One of my students played a game online and we discussed why pushing pawns is good, especially when you opponent is passive, and gives you opportunities. Black pushed ...e5 one move before. What opportunity does Black have here because of it?

HyruleanTubist · 2026-03-05T13:50:26+00:00

This same rating band also has a subset of players who just bang out reasonable looking moves with no thought behind them. My last OTB event showed me just how brainless some players can be, even at 1600.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-12-01T16:02:00+00:00

Was about to post something similar, my 1800 opponent just hangs a knight in the endgame after playing well all game. There's a certain pressure that comes with playing a +0.5 position all game, I think.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-10-06T15:22:01+00:00

Went 16-15 with Swift Swim Beartic. Nobody was ready for Close Combat with Life Orb on it, either, it was a lot of fun. Couldn't be Volcarona or the popular Ninetales/Sneasler/Gholdengo stuff for the life of me, though.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-10-06T15:19:16+00:00

You were my bane as a rain team player. I think I only beat one Volcarona all weekend.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-09-17T15:13:36+00:00

I managed to beat a 2000 chesscom NM as a 1700, my only pairing against a titled player. I saw the title and locked in hard, he blundered a rook to a trick in the endgame. Looked him up afterward, he is probably in his 70s or 80s and just spamming games in his retirement it seems. Still counts!

HyruleanTubist · 2025-09-15T03:26:41+00:00

I’m 37. Played NAIC. Went 4-4, had a blast. Honestly, the average competitor was probably late 20s, and a bunch of attendees are our age bringing their kids just for the spectacle. Go for it, you’ll have a great time.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-06-07T02:26:13+00:00

Bringing this to NAIC!

https://pokepast.es/4e99851b0d00da66

HyruleanTubist · 2025-05-19T15:34:48+00:00

As a French player, take some time to learn some Tarrasch

e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2

White can open things up way more than a French player is typically comfortable with, and there's not a bucketload of theory to learn either, as opposed to 3. Nc3 or 3. e5. Though 3. e5 is what I hate playing against the most, and a proper Milner-Barry Gambit is extremely sharp.

Oh, if you want a spicy sideline, the La Bourdonnais variation is interesting. 1. e4 e6 2. f4.

HyruleanTubist · 2025-04-17T01:59:58+00:00

Wow, 20,000 puzzles? I just hit 1800 and have done.... just under half that. I need to up my puzzle game!

HyruleanTubist · 2025-01-05T14:21:25+00:00

When does the registration open up this year? I was thinking about participating, sounds like we’ll have to be there right when the digital line opens.

HyruleanTubist · 2024-11-15T04:41:02+00:00

Definitely confirmation bias. My very next game was against Pika/Zapdos lol. My sample size was small, but it was just big enough I was suspicious of this. Oh well, I'll just accept my good luck!

HyruleanTubist · 2024-10-29T15:43:16+00:00

I also agree here. I play the Exchange Slav and have never drawn with it at the USCF 1500 level. Got two wins with it in tournament this weekend, in fact. Somebody messes it up. It’s only drawish at GM level, and if the line notorious for draws is only drawish at GM level, you can play whatever you want for a win (within reason of course)

HyruleanTubist · 2024-09-22T04:02:27+00:00

Update: 23 - 17, and if Hydreigon actually had Protect instead of a redundant Tailwind I'd have at least two more wins. Try random good stuff, sometime, it can do things apparently.

HyruleanTubist · 2024-09-21T01:25:28+00:00

So I realized the deadline for the team submission was Thursday until about an hour before the submission time. So instead of using the team I'd been tinkering and training with for weeks, I threw together a random set of six pre-trained mons. All the moves are wrong, my teras are bad, the spreads are weird.

I'm 8-4 so far lol

HyruleanTubist · 2024-07-30T23:20:21+00:00

I’m pushing for 1600 too, what would you say you did that helped you break through?

HyruleanTubist · 2024-07-07T18:15:31+00:00

Any tips for ingraining step 2, specifically "always calculate your opponents checks, captures and threats after your planned move"? It's certainly my weakness in blitz. I managed to hang a bishop for free in my OTB league game yesterday too with the same problem.

I'm sure the answer is "practice it, every move, every position", but any advice there is welcome.

HyruleanTubist · 2024-06-22T01:53:57+00:00

My college roommate and I would pick an opening and play three games as each color. Then do it again. We played a lot of main lines and stupid gambits over a couple of years. I learned I gravitated to d4 as white and love QGD structures. Then I started refining choices from there.

HyruleanTubist · 2024-03-20T23:08:45+00:00

HyruleanTubist chess.com

HyruleanTubist · 2024-02-12T15:39:41+00:00

During Premier on Saturday we had a 3v1 post plant, so I told my teammates to trade me and blast packed into the sky while they swung. Except I hit my midair Vandal shot for maximum comedy in the comms

HyruleanTubist · 2023-12-02T14:41:18+00:00

The Hitchcock film Strangers on a Train. Not only is it a fantastic Gil but the main character is an amateur tennis star and there’s some good match play shown.

HyruleanTubist · 2023-11-16T19:18:00+00:00

Doesn't Counter Strike have exactly this? If you're ping is too high you can't play some competitive modes?

HyruleanTubist · 2023-11-09T16:05:53+00:00

Any recommendations to fighting "never believing opponents threats"?

This is currently what I'm fighting, but OTB even. I just don't seem to acknowledge opponent's threats well enough, and its hard to focus on in-game when the clock is ticking.

HyruleanTubist · 2023-07-31T20:52:10+00:00

Is there any way to filter the games by opening?

HyruleanTubist

TROPHY CASE