Author
Hardik Ranpariya
Chess Coach
Lichess vs Chess.com: Comparing Analysis Tools
A practical comparison of the analysis features on chess's two largest online platforms — what each offers for free, and where the meaningful differences actually are.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 9, 2026
José Raúl Capablanca: The Chess Machine
A profile of the Cuban world champion renowned for his effortless, almost error-free playing style — and the reputation for natural genius that followed him throughout his career.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 9, 2026
What Is the Chess Olympiad? A Complete Guide
How the Chess Olympiad works — the biennial team event that brings together national teams from around the world, and why it holds a unique place in the chess calendar.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 8, 2026
Kasparov vs Topalov 1999: The Immortal Sacrifice
A look at one of the most celebrated modern games in chess history — Garry Kasparov's stunning combination against Veselin Topalov at Wijk aan Zee 1999.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 8, 2026
How to Handle Losing Streaks
A practical approach to the inevitable stretches of consecutive losses every player faces — what actually helps, and what makes a losing streak worse.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 8, 2026
Breaking Through Rating Plateaus
Why rating improvement stalls even with consistent effort, and the specific diagnostic and training changes that reliably get progress moving again.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 7, 2026
Understanding Check, Checkmate, and Stalemate
The three outcomes every new player needs to tell apart clearly — what makes a king in check, what turns that into checkmate, and why stalemate is a draw rather than a loss.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 7, 2026
Rook Endgames: The Most Common Endgame Type
Why rook endgames appear more often than any other endgame type, and the core principles — rook activity, cutting off the king, and the back-rank defense — that decide most of them.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 7, 2026
Doubled Pawns: Curse or Opportunity?
Why doubled pawns are one of the most misunderstood structural features in chess — a genuine weakness in some positions, and a real asset in others.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 6, 2026
Skewers: The Pin's Aggressive Cousin
How the skewer tactic works, why it's essentially the pin turned inside out, and how to recognize the setups that make it possible.
Hardik Ranpariya · September 6, 2026