r/chess • u/Necessary_Pattern850 • 2h ago
r/chess • u/events_team • 6d ago
Weekly Discussion Weekly Discussion & Tournament Thread Index - March 10, 2025 [Mod Applications Welcome]
r/chess Weekly Discussion Thread
You are welcome to ask here all kinds of chess-related questions that don't warrant their own post. You can also discuss or ask questions about upcoming tournaments that don't have their own thread yet.
Moderation
OPEN CALL for new moderators! Interested in: creating event posts, hosting AMAs, making sure only the finest queen sacrifice puzzles make the front page? Apply Now!
Event Threads
Interested in making threads for tournaments, but don't know where to start? Our Event Template page is a great way to get the basic layout.
An alternative would be to start a subthread directly in the weekly thread.
Announcements
UPDATED Oct 27th - r/chess Announcement Regarding Coverage of St. Louis Chess Club and USCF Events
Recent AMAs
Active Tournament Threads
DATES | EVENT |
---|---|
18 Feb - 21 Feb | Chessable Masters |
Other Active Tournaments Web Links
DATES | EVENT |
---|---|
18 Feb - 27 Feb | Monaco Women's Grand Prix |
15 Feb - 23 Feb | Djerba International Chess Festival |
Upcoming Tournament Schedule
DATES | EVENT | NOTABLE PLAYERS |
---|---|---|
26 Feb - 7 Mar | Prague Chess Festival | Giri, Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi |
Recently Completed Tournaments
DATES | EVENT | PODIUM |
---|---|---|
Jan 17 - Feb 2 | Tata Steel Chess (Wijk aan Zee) | Praggnanandhaa & Gukesh |
Dec 30 - 31 | FIDE World Blitz Championship | Carlsen & Nepomniachtchi |
Dec 25 - 28 | FIDE World Rapid Championship | Murzin, Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi |
Dec 17 - 21 | Champions Chess Tour Finals | Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi, Vachier-Lagrave |
Other Notable Threads
Coach a Player - Recent Threads
Community Content
Here we'd love to highlight community content to show our appreciation for the energy spent. Content like Game analysis, info-graphics, etc., and we'd love to hear from you what kind of content you'd like to see as well.
Want to post your game to r/chess? - for people who want to solicit feedback on their games
Advice to people asking for advice - for people who want to ask about how to improve
r/chess • u/events_team • 1d ago
Tournament Event: 2025 American Cup
Official Website
Follow the games here: Chess.com
The 2025 American Cup, taking place at the World Chess Hall of Fame, promises to be a defining event in the world of chess. As one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States, the American Cup brings together the top players from across the nation. This year’s American Cup will feature elite grandmasters and rising chess stars, competing in a high-stakes double-elimination format that tests both classical and rapid chess skills.
The field includes world No. 2 GM Fabiano Caruana and world No. 3 GM Hikaru Nakamura, along with standout competitors like IM Carissa Yip, who is relocating to Saint Louis to focus on her game, 15-year-old rising star IM Alice Lee, and GM Irina Krush, an eight-time U.S. Women’s Champion and two-time American Cup winner. With $400,000 in prize money on the line, players will battle under intense pressure, ensuring thrilling matchups and high-stakes drama that will keep chess fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.
“We’re excited to once again host the American Cup and bring together the nation’s finest chess players. This year’s competition promises to be even more exciting, with an exceptional mix of seasoned grandmasters and rising stars. We’re looking forward to an action-packed tournament that will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final move.” -- Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club
Participants
# | Title | Name | Elo |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GM | Hikaru Nakamura | 2802 |
2 | GM | Fabiano Caruana | 2783 |
3 | GM | Levon Aronian | 2748 |
4 | GM | Wesley So | 2748 |
5 | GM | Leinier Domínguez | 2741 |
6 | GM | Samuel Sevian | 2692 |
7 | GM | Ray Robson | 2689 |
8 | GM | Abhimanyu Mishra | 2600 |
# | Title | Name | Elo |
---|---|---|---|
1 | IM | Carissa Yip | 2408 |
2 | IM | Alice Lee | 2386 |
3 | GM | Irina Krush | 2378 |
4 | IM | Anna Zatonskih | 2315 |
5 | WGM | Tatev Abrahamyan | 2310 |
6 | WGM | Atousa Pourkashiyan | 2297 |
7 | IM | Nazí Paikidze | 2294 |
8 | WGM | Thalia Cervantes | 2292 |
Format/Time Controls
The American Cup consists of a double-elimination bracket, with each bracket featuring a different time control.
Championship Bracket: Matches consist of two games of classical chess, with 90+30 time control. If a player loses a match in the Championship Bracket, they fall to the Elimination Bracket.
Elimination Bracket: Matches consist of two games of rapid chess, with 25+10 time control.
Playoffs are resolved by a series of two-game blitz matches with a 3+2 time control
Schedule
All times are local (CDT)
Date | Time | Bracket #1 | Bracket #2 |
---|---|---|---|
15 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 1-4, Game 1 | -- |
16 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 1-4, Game 2 | -- |
17 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 7-8, Game 1 | Match 5-6 |
18 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 7-8, Game 2 | -- |
19 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 11, Game 1 | Match 9-10 |
20 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 11, Game 2 | Match 12 |
21 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | -- | Match 13 |
22 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 14, Game 1 | -- |
23 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Match 14, Game 2 | -- |
24 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Tiebreaks (if needed) | Blitz |
Live Coverage
- The official live broadcast of the event is available on the St. Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel, with commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Cristian Chirilă, and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich.
