What is a pawn chain?
Pawn are the first piece that most players learn…but are by no means the simplest. They are a very unique piece for a variety of reasons: 1. They are the only pieces that cannot move backwards. 2. They are the only pieces that attack differently that they moves. 3. They are the only pieces that […]
Discovery Attack!
A discovery attack is one of the best tactics that a player can use in a chess game. It is a chess tactic that will distract your opponent from your main attack…then if they don’t notice…DISCOVERY ATTACK! Here’s how it works: In this position (We are playing as white) we can use a discovery attack […]
Happy Halloween Chess Players!
CheckMates Chess Academy would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween!
Perpetual Check
Have you ever heard the chess term perpetual check and wondered what is was? Like most chess terms it isnt hard to figure out: a perpetual check is a position in which one player is constantly repeated the same series of checks and his/her opponent has no options to do anything else. In a perpetual […]
Congratulations to our Kids Chess Champs!
[imagebrowser id=11] This is from the Scholastic Chess Tournament CheckMates Chess Academy held in Des Plaines Illinois at the Des Plaines Public Library. This is a kids events sponsored by Friends of the Des Plaines Library and run by Checkmates Chess Academy. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 came to the library for […]
Chess Tournament This Saturday!!!
This Saturday, October 22nd, CheckMates will be hosting a free kids chess tournament at the Des Plaines Library in Des Plaines, Illinois. The Tournament is open to players of all levels, even those without a USCF rating. This is a great chance for your child to practicing competing in chess without the worry of losing. […]
What does FIDE stand for?
Many of us know that FIDE is the leading world chess organization. But what does FIDE stand for? FIDE stands for Fédération Internationale des Échecs, which literally translates into World Chess Federation. They are the governing body for most large chess events and create the rules for international competition. They also award players titles such […]
What is a GrandMaster?
What is a Grandmaster? Many parents and students alike ask me this question. A grandmaster is a rank that FIDE (World Chess Federation) bestows upon a player. Over the course of history the specific qualifications for this have changed; but it basically means you are a really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really […]
Skeleton Key Chess Set
This week’s unique chess set has a Halloween theme…being that October is the spookiest of all the months. The Chess set above is the Skeleton Key Chess Set, and for good reason. All of the pieces are keys and there are slots in the board for them to be inserted into with every move. I […]