Silman Article Archive Part 10 - Random Lessons

  Silmans Articles on Chess.com

 Treasury of  FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.

Random Lessons  

Most of the Titles Explain the Lessons

Tales Of Bishops And Knights - Lesson Comparing The strength and Weaknesses of Both.

The Time-Trouble Blues - Lesson About Time Troubles and Reasons

The Joy Of Reviewing Chess Games - Great lesson, 4 games , 2 Puzzles , History

Fixing Your Weaknesses - Couple games , Lesson

Knowing When to Pull the Trigger - 3 Puzzles, 6 Master Games -  analyzing a student's game in a Closed Sicilian opening. The importance of properly assessing winning and losing positions psychologically. He stresses tactics, imbalances, threat awareness, and cultivating the right mindset to find knockout blows in dynamic positions. The game serves as an example of seizing winning chances versus passivity.

If The Board Says ATTACK, Then ATTACK! - One game , (Lots of lessons from Opening to Endgame)

The Man Who Wouldn't Castle -   3 Master Games - Analyzes an exciting Najdorf Sicilian, Instructive game demonstrating critical lessons like choosing suitable openings, the vital need to castle, and avoiding unfocused attacks. Also highlights some common strategic errors and the importance of understanding your opponent's ideas.

Emotions vs. Cold Reason - 2 Master Games - Instructive game highlighting key skills like managing emotions, recovering from errors, deeply understanding opening structures, and converting winning positions. The game emphasizes the importance of objectivity, resilience, opening knowledge, and keeping things simple when ahead.

What Is The Initiative? - Lesson w/ positions

The Eye Of The Beholder - Lesson w/3 Games (seeking a way to come up with a creative move or idea that your opponent didn’t even imagine)

How To Play Multi-Purpose Moves - Lessons w/ 6 positions

Recognizing The Big Moment In A Game - game starts with a Center Counter opening but transposes into various other openings, creating an interesting and complex position. The author emphasizes the importance of recognizing key moments in a game where your opponent may be vulnerable or where you can seize the initiative.

Protecting Overprotection - Lesson w/ 3 example Games

The Difficult Opponent  - 3 games, 4 Puzzles (Players with equal ratings sometimes aren’t equal at all in battles against each other due to a players style)

Greed and Two King Hunts - 2 Puzzles - Lesson on Greed

Pawns, Greed, Pins, and the Center - 3 Puzzles - w/ 4 lessons (Strong Center, Pins, Greed, Pawn moves)

Rules, Homes, and a Big Decision - 2 Puzzles - w/ 3 lessons 

Space, Negativity, and Dreams  - Short Article on Space Advantage

Checks and Threats, Should You or Shouldn’t You - 6 Puzzles - Lesson on Checks and Threats


Material Imbalances, Opening Ideas, and Hanging Stuff - Lessons from 2 Amateur Games

Countdown to Mate - 3 Master Games -  analyzes a student's game, emphasizing the dangers of unnecessary checks and inactive pieces, while advising playing actively over reacting to threats.

Threats, Real & Imagined - 3 Puzzles , 3 Master games - analyzes a student's game, advising him to avoid over-responding to threats and instead play with confidence in his own position.

Cruise Control - 2 Puzzles, 1 Master Game -  analyzes a Sicilian game, advising the reader to avoid opening setup autopilot and overreaction to threats.

When Both Sides Try to Lose - Analysis of Amateur Game

Death by Dark Squares - 6 Puzzles - Analysis of Amateur Game

A Key Tactical Theme - 2 Puzzles - Deep Analysis of Amateur game

Fighting For Your Chessboard Rights! - 1 Puzzle - Analysis of Amateur Game.

Threats, Agendas, Demands, and Safety - 4 Positions from Reader games with a lesson from each.

Don't Play a Move If You Can't Back it Up! -  Detailed Analysis of reader game  (Long Article)

The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - 2 Puzzles, So in summary, while an Alapin Sicilian, the critical lessons are more general about seizing opportunities, handling defenses, and the importance of determination and resilience.

Know Your Position's Agenda - 3 Puzzles -  Analyzes a Caro-Kann game that turns into a Panov-Botvinnik, emphasizing knowing your position's needs and not reacting to superficial threats. Counterattack in the center when facing a wing attack.

Cruise Control - 2 Puzzles, 1 Master Game -  analyzes a Sicilian game, advising the reader to avoid opening setup autopilot and overreaction to threats.

