The Journal
Notes from the desk.
Short essays on training, tactics and chess culture — written around the board you play on.
Latest edition
Training
No. 37
FIDE’s rapid and blitz fee waiver: what it means for your next event
27 October 2026 · Training
FIDE’s rapid and blitz fee waiver: what it means for your next event
FIDE has extended its rapid and blitz rating-fee waiver through 2027. Separate that federation charge from tournament entry costs, then prepare for one manageable first event.
3 min read · Read the edition →
Archive
Training
No. 32
FIDE’s shorter classical proposal: when is a long think worth it?
FIDE’s shorter classical proposal: when is a long think worth it?
FIDE’s 12 October explanation separates proposed time controls from current rules. Try a two-position exercise to make your next long think more useful.
13 October 2026 · Training · 3 min
Tactics
No. 16
Pacing Three Minutes
Pacing Three Minutes
A sprint is not a race to move fast. It is a budget, and most runs are lost in the first forty seconds by people who are winning.
24 July 2026 · Tactics · 3 min
New editions Tuesday and Friday. Retrospectives show their archive date and actual publication date.