MM Chess Academy

Proven ways to teach chess to kids... From a coach's perspective The chessboard is a battlefield of black and white squares where knights charge, pawns advance, and kings and queens strategize. For many children, it's more than just a game; it's a portal to a world of critical thinking, logic, and boundless imagination. I've personally been teaching chess to kids...

Why Improvement Feels Slow — And Why That’s a Good Sign Progress in chess has a peculiar rhythm. You show up, study, then play through positions that once looked chaotic and now feel slightly more familiar. Not easy—just less foreign. And still, when you step back and try to measure it, nothing seems to have changed in any obvious way.Ratings drift, re...

How to Keep Focused During Long Games Focus in chess doesn’t behave like a switch.It’s closer to a tide—advancing, retreating, sometimes steady, often unpredictable. You feel it when it’s there: positions look clearer, moves connect, ideas flow with a certain quiet logic. And then, without any obvious trigger, it slips. Not dram...

A Chess Master's Guide To Improvement The fastest way to chess improvement is through pattern recognition, that is by playing and watching others play to recognize what can be improved

The 80/20 Rule in Chess Improvement Improvement in chess rarely fails because of a lack of effort.It fails because of diffusion.You try to do everything—openings, tactics, strategy, endgames, calculation, even psychology—spreading your attention across a landscape that feels equally important everywhere. It feels responsible. Comp...

How to Know When Structured Coaching Is the Missing Piece If you’ve been playing chess for a while and feel like you’re putting in effort without seeing real results, you’re not alone. From my years of coaching both kids and adults, this is one of the most common frustrations I hear. You study openings, watch videos, play online games, and yet progre...

Chess tournaments in Rhode Island | Here's a list of the best ones Rhode Island boasts several chess institutions that host regular tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned grandmaster or just starting out, these clubs provide opportunities to test your mettle on the board. Let’s explore the chess scene in the Ocean State!...

A Game-Changing Fall Awaits! | MM Chess Updates Get ready for a fall filled with exciting new features and enhancements -- We're thrilled to unveil a series of initiatives designed to elevate your chess journey and provide you with even greater support.Introducing the MM Chess Hub!Say goodbye to scattered homework assignments and missed notificat...

What Happens in a Player’s Mind During a Critical Tournament Game At some point in every tournament player’s journey, there comes a moment that feels heavier than all the rest. The position is tense. The clock is ticking. One move could decide everything.What happens inside the player’s mind during these critical tournament games is often more important than w...

How to Study Chess When You Have Limited Time “I want to improve, I just don’t have the time.”That sentence carries more frustration than almost any blunder.Work stretches. School demands. Family obligations expand. Days compress. And somewhere between responsibilities and exhaustion, the idea of serious chess improvement begins to feel u...

What Parents Don’t Realize About Early Chess Training Many parents want to give their children an early start in chess. But few understand what truly matters in the early years, and what can quietly backfire.The Hidden Side of Early ChessAcross the world, more and more parents are introducing their children to chess at younger ages. Stories of prodigie...

Time Management in Chess: The Skill That Separates Winners There is a precise instant in almost every serious tournament game when the air changes.The position gets harder. The clock ticks louder than it should. Your breathing shortens. The board, once orderly, now feels volatile. Ten minutes remain. Fifteen moves to reach time control. Variations multiply,...