Two Players, Two Different Fantasies - 3 Puzzles, (Amateur Game) The key overall messages are to adhere to opening principles, calculate responses diligently, castle early, coordinate your forces, and maintain a purpose behind each move. Rash attacks before development lead to disaster.

Cultivating a Positive Attitude  -  4 Puzzles , 3 games - Analyzes a game between two amateurs, highlighting the importance of confidence, calmness and avoiding unnecessary defenses.

Blundering

Blunders That Give Us Hidden Gold  - Great overall lesson covering all the mistakes (From opening to Endgame) of one game.

Having Fun With Blunders -  22 Puzzles,  Famous Players Blundering, Lesson on Blunders

The Rocky Horror Picture Blunder - Lesson on the use of symbols like "!", "!!", "?", and "??" , 10 Puzzles on assigning Symbols

Everyone, of Every Rating, Blunders - 5 Puzzles, 1 Game -  Lesson on Fighting from Inferior position, and Nice Endgame Lesson 

Return of the Blunder Gland, Part One -  2 Master Games - The opening was a Queen's Gambit Declined transitioning from a Caro-Kann Defense. Analyzes a beginner's game, emphasizing basic tactics like ensuring your pieces are safe and not hanging them.

The Blunder Gland: Playing Blind -  3 Puzzles -  Bunch of Lessons from an Amateur game.

Blunder Gland Redux: First Baby Steps, and Then The World - 2 Puzzles - Analysis and Lessons from Amateur game

Endgame Theory

The Two Faces Of Opposite-Colored Bishops -  Lesson w/ 4 Positions

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Article Archive Part 9 - Chess Puzzles

   Silmans Articles on Chess.com

Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader. 

Puzzles
Group of Articles That are More Puzzle or Test focused.
(w/ Great Lessons)

A Rare And Brutal Rook Configuration - Deep Analysis of a Single game with 4 Puzzles, Tactical and Positional

Windows Of Chess Opportunity - 6 Puzzles (Tactical and Positional)

Another Important Chess Test - 5 Puzzles (Positional and Tactical)

Tests: Psychology, Tactics, And Strategy -  8 Puzzles (To test Positional and Tactical Knowledge) Lots Annotation

Test Your Tactical/Attacking Skills -  4 Puzzles , Each with a short Lesson to learn

Basic Formulas, Wonders of Defense, and King Safety  - 3 Puzzles - 3 lessons

Chaotic Chess Puzzles: Tactics Or Positional Play? -  4 Puzzles
Tactics Or Positional Play? A Beautiful Imagination! -  4 Puzzles 
Tactics Or Positional Play? The Ladies Return! - 5 Puzzles
Tactics Or Positional Play? The Ladies Teach Chess -  5 Puzzles

Parting With the Lady: Hanken's Ghost  - 11 Puzzles  (Queen Sacrifices)

Puzzle Potpourri -  14 Puzzles - Positional, Tactical, Endgame
Puzzle Potpourri, Part 2  - 10 Puzzles - Positional and Tactical Puzzles 

Balance Is Everything, Part 1 - 12 Puzzles , Positional and Tactical (Read Comments in each puzzle for Lessons)
Balance is Everything, Part 2 -  15 Puzzles , Positional and Tactical

Presents a series of chess puzzles from games that have won Brilliancy prizes.
The puzzles are meant to challenge readers and provide examples of remarkable tactics and attacks by various chess players.

Insane, Surprising, or Beautiful Finishes!   -  10 Puzzles
Insane, Surprising, or Beautiful Finishes, Part 2 -  10 Puzzles 
Insane, Surprising, or Beautiful Finishes, Part 3 -  10 Puzzles 

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Article Archive Part 8 - Chess Psychology

   Silmans Articles on Chess.com

Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.

Chess Psychology

The Huge Importance Of Chess Psychology - Lesson 4 games, 5 Puzzles

Chess Psychology - 1 game - Emphasizing  the critical role psychology plays in chess strategy. Analyzing an amateur game riddled with psychological pitfalls,  a masterclass on how to overcome fear, avoid mental rigidity, and stop reacting to threats

Chess Psychology 101 -  Lesson  , 4 Game positions

Deadly Mindsets: 'He Can't/I Can't'  - Interesting Lesson on under explained Chess Concept

Practical Chess Psychology -  Several position and 1 game - Lesson about having the right psychology to keep pushing your own plans, not overreacting to threats, being ready to punish errors, and avoiding "I must" thinking.

Highway to Chess Hell -  Discusses the critical importance of psychology and attitude in chess, advising the reader to stay confident and avoid negativity.

Dealing With Off Balance Opponents - “How Do You Deal With Opponents That Cheat or Are Mentally Ill?”

