Ian Nepomniachtchi’s game six losses in the last two World Championship matches are very memorable. Carlsen – Nepomniachtchi Game Six from the 2021 World Championship Match remains one of the most amazing games I’ve ever watched and one of the greatest moments in FIDE World Championship history. However, the finale of Game Six of theContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 157!”
Tag Archives: chess
Puzzle Worthy Position 51
With the FIDE World Championship Match between Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju rapidly approaching, it seems fitting to feature some of the brilliant chess moves of these great players on Daily Chess Musings. For today’s Puzzle Worthy Position, I’ll start with a highlight from our current World Champion. For anyone who doesn’t already know, DingContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 51”
Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 79
I solved the puzzle below by using the brute force method of calculating all possible moves three steps deep to find the checkmate in two moves. This method is oftentimes a more appropriate choice than the “Checks, Captures and Threats” system because composers of mate in 2 puzzles commonly start with a “quiet move” toContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 79”
Happy Halloween (Gambit) 2
October is a very nice time of year to spend an afternoon outdoors playing chess in San Francisco. Back in 2009, Market Street had a vibrant chess scene. Hector Torres (no relation to me) would put out tables and chairs near the Powell BART Station and rent the spaces to chess hustlers. Whenever I wasContinueContinue reading “Happy Halloween (Gambit) 2”
A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Spooky Swiss hosted by the Berkeley Chess School. BCS decked out the spacious playing hall in Halloween decor and almost all of the young chess players arrived in costumes. As I analyzed games, I noticed how well played they were, which is a testament toContinueContinue reading “A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament”
Puzzle Worthy Position 50
In chess and in life, it’s not a victory until you cross the finish line. Throughout the history of chess there are numerous examples of players overcoming bleak circumstances with one extraordinary move which was overlooked by their opponent. However, few are as stunning as the combination that GM Lenier Dominguez Perez used to escapeContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 50”
Puzzle Worthy Position 49
After a truly dominating performance at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi’s rating rose to a career high of 2797.2. This means, Arjun has surpassed GM Fabiano Caruana and is now ranked third in the world! GM Erigaisi’s play in 2024 has been as dominating as any chess player inContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 49”
Plenty of Hidden Gems Played at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
With 1,884 participants(975 in Open and 909 in Women’s event) taking part 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, there is no shortage of quality chess games to play through. Many outstanding games could potentially go unnoticed so it is important for chess writers to share the hidden gems they find. Once such hidden gemContinueContinue reading “Plenty of Hidden Gems Played at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Gukesh Easily Punishes His Opponent’s Mistakes in Round 5 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
In Round 5 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024, chess fans were treated to a superbly played Italian Game by Grandmaster Gukesh D. (India) where he instantly punishes the two mistakes played by GM Aydin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan). Of note, is how easy Gukesh makes defeating another Grandmaster seem. In reality, it is a testamentContinueContinue reading “Gukesh Easily Punishes His Opponent’s Mistakes in Round 5 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
A Troitsky-esque Finale to a Game at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
All chess players should know that two knights alone can’t force checkmate. However, if you give the defending side one pawn, sometimes the knights can force checkmate because the single pawn’s ability to move prevents a stalemating defense. It is possible to checkmate a King with two Knights but it can not be forced. However,ContinueContinue reading “A Troitsky-esque Finale to a Game at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Role Reversal in Round 2 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
If you watch television often, you have probably seen an episode of your favorite sitcom where two characters swap roles. In this kind of plot, characters experience a different reality where they briefly switch roles with someone else. Hollywood regularly uses this plot device in popular shows but role reversals also occur in chessboard dramasContinueContinue reading “Role Reversal in Round 2 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Beautiful Queen Trapping Tactic from the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
The first round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad is in the books and we already have a major upset. Xavier Mompel Ferruz, a teenage FIDE Master from Equatorial Guinea, took down the Grandmaster and multi-time Icelandic National Champion, Gudmundur Kjartansson. FM Ferruz had no problems facing GM Gudmundur Kjartansson’s King’s Indian Attack and whenContinueContinue reading “Beautiful Queen Trapping Tactic from the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”
Making New Chess Friends at Dolores Park in San Francisco
As a chess professional, my life has often revolved around the intense world of competitive chess—tournaments, training sessions, etcetera . However, recently, I’ve found a refreshing escape from that labor intensive environment: casual chess games at (Mission) Dolores Park in San Francisco. Chris Torres hard at work reviewing games at a youth chess tournament. OnContinueContinue reading “Making New Chess Friends at Dolores Park in San Francisco”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 57
Black’s King just captured my Rook on f8. What move do you think I played? Be sure to analyze all of your checks, captures and threats and then let me know what you think is best. What is white’s best move?
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 78
Tonight’s puzzle is another Mate in 4 problem by the German chess composer Arthur Klinke. I found the solution to this chess problem to be truly ingenious in a rather mechanical way. I betcha can’t solve this chess puzzle, but if you do be prepared to be amazed! White to move and mate in 4(ArthurContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 78”
Paul Morphy and the Art of Checkmating
For Paul Morphy, winning at chess was a performance art. He was always striving to produce masterpieces. Morphy’s unique talent, theoretical knowledge, and creativity allowed him to steer chess games toward spectacular finishes that are still admired centuries later. His checkmating combinations are some of the most beautiful ever played and to this day, chessContinueContinue reading “Paul Morphy and the Art of Checkmating”
Chess Spies
Recently, a young chess student of mine was excited to tell me all about the Spy Camp he attended. After describing the “field skills” he learned such as using a grappling hook, my student showed me a couple codes written in simple ciphers. I was happy to see him so enthusiastic about what he learned.ContinueContinue reading “Chess Spies”
Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 77
Arthur Klinke (March 1, 1887 – July 23, 1942) was an important German chess composer. Beyond composing, Klinke shared his love for chess puzzles as the editor of the Arbeiter-Schachzeitung (workers’ chess newspaper) published in Chemnitz, and later became the chairman of the Chess Problems Association in Deutschen Arbeiter-Schachbund (German Workers’ Chess Association). The lastContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 77”
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 56
Recently, I found my self playing a casual chess game at Rook Odds against the Pirc Defense. I am by no means an expert on Pirc theory so I simply developed my pieces to good squares quickly. When a tactical opportunity arose, I went for it using a pattern I remember from Chernev’s “1000 BestContinueContinue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 56”
Torre Means Rook in Chess
I am not sure if I have ever mentioned it but my last name translated into English would literally mean rook. You see, the surname “Torres” has its origin in the Latin word “turris,” which means “tower.” Historically, this surname was used to designate people who lived near towers or who were associated with defensiveContinueContinue reading “Torre Means Rook in Chess”