NICK BARNETT CHESS

If you are not able to get to play enough chess, then follow the good advice of Fabiano Caruana, challenger World Chess Championship 2018.

‘Hundreds of games are played each day all around the world, and a lot of them are important. They’re all available online, but you have to put in the time to look at them all. And you need to analyze, find new trends, keep trying to find new ideas to use against specific opponents.’

They are many websites where you can improve your chess. Many are free but you may need to register and/or pay a monthly subscription.

Some chess playing sites:

Some of these free, but to access the more sophisticated features, you may need to register and pay a monthly fee. Lichess.org: The owners say: ‘Lichess users play more than a million games every day. It is one of the most popular chess websites in the world while remaining 100% free.’ ChessTempo.com. Recommended for beginners. If you register you will be given a rating and provided exercises of appropriate difficulty as you progress through the tactics ideachess.com. Great for kids, offering a great section on checkmate puzzles.

Chess24. Free to play with people from all over the world and free chess lessons for beginners and amateurs. Chess.com. Play live chess with people from all over the world. Also has some free video lessons.

Chessbase.com. Gives you access to many chess learning materials, from ebooks, video lessons, databases, openings etc.

Ichess.net. Offers a free customized Masterclass based on your skill level and the part of your chess that needs the most improvement

I am indebted for some of this list to Dione Goredema, intern and aspirant journalist.

Prags

You can see why most people use his nickname: Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu is a mouthful for those not used to Indian names. And looking at this 13-year-old on Youtube being interviewed by an 8-year-old, his shy and humble demeanor may encourage you. But watching him play ‘a game of frightening imagination, calculation and technique’ (Chess24) as he beat Pavel Eljanov in Round 3 of the Chess.com Isle of Man International, you would be well advised to learn how to pronounce his name and even address him with due regard, as Grandmaster, a title earned when he was 12 years, 10 months and 13 days.

Write to the thechessnik@gmail.com with news or comments

• Please let me know if there are favourite chess playing sites (especially if they are free) to share with my readers.

• Next week we are featuring chess coaches around South Africa. Please let us know if you are a coach or can recommend a coach.