Rules of Chess Conduct - 2 Games - Crazy Stories of Weird Chess behavior 

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Article Archive Part 7 - Chess Tactics

  Silmans Articles on Chess.com

Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.

Chess Tactics

Mating Patterns

Beginner Mating Patterns Part 1 -  6 Puzzles - Lesson on Backrank, Mate on h7, Mate on g7, Smothered Mate
Beginner Mating Patterns - Part 2 - 7 Puzzles , Lessons (SCHOLAR’S MATE and the WEAKNESS OF F7) and (FOOL’S MATE – DEATH DOWN the h5-e8 DIAGONAL)
Beginner Mating Patterns Redux - Part 3 -  16 Puzzles to Test Your knowledge of first 2 Articles in Series

Tactic Type Lessons

X-ray - Chess Taser!  - 8 Puzzles , Detailed Lesson on the X-Ray Tactic
Pins - Sharp, Dangerous, and Effective! -  10 Puzzles , 4 Games , Detailed lesson on Pin Tactic
Double Attack - The Ultimate Tactical Concept - 6 Puzzles , 2 Games , Lesson on Double Attack tactic
The Dreaded Discovered Attack - 7 Puzzles , 1 game , Lesson on Discovered Attack
The Curse Of Undefended Pieces - Lesson

Forks

The Misunderstood Knight Fork - Part 1: Greed - 7 Positions, 9 Puzzles - Lesson on Knight Forks
The Misunderstood Knight Fork - Part 2: Attack -  8 Puzzles, 2 Games  -  Slaughter With the Knight Fork
The Misunderstood Knight Fork (Part 3) – Various - 5 Puzzles - 5 Other reasons to Set up a Fork
Pawn Forks: the David vs. Goliath of Chess - 8 Puzzles -  4 Pawn Fork Ideas
An Infestation of Forks - 13 Puzzles - looking at Bishop, Queen, Rook, and even King forks.

Attacking the Enemy King Oriented Tactics

The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - Part One -  8 Puzzles - to make this sacrifice a reality is a Queen, Knight, and light-squared Bishop aiming at h7 ( 3 Key defensive ideas for Black)
The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - Part 2 -  7 Puzzles , Lesson about exploring what happens after 1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8
The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - Part Three - 5 Puzzles , 6 game Positions , 1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Ng5+  In Part Three, we’ll move on to 2…Kh6 and 2…Kg6, which often leads to far more complex positions than the previous King moves.
The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - Part Four - 17 Puzzles , (All Puzzles to see if you grasped Concepts from Articles 1-3 )
Sac the House and Have Some Fun! -  19 Puzzles , 1 game 
Oddities In The Classic Bishop Sacrifice - Lesson on Bishop Sacrifice

Brilliancy Prize Tactics

Unknown Chess Players Who Won A Prize - 6 Positions where a Brilliancy Prize was won.

Can You Solve These Old Time Chess Puzzles? - 6 Puzzles that won Brilliancy Prizes w/ Interesting History

Can You Solve These Brilliancy Prize Chess Tactics? - 6 Puzzles w/ History

Can You Solve These Tactics That Won Brilliancy Prizes? -  6 Puzzles w/ History of Players

More Brilliancy Prize Chess Tactics - 6 Puzzles w/ History

History, Brilliant Chess Tactics And You! - six chess puzzles, with each game being given a brilliancy prize w/ Interesting History for Each.

Brilliancy Prizes (Players)

Garry Kasparov's Brilliancy Prizes - 12 Full Games (Puzzle for each)

Who Has The Most Best Game Prizes? Tal - 15 Full games (Puzzle for Each)

Anatoly Karpov's Best Game Prizes  - 10 Fully Annotated Games

Rashid Nezhmetdinov's Best Game Prizes - 10 Annotated Games

Tactics and Combinations (Lessons)

Learning Chess Patterns Is Easy  - Lesson  (Tactics patterns, Attacking patterns , Opening Structure patterns)

Throwing Away Your Queen - 12 Puzzles - 4 games - Topic - Queen Sacs

Classic Combinations: The Good Old Days -  8 Puzzles , History 
Can You Find These Classic Combinations? - 9 Puzzles, History
The Deadly Attacks Of Romantic Chess -  9 Puzzles, History
Classic Combinations: Historic Attacks - 8 Puzzles , History
Classic Combinations -  10 Puzzles , History

Brutal Tactics and Positional Tactics - 1 Puzzles , 2 Games  (Replaying Tal's classic game against Gurgenidze)
Tactics, Tactics, Floating in the Air - 6 Puzzles - Single Bird's Opening Game Tactics Lesson
Raging Tactics and Geometric Beauty - 6 Puzzles - Full Analysis of an Amateur game
A Cascade of Tactics - 4 Games, 3 Puzzles  - Full Analysis of an Amateur game
Calculation
How To Improve Your Calculation -  Full Annotated Amateur Game - With lesson and Tips After.
Are Tactics The Same As Combinations?  - 3 Games  (Emanuel Lasker Games )

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Article Archive Part 6 - Positional Theory

 Silmans Articles on Chess.com

Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.

