Le Journal du Palais
This section brings together the archives of Le Palais des Échecs, in particular the hundreds of mate in 2 puzzles published over the years, as well as numerous articles on chess. To explore the blog by theme, visit our Learning chess, Great players, Chess culture or Buying guides sections.
Alexandra and Andrea Botez are the sisters who revolutionised the way chess is communicated. Competitive players, successful streamers and ambassadors of a thousand-year-old game to millions of young people, the Botez sisters have made chess “cool” on Twitch and YouTube. A portrait of two women changing the perception of chess. Who are the Botez sisters? […]
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 […]
Alireza Firouzja is the Franco-Iranian prodigy shaking up the world chess elite. A Grandmaster at 14, naturalised French in 2021, he is widely regarded as the future world number 1 and Magnus Carlsen’s natural successor. Portrait of an exceptional player. Profile Full nameAlireza Firouzja Born18 June 2003, Babol (Iran) NationalityFrench (naturalised 2021) Grandmaster2018, aged 14 […]
Chessboxing is one of the most unusual sports in the world: competitors alternate between rounds of boxing and rounds of rapid chess, testing both their physical strength and their strategic intelligence. Born from a comic book and now a genuine international sport, chessboxing fascinates and intrigues. Here’s everything you need to know. What is chessboxing? […]
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 […]
Bobby Fischer is the most fascinating and tragic chess player in history. World champion at 29 after defeating Boris Spassky in the “Match of the Century” at the height of the Cold War, a genius with an estimated IQ of 180, inventor of Chess960 — then a fugitive, a recluse and an exile. Here is […]
We all know it, entertainment isn’t just a source of fun, it can also be good for your brain! 🧠 If you thought playing board games was just a way to kill time on evenings with friends, think again. These games can genuinely boost your intelligence. Ready for an IQ upgrade? Here are the 7 […]
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.
By a chess enthusiast, observer of the educational world. Education is constantly evolving, always seeking new methods to stimulate and develop the skills of young minds. Recently, a bold proposal was put forward in France: introducing chess into primary schools. But why chess? And is it really the solution to today’s educational problems? Stéphane Demilly’s […]
