Openings
- Englund Gambit for beginners: the Qb4+ trick in 56 games
Englund Gambit for beginners: take the pawn, meet the Qb4+ check with Bd2 and avoid the Bc3 trap. Three positions checked with Stockfish from 56 rapid games.
- Horwitz Defense for beginners: 79 real games vs 1...e6
Horwitz Defense for beginners: what 1.d4 e6 is, why it transposes, the 2...Qf6 trap that cost me four bishops, and 79 engine-checked rapid games.
- Indian Game for beginners: what Chess.com's label means
Indian Game for beginners: what the 1.d4 Nf6 label means, how it differs from the named Indian defences, and lessons from 87 real rapid games.
- Italian Game for beginners: f7, traps and real results
The Italian Game for beginners, from Black's side: the f7 weakness, two real club mistakes checked with Stockfish, and results from 118 rapid games.
- King's Pawn Opening for beginners: 62 real games as Black
King's Pawn Opening for beginners, from Black's side: the early queen attack, the f6 trap and three mistakes from 62 rapid games checked with Stockfish.
- London System for beginners: 296 real club games
London System for beginners: the setup, the b2 pawn problem, two engine-checked positions and what 296 rapid games of one club player show.
- Modern Defense for beginners: 204 real club games
Modern Defense for beginners: the 1...g6 idea, how it differs from the Pirc, two engine-checked mistakes and 204 rapid games of one club player.
- Pirc Defense for beginners: ideas, traps and real results
The Pirc Defense for beginners: what Black is aiming for, two typical club mistakes checked with Stockfish, and results from 178 real rapid games.
- Queen's Pawn Opening for beginners: 1.d4 in real games
Queen's Pawn Opening for beginners: what 1.d4 and Chess.com's label mean, simple set-ups, two engine-checked positions and 64 real rapid games.
- Ruy Lopez for beginners: ideas, traps and real results
The Ruy Lopez for beginners: what 3.Bb5 does, the Cozio Defense I played as Black, three real mistakes checked with Stockfish and 50 rapid games.
- Scotch Game for beginners: ideas, traps and real results
The Scotch Game for beginners, from Black's side: what 3.d4 does, three real club mistakes checked with Stockfish, and results from 50 rapid games.
- Zukertort opening for beginners: 395 club games
Zukertort opening for beginners: what 1.Nf3 really is, why Chess.com may call your d4–Bf4 games Zukertort, and 395 real rapid games.