Here’s another Benko gambit played by Magnus Carlsen. The finish was spectacular starting with 30….Ng4 and then 34…Qd4+ followed by 35…Re3, which left White defenceless. [Event “Midnight Sun Chess Challenge”] [Site “Tromsø”] [Round “4”] [Date “2006.6.27”] [White “Johannessen, Leif Erlend”] [Black “Carlsen...

Season 14 of the Top Chess Engine Championship, the premier chess software competition, starts this Monday, November 11th. It will involve the strongest chess programs and neural networks in the traditional division system. A total of 36 engines with ELO 3000+ will divided into five divisions and a Superfinal. TCEC S14 will look to crown [...]

I saw a post somewhere on social media the other day asking for recommendations for openings similar to the Halosar Trap. I’d never heard of the Halosar Trap. Was it something like the Fishing Pole Trap? I decided to investigate. It turns out it’s a variation of the notorious Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. 1. d4 d5 2. … Continue reading "The Halosar Trap"

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Για γρήγορη πρόσβαση (και για σχόλια μόνο για την παρτίδα), σε όλη τη διάρκεια του ματς Κάρλσεν – Καρουάνα θα υπάρχει στο skakistiko, σε κάθε παρτίδα ενσωματωμένη η μετάδοση του chess24.com με τον ελεύθερο κώδικα που παρέχεται...

I’ve been writing a great deal about tactics recently because it’s a chess skill that beginners have trouble with. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, successful tactics require making a combination of moves that set the tactic up. While many tactical opportunities suddenly appear in the games of beginners due to poor piece placement by … Continue reading "Forking Your...

Live analysis: Caruana – Carlsen game 1 with Lc0 and SF lines here! Hello everyone and welcome to the live coverage of the 2018 World Chess Championship match between the reigning champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and the challenger Fabiano Caruana (USA). In this live blog from WCC 2018 we will be covering the event Carlsen [...]

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Από τις 9 έως τις 28 Νοεμβρίου (τελική ημερομηνία σύμφωνα με το πρόγραμμα αν φτάσουμε ως τα μπαράζ) στο Λονδίνο ο τελικός του παγκοσμίου πρωταθλήματος μεταξύ του κατόχου του τίτλου Μάγκνους Κάρλσεν (Νορβηγία) και του...

You must have use your king in the endgame that is what you have read somewhere from the book, heard from your coaches. But have you ever noticed that it is much easies for you to use your king in the endgame when facing weaker less experienced players? Why is this? In my view the … Continue reading "The Better King"

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement” Bo Bennett (businessman) The Maroczy Bind pawn formation was invented and used by GM Geza Maroczy (HUN) starting with the beginning of the 20th Century; see positions below. The White pawns’ formation is the calling card for it. Black can either reply using … Continue reading "Need Sure Points? Sicilian...

Το Σάββατο ξεκίνησε, στο Χάντι-Μανσίσκ της Σιβηρίας, το Παγκόσμιο Πρωτάθλημα Γυναικών με σύστημα νοκ-άουτ διπλών παρτίδων όπου στην αρχή μετέχουν 64 σκακίστριες. Ο νέος πρόεδρος της ΦΙΝΤΕ Αρκάντι Ντβόρκοβιτς ο οποίος...

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There was just time before the lesson started at Richmond Junior Club for me to play a quick friendly game against a boy who, the previous weekend, had shared first place in the Under 8 section of our qualifying tournament for the London Junior Championships. My opponent generously allowed me to play White. Here are … Continue reading "A Game at the Junior Club"

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich gave his first big interview after the election to Russian agency TASS. Short summary: - Prize funds for Men & Women World Championship matches to be increased - Next World Championship match will not be in Europe - FIDE President distancing himself from World Chess / Agon - Ilyumzhinov’s plan for [...]