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Everyone's First Strategy Kit

Everyone's First Strategy Kit

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 31, 2023

Most players (1200-2200 chess.com rating) are strong in tactics and openings, but their ratings don’t show it because their positional knowledge just isn’t up to par. In other words, they can never create the circumstances to exec...

Middlegame strategy

Middlegame strategy

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 25, 2023

The middlegame is one of the three fundamental parts of every chess game, including the opening and the endgame. Once the initial moves are completed and the players' positions are established, the middlegame begins. Similar to the other parts of ...

Choose Chess Openings that Fit Your Style

Choose Chess Openings that Fit Your Style

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 20, 2023

If you are an intermediate chess player, the first few moves in a chess game are considered the most crucial moves that most likely predict the middle game quickly as chances of making mistakes get limited. Over the last hundred years, thousands o...

Pawn endgames

Pawn endgames

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 14, 2023

One of the key concepts to master in pawn endgames is the idea of opposition. What is Opposition? The opposition, or direct opposition, is a situation where both kings face each other with only one square between them—either on a r...

Tips for Moving Up to the Next Level

Tips for Moving Up to the Next Level

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Jun 13, 2023

It can be frustrating to feel stuck at your current skill level, but don't worry – there are steps you can take to overcome this plateau and continue improving. Here are some tips for what to do when you're stuck in a certain chess level: ...

Critical squares

Critical squares

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Mar 22, 2023

Generally speaking, every focal-point is a weak square in the defender’s territory and a potentially strong one for the attacker.’ This is especially so when such a point is adjacent to the opponent’s king. A focal point is a squ...

The Benefits of Studying and Playing Chess

The Benefits of Studying and Playing Chess

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Jan 8, 2023

Chess is more than just a game - it is a mental exercise that can have numerous benefits for those who study and play it. From strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to patience and discipline, creativity and focus, chess can help players d...

Test Your Skills on Positional Chess

Test Your Skills on Positional Chess

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Jan 5, 2023

Tired of tactics? Why not try out our positional puzzles! Depending on the level of each exercise (they are presented in ascending order of difficulty) you will probably need between 5 and 20 minutes to find the solution. If your solution doesn't ...

Mastering Pawn Structures

Mastering Pawn Structures

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Jan 5, 2023

They say “Pawns are the soul of chess” because they play a significant role from chess opening to the end game. Even losing a single pawn can give your opponent a big material advantage and blunder the entire game. This article is all ...

Tips for Studying Chess Openings

Tips for Studying Chess Openings

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 15, 2022

There are many ways to study chess openings, and the best method will depend on your personal preferences and goals. Here are some general tips for studying chess openings: 1) Start with the basics: If you are new to chess or have not studied ...

Study plan (based on rating)

Study plan (based on rating)

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 9, 2022

When chess players start looking to learn more tactical material to get better in chess, it becomes more challenging for them to choose study plans according to their rating and experience. The middle game in chess is considered an important phase...

Climbing the rating ladder

Climbing the rating ladder

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 6, 2022

Most of the players get exhausted over constant rating and they lose hope after consecutively losing many games. The reason behind not improving is the player’s lack of knowledge about the studies available online. Players who worry about ge...

Choosing the Best Time Control: A Guide

Choosing the Best Time Control: A Guide

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 5, 2022

The best time control for different rating level players depends on their individual preferences and objectives.   Advantages of playing slower time control: • Allows more time to make proper strategic moves • Increases the ...

What I should learn next?

What I should learn next?

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 3, 2022

If you are wondering what to learn next here is a chart that can help you to choose topic for your rating level. 1) 0-1000 Tactic (puzzles-pin, fork, checkmating patterns), elementary endgames (checkmating with 2 rooks, checkmating with que...

How To Learn & Study Chess

How To Learn & Study Chess

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Dec 2, 2022

Most of the players, after finishing their games starts playing another chess game, which is why regardless of playing too many games, it does not improve your tactical and strategical skills quicker. If you want to get better at a certain level, ...

Evaluation of position based on 3 factors

Evaluation of position based on 3 factors

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Nov 10, 2022

Evaluation of a chess position is all about comparing the progress either side has made. The patterns will emerge quite quickly. One point worth stressing is that good calculation almost invariably requires evaluation, since ve...

Middlegame without queens

Middlegame without queens

WGM TijanaBlagojevic
| Nov 9, 2022

Middlegames are often messy and complex, with most (if not all) of the major and minor pieces still on the board, they don’t lend themselves to rigorous study or memorizable positions as with openings or endgames. The nature of the middle ga...

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