SparkChess is a game of chess that everyone can enjoy!
Official site: SparkChess.com
Author: Armand Niculescu
Support: Liviu Niculescu
Some annotated historical games courtesy of Jan van Reek
Viking Chess and Shogun sets are based on the 3D Printable Chess sets from MeepleForge
Copyright ©2002-2026 Armand Niculescu. All rights reserved.
Sparkchess is Registered Trademark of Armand Niculescu
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In correspondence chess mode, players have 24 hours to make a move, and can move even when their opponent is not online.
Challenges and games
In the June 2026 issue of Oklahoma Chess Magazine, editor Tom Braunlich annotated a game between Miles Melvin and FM Ryan Amburgy. About White’s fourth move, b4, National Master Braunlich wrote, “The rare Evans Gambit. A manly move!” More 🡢
Almost 50 years earlier, National Master Guthrie McClain wrote that then Women’s World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze played like a man. More 🡢
When chess players come back year after year to a chess festival, that’s a sign that something special is happening there. The Caveman Chess Festival features three US Chess national championships: The U.S. Junior Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and the U.S. Blind Open Championship. More 🡢
Five of the first six chapters of INTERREGNUM: Inside the Grueling and Glamorous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess (Pegasus Books – April 21st, 2026) track players’ paths to, and results in, the 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Since author Jordan Himelfarb is a managing editor of the Toronto Star, one of North America’s largest newspapers, he is well positioned to report on that tournament. More 🡢
In May of 2026 WIM Alexy Root will be in Georgia and in Washington, for book signings, talks, and simultaneous chess exhibitions. She will also be competing for the title of Southeastern Regional Women’s Champion. More 🡢
University of Missouri, known as Mizzou, hosted the 2026 President’s Cup, the national championship of college chess. Competitors were the top four qualifying schools from the 2026 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. Mizzou also hosted a new event, the Women’s President’s Cup, for the top four qualifying schools from the 2025 U.S. National Collegiate Women’s Championship. More 🡢
WGM Jennifer Shahade is back to the US Chess fold – and she’s bringing pro poker skills with her. After resolving all matters with the federation, Shahade has been named its first-ever Official Ambassador. Her new book argues that thinking across both games can sharpen your edge. More 🡢
The tools of the trade for chess streamers are different than what’s used for playing over-the-board chess. Also specialized are the tools used to teach chess in person. More 🡢
Grandmaster Jan Timman’s final masterpiece, *Timman’s Studies*, celebrates his legacy through brilliant endgame compositions and timeless chess insight. More 🡢
In Parsippany, 2002, Jennifer Shahade found a way to finish the game against Arthur Feuerstein. Can you find the three moves that lead to checkmate?
In the 1978 Baguio tournament, Anatoly Karpov found a way to finish the game against Viktor Korchnoi. This puzzle shows the calculated mate in three that defined their high-stakes meeting.
Nona Gaprindashvili saw an opportunity in her game with Juraj Nikolac. Find the four-move sequence that led White to victory.
In this position from a Mexico City 2007 game, Levon Aronian has a mate in three against Alexander Grischuk. Hint: it involves a promotion.
Nick De Firmian took on Alexander Chernin in Tunisia in a game that culminated in a beautiful mate. Can you see the four moves sequence?
In 2004, Nigel Short faced Scottish International Master Andrew Muir during their game at Catalan Bay. White has a forced mate in four to conclude the game.
In Southampton, 1986, Paul Motwani found a way to finish the game against Kevin Wicker. White has a mate in three to conclude this quiet affair.
At the Frankfurt 1878 tournament, Wilfried Paulsen faced the legendary Adolf Anderssen and found and found a way to defeat him in two moves. Could you?