8 Best Chess.com Alternatives in 2026 (Free & No Signup)
The best Chess.com alternatives compared: Lichess, SparkChess, FICS and more. Which are genuinely free, which need an account, and which work offline.
The LocalChess Blog
Guides, tips, and behind-the-scenes notes on chess and the game engine that powers LocalChess.
Lichess vs Chess.com: Which Should You Use in 2026?
Lichess vs Chess.com compared: what each gives you free, what sits behind a paywall, player pool, analysis, and which one fits how you actually play.
Playing for a Win vs a Draw: A Practical Tournament Guide
Learn how to adjust risk, openings, exchanges, and clock use when you must win or only need a draw, without playing unsound chess.
The Modern Benoni: Asymmetric Counterattacking for Black
Master the Modern Benoni defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6). Learn tactical structures, pawn levers, and dynamic counterplay.
Boris Spassky: The Universal Style of Play
Study 10th World Champion Boris Spassky's universal chess style: seamlessly shifting between positional grinding and tactical fireworks.
The Budapest Gambit: Surprise Attacks for Black
Learn the Budapest Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5), a surprise opening catching d4 players off guard with tactical threats.
Clearance Sacrifices: Opening Lines and Squares for Attack
Learn clearance sacrifice principles: giving up a piece to open critical diagonals, files, or attack squares for teammate pieces.
Deflection and Decoy Tactics: Luring Pieces to Bad Squares
Discover how deflection forces defensive pieces away from key squares and how decoy lures kings into fatal traps.
The Desperado Tactical Motif: Selling Pieces Dearly
Master the desperado move tactic: sacrificing a condemned piece for maximum material damage before it gets captured.
Hikaru Nakamura: Blitz Master and Online Chess Pioneer
The career of Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura: bullet speed chess mastery, streaming revolution, and top classical prowess.
History of the World Chess Championship: From Steinitz to Modern Era
Comprehensive historical timeline of the World Chess Championship title from Wilhelm Steinitz in 1886 to modern classical crowns.
Interference Tactic: Blocking Defensive Lines in Chess
Learn how to execute interference sacrifices in chess, placing a piece between defensive guards to sever protection.