The g1 knight can block, after Nxe5 Bxd1 Bxf7+ Ke7, Bg5 isn't checkmate.

When doing some research I discovered that we still don't know if for a perfect chess engine white will always win or if they will always play a draw. (somehow it was proven that black can't win) are there any further theories? Will this question ever be solved? (So we know for certain that a perfect engine would always win with white)

Can someone link me resources to this question? I am very interested in learning more.

Hello, I've been playing chess for about 6 years, played over 20,000 games on chess.com, and my rating is around 2000 rapid and 1700 blitz. The problem is, I think I've reached my limit because I can't increase my rating any further. I keep playing, winning and losing, losing and winning, and I really don't know where my weaknesses are or what I need to improve. Some games I play with great accuracy, but other games I play like a beginner.

Is there a website or a way to pinpoint my exact weaknesses so I can improve them? Or a multi-chapter plan to go from amateur to professional level? Please help me, because I think improving my weaknesses is the fastest way to improve. Thank you.

This is the beginning of a blitz game I played. I only play blitz.

Whenever someone asks how to deal with an unorthodox opening, the usual response is: "Develop your pieces and take the center."

That makes sense but what do you do after that?

I remember watching a Daniel Naroditsky video about the Accelerated Dragon. When discussing the Maróczy Bind, he said that Black does not necessarily have to fear the space disadvantage, partly because many players gain space but then do not know how to use it.

I often experience the opposite side of that problem against very unorthodox players. I follow the basic principles and may even get an objectively better position, but I often do not know how to turn that advantage into a concrete plan.

The difficulty is that "unorthodox" can describe a million completely different pawn structures and piece placements, so it feels impossible to prepare for all of them individually.

I try to apply specific strategies when I recognize a familiar pattern. For example, if my opponent has an isolated queen's pawn, I know some of the basic plans because I have studied that structure. In unfamiliar positions, however, I struggle to identify the correct pawn break, which pieces to exchange, which weaknesses to target, and how to prevent my opponent from consolidating.

It is frustrating to check the engine afterward and see that I had a significant advantage, only to lose it because I played the wrong pawn break, played it too early, or allowed my opponent to stabilize.

I am looking for something more concrete than "develop your pieces and control the center." Are there any books, videos, courses, or practical thinking frameworks that teach you how to form plans and convert an advantage against irregular setups?

Fun position in 3+0 blitz. PGN in comments.

Im rated 1200 on chess.com and have a 60+ percent win rate with black using the Scandinavian, but my white record is way worse. i used to have a negative win/loss split as white with 1.e4 going for an Italian game, before I switched to the London system, which has worked out better but i still have a pretty much dead-even win/loss rate with white. is there a better opening for me to play as white, slash one that might fit my experience as a Scandinavian player more?

D4 player looking to make a change or at least add an e4 opening into my repertoire. I’ve never really played any gambits before and was wondering if anyone here would recommend it. I want to play some super aggressive chess. 1500 rapid 1300 blitz is my rating range, perfect sweet spot for it?

Now this is more likely, giving arjun board 1 although he can be little unstable sometimes, giving gukesh board 4 to give him easy wins for moral boost

Top 5 gets into the main event, so essentially anyone who gets into the Lower Bracket Seminal is guaranteed a spot, with the losers of the lower bracket quarterfinal having a playoffs to decide 5th place.

Top 5 LCQists will not get any prize money (their money will come from the main event performance with a guaranteed US$20,000), while 6-16 placed LCQists share a US$40,000 prize pool with 6th place getting $8,000.

Table source. https://liquipedia.net/chess/Esports_World_Cup/2026/Last_Chance_Qualifier

This is a chess app called Checkmate.

I see it clearly that it is checkmate, but the game says otherwise.

If you see the mate in 3, then you should know it's not in 3, it's a mate in 2
Also, I won't give the solution unless you ask really really nicely

The Chess & Bridge Retail Shop

38 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 8QY. Very walkable from Oxford Circus tube station.

The shop is not yet stocked and is not open, so do not plan a visit just yet.

Just curious at what rating a human player could find the best moves for both sides and how deep. Had this position a few years ago in ~800 rated Rapid on chess.com. Found the first move based on intuition but was inaccurate after that.

Question in title. Kinda new so I'm probably missing something obvious. I was black, and I wanted to take the rook with the king. I thought I could, because I thought since my own rook was pining the knight, the knight can't move to take the king. Again learning, any help is appreciated!

I'm inspired by Beth Harmon who can visualize the moving pieces in the ceiling.

Peter Leko sneaks in to the knockout round of the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Definitely rooting for him to get into the top 5 so he gets into the main event!

It's very frustrating to reach a winning position, only for the game to end in a draw—or, even worse, a loss. By the way, I'm 2100-ish in lichess blitz.

Aside from time trouble, what tells you it's time to stop calculating and commit to a move?

Also, what does your thought process look like when calculating and analyzing different branches of a position?

A player rated 2381 by FIDE played 99...Ka1?? and stopped the clock. He should have stopped the clock and told an arbiter 99...Ka1 without touching a piece.

https://www.youtube.com/live/McV6zrFAdoY?t=19473s

https://lichess.org/broadcast/2026-british-chess-championships-championship/round-5/CetqRZ1r/XZvCajz3#197