improvement

In this part, we move on to the French Defense Advance Variation. Pyramid entrance to the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Photo: Andre Harding Unlike in Parts 2a and 2b, White immediately plays e4-e5 before developing his knight from b1. Play is very straightforward. Once again, black’s main source of counterplay is an attack on … Read more

Chess tactics software has experienced a boom in the past 10-15 years, and many good products have hit the market in that time. First appearing on CD and DVD, this material can now be purchased via download. There are many online tactics trainers to choose from as well. Which chess tactics software should I choose? … Read more

As soon as most players find out someone is new to the game of chess, they try to beat them as fast as possible to embarrass them. Scholar’s Mate (the “four-move checkmate”) is a big part of that. And if someone tells you they’re so gifted they’ve never lost a game within ten moves, don’t … Read more

Or, I should say: it doesn’t have to be. Just about anyone can reach the 99th percentile of chess skill. Yes, really. A common image of a chess master is of some kind of “genius.” Not exactly. Most people struggle with chess because they do not understand chess strategy. Also, beyond a certain point, the … Read more

The Centre Pompidou in Paris. Photo: Andre Harding About a year ago, I wrote a multi-part series on the French Defense (first part here), the opening that I often cite as having saved my chess career. I played it from 1998-2008, and would not have reached 1900+ without it. Subsequent parts of my series can … Read more

“Mainline chess openings require lots of study time, which I could use to work on other parts of chess. I’ll choose sidelines instead.” The craziest opening in all of chess? Starting position of the Botvinnik Variation of the Semi-Slav in ChessBase. It’s a common argument, but a misconception. There’s a difference betwen mainline and cutting-edge. … Read more

In this final part, we move on to the French Defense Exchange Variation. A view of the Musée d’Orsay across the Seine in Paris. Photo: Andre Harding We looked at structures with an early e4-e5 by white in parts 2a, 2b, and 2c. In those cases, white’s central pawn chain restricts black’s light-squared bishop and prevents black’s … Read more

Notre-Dame de Paris in August 2016. Photo: Andre Harding In Part 1, we looked at French Defense lines where black exchanges pawns on e4. Now we’ll start looking at the most common center type in the French: white plays e4-e5. In this post we’ll look at the Winawer and Classical Variations. The next post will … Read more

If you are rated under 1000, YES! Without a doubt. Start with the Double King Pawn. It’s important to learn how to fight for and maintain control of the central squares before trying to counterattack your opponent’s center. After my first few rated tournaments, I began playing the Pirc (1.e4 d6): And had no idea … Read more

Our French Defense survey continues with the MacCutcheon Variation and Tarrasch Variation. The Arc de Triomphe, Paris. Photo: Andre Harding In Part 1, we introduced the French and looked at lines where black exchanges pawns on e4. In Part 2a we began looking at lines where white advances e4-e5, starting with the Winawer and Classical … Read more