https://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blogCheckRaiseMate's Blog2025-10-28T08:20:51.343Zhttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-100-games-of-blitz-challenge/lLAyKjmR2025-10-28T08:20:51.343Z2025-10-28T08:20:51.343ZThe 100 Games of Blitz Challenge<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Carlsen playing blitz" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:lLAyKjmR:egNFhfM8.webp&w=880&sig=2622e089b4cb954cea8b22cb1c285b13d8bebd5c" /><br />Transform your chess game in NovemberFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/workout-of-the-week/5xw04PD12025-10-09T07:53:10.254Z2025-10-09T07:53:10.254ZWorkout of the Week<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:5xw04PD1:gEtsMQcS.webp&w=880&sig=cb4361413d943559f375a091caa607a4f36069ec" /><br />A chess puzzle to get your brain sweatingFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/yes-theres-luck-in-chess/igYcnGTL2025-06-23T20:50:15.165Z2025-06-23T20:50:15.165ZYes, There's Luck in Chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:igYcnGTL:VPVjwJxX.webp&w=880&sig=6f52f5dd0ca7ba61e6392be40b5d938c82eea9d4" /><br />Here's what you can do about itFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/a-strategic-rule-ive-never-seen-before/8shDHNMO2025-05-19T18:54:27.67Z2025-05-19T18:54:27.67ZA Strategic Rule I've Never Seen Before<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:8shDHNMO:5gpJddAH.webp&w=880&sig=b25a81ca2cead1f4fccfc194409b4bf0a07153b2" /><br />How do you choose which piece to use for defense?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/cream/tQh8qKoB2025-05-12T18:25:51.536Z2025-05-12T18:25:51.536ZCREAM<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:tQh8qKoB:PFpn6OtB.webp&w=880&sig=930dd89eb67cc043edace65dc482edf7a3f7f937" /><br />Captures Rule Everything Around MeFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-4-lichess-studies-i-make-for-every-student/yRI4RLAh2025-04-28T18:56:16.813Z2025-04-28T18:56:16.813ZThe 4 Lichess Studies I Make For Every Student<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Lichess study" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:yRI4RLAh:Ms6FDuld.webp&w=880&sig=37e6ff6f158114e2f06d339649adf5de4a95d80c" /><br />A setup to streamline your chess study routineFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/1510-is-all-you-need/IwnFHIcW2025-04-22T21:05:36.397Z2025-04-22T21:05:36.397Z15+10 Is All You Need<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:IwnFHIcW:GaJ71dIS.webp&w=880&sig=f03843afada3574aa58391a1caf3934a22a4d890" /><br />The simplest plan for chess improvementFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/what-i-learned-teaching-47-people-the-semi-slav/lKyrE5u72025-04-17T20:56:10.755Z2025-04-17T20:56:10.755ZWhat I Learned Teaching 47 People the Semi-Slav<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:lKyrE5u7:vV2otF9r.webp&w=880&sig=fdf28ef54e149df7bf58cf7b2d9db059ca89e009" /><br />Honing in on what really works for studying the openingFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/this-dd-retreat-costs-10x-a-chess-tournament/7tONa4eN2025-04-08T19:21:02.673Z2025-04-08T19:21:02.673ZThis D&D Retreat Costs 10x a Chess Tournament<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:7tONa4eN:IIWqf3U9.webp&w=880&sig=6dbb6ae6b26e0d1a2bf39e46233d1a6fbe795988" /><br />They're always sold outFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/mailbag-otb-tournaments/cG4cRhyD2025-04-01T19:19:14.23Z2025-04-01T19:19:14.23ZMailbag: OTB Tournaments<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:cG4cRhyD:tTZbHJem.webp&w=880&sig=563097e4b1b96c8ea9e27994805d114b56d82695" /><br />What are people saying about OTB chess?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/what-would-a-fun-chess-tournament-look-like/jDkme0oW2025-03-25T17:54:17.624Z2025-03-25T17:54:17.624ZWhat Would a Fun Chess Tournament Look Like?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:jDkme0oW:0WnyKm7q.webp&w=880&sig=6d2e2d560668a87f174f7ff48767c965691b2e12" /><br />If current OTB tournaments aren't working, how could we change them?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/i-dont-like-chess-tournaments/VaiIgfdX2025-03-20T21:52:23.46Z2025-03-20T21:52:23.46ZI Don't Like Chess Tournaments<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:VaiIgfdX:AmhrpEVl.webp&w=880&sig=66e2cd9379ba5f1cafcc5c93b7367e3b19c3b076" /><br />It doesn't have to be this way!FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/should-you-play-up/3SQpheOH2025-03-11T18:10:20.085Z2025-03-11T18:10:20.085ZShould You Play Up?