Leonard Blackburn
@lbb-13.bsky.social
Chess enthusiast
LBB13 on lichess
I've written a free chess book. PDF in my google drive:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Qn5ntiAVuFCNeNfIhSwO68KQTCkIZfZC/view?usp=drive_link
LBB13 on lichess
I've written a free chess book. PDF in my google drive:
drive.google.com/file/d/1Qn5ntiAVuFCNeNfIhSwO68KQTCkIZfZC/view?usp=drive_link
#MauriceAshley composed this nice #endgame study he presents in a free sample lesson of his #chessable course, Chess Geometry.
www.chessable.com/chess-geomet...
White to move. Solution in my reply.
www.chessable.com/chess-geomet...
White to move. Solution in my reply.
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 PM
#MauriceAshley composed this nice #endgame study he presents in a free sample lesson of his #chessable course, Chess Geometry.
www.chessable.com/chess-geomet...
White to move. Solution in my reply.
www.chessable.com/chess-geomet...
White to move. Solution in my reply.
We all know that it requires 4 moves for a knight on c3 to reach e5. But, using a knight's version of Pascal's triangle, I mathematically proved that there are 54 different 4-move paths a knight could take from c3 to e5. Bonus: every square on the board is reachable from c3 in 4 or fewer moves.
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 AM
We all know that it requires 4 moves for a knight on c3 to reach e5. But, using a knight's version of Pascal's triangle, I mathematically proved that there are 54 different 4-move paths a knight could take from c3 to e5. Bonus: every square on the board is reachable from c3 in 4 or fewer moves.
Slim pickings at my public library.
November 20, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Slim pickings at my public library.
Reposted by Leonard Blackburn
My review of the new functions in ChessBase '26
- AI consult
- New Opening Report
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Filtering of Blitz, Rapid, and Classical games
youtu.be/EP_k_NtXQH4
- AI consult
- New Opening Report
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Filtering of Blitz, Rapid, and Classical games
youtu.be/EP_k_NtXQH4
Review of ChessBase '26 new functions
YouTube video by Han Schut
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 7:01 PM
My review of the new functions in ChessBase '26
- AI consult
- New Opening Report
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Filtering of Blitz, Rapid, and Classical games
youtu.be/EP_k_NtXQH4
- AI consult
- New Opening Report
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Filtering of Blitz, Rapid, and Classical games
youtu.be/EP_k_NtXQH4
Solving puzzles with National Master and Candidate Master @hanschut.bsky.social on his Saturday morning stream.
November 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Solving puzzles with National Master and Candidate Master @hanschut.bsky.social on his Saturday morning stream.
#ChessPuzzle
In this position, White played the seemingly strong Ne5. How did Black defend and actually get an advantage?
In this position, White played the seemingly strong Ne5. How did Black defend and actually get an advantage?
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
#ChessPuzzle
In this position, White played the seemingly strong Ne5. How did Black defend and actually get an advantage?
In this position, White played the seemingly strong Ne5. How did Black defend and actually get an advantage?
#ChessPuzzle
Jacques Mieses (1865-1954), a German chess player, was one of the inaugural recipients of the title International Grandmaster from FIDE in 1950. He was known for his risky, artistic, attacking chess. Playing Black, he made a spectacular move in this position that forced resignation.
Jacques Mieses (1865-1954), a German chess player, was one of the inaugural recipients of the title International Grandmaster from FIDE in 1950. He was known for his risky, artistic, attacking chess. Playing Black, he made a spectacular move in this position that forced resignation.
November 12, 2025 at 3:34 AM
#ChessPuzzle
Jacques Mieses (1865-1954), a German chess player, was one of the inaugural recipients of the title International Grandmaster from FIDE in 1950. He was known for his risky, artistic, attacking chess. Playing Black, he made a spectacular move in this position that forced resignation.
Jacques Mieses (1865-1954), a German chess player, was one of the inaugural recipients of the title International Grandmaster from FIDE in 1950. He was known for his risky, artistic, attacking chess. Playing Black, he made a spectacular move in this position that forced resignation.
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Reposted by Leonard Blackburn
In the USA tonight there are lots of chess scenes in NCIS Sydney in episode 5 Black is white. I played against the star player in a few scenes. More money was spent on arranging a realistic chess tournament than any event ever held in Australia. #NCISSYDNEY #chess #USAChess
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
In the USA tonight there are lots of chess scenes in NCIS Sydney in episode 5 Black is white. I played against the star player in a few scenes. More money was spent on arranging a realistic chess tournament than any event ever held in Australia. #NCISSYDNEY #chess #USAChess
Harikrishna (White) beat Nesterov (Black) in the 2nd round of the FIDE World Cup by sacrificing his queen in the opening in spectacular fashion. He said he had the idea 9 years ago. Caruana speculated that the reason he waited so long is because engines have finally gotten strong enough to approve.
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Harikrishna (White) beat Nesterov (Black) in the 2nd round of the FIDE World Cup by sacrificing his queen in the opening in spectacular fashion. He said he had the idea 9 years ago. Caruana speculated that the reason he waited so long is because engines have finally gotten strong enough to approve.
I just played a game of chess one. We got the following starting position. Luckily, I had seen it before, so I knew some of the opening theory.
