Back Rank Mates

Discover a killer checkmating pattern to seize victory when your opponent’s king hides behind their castle walls. Topic 1 A back rank checkmate happens often when the king is castled. Sometimes a rook or queen can sneak all the way…

Special Pawns!

Get ready for an exciting lesson on pawns! You’ll learn promotion examples, rules, and tips on using “En Passant”. Topic 1 This one is tricky, but fun! The a7 pawn wants to become a queen. But Black’s bishop is guarding…

Hanging Pieces!

One of the most important things in chess is knowing when a piece can be captured and when it can’t! A “hanging piece” is a piece which is undefended and can just be captured for free! Which piece could Black…

Tata Steel Chess 2025 Overview

The 2025 Tata Steel Chess Tournament was a rollercoaster event filled with dramatic upsets, intense battles, and a historic finish. GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu emerged as the champion after a thrilling playoff against World Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju, securing the title…