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In This Article When it comes to mastering chess openings, there’s no single road to follow, only paths paved by experience, tradition, and personal style. Each opening, whether classic or offbeat, adds something valuable to our understanding of the game. Even those lines that don’t survive the test of time offer lessons worth learning. This … Read more
In the world of elite chess, where grandmasters often burst into the spotlight with flashy debuts or social media fame, Xu Xiangyu stands out in a different way, with quiet resilience, relentless growth, and a vision shaped more by long hours of practice than public attention. Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi, in September 1999, Xu began … Read more
By 2025, Kong Xiangrui, born in 2009, has become one of the most exciting young talents in Chinese chess. His journey, marked by bold decisions, relentless self-improvement, and standout international achievements, is inspiring a new generation of chess hopefuls. A Humble Beginning in Qingdao Kong was introduced to chess in Qingdao, a city known for … Read more
Back on April 11, 2025, Jiang Haochen at just 14 years old, becoming the youngest International Master in China at that time. His coach, Grandmaster Wang Rui, couldn’t hold back the excitement, pulling Jiang into a tight celebratory hug. Jiang’s response? Just a quiet, bashful smile. Started Chess at 6, International Master by 14 Born … Read more
The Evans Gambit is a line in the Italian Game (Giuoco Piano), where White plays 4.b4, sacrificing a pawn. If Black isn’t prepared, White can have up to a 60% chance of winning. The Basics of the Evans Gambit The Evans Gambit starts with the following sequence: What is a Gambit? A gambit is when … Read more
Chess players love finding hidden tricks to catch opponents off guard. One such tricky opening is the Mikenas Defense (also called the Bogoljubov–Mikenas Defense or Queen’s Knight Defense). Starting with 1.d4 Nc6, this rare opening is perfect for players who enjoy creative, offbeat strategies. Let’s break down what makes it unique. What Is the Mikenas Defense? After 1.d4, Black … Read more
Discover Freestyle Chess, a thrilling new take on chess backed by Magnus Carlsen, blending strategy and unpredictability to reshape the future of the game. There is a football tournament in Spain called the Kings League, founded by former center-back Gerard Piqué and famous streamer Ibai Llanos in late 2022. To date, the tournament has raised … Read more
Lu Miaoyi is not your everyday teenager. Born in February 2010, this Chinese chess star is already an International Master (IM) with a peak FIDE rating of 2449. At just 15 years old, she ranks as the No. 2 junior girl in the world—only behind Divya Deshmukh—and is the reigning Chinese women’s national champion. Her … Read more
Endgames are where the magic happens in chess. When the board is stripped down to just a few pieces, every move counts. But what do you do when you’re in an unbalanced endgame? You know, those tricky situations where you’ve got a rook, and your opponent has two knights. Or maybe you’ve got an extra … Read more
Chess has witnessed many transformations over the centuries, but few innovations are as thrilling as Freestyle Chess, also known as Fischer Random or Chess960. This chess variant shakes up the traditional setup by randomizing the back rank’s pieces, creating 960 unique starting positions. Now, this variant is taking center stage in the form of the … Read more