Le Journal du Palais
Whether you’re discovering the chessboard for the first time or looking to reach the next level, this section will help you learn how to play chess. Start with the fundamental principles and the key concept of checkmate, then learn how to set up and counter the famous Scholar’s mate. You’ll then discover the openings that shape the game, such as the Sicilian defence or the English opening, and understand how the Elo rating works. To put it all into practice, train every day with our mate in 2 puzzles.
The Elo rating is the universal system that measures a chess player’s strength. Invented in 1960 by Hungarian-American physicist Arpad Elo, it assigns a number to each player: the higher the number, the stronger the player. Here’s how it works, how it’s calculated, and how to increase it. The Elo system explained simply What is […]
Scholar’s Mate is the fastest and most famous checkmate in chess. In just 4 moves, the queen and bishop join forces to checkmate the opposing king on the f7 square, the weakest point in the starting position. Here’s how to play it, how to stop it, and why you should quickly move on if you […]
Checkmate: two words that end every decisive game of chess. But what do they actually mean? Where does the expression come from? And which mating patterns should you know to win your games? Here’s the complete guide to checkmate, from beginner to seasoned player. What is checkmate? Checkmate (often shortened to “mate”) is the situation […]
Playing lots of chess games is the best way to improve your game. There are many servers where you can meet opponents of all skill levels, day or night.
Today, we’re going to explore a variant of chess that’s growing in popularity and promises to breathe new life into our age-old game: random chess. So, you might be wondering, “What is it?” and “Why should I care?”. Don’t worry, let’s dive straight in! 1. What exactly is random chess? Imagine for a moment that […]
The English Opening (1.c4 (also known as the c4 opening)) is a sophisticated flank opening, favoured by positional players who prefer to avoid the well-trodden paths of 1.e4 or 1.d4. flexible. The English defence in chess is appreciated for its adaptability and is less theoretical than classical openings, allowing White to build a long-term strategic […]
Before memorising openings or combinations, every chess player must master the fundamental principles that govern the game. These 7 principles, valid from beginner to Grandmaster, form the foundation on which to build a solid understanding of chess strategy. Principle 1: Control the centre The squares e4, d4, e5, d5 form the centre of the chessboard. […]
The Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5) is the most played and most analysed opening in the history of chess. Chosen by world champions from Bobby Fischer to Magnus Carlsen, it offers Black a dynamic, unbalanced game, with genuine chances of victory from the very start of the game. Why play 1…c5? After 1.e4, the move 1…c5 […]
Shogi, or Japanese chess, is a fascinating strategy game played by millions of people in Japan. Its unique feature — the ability to bring captured pieces back into play — makes it the most dynamic of all games in the chess family. Here’s how to learn to play Shogi step by step. The history of […]
From the Hans Niemann scandal to FIDE’s anti-cheating in chess measures, chess cheating has become a major issue in the digital age. How can it be detected. How does Chess.com detect cheaters? Through algorithms that compare your moves to the engine’s suggestions, in order to catch fraudsters and preserve the integrity of the game? The […]
