https://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blogdatajunkie's Blog2026-04-21T10:18:37.968Zhttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/5-benefits-of-otb-tournaments/JwwDNNj22026-04-21T10:18:37.968Z2026-04-21T10:18:37.968Z5 benefits of OTB tournaments<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=CzvbdZ9WI-Fq.webp&w=880&sig=81019a2217833a7050d6cbc58f254686a2c240d0" /><br />There's nothing like 9 rounds of 90+30IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/youre-studying-chess-openings-the-wrong-way-do-this-instead/3OSUKrap2026-04-09T11:05:37.112Z2026-04-09T11:05:37.112ZYou’re studying chess openings the wrong way (do this instead)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=nYl1_pdjyagW.webp&w=880&sig=1d1885135d9c2be0f1ad3abb3e1321d8850b1873" /><br />If memorising more opening lines made you stronger, many club players would be masters by now.IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/our-64-most-memorable-blunders/lQMr8Pc42026-03-18T07:03:40.055Z2026-03-18T07:03:40.055ZOur 64 most memorable blunders<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=Q8o9sbCkegWa.webp&w=880&sig=f9e161172af3ac955fd6bdb75080814170d35126" /><br />Add your worst move to this community collectionIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-three-pillars-of-tactical-skill/RuyIXNTr2026-03-03T19:57:48.808Z2026-03-03T19:57:48.808ZThe three pillars of tactical skill<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=1LonwZQTTgPB.webp&w=880&sig=7cfce4487e101058c0b30a4402c7d8f05151ce84" /><br />Which one do you need to strengthen?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-you-overthink-in-chess-and-how-to-stop/574BwtcB2026-02-17T19:27:30.27Z2026-02-17T19:27:30.27ZWhy you overthink in chess (and how to stop)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=-_DknVhA2I-N.webp&w=880&sig=b4882cee1d43686a2abdb8ef5bf86fbdb869445f" /><br />It took me 25 years to realise thisIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/emulate-someone-you-admire/scDXNcOx2026-02-11T07:43:02.587Z2026-02-11T07:43:02.587ZEmulate someone you admire<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=b5aYfKmc28-G.webp&w=880&sig=5c2106f72502592cfb65ed709557c647f189f316" /><br />Chess advice from a professional guitaristIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-5-stages-of-chess-mastery/xnX6l5i12026-01-29T06:44:37.59Z2026-01-29T06:44:37.59ZThe 5 Stages of Chess Mastery<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=H0k9Kaa3Ps_4.webp&w=880&sig=7f389da2446cb7d6ee86e4991a46b8da90aeaa15" /><br />Where are you?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/three-signals-of-future-strength-in-chess/lEo7Sut82026-01-22T22:04:05.826Z2026-01-22T22:04:05.826ZThree signals of future strength in chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=r7ldWw2BTjZT.webp&w=880&sig=3f06925323fa34a0172ab1c316086f8b86322a33" /><br />Trainable behaviours I noticed while giving a simul at the Australian JuniorsIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/do-this-on-your-opponents-turn/3KRj203S2026-01-14T19:55:47.574Z2026-01-14T19:55:47.574ZDo this on your opponent's turn<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=JmQl49A75kM5.webp&w=880&sig=dcab61d08d3b2d7e1f9157ccca999ea76aa77f7e" /><br />5 simple habits to use your time better and level up your chessIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-top-mistake-amateur-players-make/IkQzyVY82026-01-01T21:45:46.942Z2026-01-01T21:45:46.942ZThe top mistake amateur players make<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=HUSHtnq7P7wf.webp&w=880&sig=9734509535ac5d73114bd4911ea8d2f4cf263516" /><br />+ best chess books I read in 2025IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-your-tactics-arent-improving/5lcSErLF2025-11-28T19:47:51.844Z2025-11-28T19:47:51.844ZWhy your tactics aren’t improving<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=A532zvxEAeUu.webp&w=880&sig=05d06fe7e3a98875593413eda84ea0d2c9cef1df" /><br />The 4 fixes that can help you become a tacticianIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/25-lessons-from-25-years-of-chess/5xL1Q4lj2025-11-11T10:13:46.406Z2025-11-11T10:13:46.406Z25 lessons from 25 years of chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:5xL1Q4lj:Sqk9uwG5.webp&w=880&sig=760fd2dbca9586986b6e58edd48f5cc25f9d8477" /><br />Mistakes you can avoid and habits you can start with todayIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-5-things-i-do-before-a-tournament/96Gi1UXH2025-10-10T21:20:00.166Z2025-10-10T21:20:00.166ZThe 5 things I do before a tournament<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:96Gi1UXH:lU7xIpF4.webp&w=880&sig=5e01bcc10b4e01ab1e682fe7fe87d052b0d9fd1a" /><br />Learnt from 25 consecutive years of OTBIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/33-my-most-memorable-novelty/nP9damiR2023-10-15T12:16:54.171Z2023-10-15T12:16:54.171Z#33: My Most Memorable Novelty<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:nP9damiR:RyU3Td9p.jpg&w=880&sig=368e2639248f0658f5784e6a046ccf0235d89696" /><br />The joy of charting unexplored territoryIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/32-book-review-finite-and-infinite-games/tRN9d6Ni2023-10-15T12:10:18.639Z2023-10-15T12:10:18.639Z#32: Book review: Finite and Infinite Games<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:tRN9d6Ni:TMkc3b3a.jpg&w=880&sig=86ddae49311b49d75c3539a937c20ffc626bcecf" /><br />5 stars! Do you play chess as a finite or infinite game?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/31-how-to-think-on-your-opponents-turn/neuU5kkY2023-09-29T13:57:15.054Z2023-09-29T13:57:15.054Z#31: How to think on your opponent's turn<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:neuU5kkY:MTitWnMB.jpg&w=880&sig=7b198dcf71a54635e2ec9891089de2b2f49d086d" /><br />I asked 3 grandmasters what they doIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/30-and-then-there-were-none/QnUtwDJn2023-09-22T12:59:54.954Z2023-09-22T12:59:54.954Z#30: And Then There Were None<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:QnUtwDJn:QXgr4TWO.jpg&w=880&sig=11cf18e95c7733371c648d499b062e91649d99b3" /><br />Lichess versionIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/29-the-14-rules-of-hedgehog-club/7i4OSTkX2023-09-10T12:13:11.045Z2023-09-10T12:13:11.045Z#29: The 14 Rules of Hedgehog Club<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Hedgehog Club" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:7i4OSTkX:mzPcIQV0.jpg&w=880&sig=91b1fa08bdaa90e1e1cbbc21632be75704626c7f" /><br />Welcome to Hedgehog Club. The first rule of Hedgehog Club is: you do not talk about Hedgehog Club.IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/28-why-isnt-chess-popular-in-japan/UoEDbXUU2023-09-02T12:26:25.025Z2023-09-02T12:26:25.025Z#28: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:UoEDbXUU:EIH8dKoH.png&w=880&sig=caad088faff962747493e3f961238f8908b2dd06" /><br />Overview of the past, present and future of the game in the Land of the Rising SunIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/27-book-review-think-like-a-super-gm/YKRRdgmD2023-08-25T13:34:39.011Z2023-08-25T13:34:39.011Z#27: Book review: Think Like a Super-GM<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:YKRRdgmD:6MqwxzWD.jpg&w=880&sig=8e1962a1fb595147bdf7792f9fc57ac44c423e53" /><br />4.5/5—A puzzle book for the agesIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/26-why-write-about-chess/Zph2S0qP2023-08-13T11:40:40.88Z2023-08-13T11:40:40.88Z#26: Why write about chess?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:Zph2S0qP:g6dIQtvp.jpg&w=880&sig=fc2f7db8f23f68d7984c703ab551a8401dd7df8e" /><br />The benefits of writing that might encourage YOU to get startedIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/25-book-review-study-chess-with-matthew-sadler/WgVmbT0b2023-08-13T05:00:08.654Z2023-08-13T05:00:08.654Z#25: Book review: Study Chess with Matthew Sadler<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:WgVmbT0b:gRY9LlO2.jpg&w=880&sig=600288ec7c4789a26446638b9d04c1f2ce3d6648" /><br />4 out of 5 stars! 5 takeaways from the charming bookIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/24-why-dont-you-play-more-endgames/UcCVG86h2023-08-08T12:00:08.524Z2023-08-08T12:00:08.524Z#24: Why Don't You Play More Endgames?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:UcCVG86h:h3jtGkh6.jpg&w=880&sig=900f7aa19e9403cfad58d75e373a0aa9d0525f22" /><br />What I realised last week when I got to play a fascinating final round gameIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/23-what-i-talk-about-when-i-talk-about-bullet/nULbH1Ls2023-08-03T12:51:06.664Z2023-08-03T12:51:06.664Z#23: What I Talk About When I Talk About Bullet<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=datajunkie:ublog:nULbH1Ls:zQ273MBh.jpg&w=880&sig=45782945b2fa6384d6978b4c6ff5908affef2f70" /><br />What I've learnt after 15,000 games of 1-minute chessIM datajunkie