Training Techniques

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
02.05.2018

Improving at chess takes a lot of work and patience. It cannot happen overnight, but only after investing many hours of training and practicing the newly learned elements. With the development of technology, there are many more materials that can now be easily accessed for study. There are a lot of books, video lessons, articles […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
01.31.2018

Many club players feel that after a long time of studying chess they don’t see enough progress in their chess. This brings a feeling of depression and it sometimes leads to quitting the usual training plan or the idea of making progress in chess. However, thinking that you are not good enough or that you […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
12.08.2017

“I am planning to play in the Open section of the Las Vegas International next month, what should I do?” Replace Vegas International and there is a question that as a professional trainer I get asked a lot. How to prepare for a tournament? Generally, those who ask me this are not dedicating plenty of […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
12.01.2017

Studying chess can prove a difficult task sometimes and, as much as you like to study by yourself, you might realize at some point that you need some guidance. It could be that you reach a moment when you can no longer see any improvement, regardless of the time you invest in studying or that […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
11.28.2017

One of the most important aspects of the life of every chess player with a bit of ambition is training. Constant self-improvement has always been the engine that keeps a player going. Training, like in any other sport, requires patience, discipline, and a strong will to work hard. If you have a coach or colleague […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
11.20.2017

In my 15 years’ experience as a chess coach, I have always been learning about the best methods to improve the level of my students in the shortest possible time. Of course, I have been learning on the road; my own experience serves me well to understand things that are important to teach to an […]

IM Yuriy Krykun
11.14.2017
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IM Yuriy Krykun
11.14.2017

In this article, I would like to share my thoughts on the topic that is, for sure, extremely important for every chess player. That is how to calculate variations. Unfortunately, this highly interesting and crucial topic had never been covered in a great detail. The only decent source I know is the book of a […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
09.25.2017

Chess is a complex game. It requires a lot of knowledge, but also a good psychological preparation and finding the right approach to your games during a tournament. It is also important to know how to deal with losses and wins – something that usually comes with experience. Here are a few pieces of advice […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
09.22.2017

If you are an active player you have probably already been paired against a much stronger opponent at least once in the tournaments you’ve played. It is clear that this will never be an easy encounter, but it is important that you know how to approach the game and how to set your mind for […]

Yury Markushin
09.15.2017
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Yury Markushin
09.15.2017

Over 99% of chess players play way under their maximum performance rating. Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply flip a switch and your chess performance goes up? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that, otherwise, everyone would’ve been a Grandmaster already. Don’t get upset though, because there are some things that I cover that […]