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I just played a game of chess one. We got the following starting position. Luckily, I had seen it before, so I knew some of the opening theory.
#ChessIsHard
After 67.Kg5, I arrived at the following position in my latest Lonewolf 30 30 game on Lichess, analyzed here:
lichess.org/study/fQA16D...
It is interesting to note that 67...b6 is winning for Black, but 67...b5 is a draw with best play!
After 67.Kg5, I arrived at the following position in my latest Lonewolf 30 30 game on Lichess, analyzed here:
lichess.org/study/fQA16D...
It is interesting to note that 67...b6 is winning for Black, but 67...b5 is a draw with best play!
November 9, 2025 at 12:18 AM
#ChessIsHard
After 67.Kg5, I arrived at the following position in my latest Lonewolf 30 30 game on Lichess, analyzed here:
lichess.org/study/fQA16D...
It is interesting to note that 67...b6 is winning for Black, but 67...b5 is a draw with best play!
After 67.Kg5, I arrived at the following position in my latest Lonewolf 30 30 game on Lichess, analyzed here:
lichess.org/study/fQA16D...
It is interesting to note that 67...b6 is winning for Black, but 67...b5 is a draw with best play!
When I played Qe5c5, as in the first diagram, I saw that we would naturally arrive at the second diagram, which I evaluated as a draw. What I didn't realize was that 62...Be2! in the second diagram was actually winning and was the only winning move!
November 9, 2025 at 12:12 AM
When I played Qe5c5, as in the first diagram, I saw that we would naturally arrive at the second diagram, which I evaluated as a draw. What I didn't realize was that 62...Be2! in the second diagram was actually winning and was the only winning move!
FIDE World Cup 2025 | Round 1, Game 1
Black has about 680 rating points on his opponent. White didn't follow opening principles and got checkmated in 17 moves.
Black has about 680 rating points on his opponent. White didn't follow opening principles and got checkmated in 17 moves.
November 2, 2025 at 6:57 PM
FIDE World Cup 2025 | Round 1, Game 1
Black has about 680 rating points on his opponent. White didn't follow opening principles and got checkmated in 17 moves.
Black has about 680 rating points on his opponent. White didn't follow opening principles and got checkmated in 17 moves.
In the Lichess database (1800+, blitz, rapid, and classical), in 96 out of 96 times this position was reached, White played the suboptimal 11.Bxc4?! But Black capitalized with 11...Nxe5! only 7% of the time.
November 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
In the Lichess database (1800+, blitz, rapid, and classical), in 96 out of 96 times this position was reached, White played the suboptimal 11.Bxc4?! But Black capitalized with 11...Nxe5! only 7% of the time.
I just noticed that I'm mentioned in Wikipedia at this page on a chess variant:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_....
I wrote the document in reference #3 and I have several documents and videos in the 4th external link at the bottom, including short books on atomic chess endgames and tactics.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_....
I wrote the document in reference #3 and I have several documents and videos in the 4th external link at the bottom, including short books on atomic chess endgames and tactics.
October 24, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I just noticed that I'm mentioned in Wikipedia at this page on a chess variant:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_....
I wrote the document in reference #3 and I have several documents and videos in the 4th external link at the bottom, including short books on atomic chess endgames and tactics.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_....
I wrote the document in reference #3 and I have several documents and videos in the 4th external link at the bottom, including short books on atomic chess endgames and tactics.
Hmm, I didn't know I could play for ...f6 and ...e5 against the London System until I tried it:
October 23, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Hmm, I didn't know I could play for ...f6 and ...e5 against the London System until I tried it:
Reposted by Leonard Blackburn
GM Daniel Naroditsky passed away. He was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator. FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Daniel’s family and loved ones.
October 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM
GM Daniel Naroditsky passed away. He was a talented chess player, commentator, and educator. FIDE extends its deepest condolences to Daniel’s family and loved ones.
Chess was an old game even in Shakespeare's day. From The Tempest:
(Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.)
Miranda: Sweet lord, you play me false.
Ferdinand: No, my dear’st love, I would not for the world.
(Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.)
Miranda: Sweet lord, you play me false.
Ferdinand: No, my dear’st love, I would not for the world.
October 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Chess was an old game even in Shakespeare's day. From The Tempest:
(Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.)
Miranda: Sweet lord, you play me false.
Ferdinand: No, my dear’st love, I would not for the world.
(Here Prospero discovers Ferdinand and Miranda playing at chess.)
Miranda: Sweet lord, you play me false.
Ferdinand: No, my dear’st love, I would not for the world.
Improve your #chess visualization skills with the book, _Cognitive Chess_ by Chernyshov. I recommend it. Solve exercises without looking at a board, like this one:
White: Kc1, Be4, Pb2, Pg6.
Black: Kb3, Rg7.
White to move. How would you play?
White: Kc1, Be4, Pb2, Pg6.
Black: Kb3, Rg7.
White to move. How would you play?
October 19, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Improve your #chess visualization skills with the book, _Cognitive Chess_ by Chernyshov. I recommend it. Solve exercises without looking at a board, like this one:
White: Kc1, Be4, Pb2, Pg6.
Black: Kb3, Rg7.
White to move. How would you play?
White: Kc1, Be4, Pb2, Pg6.
Black: Kb3, Rg7.
White to move. How would you play?