Learn Chess

London Chess Conference

Free Chess Content, Spring 2023

The London Chess Conference was March 17-19. Videos of its sessions are available for free on YouTube. On April 10, the Mechanics’ Institute will hold a free Zoom session about the 2023 World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren from China and Ian Nepomniachtchi from Russia. More 🡢

The London System

The London System Compared to the c3 Colle

The c3 Colle is suitable for beginners. It establishes a d4-pawn in the center and has easy to understand plans. Like the c3 Colle, the London System is an opening system. Opening systems are good for beginners because they do not often require adapting to opponents’ moves. Still, White must always be paying attention to Black’s moves. More 🡢

Best 7 chess openings

Best Seven Chess Openings for Beginners (Part Two)

The classical way to control the center is to occupy it with one or more pawns. The four chess openings discussed in this article establish a d-pawn in the center. The center consists of the squares e4, e5, d4, and d5. A d-pawn is defended by one’s queen, a good thing because that defense lessens the chances that beginners will emerge from their openings a pawn down. More 🡢

King's Indian Attack

Best Seven Chess Openings for Beginners (Part One)

Beginners’ chess games often include blunders in the first ten moves. For example, beginners may lose to the Scholar’s Mate in just four moves. Good chess openings for beginners avoid opening traps, are easy to memorize, and follow opening principles. This “Part One” article introduces three chess openings; a “Part Two” article will give four more openings. More 🡢

Review of The Chess Bible by Vishnu Warrier

Thinkers Publishing’s The Chess Bible – Most Instructive Tips, Axioms, One-Liners & Mantras by Vishnu Warrier was published in 2022. Warrier is a tech consultant who loves chess. More 🡢

Albert W. Fox: A Chess Life On and Off the Board

Albert W. Fox: A Chess Life On and Off the Board

Chess historians adore Albert W. Fox: A Chess Life On and Off the Board and respect its author, John S. Hilbert. International Master John Donaldson describes Hilbert as “America’s premier chess historian.” Along with Donaldson, several chess historians provided blurbs for Hilbert’s Fox book. More 🡢

Hans Niemann

Is Hans Niemann the second-best classical chess player of 2022?

Imagine a ranking system in which defeating the World Chess Champion trumps other considerations. In this system, Hans Niemann would be #2 for 2022. Niemann is the only player with a classical chess win over World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. This imaginary system is more like sports rankings than chess rankings and is loosely based on the Morphy number. More 🡢

cute rabbit

A Chess Boom and a Viral Video

Chess is booming in the Oklahoma City (OKC) metropolitan area. Coffeeshops, bookstores, recreation and community centers, and universities host chess clubs every day of the week. ChessMates OKC posted a chess video that, in less than two months, has over 90,000 views. More 🡢

Is it hard to learn chess?

Learning the rules of chess can be accomplished in one day. There are six different chessmen. Master how each moves and captures, and use them to checkmate your opponents, to succeed in your chess games.

Where can I learn chess?

The best way to learn is by playing! Right here on SparkChess you can play against different computer personas (start with Cody if you never played before). The game will highlight all valid moves for a piece, so it's easy to understand and learn the rules. Then you can move to learning strategies and openings with SparkChess Premium, which features an Opening Explorer with over 100 opening variations, 30 interactive lessons and even an AI coach.

What is the best way to start learning chess?

While learning chess online is efficient, since software corrects illegal moves, playing chess with others in person can be satisfying. You and a friend or family member could tackle chess together, perhaps reading the rules in a book. Playing on a three-dimensional chess set can be a fun break from our online lives. When in-person chess is not available, SparkChess has online multiplayer for playing with friends (and making new ones).

How can I teach myself to play chess?

While learning chess rules takes one day, becoming good at chess takes longer. One proverb states, “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” With intense efforts, chess greatness can be achieved.