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Channel: Bryan Castro – The Chess Improver
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The Limits of the Chess Engine for Improvement

Chess Engines: Tool or Trap? Using chess engines for chess analysis and practice has become very commonplace. Whether you are on an online chess server, internet forum, or even at the tournament hall,...

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Chess Goals for the New Year

With the New Year coming, it is a great time to review our current plans for chess improvement and perhaps set new goals. In this article, I’d like to offer a few ideas you want to consider when...

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Two Winning Elements in the Endgame

Over the last year or so, I’ve really enjoyed studying the endgame. Part of this I can attribute to GM Nigel Davies, who emphasizes this training in Tiger Chess. Another aspect is that it has given me...

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The Benefits of Studying the Games of Morphy

“In a set match, Morphy would beat anybody alive today… Morphy was perhaps the most accurate chess player who ever lived. He had complete sight of the board and never blundered, in spite of the fact...

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When to Follow General Principles and When to Ignore Them

“It is the aim of the modern school, not to treat every position according to one general law, but according to the principle inherent in the position” -Richard Reti When we start learning chess, we...

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Karpov on the Minority Attack

Anatoly Karpov was one of the all time greats. He was known especially for his positional play and accuracy in the endgame. One of the positional techniques he was particularly good at was the minority...

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Staying Active on Defense

Chess is a game of give and take. If you take the initiative, sometimes you have to give a pawn or some other positional concession. If you take material, often you have to give your opponent...

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Using Checkmate Training to Improve Your Chess

I think sometimes people underestimate the value of studying and training checkmate patterns. Like other patterns, such as pawn structures, basic tactics, or opening moves, checkmate patterns have many...

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More Benefits of Studying the Classics

Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I’ve understood the...

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Active versus Passive Learning

When studyiing chess, an important element is not only the material you choose to study – whether it be a chess book, video, or software – but your level of engagement with the material. We can...

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The Power of the Two Bishops

One important strategic element is the two bishops. A player has the two bishops when you have both bishops on the board and your opponent only has one (or none). Of course, understanding when and how...

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Chess Goals for the New Year

With the New Year coming, it is a great time to review our current plans for chess improvement and perhaps set new goals. In this article, I’d like to offer a few ideas you want to consider when...

View Article

Two Winning Elements in the Endgame

Over the last year or so, I’ve really enjoyed studying the endgame. Part of this I can attribute to GM Nigel Davies, who emphasizes this training in Tiger Chess. Another aspect is that it has given me...

View Article


The Benefits of Studying the Games of Morphy

“In a set match, Morphy would beat anybody alive today… Morphy was perhaps the most accurate chess player who ever lived. He had complete sight of the board and never blundered, in spite of the fact...

View Article

When to Follow General Principles and When to Ignore Them

“It is the aim of the modern school, not to treat every position according to one general law, but according to the principle inherent in the position” -Richard Reti When we start learning chess, we...

View Article


Karpov on the Minority Attack

Anatoly Karpov was one of the all time greats. He was known especially for his positional play and accuracy in the endgame. One of the positional techniques he was particularly good at was the minority...

View Article

Staying Active on Defense

Chess is a game of give and take. If you take the initiative, sometimes you have to give a pawn or some other positional concession. If you take material, often you have to give your opponent...

View Article


Using Checkmate Training to Improve Your Chess

I think sometimes people underestimate the value of studying and training checkmate patterns. Like other patterns, such as pawn structures, basic tactics, or opening moves, checkmate patterns have many...

View Article

More Benefits of Studying the Classics

Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I’ve understood the...

View Article

Active versus Passive Learning

When studyiing chess, an important element is not only the material you choose to study – whether it be a chess book, video, or software – but your level of engagement with the material. We can...

View Article
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