CHESS ARTICLES

One chess loss often ruins an entire session because it triggers emotional responses such as frustration, ego threat, and loss aversion. These emotions reduce focus, increase impulsive decisions, and lead to more blunders. Learning to manage the psychology of losing is essential for consistent chess improvement.

Strong chess players think differently during a game because they follow a structured decision-making process. Instead of guessing moves or relying on memory, they evaluate the position, identify threats, generate candidate moves, and only then calculate. Learning how to think during a chess game is one of the fastest ways for beginners and intermediate players to improve.

Most chess players study the wrong way because they focus on passive learning—watching videos, memorising openings, or solving random puzzles—without a clear structure or feedback loop. Effective chess improvement requires active thinking, deliberate practice, and study methods matched to the player’s actual level.

The candidate moves method helps chess players think clearly by narrowing down options before calculating. Instead of analysing every legal move, y...

Understanding common middlegame plans helps chess players make better decisions without calculating everything. Instead of guessing moves, you lear...

A chess study plan works when it is simple, consistent, and aligned with your level. For beginner and intermediate players, the best results come from a balanced routine that combines tactics, calculation, basic strategy, and game analysis, without overloading yourself with theory or random content.

Improving chess calculation skills means training your ability to see ahead accurately, evaluate candidate moves, and avoid tactical mistakes. For beginner and intermediate players, the fastest improvement comes from structured calculation habits, tactical pattern recognition, and deliberate practice using real game positions rather than random puzzles.

Learn why many chess players plateau between 1200 and 1400 Elo, the real causes behind stalled progress, and how to break through intelligently.

 

Chess feels harder today because engines raised overall accuracy, exposed mistakes instantly, and changed how players prepare, learn, and evaluate ...

Chess players blunder under pressure because stress reduces working memory, narrows attention, and forces rushed decisions. Managing time, emotions, and thinking routines helps reduce mistakes in critical moments.

The Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) is one of the most played defenses against the King’s Pawn opening and leads to a rich variety of lines. Black aims to create imbalances and unleash counter-attacks. Key variations like the Najdorf, Dragon, and Scheveningen have each gained their own following among top players.

Introduction: The Role of the Chess Clock One of the most distinctive features in competitive chess, aside from the complex strategies and mental b...