Positional Chess Theory

Little Things That Help Your Chess Game - Lesson w/ 5 Positional Puzzles w/Analysis
More Little Things That Help Your Chess  - 5 Positional puzzles w/Analysis
Even More Little Things To Help Your Chess Game - 5 Positional Puzzles w/ Analysis
Positional Pondering  -  2 Puzzles - Lessons focus on understanding the strategic trade-offs in a position - static versus dynamic factors, hole creation, piece centralization, and experience with structures.

A Critically Important Pattern -  2 Puzzles  - Middle-game Position To Know
No Guts, No Glory! - 2 Puzzles - Middle game Position Lesson from a Game.
An Infestation of Isolated d-Pawns - 6 Games - Lesson on Isolated d-pawn position

How To Build Winning Chess Positions -  10 Positions ( Dynamics, Pieces working together)

How to Evaluate Chess Positions (Example) -  2 Games
Timing, Your Move's Purpose, and a Hard Move to Find - 2 Puzzles - Studying 2 Positions

Exploring One of the Most Mysterious Moves in Chess - 7 Puzzles , 2 Games - The strategic idea behind the seemingly pointless Bh7+ move in chess.

Test Your Chess Understanding, Part 1 -  7 Puzzles w/ A Myriad Of Questions  (Gold)
Test Your Chess Understanding, Part 2 -  4 Puzzles + Bonus game
Test Your Chess Understanding, Part 3 -  3 Positions and You Must Answer a Myriad of Questions about  each position 

The Power of Positional Chess, Pt. 1 - Maneuvering -  1 Game - 4 Puzzles  Topic - Game by Petrosian to illustrate strong positional maneuvering.
The Power of Positional Chess (Part 2) - 5 Games, 5 Puzzles - Topic "Fetish Chess Moves"
The Power of Positional Chess, Pt. 3 -  1 Game , 7 Puzzles - Topic "Knight Retreat Maneuvers"
The Power of Positional Chess, Pt. 4 -  3 Games , 8 Puzzles - Topic "Open Files"
The Power of Positional Chess, Part 5 - 4 Games,  13 Puzzles - Topic "Closed Center Dueling Wings"
The dynamics of closed centers in chess and the importance of gaining space on the wings when the central board is locked. 

To Sacrifice Or Not To Sacrifice, That Is The Question - 2 games
How To Play Positional Sacrifices -  6 Games

How To Calculate Long-Term Advantages In Chess -  A lesson on Patterns (Positional and Tactical)

Positional Puzzles

Can You Pass This Positional Chess Test? - 8 Positional Puzzles
Test Your Positional Chess -  8 Positional Puzzles
Do You Really Understand Positional Chess? -  8 Positional Puzzles
Get Ready To Test Your Positional Chess Again - 8  Positional Puzzles
Can You Understand These Positions? -  4 Tests w/ 4 Games Positions Deeply Analyzed
What Does The Position Need? -  3 Puzzles  ,  Deep Analysis
Test Your Chess Understanding  - 4 Puzzles ,  Lots of Analysis

Mastering Squares, Part 1 -  Lesson , 1 game, 4 Puzzles (Deep Analysis)
Mastering Squares, Part 2 -  Lesson  , 1 Game , 3 Puzzles (Deep Analysis)
Mastering Squares, Part 3 -  Nice Lesson on Weak Squares , 1 Puzzle
Mastering Squares, Part 4 -  Another Advanced Lesson , 1 game
Mastering Squares, Part 5 -  Lesson , 1 Game, 1 Puzzle

You Have It, He Doesnt! Part 1 -  Understanding and Utilizing Dark Squares - 7 Puzzles
You Have It, He Doesnt! Part 2 -  Lesson On Weak Squares, Creating Holes  - 3 Puzzles

