XB

I'm Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.

Top 10 Easiest Sacrificial Mate-in-5 Combinations

Top 10 Easiest Sacrificial Mate-in-5 Combinations

XB
July 10, 2025

10 easiest sacrificial mate-in-5 puzzles from Lichess. Simple, fun, and perfect for beginners learning how to finish with flair. White...

11 Toughest Middlegame Puzzles

11 Toughest Middlegame Puzzles

XB
July 10, 2025

11 brutal middlegame puzzles from real games so tough even grandmasters struggle. Masters might never solve them. Can you crack...

10 Hardest Checkmate Puzzles from Real Games

10 Hardest Checkmate Puzzles from Real Games

XB
July 10, 2025

10 insanely hard checkmate puzzles, all from real games on Lichess. Can you find the mate before the masters did?...

Who Still Uses the King’s Gambit?

Who Still Uses the King’s Gambit?

XB
July 9, 2025

The King’s Gambit: daring, romantic, and mostly… extinct? Not quite. While it’s no longer a staple in elite chess circles,...

Thalia Cervantes Landeiro: From Havana’s Chess Prodigy to U.S. Grandmaster Contender

Thalia Cervantes Landeiro: From Havana’s Chess Prodigy to U.S. Grandmaster Contender

XB
July 9, 2025

Thalia Cervantes Landeiro is a name steadily rising in the world of competitive chess. Born in Havana, Cuba, on November...

How Magnus Carlsen Fell for the Englund Gambit

How Magnus Carlsen Fell for the Englund Gambit

XB
July 1, 2025

Magnus Carlsen once fell for a basic trap in the dubious Englund Gambit. He was 8½. Here’s how the world...

Why the Giuoco Piano Still Catches Players Off Guard

Why the Giuoco Piano Still Catches Players Off Guard

XB
June 30, 2025

Unpack the Giuoco Piano (Italian Opening), Two Knights’ Defense, and Scotch Game – classic 1.e4 e5 battles full of traps,...

Master Ruy Lopez Opening: Slow Build, Devastating Results

Master Ruy Lopez Opening: Slow Build, Devastating Results

XB
June 24, 2025

Master the Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Opening), an opening of tension, subtle threats, and long-term strategy. Learn plans, traps, and...

Don’t Be Fooled, The French Defense Hits Hard

Don’t Be Fooled, The French Defense Hits Hard

XB
June 24, 2025

Discover the French Defense – an opening of hidden power, central tension, and explosive counterplay. Learn its plans, traps, and...

What Makes the Sicilian Defense So Dangerous?

What Makes the Sicilian Defense So Dangerous?

XB
June 23, 2025

Explore the Sicilian Defense – a bold counterattack with rich complexity, sharp pawn structures, and dynamic battles on both flanks....

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