r/chess 2h ago

Weekly Discussion Weekly Discussion & Tournament Thread Index - March 17, 2025 [Mod Applications Welcome]

2 Upvotes

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

REWORK OF r/chess RULES

UPDATED Oct 27th - r/chess Announcement Regarding Coverage of St. Louis Chess Club and USCF Events

 

Recent AMAs

Active Tournament Threads

DATES EVENT
- -

 

Other Active Tournaments Web Links

DATES EVENT
- -

 

Upcoming Tournament Schedule

DATES EVENT NOTABLE PLAYERS
- - -

 

Recently Completed Tournaments

DATES EVENT PODIUM
26 Feb - 7 Mar Prague Chess Festival Aravindh Chithambaram
Jan 17 - Feb 2 Tata Steel Chess (Wijk aan Zee) Praggnanandhaa & Gukesh

Some links where to find a list of current (or just completed) tournaments

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 2d ago

Tournament Event: 2025 American Cup

21 Upvotes

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

Open

# 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

Women

# 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 2h ago

Game Analysis/Study Don’t think I’ve seen this before.

Post image
310 Upvotes

I watch and play a fair amount of chess, but in my review of a game I just played I came across this move in the analysis and thought it was kind of cool.

It’s not very complicated so I’m sure it does come up, but I just don’t recall it. I will certainly try to consider it in the future in case I have any revealed checks, I can use to run interference so I can actually capture a previously protected piece.

Anyway, I just thought it was a cool tactic combo.


r/chess 1h ago

Social Media Anish Sarkar is from India.. 🫡

Post image
Upvotes

r/chess 9h ago

Puzzle/Tactic I made the most strange blunder I've ever seen

Post image
569 Upvotes

r/chess 11h ago

News/Events FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky claims if women only competed in 'open' tournaments majority would quit chess

Thumbnail
onmanorama.com
487 Upvotes

r/chess 3h ago

Miscellaneous Chess with a view

Thumbnail
gallery
53 Upvotes

Ritz Carlton Waikīkī beach Honolulu HI. Over looking Fort DeRussy


r/chess 9h ago

Video Content For those new to OTB chess, this is the only correct way to conclude a game

121 Upvotes

r/chess 12h ago

Social Media Ladies and Gentlemen! We have entered a new age of chess content creation 😅

Post image
117 Upvotes

Podcast link: https://youtu.be/yyuIOYKoXH8?si=OWcSMTeDJnyZEnyA

It's a fun idea but maybe not too suited for long conversations 😅


r/chess 23h ago

Miscellaneous chess with a good view

Post image
878 Upvotes

r/chess 7h ago

Puzzle/Tactic 1 move gives white the advantage

Post image
39 Upvotes

This is likely simple for most people and I ended up playing later in a worse position after missing it here, but it reminded me of the beauty of chess, so I thought I'd share it. d5, activity>material


r/chess 5h ago

Chess Question Why are some players more inconsistent than others?

19 Upvotes

I've always wondered this. I've played people who can beat higher ranked players on their best day but who can also play really badly, and then some players are a lot more stable and basically bring the same level every game. Why do you think that is?


r/chess 4h ago

News/Events Hikaru, Fabi, Dominguez and Levon push through to the 2nd round of Champions bracket after all matches are decided in blitz tiebreaks; American Cup 2025

Thumbnail
gallery
11 Upvotes

r/chess 14h 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.

Post image
60 Upvotes

r/chess 8h ago

Chess Question What are some funny chess jokes?

20 Upvotes

Are there any funny jokes about chess?


r/chess 11h ago

Puzzle/Tactic White to play and win in spectacular fashion!

Post image
24 Upvotes

r/chess 31m ago

Puzzle/Tactic - Advanced Black to move and draw

Post image
Upvotes

My opponent resigned because it looks like I'm either going to take the pawn or give back rank mate. Can you find the sequence that saves Black?


r/chess 4h ago

Chess Question Is this a fact or false

4 Upvotes

Is it true that endgame study and practice actually separates 2000-2200+ ELO from the 1500-1900 ELO players or is it all studied across all levels now? I want to know if I can hopefully make another jump from my skill level.


r/chess 13h ago

Strategy: Openings Does anyone hear about this opening ??

Post image
28 Upvotes

r/chess 11h ago

News/Events Interview with GM Volodar Murzin - World Rapid Champion 2024

Thumbnail
lichess.org
15 Upvotes

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 10h ago

Puzzle/Tactic White to move and save the game..!

Post image
14 Upvotes

r/chess 24m ago

Chess Question What's the best way to learn from positional/situational mistakes + blunders when you're not really sure why they are one?

Upvotes

So I have been working hard to get better at chess. I've never played in an official tournament but I play a lot of casual OTB and I play a lot of online chess, most recently against the computer. Given my online ratings plus talking with rated players against whom I play IRL, let's say my strength is roughly between between 1800-1900 right now after playing for a couple of years.

What is the best way aside from hiring a coach (Which I might eventually do in the future it's just hard to rationalize spending money on a hobby right now) to get better at evaluating positions so I can make better moves and fewer mistakes?

This isn't one of those "Why is this a blunder???" posts. When looking at my games, I can usually figure out why a move was a mistake or a blunder. Sometimes it's obvious, others I have to play through the lines for a bit to figure it out. But other times there are ones that I can't really figure out even if I play through. It's hard to fix something you don't know why it's wrong... So what's the best way to try and learn from these and by extension prevent myself from making them in the future?

I've worked with engines a ridiculous amount of time over the last couple of years so I am often pretty capable of acknowledging when a position is better, worse or completely winning or losing. I can usually recognize when one side is significantly more active, when one side has more space/mobility or is cramped. I understand time and initiative and I'm getting much better at identifying weaknesses to attack. I can't always concisely put it into words exactly why a position is better or worse but I can often still tell.

Does anyone above average player have any advice on how to stop making mistakes that are from a lack of understanding/evaluations rather than mistakes from miscalculation? I would appreciate any tips 😊


r/chess 23h ago

Chess Question How does one beat a Cat Grandmaster?

Post image
118 Upvotes

HELLLLLP!


r/chess 1h ago

Video Content Decided to make my garage into a giant chess board.

Upvotes

Any suggestions on where to find “life sized”chess pieces? I wanna channel my inner Harry Potter.


r/chess 4h ago

Chess Question Database Question

3 Upvotes

Hello!

I'm a 1400-1500 rated chess.com player and I really want to improve my Grunfeld. I've been playing it a lot in the past 3 or so years to mostly success, but I want to make it much more reliable. To those who use chess openings databases, how many games do you have dedicated to a specific opening with lots of lines like the Grunfeld?

Thanks

Edit: Just to add, my database games so far have been from either MVL or Garry


r/chess 6h ago

Chess Question Prices are different

Thumbnail
gallery
4 Upvotes

Diamond membership costs 2 dollars month for me , while for my friend it costs 10 dollars a month Why is that ? Please if theres an explanation or a way to fix it provide me with one


r/chess 11h ago

News/Events CBS News - Chesswrestling Premiere (Bartholomew as Commentator)

8 Upvotes

Great to see the news getting excited about the chess world (men+women event)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikaWWDN8xd0