It's about to get very exciting for chess players as the World Chess Championship starts in London, England on November 9, 2018.

The current title holder and #1 in the World GM Magnus Carlsen is taking on #2 American GM Fabiano Caruana. Check out this link and follow the games on the chess server of your choice.

If you're new to chess, you can always take a few lessons so you can enjoy the match more. Please contact chess coach NCM Vas Sladek, text 604-562-3736.

White to move. In the game he played 1.Qxg5 Nxg5 and eventually lost. What did he miss? 

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I lost to my opponent as Black in an earlier round of the team4545 chess league played on ICC. I knew he'd prepare for my usual Trompowsky so I played what is for me a new idea against the Dutch. The book doesn't recommend taking on g4 and now we have proof. So sit back and enjoy! My opponent had 41 minutes left on the clock when he resigned.

PGN of NCM Vas Sladek vs laurenpar
Go to replay.

[Event "Team 45 45 League T78"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2018.10.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sloggi"]
[Black "laurenpar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1971"]
[BlackElo "1867"]
[Opening "Queen's pawn"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Time "23:51:27"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]

1. d4 {0:45:45} e6 {0:45:45} 2. Nf3 {0:46:16} f5 {0:46:25} 3. h3 {0:39:16}
Nf6 {0:46:26} 4. g4 {0:39:58} fxg4?! {0:45:46} 5. hxg4 {0:40:41} Nxg4
{0:46:28} 6. Qd3 {0:41:23} Nf6 {0:43:53} 7. Bg5 {0:42:05} Nc6 {0:43:01} 8.
Rxh7 {0:39:52} Rxh7 {0:42:02} 9. Qg6+ {0:40:33} Ke7 {0:42:45} 10. Qxh7
{0:41:14} Ke8 {0:42:20} 11. Qg6+ {0:39:18} Ke7 {0:43:02} 12. e4 {0:39:55}
Qe8 {0:42:38} 13. Qh7 {0:40:34} Kf7 {0:42:01} 14. Bxf6 {0:37:38} Kxf6
{0:42:37} 15. e5+ {0:38:20} Ke7 {0:41:25} 16. Qh4+ {0:38:50} Kf7 {0:41:31}
17. Ng5+ {0:39:19} Ke7 {0:42:00} 18. Bh3 {0:39:34} {Black resigns} 1-0

Check out the position below from the recent 2018 BC Closed championship. It's Black to move and there is only one obvious target for Black to hit. It's situation critical because White is about to bomb the g7 square. So, find the correct move for Black and calculate it out. Is Black winning or is his g7 square about to explode? 

Sacrificing to force mate is an important idea to know about. The rook sacrifice draws the king closer and there is no escape. The example below is from the recent 2018 BC Closed championship.

White to move


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Easy stuff: 1.Rh8+ Kxh8 2. Qh4+ Kg8 3. Qh7+ Kf8 4. Qh8 mate.

I am a great fan of ICC's random blitz pairing function. The system pairs you with an opponent and the higher your rating, the higher your chance of playing against FIDE titled players. For example, tonight I beat a US NM David Koval who played simul games against famous world champions and GMs. Then I beat the famous US FM Asa Hoffmann who knew Fischer well. Not bad for one brief after work session.

Give it a try and see who you get. In the game below I played White against IM Ulrich Schulze and it was my move. It's easy to see how I knocked him out. No hints.

White to move.

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This game was 2 1 bullet and I didn't see much late at night, tired as I was. Black unleashed a mating combination and I went down hard. Can you humble coach Vas? Find the winning move and calculate all of the mates.

Black to move!!


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Something you get lucky online and a titled player blitzes several games in a row with you. This is what happened to me recently on ICC when I ran into National Master okiemark. After suffering lots of abuse I finally managed to win one. Can you find the winning move? Level: easy!


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BLACK TO MOVE

Your chess coach is there to help you progress quicker but be careful when you play training games. When your coach gives you free material you should be very suspicious. This is a good rule for all of your chess games. Check and double-check for threats; sit on your hands until you find a good move, and only then physically move your piece.

I couldn't publish my student's name but I'm sure he learned his lesson. Coach Vas isn't always a nice man.

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2018.09.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "NCM Vas Sladek"]
[Black "studentZ"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. Bg3 f4 5. e3 fxg3 6. Qh5# 1-0

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This is awesome! Round 4 in the women's chess Olympiad, Palau faced Gambia and this happened on board 1.

[Event "World Chess Olympiad 2018"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.28"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Gemota Joan"]
[Black "Jabbie Fatou"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "1346"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "PAL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GAM"]
1. e4 c6 2. Bc4 b6 3. Qf3 g6 4. Qxf7# 1-0

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This is the most basic and quickest mate in chess but I wouldn't expect to see it in the Olympics. But a quick look shows that Gambia is winless, not even scoring a half point. I hope the girls keep going and finish the event strong. I wish I could play in the Olympics.