Nick Plays Chess

FIDE Candidates 2026 Round 3

Everybody sacrifices everything.

Mar 31 • Nick Visel

6

FIDE Candidates 2026 Round 2

Draws =/= yawns

Mar 30 • Nick Visel

5

FIDE Candidates 2026 Round 1

Looking at some interesting moments from the Open and Women’s games in Round 1 of the 2026 edition of the FIDE Candidates Cycle

Mar 30 • Nick Visel

3

What Does it Mean to Mature as a Chess Player?

11 signs

Mar 18 • Nick Visel

13

1

Book Review: Silman's Complete Endgame Course

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A club player's must-have for theoretical endgames.

Mar 7 • Nick Visel

12

3

February 2026

Book Review: Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer by John Donaldson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A collection of Fischer's thoughts and analyses worth studying 50+ years later

Feb 7 • Nick Visel

8

1

1

January 2026

Most of us need to keep the chess opening simple

Calculation trumps principles, and other advice for beginners about opening a chess game.

Jan 6 • Nick Visel

21

4

1

Book Review: Chess Openings for Dummies

An opening sampler course, back for its 2nd edition.

Jan 3 • Nick Visel

8

December 2025

Why You Should Study Emanuel Lasker

The Second Official World Champion

Dec 17, 2025 • Nick Visel

9

2

3

Book Review: 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A good, prose-filled tactics book for intermediate-level players.

Dec 6, 2025 • Nick Visel

13

1

November 2025

Book Review: The Stories, Games, and Intrigues of Capablanca and Alekhine by FM Luis Fernandez Siles

An accessible, club player-friendly recapitulation of the Capablanca-Alekhine rivalry

Nov 25, 2025 • Nick Visel

8

1

2

Book Review: Dark Squares, by Danny Rensch

An important modern figure in chess charts his journey spiritually and over the board.

Nov 1, 2025 • Nick Visel

15

2

1