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What Is Total Chess? FIDE's New Format Explained

One win can be worth eight times another. Here's how Total Chess works, who's playing in Budapest, and what time to set your alarm in Australia.

Gukesh vs Sindarov: Your Guide to the 2026 World Chess Championship

Two 20-year-olds, one crown, and a challenger who has never lost to the champion. Everything you need to know about Gukesh vs Sindarov - including what time to set your alarm in Australia.

What Is the Halloween Gambit? 3 Scary Chess Openings (And How to Survive Them)

On move four, White gives away a knight for a pawn. Meet the Halloween Gambit, the Frankenstein-Dracula Variation and the Fried Liver Attack - and learn how to survive all three.

Inlaid or Solid Timber? How to Choose a Wooden Chess Board

Choosing a wooden chess board? Learn how inlaid and solid timber boards differ, and the three checks that show you which one you're looking at.

What Size Chessboard Do I Need? The Four-Pawn Test and Other Measurements That Matter

What size chessboard do you need? Learn the four-pawn test, what king base and square size really mean, and how much table a 50 cm board takes.

Does Playing Chess Make You a Better Surgeon?

Does playing chess make you a better surgeon? A team of surgeons says the skills overlap. Here's what the science says about chess and the operating theatre.

What Is Correspondence Chess and How a Game Can Last for Years

Correspondence chess lets players compete across days, weeks or years. Learn how it works, how postal chess shaped its history and how to start today.