Strategy & Tactics
Ready to level up your chess game? Dive into our Strategy & Tactics category for all things chess strategy! From cool openings to sneaky tactics, we’ve got tips, guides, and tricks to amp up your play. Whether you’re starting out or a seasoned player, here’s where you’ll find game-changing moves to up your chess skills.
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...
Openings
Inside Wesley So’s Preparation: How Guessing the Opening Shapes Victory at the U.S. Chess Championship
Before the first move of a chess game is even played, the battle often begins days earlier — on a...
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...
Puzzle
A Chess Puzzle Even Supercomputers Can’t Solve
Even the most powerful chess engines, boasting Elo ratings above 3,700, have failed to solve what seems like a simple...
Openings
Ponziani Opening Explained: Strengths, Traps, and Modern Use
The Ponziani Opening is one of the most time-honored choices in chess, appearing as early as the 18th century. Though...
Openings
Scholar’s Mate: The Best Opening for Beginners, Approved by Magnus Carlsen
In chess, most games last dozens of moves. But sometimes, if your opponent isn’t careful, you can win in just...
Openings
Caro–Kann Defense: Complete Guide with Key Lines for Both White and Black
The Caro–Kann Defense (1.e4 c6) is one of chess’s most respected shields against 1.e4. Favored by world champions from Capablanca...
Openings
Tired of 1…e5? 8 Semi-Open Defenses That Deserve More Respect
Surprise your opponents, avoid heavy theory, and rediscover offbeat defenses like Alekhine’s, the Pirc, and even the St. George. It...
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...
Endgame
Master the Square Rule: The Simplest Endgame Trick in Chess
King and pawn endgames often feel like walking on a tightrope. One small misstep, a slow move, a missed tempo,...
