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Getting better at chess, one article at a time

On one side, concrete guides to gain Elo points; on the other, my tournament diary — competition seen from the inside.

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Two ways to follow me

Concrete methods to gain Elo points, by Alexandre Iwanesko, FIDE Master.

1 article

My tournaments from the inside — key games, choices under pressure and what I take away.

3 articles

Improve29 August 2026
Returning to chess after a break: what one year and 188 games taught me
A FIDE Master, I stopped playing chess for six years before coming back in August 2025. One year on: 188 FIDE-rated games, 139 rating points lost at classical, and a much clearer idea of what had survived the break and what hadn't.
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Tournament diary23 August 2026
Swiss Team Championship: The Survival Weekend with Nyon
Rounds 6 and 7 of the Swiss top division with Nyon 1, on August 22 and 23, 2026: two matches won 4½–3½, survival secured, and both my games replayable move by move with the engine's verdict.
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Tournament diary2 August 2026
Badalona Open 2026: My Tournament Diary (50th Edition)
A round-by-round account of the 50th 'Ciutat de Badalona' International Open (Spain), August 2-10, 2026 — 9 rounds, international opponents, and lessons game by game.
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Tournament diary25 July 2026
Pontevedra Open 2026: My Tournament Diary from Spain
A round-by-round account of the Pontevedra International Open (Spain), July 25-30, 2026 — games, analysis, and lessons from a demanding tournament.
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