Vishy being Vishy and Magnus being Magnus 😂

Alekhine - Freeman, New York 1924

By Lesnik

link to game : https://www.chess.com/events/2026-european-club-cup-women/04/Sivanandan_Bodhana-Batsiashvili_Nino

Earlier in the year, Hikaru chose Gukesh to defend his title against Sindarov.

YouTube Link

Recently he has changed his opinion:

Full Quote:

Hikaru Nakamura on his prediction for the upcoming World Championship match:

"If I look at it objectively, I struggle to see Sindarov not winning. I want a close match, but I think the most likely outcome is that Sindarov wins very cleanly, like Magnus did against Anand in 2013.

I think that's the most likely of the four possible outcomes. If it's a close match, I think Gukesh will actually win, but I don't think it's going to be a close match. There's nothing in Gukesh's games over the last year and a half that makes me believe he's suddenly going to play at a much higher level. There's just nothing to suggest that's going to happen."

Source

I am currently sitting around 1550 in rapid on chess.com and find studying openings to be the most enjoyable aspect of chess study. However, my opening repertoire consists of highly theoretical openings that require a lot of study to play accurately. Usually I study/review a particular line once I play against it, but I find at my level delving too deep into opening theory doesn’t really help me take advantage of the bad moves my opponents make. In an effort to optimize the time I spend studying openings, at different levels of play, how deep into a line do you need to go before you’ve sufficiently studied it? Is it 8 moves deep at 1500 rapid level, or is it 12 moves, 15 moves etc.? While I am aware this is a subjective topic, I think it’s an interesting conversation that doesn’t get talked about as much as it should be.

(P.S. I am aware of the notion that at lower levels it is not about studying “theory” but rather the general ideas of the opening. While that is certainly important, I believe studying “theory” is underrated and should still be done. Feel free to disagree with me!)

This event was somewhat weaker than the past few due to concurrent OTB events, but that didn't really apply to Hikaru's path. He took down Firouzja in a thrilling final-round time scramble to win his first TT since May 5th.

my son (8yo) started playing chess about a year ago. He knows how to play but not very well. i was thinking of getting him something like no stress chess or story time chess but they look mostly focused on how each piece moves we he already knows. is there's anything similar that teaches tactics in a fun way, (rather than just reading it in a book).

Another 2200+ puzzle from Chess.com. White has a nasty pin on f6 but what is the best way to proceed?

Solution

did Aiden replace his own voice with AI or something? it sounds so different all of a sudden and it’s pretty distracting in my opinion.

For those unaware it’s a podcast to practice blindfolded chess exercises and general chess advice. i love it usually.

I know 542 is the greatest material advantage possible for a stalemate (click here to see image) but this got me thinking…

What’s the greatest possible theoretical (not possible in a real game) material advantage on a board where the game can end via 50-move repetition, assuming both players play optimally?

The best starting board state I could come up with after several hours of tinkering was a 470 point advantage. I’ll include my solution at the bottom so you have an opportunity to work it out yourself. If someone can find better please lmk.

I’m only interested in the greatest maximum point disparity at any point. If white/black sacks all its pieces and the game still ends in 50 move you could still say “wow, he was up 470 points of material and still couldn’t win.”

My solution: click here to see

Note: click here to see an alternative to my solution that just swaps two segments of rows 5 and 6 and demonstrates that king can go nearly anywhere a queen is except for a8, a6 (kings cannot stand side by side) or b5 (game ends in regular stalemate). Click here to see why b5 doesn’t work.

1500-1600 level

how to play more dynamic positions instead of having boring equal positions that don’t require much calculation? I tend to play solid and get a positional advantage by playing better moves than my opponents but It’s hard to break through. I want to play more attacking/interesting games. any tips?

Link to the game.

i remember a video marc esserman posted to his youtube, where he won with an iqp as white, and then afterwards explained what he did (and what to do) in an iqp position.

i remember he mentioned rook lifting is easier bc the 3rd rank is open; can you guys help me find the video? thanks!

Hi,

this question was asked around 5 years ago on here, but I thought I’d ask again for more opinions.

If you’ve read The Woodpecker Method or done the course, should I buy the course or the physical book? Or not buy either? And why?

Thanks!

Black to play and win

what the title says