Chess Tutoring, Chess Coaching, Chess Classes with NM Will Stewart

Technology has changed so much about chess in the last two or three decades that it can be pretty tough to figure out what exactly are the best chess websites.  There’s not exactly a legitimate reference to online chess information.  So I decided to compile my experience and research to publish this series of articles about the Best Chess News Websites. Internet Chess Club (ICC) In the last 15 years, ICC has become the leading [...]

In this article, Stephen Jones from ChessCreator.com, presents 3 deceptively devious, devilishly delicious, and downright dastardly Queen traps. In 3 simple-to-understand videos, each with its own short narrative, we see the true value of that age-old Chess maxim – to not develop the Queen, too quickly. Why do we love to learn Queen traps? As we learn and then begin to improve at Chess, we soon realize that not all games end in Checkmate. Instead [...]

Muzchuk opens with e4 and responds to Nill’s Sicilian Defense with an interesting move order designed to avoid the main lines with 3. c4 – either aiming to play the Closed Sicilian or open the position up slightly and steer play towards a Maroczy Bind set-up. Nill quickly closes the center with e5, and although this wastes a tempo the resulting position does not allow Muzychuk to take advantage of this loss of time. I [...]

The subject of computer chess engines has been filled with controversy in recent years, leading to ample confusion on the part of the consumers. Programmers and general public alike have tossed around a multitude of ridiculous and not-so-ridiculous allegations of theft and plagiarism. At the end of the day, I still don’t know what 90% of that technical computer stuff even means – and I’m sure the majority of my readers are in the same [...]

The 2011 Tal Memorial was an exceptionally strong event with many of the world’s very best chess players in attendance. This was one of the closest tournaments I have ever witnessed at any level, as no one was able to break away from the pack until the very end. Magnus Carlsen continues to dominate the chess world with another solid victory at a top tier event. Carlsen tied for first at the 2011 Tal Memorial [...]

With the 2011 Tal Memorial coming to an end, I thought it be appropriate to release this interview I did with Grandmaster Michał Krasenkow (pronounced and sometimes spelled “Mikhail”) back in August. Mikhail Krasenkow is a Soviet born Polish chess master whose peak FIDE briefly surpassed 2700 in July of 2000. He tied for 1st at both the 1992 and the 1997 Tal Memorials. However he is probably most well known for his contributions to [...]

Alekhine’s block is a chess combination with a piece sacrifice (Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen) on the 6th rank (3rd for Black). It’s used for the first time by the former world champion Alexander Alekhine in 1910. The idea is to physically restrict, or block the enemy pawn in front of the attacking piece (thus Alekhine’s “block”). As Nimtzowitsch put it, “First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy!” This tactical device is just one implementation of [...]