Author
Hardik Ranpariya
Chess Coach
Building a Chess Database for Study
How a well-organized personal game database transforms scattered study into a genuinely searchable, cumulative resource — and the practical habits that make one actually worth maintaining.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 9, 2026
Alexander Alekhine: The Attacking World Champion
A profile of Alexander Alekhine, the fourth World Champion — a combinational genius whose deep calculation and relentless attacking style defined an era, and whose career included one of chess's most dramatic championship upsets.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 8, 2026
Understanding Chess Titles: GM, IM, FM Explained
What GM, IM, FM, and the other official chess titles actually mean — how they're earned, why they never expire, and what separates each level of recognition.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 8, 2026
Spassky vs Fischer 1972: Game 6 Analyzed
How Bobby Fischer's surprise opening choice in Game 6 of the 1972 World Championship match caught Boris Spassky completely off guard — and why the moment is still discussed as one of the most effective pieces of psychological and opening preparation in championship history.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 8, 2026
The Mindset of Strong Chess Players
The recurring mental habits — not raw talent — that separate consistently strong competitive players from equally knowledgeable players who underperform their actual chess understanding.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 7, 2026
How to Study Endgames Efficiently
A practical approach to endgame study that avoids the two most common failure modes — memorizing without understanding, and skipping it entirely because it feels less exciting than tactics.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 7, 2026
How to Read and Write Chess Notation
A clear introduction to algebraic notation — how every square gets a name, how moves are recorded, and why learning to read notation opens up the entire world of chess literature.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 7, 2026
The Rule of the Square in Pawn Endgames
A quick visual shortcut for judging whether a lone king can catch an advancing passed pawn — without calculating a single concrete move.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 6, 2026
Open Files and Rook Placement
Why an open file is one of the most valuable strategic assets a rook can claim — and the principles that govern when and how to fight for control of one.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 6, 2026
The Windmill: A Devastating Tactical Combination
How a bishop and rook working together can repeatedly check and capture in a single devastating sequence — one of chess's most visually spectacular combinations.
Hardik Ranpariya · October 6, 2026