games

Today I want to show one of my recent blitz games on the Internet Chess Club (ICC). I think it is somewhat instructive, especially in the context of IQP (Isolated Queen Pawn) positions. I have enjoyed playing the white side of IQP positions ever since I read Alexander Baburin‘s phenomenal Winning Pawn Structures around 20 … Read more

Kazakhstan renamed its capital city from Nur-Sultan back to Astana. The 2022 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series is underway, with the first of four events being held in Astana, Kazakhstan. 16 women will play three of four events, as each tournament is a 12-player round robin. The top two finishers in the series will qualify for … Read more

Note: it has been awhile since I posted (last in June); after a busy summer I was unfortunately hospitalized and had two surgeries, and am still waiting to go home. Getting back to my routine (such as posting here) will hopefully aid my mental recovery. I showed part of this game to my Friday afterschool … Read more

This seems like obvious advice, but it’s easy to let your guard down when there aren’t many pieces left. “Forget about chess tactics…it’s going to be an endgame soon, let me get ready for it…” Just like in Uhlmann—Zwaig, chess tactics start with looking for checks, captures, and threats before considering other moves! What should … Read more

Bobby Fischer (1943-2008). Photo: Encyclopaedia Britannica Since today is Bobby Fischer’s birthday, I felt I had to write something about him. Last year, I started this blog a bit after March 9. He’s a controversial figure, shall we say … but there’s one thing no one can deny: Fischer’s chess career basically ended 50 years … Read more

Glenn Flear. Photo: FIDE Glenn Flear (born 1959) is an English Grandmaster (1987) and author of several books, including the highly-acclaimed Practical Endgame Play – Beyond the Basics: the Definitive Guide to the Endgames that Really Matter. I agree with the praise and recommend this work as well, but only for experienced players who love endings. … Read more

Nona winning the 2018 European Championship among women 65+. Photo: Vestnik Kavkaza Nona Gaprindashvili was born in 1941 in Zugdidi, Georgia (then part of the Soviet Union). An unstoppable force from a young age, she convincingly defeated Elizaveta Bykova 9-2 (7 wins, 4 draws) in 1962 to become the 5th Women’s World Champion. She earned … Read more

Zhao Xue at the 2016 Baku Olympiad. Photo: 2019 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Zhao Xue was born in Jinan, China in 1985. She earned her Grandmaster title in 2008 and reached a peak rating of 2579 in 2013. Zhao has won three team and three individual gold medals representing China at the Women’s Chess Olympiad, … Read more

Ognjen Cvitan. Photo: Šahovski klub Draga Ognjen Cvitan (born 1961) is a Croatian Grandmaster most notable for winning the 1981 World Junior Championship. Our featured position comes from a game played during the 1997-98 season of the German Bundesliga, one of the top team chess leagues in the world. In a wild King’s Indian Defense, typical … Read more

Akiba Rubinstein. Source: John G. White Collection, Cleveland Public Library The game between Polish great Akiba Rubinstein (1880-1961) and Czech master Karel Hromadka (1887-1956) from Ostrava 1923 is instructive from a coaching perspective. Both players aim to make stronger counterthreats to top the threats the opponent has made against him! It goes with something I … Read more