1. Scan the opponent’s games using a chess database or (at least) the games from the tournament – usually available online. Pay a lot of attention to his/her openings. Try to understand what positions he/she prefers, and which he/she plays badly. If you have enough time, try to compile a complete dossier on him/her – psychology, weaknesses and strengths in chess, current chess shape, physical shape, motivation, time management, etc.

2. Depending on a variety of factors (tournament situation, opponent’s style, your own wellbeing) you can choose an opening variation (or a few of them, depending on how broad your opponent’s opening repertoire is).

3. If necessary, study the variation in more detail, try to find new ideas.

4. Rehearse the lines before the game (normally the higher the level of a player, the longer it takes).

Check out her Full Article

Can Will Taylor (no relation to me, FYI) become a Grandmaster? Let's keep and eye on this guy! I'm rooting for you, Will.

Chessbase Article on Will

Will's Official Blog "Road to Grandmaster"

I know I mentioned this once before but I think this information can't be spread enough!

It is very apparent that GM Nigel Davies has some righteous anger concerning chess teacher charlatans that charge exorbitant fees for sub-par instruction. That's the subject of his recent Tigerchess Blog article.

In that article GM Davies says the following about selecting a chess coach:

"First off the guy should be able to walk the walk and not just talk the talk, so you should look for decent PLAYING STRENGTH from someone who has ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED in tournaments. Ideally they should still do so; when players stop playing they get all sorts of unrealistic notions.

Also note that anyone who claims that mastery of chess or any other art form can be achieved via some quick fix is a charlatan. Watch out for too much sales patter, manufactured qualifications (for example attempts to show linkage with well known PLAYERS), use of puppies to show how nice they are or a focus on players who will improve just by virtue of getting older (the young!). Also watch out for the teaching of opening tricks starting with Scholar’s Mate (for the under 8s) and progressing on the Fried Liver Attack. This stuff may achieve short term results but at the cost of a player’s long term development."

I couldn't agree more!

Many of you are still just adding me on facebook instead of adding Chessvine.com's facebook page. To remedy this I'm adding this blog post as well as a small add at the top of every page of the blog advertising the page. You see, i'm a greedy social media neophyte and I want as many friends as I can get to like chessvine.com's page!



If this is the first time you've seen Chessvine then I encourage you to take a look around and if you think we're worth it head over to facebook and like us.

Betsy Dynako has added a new entry to her photo blog giving her best wishes to the competitors for the 2010 US Women's Championship.

Her wishes are summed up at the end of the article as follows:
To my girlfriends: I wish you each do your best, play the fighting chess I know you are capable of, and find time to enjoy each other’s company.

Betsy includes one of my favorite photos that I'd seen before of an arm wrestling match between Irian Krush and Iryna Zenyuk (see below):


Also, in the same article Betsy kindly provides the names of the already announced participants for this year's event: Anna Zatonskih, Irina Krush, Tatev Abrahamyam, Iryna Zenyuk, Katerina Rohonyan, Sabine Foisor, Camilla Baginskaite, Alisa Melekhina, and in her US Women's Chess Championship debut Abby Marshall.

I wish them all the best of luck and while I can't really choose a favorite for the event (for a number of reasons) I can tip my hat to them all and mimic Betsy ... play the fighting chess I know you're capable of ...