Person moving a white king piece on a chessboard during a game while several pieces are captured nearby.

Chess Tactics to Boost Your Game with Key Techniques

Chess Tactics for Beginners: Key Techniques to Improve Your Game Chess is a game where strategy and tactics are key. Strategy is your long-term plan, while tactics are what ultimately decide matches. By learning to recognise tactical patterns, you can create threats, win material, and punish your opponent's inaccurate moves.¹ Here, we'll take a look[…]

7 April 20266 minutes to read

Person sitting in front of a chessboard

How to Use the Queen in Chess

Our Top Tips for Using the Queen in Chess Would you like to learn more about chess with a tutor but need to know more about the pieces first? While nowadays considered the most important piece on the board, the queen hasn’t always played such an important role in the game. Whether you’re a beginner[…]

20 November 20237 minutes to read

Chess sets may be art but chess is not

How Is Chess Considered Art?

Can Anyone Call Playing Chess an Art? Mention 'art' and 'chess' in the same breath and whoever you're talking to might conjure up intricately carved chess pieces or the mesmerising pattern of a chessboard. Is chess art? The crafting of chess sets certainly is, especially if made out of jade, ivory or some exquisite, exotic[…]

6 September 20217 minutes to read

chess activities

Determining How and With Whom Chess Should be Played

Is Chess a Single, Partner, or Group Activity? “I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.” -Marcel Duchamp Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that chess is a game unlike any other. However, the popularity, widespread appeal, challenging technique,[…]

1 September 20217 minutes to read

Want to Improve Your Chess Game?

Chess is an extremely popular pastime for many people in the UK. Not only is chess a fun way to pass an afternoon, but it also provides a number of benefits. Chess helps you to improve your memory, develops rational thinking, exercises the brain, and can even make you more intelligent!

If you are interested in learning to play chess, why not take private sessions with a chess teacher?

Analyse past games to prepare for your first chess tournament

What Are the Major Chess Tournaments?

All You Need to Know About Major Chess Tournaments According to IM Levy Rozman, GM Yiqun Zhou and GM Anna Rudolf, each a host of  leading YouTube chess channels, their respective viewership exploded during lockdown. According to IM Rozman, The Queen's Gambit series fuelled the public's interest in chess. In case you don't recognise their[…]

2 August 20217 minutes to read

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Benefits of Playing Chess

Chess Benefits There are so many benefits to playing chess that if you’re currently sitting on the fence wondering whether to try it or not, they should be enough to push you over. At the end of this article, if you aren’t convinced that chess is a brain game in the truest sense of the[…]

19 July 20217 minutes to read

The Top 7 Chess Openings

Seven Top Chess Openings to Improve Your Game In chess as in everything else, humans are fickle. Some players are mad for speed chess or blitz chess while others consider themselves chess purists: only conventional games will satisfy. Some particularly enjoy the middlegame while, for others, the endgame is what really counts. And, at any[…]

12 July 20217 minutes to read

winning at chess

Discovering the Necessary Abilities for Good Chess Strategy

What Skills Do You Need for a Good Chess Strategy? "Life is like a game of chess. To win, you have to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with in-sight and knowledge and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way. We become each and every piece within the game[…]

21 June 20217 minutes to read

The best chess sets for kids

Best children's chess sets The checkered board and traditional pieces associated with the game of chess are what most of us think of when the board game is mentioned. However, this doesn’t have to be the way your child first perceives the game. If you’re curious about how to first introduce your kid to the[…]

14 June 20217 minutes to read

All of these tournament players could become grandmasters

The Grandmasters of Chess

Who Are the Top Chess Grandmasters? If the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit ignited in you a passion - or, at least an interest in chess, you might be keen to know a few interesting facts behind the story. Chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov consulted on the series, as well as[…]

23 May 20217 minutes to read

important players

A Complete Beginners Guide to Playing Chess

How to Play Chess “The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… Life is a kind of chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to[…]

