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July Summer Camp Monday 7/17/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “July Summer Camp Monday 7/17/2023”

Congrats to the Winners of the June Free Online Summer Chess Camp

It is my pleasure to announce the Grand Prize winners for the June edition of the DCM Free Online Summer Chess Camp 2023. Hours of work and dedication definitely improved their chess and that is an awesome award in itself.  Additionally, the top point earners will receive an autographed copy of GM Vinay Bhat’s new book,ContinueContinue reading “Congrats to the Winners of the June Free Online Summer Chess Camp”

A Very Sunny Chess Tournament

Daily Chess Musings wrapped up its 2022-23 school year in style with a free chess tournament on Saturday, June 3. My students took this opportunity to show off their chess skills at A Very Sunny Academy in Foster City, California. Titled “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament” this event was was the culmination of another year’sContinueContinue reading “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament”

June Summer Camp Friday 6/16/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “June Summer Camp Friday 6/16/2023”

June Summer Camp Thursday 6/15/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “June Summer Camp Thursday 6/15/2023”

June Summer Camp Wednesday 6/14/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “June Summer Camp Wednesday 6/14/2023”

June Summer Camp Tuesday 6/13/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “June Summer Camp Tuesday 6/13/2023”

June Summer Camp Monday 6/12/2023

Thank you for joining us today. Please remember to click on both the links for “JOIN TOURNAMENT” in your group assignments every day to join the tournaments. If you do not join them in advance then you cannot play. Be sure to pay attention after you finish your first game because the next round begins rightContinueContinue reading “June Summer Camp Monday 6/12/2023”

DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills

On Saturday, April 22, I hosted the Daily Chess Musings Spring Invitational Chess Tournament at the Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills, California. This was a very special event for me as it was the first invitational chess tournament I have organized since the onset of the pandemic. As is my tradition, thereContinueContinue reading “DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills”

Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames

Opening courses and books get all the love from consumers. However, it is of much greater practical importance for young chess players wishing to get better at chess to spend time mastering basic endgame techniques instead of investing hours of time memorizing lines of openings made fashionable by popular chess streamers. My advice on thisContinueContinue reading “Why Young Chess Players Should Focus on Pawn Endgames”

Chess as an Art-Form

A chess game can be a form of art. Winning generally takes precedence over aesthetic considerations; however, artistic positions can be strived for during the contest. The stronger a player’s ability the more likely he/she will notice aesthetic elements. Oftentimes, master level players will see several accurate possibilities and make a decision based on aestheticsContinueContinue reading “Chess as an Art-Form”

So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 50

What’s better than finding money in an old jacket that you haven’t worn in years? Perhaps discovering a notation sheet to a nice game you forgot you played stuffed inside an old chess book. My old copy of 107 Great Chess Battles, 1939-1945 by Alexander Alekhine. Back in 2013, I recall regularly experimenting with Grob’sContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 50”

So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 49

Inspired by the Tarrasch vs Romberg game I previously posted, my own game against a student in Foster City, California is one of my best efforts in recent times. After a long time thinking about how best to respond to 10… Ba6, I am proud to have planned a most effective and epic journey forContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 49”

Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship

I had a blast attending the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship hosted by Bay Area Chess. From the enthusiasm of the young competitors to getting to hear from many fans of my Daily Chess Musings YouTube Channel, I could not have ask for a better way to spend my birthday weekend. I look forward toContinueContinue reading “Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship”

Birthday Simul 2022 + Special Emory Tate Chess Lesson

As is my annual tradition, I took an opportunity to play several young chess players in a simultaneous exhibition to celebrate my birthday. This year’s Birthday Simul took place on December 20th (not December 18th) so as not to conflict with The Calchess Grade Level Championships which took place on my actual birthday. The eventContinueContinue reading “Birthday Simul 2022 + Special Emory Tate Chess Lesson”

Chess Memories of Birthdays Past

When I was a younger man, I didn’t need to take a day off to rest on my birthday (December 18th). I much preferred going to work, which for most of my adult life, means playing chess with young people. Kneeling next to Andrew Peng on my birthday in 2012. I turned 35 on DecemberContinueContinue reading “Chess Memories of Birthdays Past”

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2

1k3r2/p1n4b/1p3r1p/6p1/8/2P2N2/1P1QN1PP/1K6 w – – 0 1 This week’s submission comes from a student in Fremont California and deals with the age old question of which is better, a queen or two rooks. Generally a queen is stronger against uncoordinated rooks and especially so with pawns on both sides of the board. However, in our featureContinueContinue reading “Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 2”

Viewer Requests: Position of the Week 1

8/8/k7/4PP1p/3pK2P/2b5/8/8 w – – 0 1 Chess Dad & Coach Arun from Fremont California asked me to break this complex endgame down for his students. Watch below to see how this position plays out. https://youtu.be/qkYlNjVWD1o

Best Educational Chess Lesson

Awarded by Chess Journalist of America I am deeply honored and humbled to have been selected to receive the Chess Journalists of America’s Best Educational Lesson award. It was especially meaningful to receive this award for A Night at the Opera. The very first time I showed this game to a class, I put aContinueContinue reading “Best Educational Chess Lesson”

So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 47

A mate in 7 can seem daunting but they aren’t always difficult to solve. Technically the position below is indeed a mate in 7 for white, but that’s only because black can throw pieces away blocking the first check to extend the game unnecessarily. So, in the actual game, I checkmated in just five moves.ContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 47”