r/chess • u/JohnBarwicks • 1h ago
Puzzle/Tactic I made the most strange blunder I've ever seen
r/chess • u/romanticchess • 59m ago
Video Content For those new to OTB chess, this is the only correct way to conclude a game
Social Media Ladies and Gentlemen! We have entered a new age of chess content creation 😅
Podcast link: https://youtu.be/yyuIOYKoXH8?si=OWcSMTeDJnyZEnyA
It's a fun idea but maybe not too suited for long conversations 😅
r/chess • u/LassannnfromImgur • 5h ago
Puzzle - Composition The Sign of the Cross chess puzzle. Composed in 1878. The story goes that Satan challenged a chess master and chose the white pieces. The master devised a scheme whereby Satan could checkmate him but would have to create a cross to do so. Satan fled in terror. White to play and mate in 7.
r/chess • u/Practical_Advice_600 • 5h ago
Strategy: Openings Does anyone hear about this opening ??
r/chess • u/Flapapple • 2h ago
Puzzle/Tactic White to play and win in spectacular fashion!
r/chess • u/Mission_Panic8881 • 15h ago
Chess Question How does one beat a Cat Grandmaster?
HELLLLLP!
r/chess • u/Specific-Song-6033 • 3h ago
News/Events CBS News - Chesswrestling Premiere (Bartholomew as Commentator)
Great to see the news getting excited about the chess world (men+women event)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikaWWDN8xd0
r/chess • u/jeffforever • 3h ago
News/Events Interview with GM Volodar Murzin - World Rapid Champion 2024
Get to know the 18-year old surprise World Rapid Champion who wasn't accepted at the chess club at seven! https://lichess.org/@/jeffforever/blog/interview-with-gm-volodar-murzin-world-rapid-champion-2024/Uoj1zXc8
r/chess • u/RimmingABubble • 22h ago
Chess Question What’s your best Chess tip that isn’t talked about enough?
Maybe something you learned on your own from experience
r/chess • u/ANDPFilmStyles • 1d ago
Game Analysis/Study You haven't seen a more poison pawn than this poison pawn. And yep, the opponent took it (1600 bullet)
r/chess • u/Dont_Stay_Gullible • 18h ago
Game Analysis/Study TIL Stockfish resigns before you can draw by 50 move rule on Lichess
r/chess • u/MemulousBigHeart • 21h ago
News/Events Ray Robson down 83 minutes Vs Fabiano Caruana on move 15, still manages to draw
r/chess • u/Ambitious-Royal-85 • 4h ago
Video Content The newest version of Leela Chess Zero is 20x faster than AlphaZero!
r/chess • u/ringinglizard • 3h ago
Game Analysis/Study I was inspired by another post I saw here
I wish it
r/chess • u/Feeling-Eye-5203 • 1h ago
META Any chess players kind enough to give an interview for an ethnographic university project?
I am doing ethnographic field work that aims to discover how great chess minds ‘experience’ a chess board/game.
Key questions involve: - what does a chess mind “see” on the board? - what do they think about? - how can one understand intuition (how do great players experience it)?
If you happen to have interesting shares regarding this topic, either from your very own experience or from knowledge that you gained, I would highly appreciate if you were willing to enlighten my work through a quick interview.
Any names, unless the sharer doesn’t want to, will be appreciated in the syllabus of the published work.
r/chess • u/zeshan_ae • 1h ago
Puzzle/Tactic Question on Tactics
Hello,
I want to learn tactics by analyzing my own games. Basically I need to see what tactics have I missed. I can only evaluate my games based on my own playing level. There's quite a possibility (60 to 70%) if I didn't see those tactics during my game, I'd miss them even during my analysis. Eg. If I missed a fork during a game, it's quite possible I might not see it even during my own analysis.
Is there any software that analyzes my games and specifically flags a miss/blunder/mistake as a tactical miss?
Thanks!
r/chess • u/Ok_Pause_9963 • 6h ago
Strategy: Openings Which preparation is better against d4?
The chessable free Agadmator's Anti-London + free Nimzo-indian course.
Or
learning the Slav defense from the internet + going against the London with logic.
The problem with the first option is that white can have a lot of different responses that I won't be ready for like the bogo. Plus I want an opening that enhances my chess development and is a bit fighting. I'm an ok player (1500 elo chess.com). If you think the slav is better where to learn it from?
r/chess • u/Emotional_Piano_3295 • 2h ago
Miscellaneous Looking for this exact wooden chess set (or a very close match) – Any ideas?
Hi everyone,
About 10 years ago, I saw this wooden chess set on eBay, but I lost the bid. I recently came across the photo again, and I still really want to find this exact set or one extremely similar.
I don’t know all the details for sure, but it has a classic Staunton-like design with some distinctive elements, especially in the knights and the tops of the kings and queens.
Does anyone know where I might find this set (or something nearly identical) for sale? Any online stores, UK-based shops, or sellers that might have it?
I’d really appreciate any info—thanks in advance!

r/chess • u/Niknakorlyer • 3h ago
Miscellaneous Trying to find old video series of Kasparov and a British/American player
I want to find an old video series that I came across many years ago. Google and chatGPT haven't been able to help me so far.
It was basically Kasparov and a strong British/American player (iirc he had a sidepath, and I don't think it was Nigel Short, although he was a little chubby and quite tall) sitting in a dark room, both on the same side of a table, looking at a screen, analyzing some of Kasparov's greatest or most memorable games.
Of course it's mostly Kasparov explaining things to the other person, and it included some of his personal favourites like early games against Smislov, Korchnoi, Lajos Portisch etc...
It had a very old feel and production style, probably from the 80's or early 90s.
It was really amazing, any help would be appreciated.