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:3SQpheOH:O0k5mkPG.webp&w=880&sig=a3c91f6af3a21070f61464fc1351936ca3bb585a" /><br />When playing in an OTB tournament, should you play in a higher section if allowed?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/what-good-opening-prep-really-looks-like/6tZ4SOhs2025-03-03T21:01:31.777Z2025-03-03T21:01:31.777ZWhat Good Opening Prep Really Looks Like<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:6tZ4SOhs:MR1wCh4G.webp&w=880&sig=ad7538ca78ac8fed9408889906ef88b697022707" /><br />There are no prizes for memorizing random movesFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-minimalist-chess-workout/Fl1b1Toj2024-10-28T20:23:25.741Z2024-10-28T20:23:25.741ZThe Minimalist Chess Workout<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="man lifting weights on a chess board" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:Fl1b1Toj:aGdBKWFu.webp&w=880&sig=494721fcea3a28f32c5dad5c0e643e455b018bf3" /><br />What's the simplest thing that could possibly work?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-power-of-a-plan/KRTPosxy2024-10-14T15:53:57.226Z2024-10-14T15:53:57.226ZThe Power of a Plan<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="position with arrows" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:KRTPosxy:kBxoXEFL.jpg&w=880&sig=280d303cd9810e834db263543e7f9f287bd6887e" /><br />And how to make the engine into an effective teacherFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-worst-way-to-change-your-thought-process/eaGfJ1oG2024-10-09T18:56:52.394Z2024-10-09T18:56:52.394ZThe Worst Way to Change Your Thought Process<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:eaGfJ1oG:zf2TdVpe.png&w=880&sig=771d29740070ab43aa996ac041cd3366f9cbeb10" /><br />Except for all the othersFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/how-should-a-chess-strategy-book-be-structured/ViDqhwuK2024-08-26T14:37:09.313Z2024-08-26T14:37:09.313ZHow Should a Chess Strategy Book Be Structured?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="king on a chessboard" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:ViDqhwuK:s3s2AFsJ.png&w=880&sig=6907a2f2755bfb853c551b849497dd6daab1c4bb" /><br />Most of the books out there share the same handful of problemsFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-woodpecker-method-revisited/ClV6CvGE2024-08-19T16:18:17.377Z2024-08-19T16:18:17.377ZThe Woodpecker Method, Revisited<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="woodpecker" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:ClV6CvGE:EF5IWHO5.png&w=880&sig=ceddf9dbadf03a7f765ce0fd7ecbc4428ec20c45" /><br />It's been used to win GM norms and gain 500 points. Is this the ultimate chess training method?FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/how-do-you-stop-blundering/UOFOoIir2024-04-10T20:01:56.149Z2024-04-10T20:01:56.149ZHow Do You Stop Blundering?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Chess player blundering" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:UOFOoIir:fwe58UQP.jpg&w=880&sig=e881c7b12155f50477824b8dd2dc12113a2db362" /><br />The hardest problem to solve in chessFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/priyomes/y2rmDCLR2024-04-01T19:38:19.756Z2024-04-01T19:38:19.756ZPriyomes<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:y2rmDCLR:elQbESRt.jpg&w=880&sig=080e675f7cbe8f30b95ca1374314fb460f2c5e17" /><br />The most important chess concept you've never heard ofFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/comparing-lichess-and-chessbase/fZRZfwhI2024-03-08T19:45:00.672Z2024-03-08T19:45:00.672ZComparing Lichess and Chessbase<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Chess files" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:fZRZfwhI:moDH7tGA.jpg&w=880&sig=b0e67a7bda25329aa3c5571b18b4079d8407f7ed" /><br />Do not try this at home!FM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/us-amateur-team-east-recap/W1hhuFAu2024-02-26T20:01:33.233Z2024-02-26T20:01:33.233ZUS Amateur Team East Recap<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Man crawling through mud" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:W1hhuFAu:UxFVK8Gm.jpg&w=880&sig=ec803ae4af9556dc1d73c7af20a57e6fc207fcca" /><br />The good, the bad, and the uglyFM CheckRaiseMatehttps://lichess.org/@/CheckRaiseMate/blog/the-one-thing-i-bring-to-every-otb-tournament/cSPoEZAA2024-02-21T22:30:44.059Z2024-02-21T22:30:44.059ZThe One Thing I Bring To Every OTB Tournament<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="chess notebook" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=checkraisemate:ublog:cSPoEZAA:fYV5di0h.jpg&w=880&sig=e0457d04f9d98bc48c0830bf989fc34c8c38b96f" /><br />Why I always have a notebook at OTB tournamentsFM CheckRaiseMate