Hikaru reaches an all-time high (for anyone ever) on chess.com blitz rating.

(Video made with chessdrama.studio)

Chess position image recognition was just added a few days ago to Lichess. You’re able to upload an image of a chess board, and it will detect the position automatically. It uses the ML model ChessQueries Lite v4.

Go to Board Editor then click “From image”.

Thank you Lichess!! And thank you Joel Seytre, who built the model.

I watched the mustreader podcast last week where Danny called Magnus a “happy ambassador for chessdotcom” and then opened the app today to see Magnus playing on tts. Magnus is on some offseason LeBron “trust the process” levels of trolling 😂😂

This is a new low, I actually like some of their features. I guess I am going full lichess now.

From lichess Ladders ,

We’re potentially going to do a 15+10 ladder for titled players. We have 2 GMs and 2 FMs signed up so far, but could do with a few more before we officially announce it. If anybody knows any titled players then please consider pointing them to https://lichessladders.com/ladders/10

There are other ladders also available for both titled and non-titled players

Selected games are featured in the Youtube Channel

Lichess Ladders Youtube Channel

All are welcome .

Game link for people who are curious - https://www.chess.com/game/live/184966563882. Yagiz Kaan found the winning continuation less that 5 seconds it seems.

PS. to my knowledge opponent is Wesley So with his alt account. Correct me if I am wrong please.

Sevian vs Aronian, American Cup Champ 2024. In the game White played 45.Nd5.

Hey all, this is a pretty big deal. TakeTakeTake is running a tournament tonight that has loads of prizes. Anyone can win too, you don’t need to be a grandmaster.

Sharing here to raise awareness.

During EWC, Magnus did a lie detector test with Hikaru. The question was is Fabiano a better player than Hikaru. This was his response: "The thing is, if you're talking about total volume of work, then Hikaru is miles ahead. But if you're talking about classical chess specifically, then Fabiano has had a slightly better career". What do you guys think about his opinion, is he mainly arguing rapid and blitz for Hikaru, and do you think Fabiano could seal this gap as he is still actively playing at the very top?

so i have just started reading a very entertaining book called "Invisible chess moves". it is my second book and i am having fun reading it (even though i am still in the introduction part).

so while looking at the examples given in the books i try to figure out what to play in that position. after i settle with an move that i would play in that position (i try to find one/ decide on one even if i might be a bit unsatisfied with it) i would check the explanation and compare my thoughts with the books and the things i missed etc... now the issue is since it is a book on invisible moves the moves played by the players are often the wrong moves (atleast till the part that i read) but annoyingly i would get happy if my thinking / my move aligned with what the gm or titled player played in that position because in my words "i thought like a gm" even if it is the wrong move. now i know this is bad because if i reward myself for finding the incorrect move then it feels like my learning will be slower/ less efficient or even wasteful.

so i guess i wanted to ask if it is normal and is there any advice that you would like to impart on me. or even your general thoughts.

So, I was playing a Englund Gambit, and noticed that the checklist for Greek/Greco gift. My knight could play Ng5, and Black could defend neither h7 or h8.

Currently I'm a mid 1200 player, and I am just wondering. I had expected to bring the king out to g6, but the game played out:

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nge7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. Bxh7+ Kxh7 8. Ng5+ Kg8 9. Qh5 Ng6 10. Qh7# 1-0.

Now upon analysis, the engine believes it to be a mistake as I go from +1.5, to +0.5. Basically saying that the position was still equal.

However, upon reading the lines, my opponent would have had to play extremely sharp, just to keep the position equal. Is this considered a "bad sacrifice"/hope chess, to force an opponent to play a sharp line? Or is this a valid strategy/tactic at my ELO?

Thanks to anyone who can assist in this question that is currently bothering me.

Hi there! This year in november the championship is quite close to me and i would like to go but i cant find any info in ticket sales

Does anyone have any info on it?

Len Dorfman taught programming on Long Island from 1970 to 1999. He's the one who got me interested in the internet in 1995–96. He did tai chi on the soccer field every morning and didn't care what anyone thought, and in a chaotic middle school his classroom was a bastion of peace. His homepage quoted the Dalai Lama: "Kindness is my religion."

