This week, we’ll look at a checkmate involving a pair of Bishops. Remember, with the exception of the King, all your pawns and pieces can deliver mate in combination with one another. Before we look at this minor piece checkmate, we’ll reexamine some of the ideas or concepts discussed in my previous articles. It should … Continue reading "Basic Checkmates Six" The post Basic...

ΔΙΟΡΓΑΝΩΣΗ: ΣΚΑΚΙΣΤΙΚΟΣ ΟΜΙΛΟΣ ΚΑΛΛΙΘΕΑΣ ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΑΛΛΙΘΕΑΣ ΧΩΡΟΣ ΑΓΩΝΩΝ: ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΑΘΛΗΣΗΣ & ΑΝΑΨΥΧΗΣ, ΕΓΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΕΙΣ «ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ ΝΙΑΡΧΟΣ», ΝΑΥΑΡΧΟΥ ΒΟΤΣΗ 18, ΚΑΛΛΙΘΕΑ ΟΡΓΑΝΩΤΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ: Στεφανίδη Μαρία-Άννα...

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement” Bo Bennett (businessman) For my last post of this decade I have chosen to look at a variation Fischer was a big fan of. He brought it in the spotlight during his World Championship match versus Spassky back in 1972. Many a player … Continue reading "Need Sure Points? Sicilian Defense, Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn...

Malcolm who? I’ll tell you later, but first there’s something I’d like you to do. I have three puzzles for you, not unlike those you’ll eventually meet in Chess Puzzles for Heroes. Question 1. You’re playing White and have a large material advantage. Surely resignation won’t be long in coming. But first you have to … Continue reading "Malcolm Barker" The...

I was going to post another piece in my Basic Checkmates series, but I had a chance encounter with a total stranger that really got me thinking about what writing for The Chess Improver has done for me. Therefore, I’ll continue my series on checkmates next week. Let me explain what happened to me that … Continue reading "A Simple Thank You" The post A Simple Thank You appeared first...

Πρωτοχρονιάτικο Νεανικό Τουρνουά Rapid «Ναι» Στο Σκάκι Ανοιχτό rapid τουρνουά με ελβετικό σύστημα 7 γύρων με διεθνή αξιολόγηση ELO FIDE Rapid   Την Κυριακή, 29 Δεκεμβρίου 2019, στο Δημοτικό Κέντρο Άθλησης  &Αναψυχής...

ΠΡΩΤΟΧΡΟΝΙΑΤΙΚΟ RAPID ΝΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΣΚΑΚΙ Ανοιχτό rapid τουρνουά με ελβετικό σύστημα 7 γύρων με διεθνή αξιολόγηση ELO FIDE Rapid Το Σάββατο, 28 Δεκεμβρίου 2019, στο Δημοτικό Κέντρο Άθλησης  &Αναψυχής (Δημοτικό Κολυμβητήριο Καλλιθέας)...

Φίλες και φίλοι καλά Χριστούγεννα και καλή χρονιά σε όλους σας!!!Πριν προχωρήσουμε στα θέματά μας να θυμίσουμε ότι τα μαθήματα στο σύλλογο ξεκινάνε τη νέα χρονιά με την έναρξη των σχολείων στις 8 Ιανουαρίου.Αν και...

“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer” Bruce Lee A quick reminder how to do it: Have a look at the position for 1 minute (watch the clock) Think about the choices in front of you and pick the one you feel it … Continue reading "“What Say You?” The 1 Minute Challenge (33)" The post “What Say You?” The 1...

My last two posts featured pawn endings from the Richmond Junior Chess Club database. Now here’s a rook ending from 1987. We’ll take it from here, with White to play. Here, without comment, is the conclusion of the game. You might like to go away and analyse it for yourself before you read on. 46. … Continue reading "Richmond Rooks" The post Richmond Rooks appeared first on The...

The Top Chess Engine Championship TCEC is going to start in about 10 days time. And it is going to be amazing! TCEC S17 will have a solid hardware upgrade, a new adjusted format and a new structure, a dedicated news website with a merchandising section and more.   Hardware upgrades for TCEC CPU server [...]

This week, we’re going to look at the back rank mate. I’m going to extend this series of articles and only cover this type of mate. The reason for doing so is because I’ve noticed many of my beginning students fall victim to the back rank mate and feel the need to cover it in … Continue reading "Basic Checkmates Five" The post Basic Checkmates Five appeared first on The...

“I don’t get no respect!” Jabberjaw This week I would like to share with you a blitz gem played by our World Champion Magnus Carlsen. It was the first game of a 9 games match played by Magnus versus GM Pepe Cuenca. Magnus won the match with the decisive score of 8.5 – 0.5 The … Continue reading "Showing no Respect" The post Showing no Respect appeared first on The...

Some pawn endings are all about the battle for the opposition. Others, like the ending I showed you last week, are about creating passed pawns. Others, again, are races. Both players have passed pawns on opposite sides of the board. Who will promote first? (Knowledge of the very important ending of queen against pawn on … Continue reading "Pawn Race" The post Pawn Race appeared first on The...

In this article on basic checkmates, we’re going to examine the smothered mate. In my humble opinion, this is the greatest type of checkmate to execute because it usually involves a Queen sacrifice and the piece delivering the mate is a lone Knight. While there are other single piece checkmates, such as the back rank … Continue reading "Basic Checkmates Four" The post Basic Checkmates...