Mark's Chess Blog

If you've spent any time browsing our site, you've probably seen the section on 'Chess Openings : Repertoire Recommendations'. We enhanced this feature by combining our game viewer with an ... Read More

Stevesaudio asks, Can the King get a new piece?, and continues, 'The way a pawn can. By reaching the opponents end zone?' • When you think about it, that rule makes sense if you're ... Read More

It's back to school and that means back to the boards : blackboards, backboards, and chessboards. About Chess salutes the many young chess players who saw their exploits featured in ... Read More

If you're still on the Bobby Fischer vigil, the ex-World Champion is in his seventh week of detention in Japan. Reuters reported the following stories. Japan Court: Bobby Fischer Can Be Deported • 'A ... Read More

Whoever said 'the best things in life are free' could have been talking about chess. You don't have to be a cheapskate to enjoy chess, but you don't have to ... Read More

Has Evans over-stepped the limits? Frequent forum contributor xplorxplor asks, 'Does anyone know what caused the split between Bobby Fischer and Grandmaster Larry Evans?'

For the record. Jonathan Rowson of Scotland became the 2004 British Champion by winning the Smith & Williamson British Chess Championships with a score of 8.5 out of 11 (+7-1=3). He finished 0.5 ... Read More

The reports of Bobby Fischer's detention in Japan dominated chess news for the sixth straight week. Reuters reported the following stories. Ex-Chess Champion Fischer to Marry Japanese Woman • 'In a bold gambit ... Read More

What does the phrase Computer Chess mean to you? Computers have had such a profound impact on chess that this is one of the most difficult categories to sort out. ... Read More

In the Best thinking method for the amateur, knightpins93 presents a four-step method to choose your next move. No, make that five steps : 'I have found, in my research, a possible ... Read More

During the 105th U.S. Open at Fort Lauderdale, the Chess Journalists of America (CJA) and the Fred Cramer Awards Committee announced their 2004 Journalism Awards. Chess Journalist of the Year, the 1st ... Read More

Four weeks after being detained at Tokyo's Narita airport, Bobby Fischer continues to be the center of chess attention for the mainstream press. Reuters reported the following stories this week. Fischer ... Read More

It's quiz time! You've learned the basics of chess notation, how to set up the board for a new game, and how the pieces move. Now you want to see ... Read More

In Chess politics (cont.), your Chess Guide wonders about silence from the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) on the FIDE Knockout Tournament, about various threats to sue Libya and/or FIDE for the ... Read More

The second half of 2004 will see several important international events. The 36th Chess Olympiad will be held at Calvia, Majorca (Spain), 14-31 October. The 2004 World Youth Chess Championships will take place at Heraklio, Crete ... Read More

In the continuing saga of Robert J. Fischer's detention in Japan, Reuters reported the following stories this week. Ex-Chess Champ Fischer Hires Japan Lawyer for Plea • 'Former world chess champion Bobby ... Read More

Part 2 of the About Chess Guide to Gambits covers all openings except those that start 1.e4 e5 or 1...e6. The Queen's Gambit is in our list even though it's ... Read More

In Fritz8 v. CM9000 mikalac1 asks, 'Which is the better buy?'.