Blog Posts - Chess Parents FAQs

Daily Puzzle 20220712

7/13/2022

Daily Puzzle 20220712
Black to move

It's the same theme as yesterday, but more difficult. This is not in Steps. Steps is a curriculum that asks you study similar positions again and again and let the patterns be hammered into your sub-consciousness. So you can call on them at any time.

Book: 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations

7/11/2022

Book: 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations

240 pages, 21 chapters, and 1001 problems.
This is the sister book of yesterday's recommendation. It's more difficult. Most problems are not just simple tactics, though they are categorized like simple tactics. In fact, they are close to combination.

Our "Tactics 365” program has 2 problems from this book everyday. If you want to know more, check out chesssteps.us/365.

Daily Puzzle 20220711

7/11/2022

Daily Puzzle 20220711
White to move

This is in Step 4. The topic is "Blocking". If you know the topic, the problem is not that hard.
Steps is my core curriculum. The schedule for 2022-2023 is already out. Please check out chesssteps.us

Book: 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate

7/10/2022

Book: 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate

224 pages, 8 chapters, and 1001 problems.
The first chapter is queen sacrifice, about 47 pages, one-fourth of the book. If you can sacrifice your queen, what else can't you sacrifice?

Our "Tactics 365” program has 2 problems from this book everyday. If you want to know more, check out chesssteps.us/365.

Why we want our kids to learn chess？

7/10/2022

I've been thinking about why we want our kids to learn chess. From a utilitarian point of view, whether it is for a good university, a good job, or a good income, learning chess is not worth it. Many other hobbies have a brighter future than it. Such as Math Olympiad, such as programming. So why spend so much effort learning chess? And the growth of a chess boy is often accompanied by his primary and secondary school studies, that is, 12 years of experience.

Carissa's dad gave us an answer two days ago: "I just want my kid to reach his full potential."

Ye Shuai's "developing one's potential" hits the spot. Everyone has the limit of everyone's ability, including potential. If you can explore it as much as possible, then this chess is worth playing. A lot of kids just waste their innate abilities and years, including two of my own. As a parent, it is worth thinking about how to guide children to develop their abilities, what conditions to provide, what kind of environment to create, and what opportunities to seize.

Daily Puzzle 20220710

7/10/2022

Daily Puzzle 20220710
Black to move

Rook vs 2 pawns is winning when the pawns are far away from the end and completely losing when they are both at 7-th rank. Is this a win or a lose?

Book：Judit Polgar - A Game of Queens

7/9/2022

Book：Judit Polgar - A Game of Queens

12 chapters，380 pages，a lot of photos, stories, and short games.
Stories about the World Champions and other giants she has played.
A nice read!

Daily Puzzle 20220709

7/9/2022

Daily Puzzle 20220709
White to move

This appeared in our free online tournament on Thursday. White is already up a Rook, so he chose to exchange the Queen. There is a better way to win,

If you want to watch my comment video, check out youtu.be/Wzs2Vv9dnLI

If you want to play the free online tournament, check out chesssteps.us/tour

Book：From GM to Top Ten: Judit Polgar Teaches Chess 2

7/8/2022

Book：From GM to Top Ten: Judit Polgar Teaches Chess 2

12 chapters，380 pages，a lot of photos, stories, and short games.
A nice read!

Daily Puzzle 20220708

7/8/2022

Daily Puzzle 20220708
White to move