Chess is full of dramatic checkmates, jaw-dropping tactics, and heart-stopping blunders. But sometimes, the drama fades into a quiet, unyielding standoff. Enter the 50-move rule—a rule that ensures no game of chess will drag on forever, even if the players are as stubborn as two toddlers arguing over the last cookie. What Is the 50-Move … Read more
Chess icon Magnus Carlsen withdraws from the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship over a dress code dispute, citing years of frustration with FIDE. Is this the start of a chess revolution? “It’s all-out war with FIDE,” Carlsen told NRK shortly after leaving the championship. The Norwegian Grandmaster, visibly frustrated, revealed he is severing all … Read more
Chess is full of peculiar quirks that make the game as beautiful as it is challenging. Among them, en passant is the most delightfully obscure. It’s the kind of rule that sparks heated debates in beginner games and smug smiles in expert ones. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Wait, that’s allowed?” after someone captures … Read more
Chess isn’t just about moving pieces. It’s about moving the right pieces for the right reasons. Strategy is where the game transforms from a simple pastime into a battle of wits. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to be Magnus Carlsen to learn solid chess strategy. If you’re new to chess and want … Read more
Chess isn’t just a game of quick tactics and flashy combinations—it’s also about the quiet, methodical work of positional play. If tactics are the fireworks that light up the board, positional chess is the steady groundwork that ensures the fireworks happen in your favor. Understanding this balance is what separates the good players from the … Read more
Who are the brightest chess prodigies to watch in 2025? I’ve compiled a ranking of 45 young talents, from Faustino Oro to Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, based on their age, Elo rating, and recent performances. Preface I chose to focus on the top 5 players by Elo from each birthyear category (2007 to 2015) based on … Read more
When it comes to chess, there’s more to the game than just capturing queens and shouting “checkmate.” One fascinating number is your Performance Rating (Rp)—a nifty way of saying, “How well did you really play against these opponents?” Let’s explore the three main ways to calculate this magical number, in a fun and simple way! … Read more
When Faustino Oro moved from Argentina to Spain, the parallels with Lionel Messi were hard to ignore. Just like the football legend, Oro made the leap to pursue his dreams on a bigger stage. But instead of football fields, his arena is the chessboard. At just 11 years old, Faustino isn’t merely following in Messi’s … Read more
The king in chess is a paradox. On the one hand, it’s the most important piece on the board—checkmate it, and the game ends. On the other hand, it’s often seen as a fragile monarch, tucked away in a castle of pawns, hiding from the chaos of battle. But here’s the twist: the king isn’t … Read more
Gukesh Dommaraju, an 18-year-old chess player from India, dethroned defending champion Ding Liren on December 12 to become the 2024 World Chess Champion. The match was decided in the final classical game, where Gukesh clinched victory with a score of 7.5-6.5, avoiding the need for a rapid tiebreak. This win makes Gukesh the youngest World … Read more