Harshalpatil's Blog

How to Use a Chess Clock: 3 Blitz Timing Hacks to Win More Games

2025-06-24T20:57:24.395Z

Blitz chess is a thrilling race against both your opponent and the clock. A single hesitation on the clock can turn a winning position into a loss. Here are three essential tips to help you master your time control on Lichess and convert those extra seconds into victories.

How to Start Your Chess Journey: First 3 Steps

2025-06-19T14:42:31.966Z

New to chess and eager to begin? If you’ve always been curious or just discovered the game, here’s a straightforward, three‐part roadmap to get you playing and improving right away on Lichess.

Mastering Chess Notation: A Comprehensive Guide for Lichess Readers

2025-06-17T14:54:24.262Z

Chess notation is the universal script that tells the story of every game ever played. Whether you’re studying grandmaster battles or saving your own matches, understanding notation lets you record, replay, and analyze positions with ease. In this guide, we’ll cover all the essentials—from basic moves to special cases like castling, promotion, and en passant—illustrated with clear move examples.

Why Chess Lets You Resign (While Others Don’t)

2025-06-15T15:20:50.763Z

Introduction In most sports you play until the final whistle or the last shuttlecock lands—but in chess, you can simply hit “Resign” and end the game on the spot. That little button speaks volumes about how our game values results, respect and efficiency.

Anand’s Legacy in India’s Top 10 Live Ratings

2025-06-12T18:28:26.595Z

Vishy Anand’s trailblazing career didn’t just bring him five world titles—it sparked a chess renaissance in India. Today, that renaissance is in full swing. As of June 12, 2025, India boasts four players in the live top 10—including our brand-new World Champion:

3 Opening Habits That Cost You Games

2025-06-11T08:06:33.197Z

Whether you’re grinding through rapid or bullet, these three sneaky habits can turn a promising opening into a losing one. Break them, and you’ll start each game with a solid foundation.

Gukesh Beats Magnus: Is a New Rivalry Brewing?

2025-06-09T17:26:49.649Z

“Gukesh beat Magnus... but why is everyone celebrating?” At Norway Chess 2025, D Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen in a classical game - a result that caught the attention of the entire chess world. Yes, Gukesh is the reigning World Champion. But beating Magnus Carlsen, who has been dominating the chess scene for over 15 years, is still a huge deal. So what does this win really mean?

5 Types of Online Rapid Players

2025-06-06T15:36:00.122Z

We all love a good 15+10 or 10+5 game, right? Enough time to think... unless you're up against one of these chaotic characters! Here are 5 types of online rapid players you’re almost guaranteed to run into — or maybe, you are one of them

3 Types of Positional Bad Pawns (Avoid These!)

2025-06-04T20:28:06.93Z

Pawn structure often decides who wins—even if you calculate better. Below are three “bad pawn” types and quick tips for exploiting or avoiding them.

3 Questions That Instantly Make You a Better Chess Player

2025-06-02T13:45:58.833Z

Most people think improving at chess means memorizing more openings, watching grandmaster games, or playing 100 blitz games a day. But here’s the secret no one tells you Improvement starts with asking better questions. These 3 questions are what titled players ask themselves every single move. And they’re probably the same ones you’re forgetting.

The Beauty of Chess: The Great Equalizer

2025-05-31T12:41:39.944Z

Perfect! The Ghibli-style thumbnail is a brilliant choice—it adds warmth, charm, and instantly conveys the theme of chess as a bridge across generations. Here's your final Lichess article text, formatted for easy copy-paste with the thumbnail in mind:

Why 1000 Rated Players Hang So Many Pieces (And How to Fix It!)

2025-05-27T15:41:16.882Z

If you're around the 1000 rating mark, you've probably blundered a piece... today. Don't worry — you're not alone. At this level, hanging pieces is extremely common, and it usually comes down to just a few key mistakes. The good news? Once you become aware of them, improvement comes fast. Here are the top 3 reasons why players hang material at the 1000 level — and what you can do to stop!

That Pawn Isn’t Free: The Queen’s Gambit Accepted Trap

2025-05-25T14:32:24.344Z

Many players see the Queen’s Gambit as a generous offer: “Take my c4 pawn, please!” But if you think that pawn is free, you’re in for a rude awakening. In this blog, I’ll walk you through a classic misconception in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) — and show why trying to hold onto that pawn can land Black in trouble.

The Magnus Effect

2025-05-22T18:23:24.028Z

In one of the most jaw-dropping moments of the 2025 CCT Chess.com Classic Playoffs, we witnessed something that sent shockwaves through the chess world. Hikaru Nakamura, one of the most precise and intuitive players of our time, resigned in a completely winning position against none other than Magnus Carlsen. And this wasn’t just about a missed tactic — this was psychology at play. Pure, raw, unnerving psychological pressure. Let’s unpack this.

5 Types of Opening Trap Hunters – Which One Are You?

2025-05-20T18:21:20.425Z

Traps are a double-edged sword in chess. They can give you a quick win... or lead to total disaster. But that doesn’t stop some players from chasing them every single game. In fact, some players build their entire style around it! Here are 5 types of players you’ll definitely meet in the wild world of online chess especially in the opening phase:

3 Mistakes Keeping You Stuck at 400 (and How to Fix Them)

2025-05-18T16:55:26.438Z

Are you struggling to climb out of the 400 rating zone on Lichess? You're not alone. Many beginners face the same obstacles—not because they can’t calculate, but because of a few fundamental habits that hold them back. Let’s break down the three most common mistakes that keep players stuck at this level and how to fix them effectively.

The Ultimate Mind–Body Marathon

2025-05-16T15:36:37.381Z

How GMs burn 6 000 calories a day, lose 10 kg mid‐match, and train like pro athletes.

Vasyl Ivanchuk: 56 And Still Unbeaten! The Eternal Genius of Chess

2025-05-07T17:17:39.461Z

At 56 years old, Vasyl “Chucky” Ivanchuk just keeps amazing us. Between April 9–27, 2025, he played 27 classical games—with 18 wins, 9 draws, and 0 losses—across multiple events.

3 Endgame Mistakes That Are Costing You Games

2025-05-05T10:11:41.245Z

3 Endgame Mistakes You’re Still Making (And It’s Embarrassing) By Harshal Patil

The Curious Case of Arkadiy Khromaev: Bullet Beast or Rating Mystery?

2025-05-03T15:56:56.786Z

A packed tournament hall — the atmosphere of classical chess at its finest.

Mikhail Tal: King of Sacrifices

2025-05-03T15:24:01.669Z

“You must take your opponent into a dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” — Mikhail Tal

Freestyle Chess: Magnus Freestyles His Way to Perfection

2025-04-21T23:24:55.266Z

Magnus Carlsen Dominates 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open with Perfect 9/9 Score