I’m trying to train for the 17th Chinese Chess World Championship, and since in chess we all know the saying: “Openings teach you openings, Endgames teach you chess” I began with very simple endgames, like King and Knight vs King and Elephant (in XiangQi the elephant is a kind of proto-bishop, like the queen today
In Chess, as well as in Chinese Chess, there are some positions which are difficult to conquer. As always they defy our visualization in many ways. Let’s take the following position found on a beginner’s book of over a quarter of a century ago! Here I spent a good amount of time analyzing the knight
In October there will be the 17th World XiangQi Championship, generally the true World Champion is the guy who wins the Chinese Championship, but also for this tournament, I don’t remember it to be won by a non-Chinese. Since it will be in Malaysia, a beautiful country, I’m thinking of participating… obviously some preparation is
Joël Lautier was one of the French chess’ biggest hopes until 2006. Then he dedicated himself to the world of finance in Russia, and now he lives in Barcelona. The United States recently added this great French chess player, to the list of people who have been subjected to sanctions by the occupation of Ukraine,
Few years ago another chess author made the case for studying all of the World Championship games, in order to improve as players. I found the idea intriguing, but when I tried to do it, then I discovered I didn’t have a method to learn, and maybe I wasn’t even at the level I could
(Marte e Venere giocano a scacchi…) This painting from circa 1630 is showing Mars and Venus who are playing chess. The painting is located in the Augusteum in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony. It’s titled, “Marte e Venere Giocano a Scacchi” (“Mars and Venus Playing Chess”), painted by Alessandro Varotari (Il Padovanino) is in the Baroque style.
Vasiukov recalls the time Taimanov prepared and played the match against Fischer, with this short story.
Yesterday, March 15, 2022, marked the one year anniversary of this site. To commemorate this notable event, I decided to publish a new article. It shall not only be a simple article, but it should rather be the first of a series of articles dedicated to German chess set makers of the 19th and early
Chess proficiency is definitely linked to tactical understanding. Many games are won or lost because one of the two players failed to spot a tactical shot. If one wants to become stronger at chess, this book can show the way!