TheOnoZone's Blog
Observation Without Judgement
At university I studied petroleum geology. Over the course of those four years of study, I developed…
The Universal Training System with GM Jesse Kraai
“What is that?” he said wide-eyed, pointing up toward where the last shelf and the roof met.
Losing My Virginity (OTB)
“Hi, I don’t speak Dutch,” I said.
Adult Beginner's Guide To... Calculation, Tactics, Puzzles & Pattern Recognition
When I first started studying chess, I was completely overwhelmed. In particular, I struggled to und…
Lamppost Chess
I was once walking home from the pub with one of my flatmates when we heard this voice behind us. Lu…
Has Chess Ruined My Life?
Here begins the tale of the most dramatic chess player in the world. Me.
Sex, Drugs and 1.d4
Back when I was at university, I remember watching Russell Brand’s new YouTube channel in what was a…
Schadenfreude - The Darkest Move in Chess
Recently, I caught a clip of Kasparov that looked ancient on YouTube. It was all blurry and the scre…
No Pain, No Gain: The Adult Beginner Diary - Year 2: Month 4
My last article was full of excuses. I was giving myself all kinds of sympathy and breaks because my…
Ono Does Chess Coaching Now
Learn more about TheOnoZone 1:1 Chess Coaching for Adult Improvers rated <1100 FIDE or online equiva…
My First Six Months in Chess: The Adult Beginner Diary
This article was first published on the 13th of May 2021.
The Elements of Chess with Neal Bruce
Welcome to my new series on chess Study Methods. I talk a lot about them in my Adult Beginner Diary …
The Psychological Struggle: The Adult Beginner Diary - Year 2: Month 3
Chess is pain.
Knowledge v Skill: The Adult Beginner Diary - Year 2: Month 2
Once upon a time a man was reading Yuri Averbach’s Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge.