Attack. Defend. Checkmate.
Do you know the true value of your army? Fully understand your weapons at hand and you’ll dominate your opponent.
The backward pawn is an element of the game of chess that’s critical, but often misunderstood or overlooked. Let’s dive in and show you a quick way to up your game by avoiding this Achilles’ heel. Why Are Backward Pawns Bad? Backward pawns are bad because they’re weakly defended, limit your moves, and turn into … Read more
Chess notation is a really cool part of the game of chess. Just like the box score in baseball, by looking at chess notation you can actually relive a chess game. So how does chess notation work? What is Chess Notation and How Does it Work? Chess notation is a standardized system used by chess … Read more
A fundamental aspect of chess that every player needs to grasp is pawn structure. Pawn structure is the configuration of pawns on a chessboard and it is so important because it significantly affects the game’s strategy. Why Is Pawn Structure So Important in Chess? Pawns may be the least valuable pieces in terms of points, … Read more
You may think a pawn is insignificant. But just how important is the pawn in chess? They’re so important, nine times out of ten they actually determine the outcome of the entire game. How Important is the Pawn in Chess? Pawns are crucial in chess. They shape strategy, help control the center, and provide tactical … Read more
Have you ever started a game and your opponent comes out early with their queen? Learning how to punish early queen attacks is a great way to get a leg up on your opponent. How to Punish Early Queen Attacks Putting pressure on the attacking queen while developing your knights and bishops is a great … Read more
There’s basically two “special” moves in chess: castling and en passant. Why was en passant added to chess? If you’re a chess beginner, using en passant is critical to your game and I’m going to show you why. Why Was En Passant Added to Chess? En passant (pronounced “on-pas-on”, meaning “in passing”) was added in … Read more
It’s been a grueling game and it’s down to this. It’s your king and bishop versus your opponent’s king and rook. Is rook vs bishop endgame a draw? Is Rook vs Bishop Endgame a Draw? More often than not, rook vs bishop endgame ends in a draw. The king who has his bishop should run … Read more
You’re playing chess online. You’ve trapped the opponent’s king! But then, draw? Why is a stalemate not a win? I feel like this has happened to everyone at least once. Why is a Stalemate Not a Win? A stalemate is a draw and not a win because the king is not in check. For checkmate … Read more
When it comes down to the strategies and principles of chess, what is positional advantage? How much of a factor is positional advantage vs material advantage? What is Positional Advantage in Chess? Positional advantage means the placement of your pieces pose a greater threat than your opponents’ pieces. Your opponent may have more pieces than … Read more
It’s a debate that is always a popular topic in the chess forums. When it comes to bishop or knight, which is stronger? These two pieces in particular are more evenly matched than you may think. Bishop or Knight, Which is stronger? Most choose the bishop over the knight because of its range. However, the … Read more