WIM Alexey Root, PhD

Alexey Root is a Woman International Master and the 1989 U.S. Women's chess champion. Her peak US Chess rating was 2260. She has a PhD in education from UCLA. You can find her books on chess on Amazon.com.

Fighting Draws in Texas Chess Games

On behalf of the Alliance Chess Club, Louis A. Reed Jr. organized and directed the Fifth Annual Queen City of the Prairie Open and Fort Worth Championship on July 16–17, 2022. I scored five draws out of five rounds, a performance that cost me US Chess and FIDE rating points. Surprisingly, with 2.5 out of 5 points, I won the first expert prize. Four of my five draws were “fighting” draws, taking most of my energy and almost all my time too. More 🡢

FIDE Candidates Tournament and a new Norway Chess sweater

At the opening ceremony for the FIDE Candidates Tournament is June 16, Chilean singer Juga will perform her new chess-themed song, Open Files. Oddsmakers favor China’s Ding Liren and Fabiano Caruana of the United States to be the top finishers at the eight-player FIDE Candidates Tournament. The Candidates winner will face World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen for the title. More 🡢

An Earful of Chess

While working from home was common during pandemic lockdowns, many people have resumed commuting. Driving to work, hands on the steering wheel, precludes moving chessmen. Likewise, eyes on the road makes watching YouTube chess videos and Twitch chess channels impossible. But you can get an earful of chess by listening to podcasts. More 🡢

The $10,000 Puzzler Hunt, Chess, and Thank You Notes

Can you solve mind-bending puzzles? Then you might win $10,000 from a contest, still active at the time I am writing this, that began May 3, 2022. The contest introduces a book which contains, among other puzzles, several chess puzzles. That book’s author, along with another author, deserve thank-you notes from me. More 🡢

2022 American Cup: Double Elimination Chess

From April 18–29, 2022, the Saint Louis Chess Club held the American Cup. The tournament’s format was a rare one for chess: double elimination. With $300,000 in prize money on the line, each game counted. More 🡢

Suitcases, war, chess, and the d5-square

Refugees may pack suitcases before fleeing their countries. Professional chess players pack suitcases to travel to their next tournaments. While refugees do not know where they will live, chess players know to control the d5-square. More 🡢

From Wild Card to Candidate: Hikaru Nakamura

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura won the 2022 FIDE World Chess Grand Prix, earning his spot in the 2022 Candidates. Nakamura was originally a “wild card” pick by FIDE to participate in the Grand Prix. More 🡢

Jarred Tetzlaff and Alexey Root, photo by Ryan Deering

Emotions in chess: Let it Go

Certain emotions may distract chess players from finding good moves. This article suggests two strategies, let it go and avoid obsessions, that may help players achieve emotional states which are better for chess. More 🡢