The Candidates' Tournament Has Begun

The Candidates Tournament is underway, where the world’s best players compete for a chance at the World Championship. It’s easy to follow the games and focus only on the moves. But what truly matters is how these players think.

The patience they show. The calmness they maintain in critical moments. If you’re following the tournament, try looking at it differently: Don’t just ask, “What move was played?” Ask, “Why was it played?” That’s where real learning begins.

How to Punish Chess Players Who Try to Trick You

At the student level, games are rarely lost because of deep strategy.

They’re often lost to something much simpler: A trap, a tricky move or an unexpected idea.

Openings like the Wayward Queen Attack or the Fried Liver Attack show up more often than we think and they can feel overwhelming in the moment.

In this video, GM Priyadharshan breaks it down in a simple way:

Not just how to avoid these tricks but how to respond calmly and turn them into opportunities. Because the goal isn’t just to survive tricky positions.

It’s to understand them well enough that you start enjoying them.

👉 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/UjPB1xbl3xA