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What is a Fortress in Chess?
A fortress in chess refers to a defensive structure that's difficult for your opponent to penetrate. Essentially, it's a position that protects your king and maintains control of key central…
What is a Double Attack in Chess? – ChessForSharks.com
You're sitting across from your chess opponent, staring at the board, wondering how to gain the upper hand. A clever tactic like the double attack could be just what you…
Is Chess a Relaxing Game?
Chess is one of those games that people tend to have strong opinions about. Some see it as an intellectual challenge that exercises the mind, while others dismiss it as…
Duties and Roles of a Chess Arbiter
Arbiters are highly trained referees with official certification from the World Chess Federation (FIDE), who ensure games adhere to the FIDE Rules of Chess. If you like to become an…
What Are The Different Chess Time Controls?
Ever wonder why some chess games seem to fly by while others drag on for what seems like hours? The time control is the reason. As a chess player, the…
How to Play Classical Chess
Classical chess is standard chess played at a slower time control. It's the traditional form of chess that emphasizes strategic gameplay and careful planning. For over the board matches, the…
How to Play Bullet Chess
Ever wondered how those chess players on the park benches move so fast? They're probably playing bullet chess. In bullet chess, each player usually has less than 3 minutes total…
How to Play Rapid Chess
Rapid chess is a fast-paced version of chess where each player has just 15 to 30 minutes to complete all their moves. This means that you don't get to have…
What is the Most Powerful Piece on the Chessboard and Why? – ChessForSharks.com
Whether you're a chess novice or a Grandmaster, you know that capturing your opponent's king is the ultimate goal. But which chess piece is the most powerful and effective in…
Rook or Castle: Which Name Is It?
Before answering this, let's see a little context so you can understand better. The name ‘rook’ comes from the Persian word ‘rukh’, meaning chariot. Centuries ago, the rook piece was…
What Is The Best Response To 1. d4 For Black?
So you're playing a game of chess and your opponent opens with 1. d4, looking to control the center of the board. Now what? As a chess player, the move…
What Is The Best Response To 1. e4 For Black?
Some of the most common replies to e4 are the Sicilian Defense, the French Defense, the Caro-Kann Defense, the Pirc Defense, the Alekhine defense and the Scandinavian Defense. We also…
Who is Anatoly Karpov?
Anatoly Karpov is a Russian chess Grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. Born in 1951 in Zlatoust, Russia, Karpov began playing chess at the age of four and was awarded…
How to Play the Catalan Opening: Ideas And Variations
The Catalan Opening is a very flexible opening that White can employ to gain a solid position before moving into the middlegame. The Catalan Opening was created by Grandmaster Savielly…
Crush Your Opponents With The King’s Indian Attack: A Dynamic Opening Approach
The King's Indian Attack (KIA) is a chess opening known for its flexibility and adaptability. It arises after the moves 1.Nf3 and 2.g3 by white. This opening allows White to…
How To Play the Scotch Game For White And Black
The Scotch Game is an opening move for White that looks to attack the center and create an opening attacking game. The opening got its name from a correspondence match…
How to Play The Popular Sicilian Defense: A Comprehensive Guide for Chess Players
The Sicilian Defense is one of the oldest and most popular openings in chess. Dating as far back as the late 16th century, this opening has been played and analyzed…
How To Play The Nimzo-Indian Defense For White And Black
The Nimzo-Indian Defense is one of the best defenses to the queen’s pawn opening (1. d4). The opening is a hypermodern style of opening as Black starts by developing their…
How To Play The Caro-Kann Defense For White And Black
The Caro-Kann Defense is a solid and careful opening Black can use to combat the king's pawn opening (1. e4). Its origins can be traced back to the early 1880s…
The Complete English Opening Repertoire for White and Black
The English opening is a unique type of opening where White seeks to control the center without using the e or d-pawns. In the English, the c-pawn, which is a…
The King’s Gambit: A Sharp Opening for Sharp Minds
You're an ambitious chess player looking to surprise your opponent and gain an early advantage. You want to play sharp, tactical chess and attack from the very first move. Then…
How To Play The Scandinavian Defense: Major Ideas For White And Black
The Scandinavian Defense is a way for Black to immediately challenge White's efforts to control the center from the very first move. Right off the bat, Black aggressively challenges White's…
A Complete Guide To Playing The Pirc Defense For White And Black
The Pirc Defense is one of the most popular openings in chess. This opening leads to positions that can take different shapes – could be quiet and calm, complex or…
How To Play the King’s Indian Defense For White And Black
The King's Indian Defense is a unique way of countering the Queen’s pawn opening. It is a very popular hypermodern opening. A hypermodern opening is a chess opening that deviates…
How Much Do Chess Grandmasters Earn?
As a chess grandmaster, a big part of your income comes from winning prize money at major chess tournaments. The largest chess tournaments offer seven-figure prize funds, with the winner…
How To Play The Italian Game For White And Black
The Italian Game is one of the earliest openings to be introduced into the game of chess. It is a very popular opening among players of all skill levels as…
How To Play the Vienna Game For White And Black
The Vienna Game is a dynamic and flexible choice for White players who love to start a game with the King's pawn opening (1. e4). This opening is not very…
How To Play the Grünfeld Defense For White And Black
The Grünfeld Defense is a defense for Black that is named after the Austrian player Ernst Grünfeld. The starting moves of the opening are similar to that of the King's…
How To Play The Dutch Defense For White And Black
The Dutch Defense is a flank opening that Black employs to gain control of the e4 square right from move 1. It is an uncommon way to reply to the…
X-ray Attacks vs Skewers
The x-ray attack and skewer are two powerful tactics in chess that every chess player must know and understand. In this post, we'll explain how each occurs in chess and…
What is the Best First Move in Chess?
The opening moves of a chess game are crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the game. The first move is usually made by White, and there are…
How To Beat Your Friend At Chess: Quick Tips To Win
You and your buddy have been playing chess for years. At first, you were evenly matched, winning and losing in equal measure. But lately, your friend has been on fire,…
How Many Moves Ahead Does A Grandmaster Think?
Ever wondered what it’s like inside the mind of a chess grandmaster? How many moves ahead are they thinking as they stare intensely at the board, plotting their strategy? You've…
How To Play The Benoni Defense For White And Black
The Benoni Defense is an exciting way Black can challenge the queen's pawn opening. The opening is an excellent choice for players who love to attack and play aggressive chess.…
How To Play The Reti Opening For White And Black
The Reti opening is a hypermodern opening that was created by one of the pioneers of hypermodern chess, Richard Reti. Czech chess grandmaster Richard Reti (1889-1929) was a prominent figure…
What is The Deadliest Move in Chess?: The Answer May Surprise You
You sit down for a casual game of chess against a friend, thinking it'll just be a fun way to spend the evening. Little do you know, there are moves…
