intermediate
Openings
How Eric Rosen Used the Stafford Gambit to Beat a Grandmaster in 14 Moves
On December 30, 2024, in Round 12 of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship held online on Chess.com, International Master...
Openings
Top 50 Best Chess Openings for Black — Plans, Ideas, and Easy Move Guides
The first reply as Black defines the kind of game you want: solid structure, sharp counterplay, or asymmetrical imbalance? Unlike...
Chess Books
Amateur to IM by Jonathan Hawkins — Full Review (Is it worth buying?)
Amateur to IM by Jonathan Hawkins is a 372-page endgame and thinking workbook that helped the author gain 400 Elo....
Puzzle
The Reverse Chess Puzzle: Can You Spot the Losing Move?
Most chess puzzles ask you to find the best move, the brilliant tactic that wins the game. Not today. In...
Strategy & Tactics
Positional Chess Simplified: The Three Questions Every Strong Player Asks
Good chess players know a lot.Great chess players know what to look for. That’s the real difference. If you want...
Openings
Volga Gambit: How Black Sacrifices a Pawn to Strangle White on the Queenside
This Volga Gambit (also known as the Benko Gambit) is a beautiful demonstration of how Black can generate lasting queenside...
Openings
The Nimzo-Indian Defense: Positional Mastery with a Pin
The Nimzo-Indian Defense is one of the most respected openings in chess. Named after Aron Nimzowitsch, it blends classical control...
Openings
Muzio Gambit: The Most Dangerous Gambit in Chess (Full Guide)
Among the major opening lines in chess, few are as daring, or downright outrageous, as the Muzio Gambit and especially...
Openings
Vienna Gambit: The Forgotten Firestarter in 1.e4 e5 Openings
In the deep forest of 1.e4 e5 openings, the Vienna Gambit is a trail less trodden, but one that crackles...
Puzzle
Top 10 Easiest Sacrificial Mate-in-5 Combinations
10 easiest sacrificial mate-in-5 puzzles from Lichess. Simple, fun, and perfect for beginners learning how to finish with flair. White...