Tag Archives: chess

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”

Paul Morphy At Odds with his Host!

Paul Morphy played many of his attacking masterpieces at odds (a way of handicapping a chess game so that a weaker player begins the game with an advantage). The handicaps he gave to balance the game varied greatly. In most cases, the conditions for the game at odds were described by Howard Staunton’s in hisContinueContinue reading “Paul Morphy At Odds with his Host!”

Already Missing the Olympics?

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games may be over but the stage is set for thrilling chess in August. Below are major chess tournaments occurring this month that are sure to fill the Olympic void. Speed Chess Championship When: 6/27-9/8 Contestants include: Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja, Arjun Erigaisi, Ian Nepomniachtchi,ContinueContinue reading “Already Missing the Olympics?”

Solving Chess Puzzles with Leo

Chess puzzle training plays an important role for enhancing tactical abilities in chess players. By regularly attempting to solve puzzles, aspiring players can sharpen their pattern recognition skills and calculation abilities. Through consistent puzzle practice, players develop a keen eye for spotting tactical opportunities in their own games, leading to improved results and higher ratings.ContinueContinue reading “Solving Chess Puzzles with Leo”

Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son

Bughouse is a popular variant of chess played by four players in teams of two. Each player controls a standard chess set and board. The unique aspect of Bughouse is that when a player captures an opponent’s piece, they hand it to their partner, who can then place that piece on their board as aContinueContinue reading “Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son”

Emory Tate’s Immortal Game Reaches 25k Views on YouTube 

My very first episode of Master Chess Theatre focused on IM Emory Tate’s great victory over GM Leonid Yudasin. Included in this episode, were many insights about this amazing chess game shared directly to me by the late genius, Emory Tate. Created in 2020, I posted this video to YouTube to help others others appreciateContinueContinue reading “Emory Tate’s Immortal Game Reaches 25k Views on YouTube “

Playing Against Chess Students 

One of my favorite traditions is playing chess against my summer chess camp students. Beyond just being fun, these occasions allows me to demonstrate strategic concepts in action, providing practical examples that go beyond theory. Moreover, playing against students fosters a supportive and collaborative environment, encourages dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared passion for chess.ContinueContinue reading “Playing Against Chess Students “

Live Chess Lesson with FM James Eade: Bobby Fischer vs Mikhail Tal, Leipzig, 1960

Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal had a great chess rivalry that produced many memorable moments. In today’s live lesson, I was joined by FM James Eade and we looked at the exciting Fischer vs Tal game from the 1960 Chess Olympiad in Leipzig. The two legendary chess players played an absolutely fascinating and hard foughtContinueContinue reading “Live Chess Lesson with FM James Eade: Bobby Fischer vs Mikhail Tal, Leipzig, 1960”

Emory Tate Plays The Danish Gambit

This video is a live lesson from the 2024 Free Online Summer Chess Camp featuring a game played by the late International Master Emory Tate. Our feature game took place during Emory’s simultaneous exhibition given at the 2015 Fremont Summer Chess Camp. I recommended watching the video lesson with my notes from this game thatContinueContinue reading “Emory Tate Plays The Danish Gambit”

How to Play the Danish Gambit

Today during the Free Online Summer Chess Camp, I taught a live lesson for chess players seeking to inject more aggression into your opening repertoire! Together we explored the dynamic and bold Danish Gambit. Students learned how, by sacrificing a little material early on for rapid development and attacking chances, the Danish Gambit can leadContinueContinue reading “How to Play the Danish Gambit”