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Stalemate is often a miraculous escape for one side. Here are 10 instructive examples where the losing side saved the game through brilliant stalemate tactics. No. 1 – White to play This is a practical position that could easily arise in a real game. White must save the position by forcing perpetual checks. Play continued: … Read more
This rare and unconventional opening The Grob, also known as the Spike Opening, is named after Swiss International Master Henry Grob (1904–1974), who analyzed it deeply and played it in hundreds of correspondence games. It has also seen some success in the hands of Grandmaster Spyridon and International Master Michael Basman. Why the Grob Invites … Read more
Zugzwang is a German term describing a situation where the player whose turn it is to move is at a disadvantage. Any move they make worsens their position or leads to material loss. If the same position were reached and it was the opponent’s turn instead, the player might be completely fine. Taylor–Lasker, 1936 In … Read more
Chess openings set the tone for the entire game. While most players use popular openings like the Ruy Lopez or Sicilian Defense, the Saragossa Opening (1. c3) is a quiet but clever choice. This article breaks down its history, ideas, and why it’s worth trying. Where It Came From The Saragossa Opening got its start in 1919 … Read more
Chess is full of surprises, and few are as satisfying as the zwischenzug. This German word (pronounced tsvish-en-tsook) translates to “intermediate move,” but in chess, it means so much more. A zwischenzug is a sly, tactical move that interrupts the flow of the game, catches your opponent off guard, and turns a seemingly ordinary situation … Read more
Checkmate. The word itself is like a mic drop in chess. It’s not just a move—it’s a statement. A declaration of victory. A proclamation that your king is safe and their king is not. Checkmate is where the game ends, the crowd roars (even if it’s just your cat), and you get to sit back … Read more
Ah, 1.d4—the opening that whispers, “I’m here for a strategic, positional grind, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” But don’t let this seemingly innocent pawn push fool you. With the right moves, you can flip the script and make 1.d4 players wish they had stuck to TikTok during their chess study sessions. Here’s … Read more
It’s a question every beginner has asked at some point. You’re playing a game, and the opposing king is just sitting there, one square away. You’ve got your own king nearby, ready to deliver the final blow. Then someone says, “You can’t do that.” Wait. Why not? Let’s clear this up: No, a king cannot … Read more
Chess is the ultimate test of strategy and patience, but even the best players aren’t immune to the occasional oops moment. Enter the blunder: the move that makes you question everything, from your opening prep to why you even sat down at the board. Blunders are chess’s way of reminding us that perfection is a … Read more
First off, let’s clear the air: no, Magnus Carlsen didn’t solve chess. That would be like solving pizza. Sure, you can perfect a recipe, but there are infinite toppings and ways to burn your tongue. But the way Carlsen plays? It’s fair to ask if he’s secretly running on some kind of Silicon Valley AI … Read more