Blogs & Articles - Liverpool Chess Academy

Favourite Mistakes of Chess Mice

NM Roger Williamson - 27/05/2024

General
Middle Game

"Chess is a mental exercise in managing failure." James Rizzitano, Understanding Your Chess Inside the mind of the chessplayer is a laboratory mouse running a maze. He explores every avenue, usually more than once, even the blind alleys, but not necessarily with the idea of escape. He does so beca...

The Pressure Principle

Rob Frith - 27/05/2024

General
Middle Game

There’s a general consensus that GM Hikaru Nakamura is in the best form of his life. Given that he’s won several major tournaments, qualified for the Candidates and then came within half a point of reaching the final itself, it’s hard to disagree. He’s also repeated the mantra over the last couple o...

The Knight Leads the Caro-Kann Orchestra

NM Roger Williamson - 02/03/2024

General
Middle Game

The Caro-Kann is currently immensely popular. This is no doubt less to do with its endorsement at the highest level by Anand, Carlsen et al and more to do with how and where new chess players (those who came to the game during the pandemic) get their information. The most popular chess YouTube strea...

Carlsbad Structure Explained - Part 1

Jamie Kumar - 20/01/2024

General
Middle Game

Hey everyone, Jamie Kumar at your service, member of the John Littlewood Chess Academy, and yes, I'm one of those unfortunate people who's been using 1. d4 for what feels like an eternity in his chess "career." But hey, we can't all be 1. e4 rebels, right? Now, let's dive right into the heart of...

"Do Nothing" as Grand Strategy

NM Roger Williamson - 19/12/2023

General
Middle Game
Endgame

The Skillful Warrior Does not rely on the enemy’s Not coming, But on his own Preparedness. He does not rely on the enemy’s Not attacking, But on his own Impregnability. Sun-tzu, ‘The Nine Changes’ The Art of War In ‘Do Nothing’ we looked at the necessity for doing nothing when appro...

Do Nothing!

NM Roger Williamson - 07/11/2023

Endgame
General
Middle Game

Blackadder: Am I jumping the gun, Baldrick, or are the words "I have a cunning plan" marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation? Baldrick: They certainly are, sir! Blackadder: Well, forgive me if I don't jump up and down with glee. Your record in this department...

Do Something!

NM Roger Williamson - 05/11/2023

Middle Game
General
Endgame

Baldrick: Oh, sir! Poor little Mildred the cat, what's he ever done to you? Blackadder: It is the way of the world, Baldrick. The abused always kick downwards. I am annoyed, and so I kick the cat, the cat [loud squeak] pounces on the mouse, and finally, the mouse-- Baldrick: Argh! Blackadder:...

Planning & Prevention

NM Roger Williamson - 12/09/2023

General
Middle Game

The aim in chess, as in many areas in life, is to put our carefully laid plans into action. But while in life we must reckon with circumstances beyond our control, contingency, in chess that role is played by our opponent. They get to plan too. So where exactly is the line drawn between planning and...

Why study the opening?

NM Roger Williamson - 08/08/2023

Opening
General

Why study the opening? Note I say the opening, not a specific line. Learn plans, not openings. Which means familiarising yourself from as many typical middlegames arising from as many openings as possible. In other words, look at and try to understand as many openings as possible. Legend has it that...

What makes certain openings superior to others?

NM Roger Williamson - 21/07/2023

Opening

'What openings should I play in order to improve?' Is a question frequently asked of this chess coach by a casual student. More often than not, my answer is 'whichever openings you enjoy playing'. Unless as a student you're prepared to wholly submit yourself to your coach's suggestions (and few are!...

Razuvaev's 'Gambit'

NM Roger Williamson - 05/07/2023

Opening
Middle Game

On the value of understanding transpositional possibilities in chess One of the most remarkable aspects of chess is its capacity to show you how little you still know after even 20+ years of playing and studying the game. Browsing the late Yuri Razuvaev's Key Concepts of Gambit play,I came across a...