The Palace Journal
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.
Fork, pin, skewer, discovered attack: these four tactical patterns are enough to win material in most amateur games. Definitions, annotated examples and tips for effective practice.
Stalemate in chess turns a dominant position into a simple draw. Discover its official definition, its difference from checkmate, and the habits to adopt to avoid or provoke it depending on your situation on the board.
En passant is the only move that allows a pawn to capture an enemy pawn without occupying an adjacent diagonal square. Conditions, a step-by-step example and pitfalls to avoid: the complete guide to this special chess rule.
The Elo rating is the international system that measures a chess player’s strength: the higher the number, the stronger the player. Invented in 1960 by physicist Arpad Elo, it ranges from 800 for a beginner to over 2800 for the world elite. This guide explains how the Elo rating is calculated, what level you’re at, […]
Scholar’s Mate delivers checkmate in just 4 moves, exploiting the f7 square, the only square in Black’s camp defended solely by the king at the start of the game. The white queen and bishop combine to strike the fatal blow if Black fails to react in time. A single defensive move is enough to neutralise […]
Checkmate is the situation where the king is attacked with no way to flee, be defended or capture the attacking piece: the game stops immediately and the player delivering the mate wins. The expression comes from the Persian shah mat, “the king is helpless”, passed on through Arabic into European languages. These words denote a […]
Playing lots of chess games is the best way to improve. There are many servers where you can meet opponents of every skill level, 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. For a complete, detailed method, see our guide to improving your chess. Principle 1: Control the centre […]
