Perpetual Chess Linkfest #75, March 15, 2024

Reykjavik Arrives

I love to follow open tournaments with large fields and a wide range of skill levels in action. You can learn a lot from studying how Grandmasters dispatch lesser masters, plus upsets are increasingly frequent. Today, one of the best such tournaments of the year, the Reykjavik Open commences. (I also highly recommend playing in the tournament as a “chess vacation” if life circumstances ever permit.)

In addition to some extremely strong players, lots of well-known chess streamers are in action and are streaming their games live. I am not a big Twitch guy, but I have to admit that the mere presence of a live cam (which the organizers permit for the streamers) can enliven the experience of following a game. (As I type this, Dina Belenkaya, the Botez sisters and many others are live-streaming their games with friends commentating.) Here is a fun preview of the tournament from “OntheQueenSide”, and you can follow the games via LiChess’ Broadcast here.

Anyway, following this tournament will be my preferred method of procrastination for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, below you can find this week’s roundup of chess links.

This has nothing to do with Reykjavik, but “No_Possible_9369” did an amazing drawing of GM Finegold and shared it on Reddit. Incredible!

Chess Improvement

My new favorite blogger NDPatzer continues to review some recent scientific studies related to chess. “ There is a heavy bias in the literature about the cognitive science of chess: (it favors) studying GMs and other titled players rather than the much larger population of players who aren't capable of awe-inspiring high-level play. ” (I was going to link to this even before I got to the part where he mentioned my book!) (LiChess Blog)

“SheldonofOsaka” narrowly missed qualifying for the Japanese National Chess Championship, but it is always fun to read about the chess scene on the other side of the world. (Chess.com Blog)

Grandmasters are just like us! “NBrasington” on 5 of the worst GM blunders in chess history (Chess.com Blog)

Interesting post from GM Alex Colovic on how Engines have Changed Human’s Opinions of early a3 moves.

Interested in getting started as a chess coach? FM Nate Solon shares some helpful advice. (Zwischenzug Blog)

White to move and win, from FM Dalton Perrine’s “Chess Chatter” Want the answer? You will need to check out his blog next week!

Chess News

The American Cup, featuring GMs Shankland (pictured), Caruana, Krush and many others is in the early going. You can catch up on the action in this report from NM Vanessa West (Photo by Lennart Ootes)

As you likely have noticed, kids are getting better at chess faster than ever. Tarjei Svensen reviews the context, data and history of these ever-astounding feats. (Chess.com News)

Good news is developing for fans of Chess960 Via Tarjei Svensen’s Twitter/X

That’s all for this week. Have a good weekend! - Ben