not-so-obvious ones. Or, as Tal would put it, "The correct ones, and mine" Let's take an example. White to…
Knightmare: The tale of two knights checkmate
In chess, one of the most difficult Checkmates to master, and the one that rarely shows up in practical play is the double Knight versus Pawn Endgame. Even grandmasters have…
Why should we analyze our games?
Remember the last time you tried to cook something and ended up screwing it? How did you figure out what went wrong? It was easy for me to find this…
How to Study Chess Endgames?
Imagine learning to swim by reading an article on Wikipedia or learning to drive a car by reading its manual. What's going to happen when you really put yourself out…
Getting better at Problem solving: Recognizing Tactical ideas
When I think about Chess combinations, I am always reminded of a recipe for soup. The first time I tried to make one, someone gave me a simple piece of…
Beware of the zombie pawns
Imagine a pawn with bulging eyes, outstretched hands and with an open jaw trying to land a bite on fellow pieces. How funny would it be if pieces could actually…
Breaking Down the Wall | Chess Strategy Simplified
Imagine having to break down a large wall. Where do you begin? How do you go about it? I don't think it will be fair to blow up the wall…