Hints on How to Write a Chess Blog

I’ve been told I look like Eddie Deezen from the 1941 movie.

How to Write a Red Hot Pawn Blog (part 1)

One of the books which I often dip into for an idea is this;


Printed in 1974 Chernev offers a nice collection of odd and curious chess facts.
When I see something that Chernev may have missed or has happened after 1974
I make a note of it and see if I can find an excuse to use it later. That ‘later' is today!

A. Tolush - V Simagin, Moscow 1952 (Black to Play)

Reveal Hidden Content

Time passed and the term ‘what goes around comes around’ comes to mind.

T. Petrosian - V. Simagin, Moscow 1956 (White to play)

Reveal Hidden Content
Reveal Hidden Content

Having shown those two you then find a Red Hot Pawn example.

Robida - balameenu RHP 2023

Try and give one where Black plays the same combo.

Benarr - rmaki1 RHP 2022

And if possible the same idea being cocked-up by a couple of RHP players.

sunnyday25 - hjcpa RHP 2022


Another blog tip. Use chess themed book or magazine covers to break up the text.

How to Solve a Study

Everyone will have their methods. but sometimes trying to fathom
out the main idea is like chasing a butterfly with a piece of string.
If really stuck one can use the brute force process of elimination.

Dr. M Hennberger in 1925 (White to play and draw)

If Black can pick up the Rook or the Bishop then it is 0-1.
If White can get the pieces protecting each it is an easy draw.

At the moment everything is unprotected and the Bishop is attacked.
Can we defend it with the Rook? No. 1.Re4 or Rd5 then 1....Qb7
pinning and winning. So the first move must be a Bishop move.

1.Bb8 Qb7+ and Qxb8. 1.Bh8 Qh7+ and Qxh8 and other Bishop moves lose the Rook.
1.Bh2 Qb7+ 2. Kg1 Qg7+ and QxR 1.Bf4 Qb7+ 2.Kh2 (2.Kg1 Qg7+) 2...Qh7+ wins.

So from that we have worked out 1.Bg3 must be the first move.

Black has one chance left to create a valid threat. 1.Qe3
attacks both pieces and White has no sensible checks.

Now we remember the task. ‘White to play and draw.’

What are the different ways to draw a game of chess. Agree a draw, three fold rep,
not enough material on the board to give a checkmate, offer a bribe...or a stalemate.

Stalemate! Then we recall the common stalemate pattern with a Queen.



Again find RHP examples. Here is one where White missed the Stalemate pattern.

I Got This - BamLFC RHP 2012

Chess Problems.

I have no problem with using a Chess Study but Chess Problems I tend to stay away from.
Not only is it hard to find RHP examples (though in this case I have succeeded) I can never
remember them because the setting never resembles anything from an actual game of Chess.

This one was composed by G. N. Cheney in 1868 (White to play and mate in two)

I’ve chosen this one because it is rather unique. I’ll give the solution after a picture.


1.Qh8 and it checkmate next move if either Rook takes the Queen.

1...Rhxh8 2.Ne7 mate. 1....Rfxh8 2.Nf6 mate.
The cute tries are 1...Rxd7 giving c7 as a flight square. 2.Qh1 mate
If the f8 Rook comes off the back rank. 1...Rf7 then 2 Qa8 mate.
So the White Queen started on a1 and visits all four corner squares.

The RHP example. The White Queen visits all the corner squares in seven moves.

Talem16 - Pea RHP 2007


Just some ideas for your blogs and if you ever get stuck
for an idea then do a 'Hints on How to Write a Chess Blog.'

The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 198566