Whether you’re new to chess, or consider yourself to be something of a seasoned player, learning how to set traps in chess is incredibly important. It’s one of the key tactical skills a player must have to be able to ensure victory.  Learning how to set traps isn’t just about how to use them against your opponent, it’s also about learning the steps, so you can understand when your opponent is potentially trying to trap you too.  If you’ve played chess before, chances are your opponent will have tried setting up a trap against you, maybe without you even realizing it.  In this g ..read more

As avid chess players ourselves, we know that the world of chess can be fascinating and complex, often leading to a myriad of questions from beginners and seasoned players alike. In this article, we will be uncovering answers to some of the most common chess questions, shedding light on key aspects of this timeless game and elevating your understanding and enjoyment of it. While there may be an overwhelming number of rules and strategies to learn. We aim to simplify the essential information and provide clear answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Through this exploration, we ..read more

Whether you dabble in chess or are training to be a world champion, you will have a chess rating. This number determines how good you are at the board game and can even decide if you move on to the next level.  However, not everyone knows how they work and how to work their rating to their advantage. But you are about to learn.  In this article, we have included everything you need to know about chess ratings. From what they are to what they could mean for you and your ability as a player. You will know your strengths and weaknesses as a chess player and how to become a shark on the ..read more

Many chess players and enthusiasts argue about the definition of chess. Is it a sport? Or is it just simply a game? And while this may seem like a trivial question, the answer is actually very important, especially as it relates to funding.  Many government grant programs and charities only offer financial aid to officially recognized sports. Therefore, if chess is a sport it opens up a whole new world of funding for chess clubs, which not only gives people a chance to play chess who never would have before, but it keeps the sport alive too. So is chess a sport? Yes, it is, and below you ..read more

If you are not an avid chess player, or you are not familiar with the official moves, you may be wondering if it matters which colored pieces get to move first.  Well, it actually does matter. There has been a rule in place for centuries that means that only one color can make the first move at a game. And this is an official move that must be followed in all professional chess matches. Continue reading to find out which color goes first in a chess match. Which Color Makes the First Move In Chess? In a legitimate game of chess, the player with the white pieces is given the opportunity to ..read more

Learning to play chess is no easy task. With so many rules and strategies, it can feel impossible to learn everything to a point when you can win even one game. But you can take a breath, we are here to help.  The Queen is the most important pieces on the chess board. She governs 28 squares across the board. But, there is one piece your Queen needs to be protected from, the knight.  With the Queen being so powerful, it only makes sense that she can also move like a knight across the board. However, this may not be the case.  In this article, we explain whether or not the Queen ..read more

While chess allows for a great deal of creativity, strategy, and technique. We all have to abide by the rules of the game. Whenever two players sit down and start a game of chess, they both have one goal in mind – to win. A common question new players ask is whether it is possible to checkmate your opponent without putting them in check first. The short answer to this question is YES. It is possible to legally checkmate your opponent without checking them. While it is a somewhat rare occurrence, there are two specific scenarios where this happens. These are known as the Fool’s Mate and the Sch ..read more

Do you ever struggle to find an opponent? We all sometimes find ourselves in the situation of having to play chess alone. To help you in this regard, here’s a comprehensive set of guidelines and tips to help you get the most benefits from your solo chess training sessions. Learning to play chess is one of the most rewarding pursuits you could undertake in your life. But growing your skills requires dedication, focus, and determination. There are different ways you can choose to improve your skills, some being more effective than others.  Most people agree that starting your chess trainin ..read more

If you’re thinking of becoming a professional chess player that’s recognized on a global scale. The first thing you must do is get a FIDE rating. In this article, you’ll learn the quickest way to get a FIDE rating in 2023. FIDE (Fèdèration Internationale des Echecs) is the International Chess Federation. The highest governing body for chess in the world. It was founded in 1924 in France with the sole aim of coordinating and promoting chess globally. Today, it is composed of 184 national chess federations representing over 100 million chess players worldwide. FIDE sets and upholds the chess ru ..read more

There are a lot of board games out there that will give your brain a great workout, and two of the most popular ones are chess and Go. So, Chess versus Go, what is the difference? While chess is a little more well-known, Go isn’t far behind. Both are games of strategy and skill and require a lot of practice. Even though the two games are similar to one another, there are differences as well. This article is here to help you make a better decision when you’re wondering which game you should choose. Chess versus Go – The Basics Both chess and go are considered excellent strategy games, and whil ..read more