26 April 20218 minutes to read

Chess Lessons in London

Where Londoners Go For Chess Lessons Our capital city certainly lives up to its hype. London is one of the world's financial hubs and a model for higher education. This city has some of the highest-ranked universities so, naturally, undergraduates around the globe work hard to secure their spot at the London School of Economics[…]

23 April 20217 minutes to read

Chess Strategy for Beginners

The Beginner's Guide to Chess Strategy Life conditions lately have necessitated finding pastimes that, in normal circumstances, we might not have embraced. Turning into a couch potato is a fine example of such; it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to remain confined at home, doing nothing but watching television. Indeed, binge-watching entire series in one[…]

13 April 20217 minutes to read

There’s been a chess craze recently. Some would credit the Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen for making chess look cool again. Others might claim that the smash Netflix hit “The Queen’s Gambit” is the reason why chess has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity among younger generations. Whoever is to blame for the increased visibility of chess, it’s worth stating that it’s a good thing. Let’s take a look at why. 

Work with the best chess tutors in London and experienced chess tutors in Manchester.

Why Learn Chess?

Are you still on the fence about chess? Are you not sure whether you should invest your time learning a game that seems so complex? Well, if that’s the case, it’s wise to consider a few reasons why learning chess is such a good idea. Let’s review the top five benefits of learning chess. For one, chess is known for its strategy and various plays. Therefore, it forces players to work on their memorization skills. Memory is improved while playing chess and this is greatly used in many noteworthy sectors.

Secondly, chess teaches you how to win and how to lose. Learning how to lose is essential so that you can appreciate the wonderful times when you actually win.

Thirdly, chess has been known to increase interpersonal skills and abilities. Why’s that? To win, you have to put yourself in the shoes of your opponent and anticipate their next move. This allows you to carefully analyze how people think and hopefully gain compassion for your fellow humans.

Fourthly, this reason is particularly great for children, but, chess is fantastic for helping young ones to learn that their actions have consequences. A slew of wrong movements, or even just one, can mean losing the game.

Last but definitely not least, chess is a fantastic game for improving a person’s problem-solving skills and everyone needs that ability! It’s worth pointing out that all of the reasons we’ve stated are noteworthy for persons of all ages. Whether young or old, chess is a game worth playing. 

What Resources are Available to Learn Chess?

Without help, it’s nearly impossible to learn a new game such as chess; especially considering how complex and layered it can be! So, what can be done? Well, it’s important to state that there are so many resources that are available for new chess players whether online or in written works such as books and magazines. Some of the best online resources to consider for chess include chess.com (where you can take informative lessons) Garry Kasparov’s Masterclass, self-paced virtual courses on sites such as Udemy, and practical lessons on the highly recommended site lichess.org. However, if you’re a more tactical or face-to-face learner, you might prefer the assistance provided by a private tutor.

Professional chess tutors are experts at teaching their students techniques such as reading their opponent and attacking in the middle game. You’ll be surprised to find out that chess tutors are affordable and there are plenty available for hire in most cities in the UK. You will learn chess with a little help from your friends! 

Check out the best chess tutors in Edinburgh and chess tuition in Glasgow.

Who are the Greatest Chess Players of All Time?

GOAT. Not the slightly irritating farm animal with great facial hair but rather the acronym used for the statement, Greatest Of All Time. There has been a lot of chatter recently as to who is the GOAT in their respective domains. Meryl Streep has been lauded as the GOAT for film acting. Serena Williams is seen as the GOAT in female tennis. And, though this is a controversial statement, some might agree that Lionel Messi is the GOAT soccer player. But, what about chess? Who are the greatest players of all time? There are various names that appear of the lists created by chess experts and some of them include Bobby Fischer, Emanuel Lasker, Vladimir Kramnik, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and the young hotshot Magnus Carlsen. All of these GOATs have different playing techniques that make them unique. Some have pioneered innovative methods whereas others have made the game of chess look sharp and elegant. Why don’t you start playing today?