How to Train Your Brain!  - 4 Puzzles , Lesson on Weak Squares
Train Your Brain! Target Consciousness, Part 1 -  9 Puzzles , 2 games, Lesson on Weak Squares and Pawns
Train Your Brain! Target Consciousness, Part 2 -  9 Puzzles , 3 Games ,  Lesson on Weak Squares and pawns
Train Your Brain! Pushing the Lesson Home! -  10 Puzzles - On Weak Pawns or Squares

Patterns - Imbalances, Tactics, Positional Ideas, Pawn Structure
Dreams: The Secret Formula For Chess Success -  Imbalances and Patterns ,  2 Puzzles
Dreams: The Secret Formula For Chess Success, Part 2 -  2 Puzzles
Dreams: The Secret Formula For Chess Success, Part 3  - 2 Puzzles
Dreams: The Secret Formula For Chess Success, Part 4   - 2 Puzzles
Dreams: The Secret Formula For Chess Success, Part 5  -   1 Puzzles

Games That Teach Positional Concepts

More Of My Favorite Classic Chess Games  -   Lesson on Passed Pawn

Light Squares And Black's Magical a-Pawn - Lesson on Light Squares, Lesson on Annotating Games

Can a Thinker Out-think Himself? - 6 Games , 1 Puzzle - lessons are around combining positional and dynamic skills, avoiding overly complex plans, and the importance of actively improving your position rather than just reacting.

Not Letting Chess Engines Distract You From What's Important -  Nimzowitsch Game w/ Analysis from Reassess Your Chess Vol 3

Son of Nimzovich  - 2 Puzzles , 5 Master Games -  Analyzes a strong Positional game, advising readers to balance subtle maneuvers with tactical alertness and aggression when appropriate.

Imbalances - 2 Games - When to look

Weak Squares

I’m Passionate About Squares - In this article  the creation of weak squares is discussed.
I’m Still Passionate About Squares - However, the piece living in the weak square is sometimes so powerful 
Passionate About Squares: Oddities -  In this article we’ll take a look at "deep squares" (6th, 7th, and even the 8th!)
A Love Affair With Squares -  Article on Critical Squares

Positional   Lessons

The Eternal Battle: Bishops vs Knights -  In-Depth lesson on these two Pieces.
Should You Fear Symmetry? -  Short Lesson on Positional Symmetry
Beat Your Opponent By Retreating!  - 6 Puzzles

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Article Archive Part 3 - Chess Books & Magazines

Silmans Articles on Chess.com

Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.

Chess Books & Magazines

Recommendations on Some interesting Books

Classic Books - Here are a few that I feel will keep the reader spellbound (all are out of print and can be found online or in many used bookstores for very low prices). They discuss why players became addicted to the game, how different time periods influenced their game and their way of life, and the adventures that the chess greats regularly experienced.

Chess Books And Youth vs Old Age - Lengthy Article (Silman, Watson, Donaldson and Lakdawala ) All talk Chess-books. If you want some recommendations here are 4 authors with theirs

The Best Chess Books Ever - (Lists of Books Recommended By Other Famous Players) Serwain, Donaldson, Anthony Saidy, Danny Rensch, Jack Peters , Cyrus Lakdawala, David Pruess, John Watson, Jeremy Silman. Lengthy Article with a Lot of Info on Chess Books and Authors.

How To Understand Chess Openings - Opening Book Recommendations

Questions by the Mysterious NNs - Middle game Book Recommendations

Building a Chess Library - Recommendations

Speaking Prep & the English Opening - English Opening Book Recommendations

Non-Master Assessments - Article about Lower Rated Players writing Opening Books.

Explanatory Opening Books and a Reader Pet Line - 2 Questions, Opening Books for Lower Rated Players

Advanced Chess Books on Openings - Articles about Book Strengths and List at end of recommendations.

My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines: Part 1 - CHESS LIFE AND REVIEW - 8 Puzzles , Great History
My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines, Part 2 - CHESS LIFE - 3 Annotated games , 2 Puzzles , History
My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines, Part 3 - CHESS REVIEW - 4 Annotated games , 5 Puzzles , History

Chess Moves and Only Chess Moves - Makes the case that chess is made far richer by embracing the drama, personalities, and real world stories surrounding the game and its great players. He urges readers to delve into chess history, providing an overflowing reading list for those seeking to better know the giants of the past.

Chess Related Novels & Stories - Pretty In-Depth List of Chess Related Fiction and Stories

Bishops Bounty Jeremy Silman Chess.com Article Archive - Main Page

Silman Archive of Chess Book Reviews

( Reviews by Jeremy Silman, John Donaldson and John Emms )

(This is all reviews from books pre-2011 using the wayback machine)