Learning Chess

Tools of the Chess Trade

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 🡢

Car Accidents and Chess

Driving to the second day of the Texas State Women’s Championship, I was in a car accident. I was fine; my car was damaged. I let the organizer know that I would be late. The director paused my clock, and my opponent patiently waited for me. I won that game, but lost my second game, which was the last round. In this article, I discuss the championship, car accidents, and chess. More 🡢

Cheesy Chess at the 2025 U.S. Open

The 2025 U.S. Open offered a variety of schedules and Mixed Doubles prizes. Last century, the U.S. Open was usually 12 rounds. This century, the event has generally been nine rounds. The 2025 U.S. Open was held in Wisconsin, a state famous for its cheese. More 🡢

Martz – Chess, Game 36, North American Open 1974

You see, positional chess requires you to have a somewhat long-term plan that involves understanding what pawn structure you want, figuring out the potential weaknesses are in your opponent’s position, and what the right destination squares for your pieces are. Then you have to come up with a concrete implementation of the plan, with a sequence of moves that helps you achieve your goals. More 🡢

A Paul Morphy book and the 2025 Chess Journalists of America Awards

The Real Paul Morphy: His Life and Chess Games by FIDE Master Charles Hertan relies on past Morphy scholarship, especially David Lawson’s Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess. Hertan promises three innovations in his book. First, Hertan takes a fresh look at Paul Morphy’s games, thanks to Fritz 18. The Elo rating of […] More 🡢

No Praise, No Scorn—Just Chess

We often receive feedback from our SparkChess users and we value it greatly. Whether it’s constructive criticism, suggestions, or just a bit of praise, it’s our Northern Star pointing us in the right direction. Some bits end up as testimonials on the Download page, the rest become the source for new development ideas. More 🡢

But one letter I received this week hit different. Not only an echo through time and space, but a powerful testament of how one creation, one game, can become a lifeline. I asked the sender to let us publish the email and she kindly agreed. More 🡢

Chess or Health, Play or Forfeit

The World Senior Team Chess Championship brings together several hundred chess players in two age categories, 50+ and 65+. Along with babies younger than six months, people aged 65 and older are most at risk for hospitalization from complications from COVID-19. And large gatherings, held indoors, increase the likelihood of disease transmission. More 🡢

Sunrise in the Bronx: Chess and Life Lessons

I read MacEnulty’s memoir in one sitting. That’s in part because there are no chess diagrams and games to play through, making reading faster. But it is also because MacEnulty writes well about compelling subjects. More 🡢