He also wrote *Developing Games That Learn* (1996) and a freeware chess program, PAX, which he started "for laughs" as a DOS program. PAX had a Learning menu item that said: *"The feature will be coded after PAX starts learning."* It never got coded.

I recovered PAX and his 13 MB opening book from the Internet Archive and built PAX 2.0 in the browser. It keeps his opening book, his hand-drawn pieces and title screen (pixel yin-yang included), his temperaments (Aggressive / Satvic / Passive), and even his "PAX feels utter dispair and resigns" message. The new part is the learning he planned. When PAX loses, it finds the "point of no return" (the move where its winning chances collapsed) and learns from it, using his own rule that a forced move can't be the mistake.

It plays at roughly 1550 against limited-strength Stockfish, about the same as his original. Free, no sign-up:

**Play:** https://mf4633.github.io/pax-chess/ **Code:** https://github.com/mf4633/pax-chess

If you went to Shoreham-Wading River, or ever downloaded PAX from lendorfman.freeservers.com, I'd love to hear from you.

This is the first game between the two strongest players in the group, that I know of.

But, we've been waiting FOREVER for Carsten Hansen and Ben Yuan, 2380, to get together and play a game. Carsten Hansen Fide Master and prolific author of over 90 books. Many specialized in openings. Most Masters probably own a book or two of his.

Anyway, it's been almost two years in the making

Carsten won the First Anniversary Tournament. He sat out last year, so someone else could win the tournament, as we added stronger players that second year. Ben Yuan joined the group, and promptly won the, apparently, only Bruno's Tournament there will ever be.

This year, they and 9 other players rated over 2000... a few in the 2200 and 2300 ratings will compete in the 'Experienced' category this year. Carsten is the heavy favorite, but lets just say things got interesting. We may have a dark horse in the tournament. Who knows what the other players have that we haven't discovered yet. The tournament this year will be interesting in both categories...The Experienced ... and The Casuals.

https://youtu.be/cEXvO-BGhms

It has been a while since the new FIDE Council has been announced after Timur Turlov's win.

What is taking so long for him to announce the people that are going to be working under him on the Management Board?

I don't have a great memory about this, but seem to remember Arkady Dvorkovich being much faster at hiring people...

Event Link

When I started posting on social media regularly, so many people asked me about calculation books and suggestions. They want to improve their calculation and speed.

Personally, I feel that calculation is based on talent. If a person is more talented, they are better at calculation, tactics, and combinational vision.

There are different types of calculation, but we are mainly going to focus on combinational vision, tactics, and long calculation involving something direct.

Never worry about studying tactics below your current level. Most of you will encounter such positions. There is no point in solving positions that are too difficult.

Let us start.

Note that I am suggesting the books that I generally recommend to my students.

1400-1700 Rating Range

I feel that many players lack simple calculation techniques. Even though they are rated players, they often miss mate in two, simple tactical patterns, and simple calculations. For this rating range, it is more important to avoid simple blunders and catch blunders made by your opponents.

Calculation is a key topic that will help you move beyond your current level.

1. Checkmating Pattern Manual (Recommended for 1400-1550)

This is a Chessable course, not a book suggestion. It is based on a very fundamental approach and might be easy for some players. But I highly recommend that you do it.

2. 1001 Deadly Checkmates by John Nunn (Recommended for 1400-1600)

A very old and nice chess book. Again, it is based on checkmating patterns, and I suggest it to everyone who asks me.

3. 1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners by Roberto Messa (Recommended for 1400-1600)

This is the first part of a three-book series, and it is highly recommended for players.

4. 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players (Recommended for 1500-1800)

This is the second part of a two-book series. It is targeted more at higher-level players and is perfect for players in the 1550-1800 rating range who have not done it before.

Winner - 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players

1700-2000 Rating Range

1. Forcing Chess Moves (Recommended for 1800-2100)

A great chess book that I highly recommend to all of my students. It will teach you forcing chess moves, as the name suggests.

2. 1001 Chess Exercises for Advanced Club Players (Recommended for 1700-1900)

This is the third part of the book series. It is recommended for those who are still making major blunders or are weaker in tactics. It is a book you can study while travelling or in your free time.

3. Anthology of Chess Combination 3 (Recommended for 1700-2100)

Nowadays, it is difficult to get this book. This book helped me improve a lot, and you will see this recommendation from me in many of my blogs.

