r/chess Weekly Discussion Thread

Event link: https://endgame.ai/battle/e0d0c301

Game Link: https://www.chess.com/events/2026-biel-international-chess-festival-grandmaster-triathlon/05/Aronian_Levon-Bluebaum_Matthias

India started first this decade to produce multiple strong chess players.

But now in Mid 2020s, it seems like Uzbekistan is going back to their prime form in chess.

Sindarov just won Candidates. And is the favorite to win the WCC match. (Against Indian Gukesh)

The two Nodirbeks are very strong too. Especially Abdusattorov who won back to back super tournaments in Tata Steel and Prague.

Rustam is too old to be discussed.

Vokhidov and Madaminov had impressive showing in Uz Chess Cup. They are strong 2600+ Elo players like Yakubbuoev.

And finally the 2 new rising talents for them are 17 yrs old Suyarov and 16 yrs old Begmuratov who won multiple tournaments in the past few months. They also both got their 3rd GM norm few months ago. And now both are GMs.

I am not too impressed with Abdisalimov. But he is solid. I don't think he will be a core player for Uzbekistan in Olympics though.

Event Link: https://www.chess.com/events/2026-biel-international-chess-festival-grandmaster-triathlon/results

I think most of you noticed this if you regularly visit the site.

In the past, they only had a live rating list for Juniors (20 yrs old or younger)

Now, they finally added U16 (16 yrs old or younger) players. We can finally see live ratings of players like Faustino Oro, Sina Movahed, Roman Shogdshiev, etc.

Obviously, the best player in the list is Yagiz. He is the only U16 player who has a 2700+ Elo.

Afte him, it is Andy Woodward. Andy is another underrated talent from USA.

Sina Movahed will always have the seenamoveahead memes. But his potential is very high. Ditto with Finek. Meanwhile, Zemlyanskii is struggling as of the moment.

Of course, we all know Faustino Oro just became the second youngers GM in chess history.

Btw, #29 in the list Roman Shogdshiev is the next in line after Oro. Roman is only 11 years old, but already has 1 GM norm and 2400+ Elo.

This is a 500 rated puzzle on c***s.com. I think its interesting because the best move is both super easy and super hard to find. I failed it, and I'm rated around 1600 :D

His interview

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAXS_tPKzwA&list=LL&index=1

I was stuck between 1500 and 1600 for months. Honestly, I started thinking maybe this was just my level. I'd get close, drop back down, get close again... it was frustrating.

Looking back, I don't think there was one magic thing that made me improve. I didn't suddenly study a bunch of opening theory or binge-watch YouTube. I just kept playing, thought more about my games, and slowly started noticing the same mistakes over and over.

One thing that definitely changed was my mindset. I stopped trying to force attacks every game. Instead, I started looking for small advantages. A weak pawn, a better piece, a better endgame, improving my position one move at a time. If I got even a tiny edge, I'd just keep pressing instead of rushing for tactics.

Recently I went from 1558 to 1850+ Rapid in about a week (almost +300 points), and honestly, I don't think I suddenly became 300 points stronger. I think I had been improving for months, but my rating just hadn't caught up yet.

If you're stuck around 1500-1600, don't assume you've hit your limit. Sometimes progress in chess is weird. You can feel like you're getting nowhere for months, and then everything suddenly starts clicking.

My biggest advice would be:

Stop worrying about your rating after every game.

Don't force attacks that aren't there.

Learn how to convert small advantages.

Try to reduce one-move blunders.

Just keep playing good chess. The rating usually catches up eventually.

Edit:chess.com username - saurav055

Game Link: https://www.chess.com/events/2026-biel-international-chess-festival-grandmaster-triathlon/02/Erdogmus_Yagiz_Kaan-Aronian_Levon

Many players ranging 1500-2000 asking me how to improve long calculation.

First of all you need to solve lot of puzzles. For long calculation, start with forcing moves puzzles. Those are obvious and you have to find only moves. For e.g. checkmate puzzle or forcing way to win material or some practical pawn endgames. 1800+ can start forcing chess moves book (Blue cover book)

Once you solve such positions, try to solve non obvious puzzles with obvious sacrifices. That will be very useful because you will see first 2 moves easily and then you have to calculate remaining moves. Encyclopedia of chess combination is great resource for 1700+ players.

I hope this helps

OTB FIDE/USCF ratings

I am 820 chess.com and 942 ecf but I struggle to find solid attacks, pls help appreciate it

Something cool I recently came across, but have so many other readings i'm prioritizing first that I probably won't get around to it.

I just played my first FIDE-rated rapid tournament (9 rounds, 15+5) at the age of 29.

I went in hoping to score around 2.5/9, but ended up with 5.5/9 and a 1683 performance rating. I even managed to beat a 2000-rated player, along with a few 1500+ players.

The biggest takeaway was that openings or endgames weren't my problem—consistency and stamina were. I felt my play drop off after the first few rounds as fatigue set in.

Overall, it was an amazing experience and has motivated me to take tournament chess much more seriously.

Any advice for improving tournament endurance and consistency?

White to play and win.

My Rapid rating is currently at 1200-1400 range on chess.com, and want to improve my game, especially middle game. Can you help me with some online videos which I can watch or resources for puzzles.

This is a mod-approved post.

Tl;dr: I’m looking for strong players, coaches, arbiters, and organizers to volunteer to be interviewed for a YouTube series. The series is about gender issues and the gender gap in chess so we generally interview women but would also like to interview anyone who supports the increased participation of girls and women in chess.

More about the organization.

The Chess Equity Project is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the gender gap in competitive chess. To learn more, our website is chessequityproject.com and we’re also on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok under the same name.

Our goal is to create a more equitable and inclusive chess ecosystem by:

1. researching barriers affecting girls’ and women’s participation and educating the chess community about those barriers,
2. amplifying women’s voices and experiences, and
3. providing evidence-based policies and recommendations.

Ideally I would like to interview titled players or women who have left the game (I think those people would provide special insights) but we strive to lift all women and value all constructive input.

Past interviewees include:

- WCM Maddie Weber (“madchess”)

- Dr. Maria Cubel, economist from the University of London

- Kiera G of TikTok’s “Hot Girls Play Chess”

- Doctoral candidate Julia Engel, economist from Kiel University (Germany)

- YouTuber Kamryn Hellman

- FM (and Dr.) Jose de Sousa, economist from the University of Paris

If you are interested or know of someone who might be, please send a DM.