Dear Chess Player,
Hello, US Chess Sales kicks off this week’s newsletter with a practical feature for this summer: 5 Tips For Summer Chess Training. Packed with focused routines, puzzle drills, and game-review strategies, the piece helps players of all levels turn long days into measurable improvement. Expect wide-ranging advice on how to upgrade your game this summer.
Also this week, US Chess Sales is kicking off Father’s Day early with the launch of its annual sale, featuring massive savings of up to 30% on a wide range of chess sets, boards, clocks, accessories, and more. Whether you’re shopping for a long‑time player or someone just discovering the game, you’ll find great deals, fast shipping, and reliable customer support while supplies last. Celebrate Dad with a thoughtful, timeless gift and enjoy limited‑time discounts on quality chess essentials.
- 20% discount on purchases under $100 | Use Coupon CELEBRATE20
- 25% discount on purchases between $100 and $200 | Use Coupon CELEBRATE25
- 30% discount for purchases over $200 | Use Coupon CELEBRATE30
It’s easy to redeem the offer. Simply browse and shop as usual, add the correct code at checkout, and watch the savings appear in your cart.
This week, US Chess Sales' first weekly blog, "10 Chess Games Every Player Should Know," offers a concise guide that walks readers through ten games every player should know and try. Perfect for club players and curious beginners, the post gives you a clear idea of games you can use to boost your performance and chess skills.
Also, US Chess Sales' second weekly blog post, "How To Play Against The London System," offers a clear, practical roadmap for facing the solid setup. It explains key plans, typical pawn structures, effective piece placements, concrete move ideas, and trap awareness. The post emphasizes strategic goals, simple plans to unbalance play, and quick improvements for tournament games.
Wishing you great games this week,
The US Chess Sales Team
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Feature Story
5 Tips For Summer Chess Training
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Summer is a great time to take your chess to the next level. With more outdoor and evening chess events and time off for younger players, it’s a great moment to improve. Whether you’re working on a rating climb, moving from beginner to intermediate, or preparing for your first tournament, summer is the perfect time to work on your chess training.
Here are 5 ways you can become a better player by the end of the summer.
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Credits: Kurniawan Suryaputra/Unsplash |
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1- Set a Goal for the Summer
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player shooting for competitive play, set a clear goal and a time frame. Make it as specific as possible. Perhaps the simplest is to pick a rating in a specific time control and aim to reach it by a certain date.
This provides motivation, makes you take every game seriously, and helps to focus your training on specific skills.
2- Study and Play
For most people, playing chess is more fun than studying it. Because of this, many of us try to improve only by playing a lot of games. Unfortunately, it is impossible to master chess without studying. It is also not as hard as people imagine: Pick a chess book, and read it over the summer; register for a chess course or use free online resources; and make sure to analyze some of your games.
Combine these practices with focused play, and you will quickly see better results.
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Studying Chess. Credits: Regis Wa/Unsplash |
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3- Build a Chess Regimen
Creating a summer-long chess regimen will help you stay consistent and reach your goals. You can make it as mild or intense as you like, but be specific and stick with it. Incorporate study activities like learning new openings and endgames, analyzing games, and practicing puzzles.
A simple example could be doing one hour a day. You could warm up with puzzles for 10 minutes, spend 30 minutes studying a chess book with your board, and finish up with a 20-minute analysis of a game from the previous day.
4- Practice with Long Games
Speed chess is more popular than ever and is a great way to play the game. However, those who only play the lower time controls will always struggle with more in-depth in-game calculation. Playing longer time controls, or even friendly untimed games, will give you more time to stretch your calculation skills, board awareness, and creativity.
5- Explore Chess Events
Playing in different environments with different people is a great way to improve at chess. Beyond that, it’s just a lot of fun. In better weather, chess events become more frequent and accessible, taking place in parks and public spaces, chess clubs, and at restaurants and bars. This summer, aim to find at least one near you. It’s a great way to test your abilities, find challenging opponents, and join the chess community.
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A group chess event. Credits: Vitaly Mazur/Unsplash |
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Final Thought
Summer training isn’t about mastering the game in a few months. Chess is about gradual improvement, and the best way to progress is to set a measurable and achievable goal. These small improvements can eventually lead to big milestones.
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10 Chess Games Every Player Should Know
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If you are new to chess, you might not even be aware of the different time controls in regular chess. For the most part, there are four distinct time controls in chess games. Not only do these time controls change how long you are playing the game, but they also often have a different rating both online and OTB. So if you play a shorter game, it won't affect your other online ratings. It is important to know what time controls there are. |
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How To Play Against The London System
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Tired of facing the London System? Discover a rare anti-London variation that boasts exceptional win rates for Black. With assertive, forcing moves, this variation with 3...Nd5 scores brilliantly even against the strongest club players. |
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