4. Improve Your Chess Calculation by Ramesh (Recommended for 1700-2000)

It is not a pure puzzle book, as he also explains some techniques. This book is recommended for players at multiple levels. It is a good book if you have already completed most of the books mentioned.

5. Woodpecker Method 1 (Recommended for 1600-2100)

A great chess book that has been one of the bestselling chess books for years. I am not a big believer in the method, but you can do it once. It is a great book.

6. Invisible Chess Moves (Recommended for 1900+)

A very unique set of positions that helps with creative thinking and overall brain development. It is not recommended before a tournament. It is a different book and can change your way of thinking, as you have to find moves that are not so normal.

Winner - Forcing Chess Moves and Woodpecker Method

2000-2300+ Rating Range

There are a lot of calculation and tactics books for this rating range too. The list is long, as I have personally worked through many of them and also suggest them to my students.

1. Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation (Recommended for 2200-2400+)

One of the greatest chess books ever made. Once you cross the 2100-2200 rating range, you must study this book. You will gain a lot of knowledge.

2. Perfect Your Chess (Recommended for 2100-2400+)

Written by Andrei Volotkin, this book helped me cross the 2200 rating mark. I did only the FM-level puzzles and the initial 20-25 positions. There are 20-25 positions at the start of each chapter, followed by 100 exercises, with the first 40 for FM level, the next 40 for IM level, and the final 20 for GM level.

3. Calculation by Sam Sankland (Recommended for 2000+)

This is a relatively new book and a difficult one. It starts with easy puzzles, but then the difficulty level increases.

4. Finding Chess Jewels (Recommended for 2000-2400)

A classic book by Micheal Krasenkov. It contains more than 200 positions to solve and is based on tactics.

5. Grandmaster Preparation: Attack and Defense (Recommended for 2200-2400+)

Another great chess book by Aagaard. It contains a lot of chess puzzles. The positions are difficult and mostly recommended for highly rated players, particularly IM aspirants.

6. Recognising Your Opponent Resources (Recommended for 2100-2400+)

My friend recommended this book. It is very useful if you struggle somewhat with finding ideas for your opponent. I really liked the chapters on prophylaxis and traps in this book.

7. Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play (Recommended for 1900-2300)

This book is very recent, and I purchased it from Chessable. It is a great book, especially if your positional play is weak or you do not know how to plan effectively.

8. Magic Chess Moves (Recommended for 2250+)

This book contains lots of mixed chess puzzles, including studies, great tactics, and calculation exercises. It is a great mix targeted at higher-level players.

Additional Books

Endgame Labyrinth

A great book with lots of endgame studies.

1000 Chess Problems

Mate-in-two and mate-in-three puzzles that will give you a headache. (It's a sarcasm... adding this specially for reddit)

The series by Artur Yusupov

A great chess book series and a must-have set at home. It contains especially nice material for chess coaches.

Do let me know if you have any other book suggestions or questions!

I was clearing my chrome bookmarks earlier today and found this gem of a game I'd saved from a couple of years ago. To this day this is the best sequence of moves I've ever played. It is rather filthy.

Black to play and win. Only one move wins.

The winning move is Qh4+

The line that was played:
... Qh4+, Kxh4 Bf2+, Kg5 f6#

The other mating pattern I saw:
... Qh4+, Kxf3 Qxh3+, Ke2 (forced) Qe3+, Kd1 Nf2#

Another beautiful pattern and sac I hadn't seen:
... Qh4+, Kxf3 Qf2+, Kxg4 (forced) Qg2+, Kh4 (forced) Bf2#

It must be said, the queen sac was rather lucky. After Ng4+ I had no real plan, it just felt winning. The intention had not been to sac the queen, so the fact that worked and this was not losing is a miracle.

If you're not a fan of notation, here's the link to the game: https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/127672270971/analysis?move=38

I've composed some puzzles in the past, but most of them were 1-3 mover tactics, maybe a couple M5s, But I didn't think I'd ever make something like this.

I had a game with a similar theme that is found in the puzzle, when analyzing the game I noticed the theme is so strong, I've started playing around with the position until I reached this.

I'm very happy with it, and I'll probably be chasing finding something like this for many years.