Dear Chess Player,
Welcome to The US Chess Sales Weekly. This week’s featured story celebrates International Chess Day, tracing the game's journey from historical roots to a global pastime. Our story explores its rich cultural influence and how it inspires strategy, creativity, and devotion across millions of players. Discover the shared passion that brings this magnificent game to life on your board.
Also, US Chess Sales is excited this week to announce the extension of its massive International Chess Day Sale for one more week! Enjoy massive savings of up to 25% on select chess sets, boards, pieces, and accessories. Whether you’re upgrading your setup or searching for a standout gift, discover exceptional quality at reduced prices. Shop early for the best selection to take advantage of these extended offers before they end. This limited-time event continues to provide timeless chess gear and unbeatable value.
15% off purchases under $100. Use coupon GLOBAL15 20% off purchases between $100 and $200. Use coupon GLOBAL20 25% off purchases over $200. Use coupon GLOBAL25
Enjoying your discount is straightforward: shop as usual, enter the coupon code at checkout, and the savings will be applied automatically to your cart.
This week, US Chess Sales' first weekly blog post, "10 Chess Rules To Know Before Your Next Tournament," offers an essential guide for players preparing to step into the competitive arena. The post breaks down critical tournament regulations, including clock etiquette, move recording, and dispute resolution. Perfect for club players and tournament newcomers alike, it provides the practical knowledge needed to play confidently and avoid costly penalties.
Our second weekly blog post at US Chess Sales, "How To Counter The Sicilian Defense," delivers a clear, tactical roadmap for dismantling Black’s most popular and aggressive response to 1.e4. The article explores key strategic plans, common pawn structures, and recommended lines. This guide is ideal for players looking to sharpen their opening preparation.
Wishing you great games this week,
The US Chess Sales Team
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Feature Story
U.S. Open Championship Preview
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Every 20th of July players and enthusiasts celebrate International Chess Day. Whether it's bringing out a chess set at a family gathering or planning a mini-tournament at your local club, it gives us an excuse to think about chess a little more. |
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Celebrate chess anywhere you can. Credit: Tanner Mardis/Unsplash |
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History and Significance
The holiday dates back to 1966, when it was proposed by UNESCO. The 20th of July date is the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was first established. Since then, it has been celebrated in various ways.
One thing we sometimes forget about chess is that it is amazingly international. The game has enthusiasts in every corner of the world. You can play against people from completely different cultures, who don’t even share your language. The knowledge we chess players share helps us overcome all sorts of barriers. Not only do the familiar chess rituals, etiquette, and openings act as a kind of communication, but the intelligence and creativity of someone’s moves give us a way to connect with them.
International Chess Day is a great opportunity to remember that chess is a global game and a way of bringing people together.
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Chess tournaments often have participants from all over the world. Credit: Ruslan Alekso/Pexels |
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Events
International Chess Day events often feature at chess clubs, platforms, and international chess organizations. One example in 2024 was an event organized by FIDE to break the Guinness World Record for the most chess games played in 24 hours. With tournaments played around the world, they completed 7,284,970 total games and set a record.
Every year, local and international chess organizations get busy with events. Chess.com runs a 24-hour online tournament so you can sign in for a day of international chess. If you’re looking for some chess over the board, check your local chess club or organize your own meet-up.
Ideas to Celebrate Chess
Enjoy the holiday by finding a way to celebrate chess this July 20th. Lost for ways to celebrate the game? Here are a few suggestions:
Send a message to a fellow chess enthusiast or a game invite to an old playing partner. Creating new chess relationships, or reviving old ones, is a great way to grow the chess community. Get a new chess book or set. Studying chess is another great way to improve, and there is a whole library of books from grandmasters and teachers. Or, a new chess set is another great way to grow your appreciation of the game.
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Studying with a book and a chess set is a great way to learn. Credit: Arya Tulsyan - Unsplash |
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Join a chess club. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to take that extra step, use International Chess Day as your motivation. Joining a club is the best thing you can do to improve at chess. Sign up for a tournament. If you’re a bit further along in your chess journey, the next step might be competing. Tournaments are available for lots of different levels, casual or rated, so there are plenty of options to choose from.
The truth is, it doesn’t matter how you celebrate. International Chess Day is a way of enjoying and growing our incredible community of players and enthusiasts.
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10 Chess Rules To Know Before Your Next Tournament
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A chess tournament can be stressful. Not only are you playing a game that requires intense concentration, pattern recognition, and strategy, but you may also be experiencing a brand new set of rules that accompany over-the-board chess tournaments. |
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How To Counter The Sicilian Defense
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The Sicilian Defense is one of chess’s most complex openings, but you don’t need to memorize endless theory to fight back! Learn three high-scoring Anti-Sicilians—the Grand Prix Attack, Alapin Variation, and Smith-Morra Gambit—and discover which one best matches your playing style. |
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