MattyDPerrine's Blog

I'm on the Perpetual Chess Podcast

2026-07-21T17:37:33.639Z

Give it a listen!

The Threat Hierarchy: When to Fight Back Instead of Defending

2026-07-17T17:39:09.409Z

Stronger players don't defend more. They defend less. Here's how.

Your Opponent Gives You a Gift Every Move (Most Players Never Open It)

2026-07-09T16:28:12.528Z

Most players ask what their opponent is threatening. The better question is what their move stopped defending.

Chessalyz June Update: See the Moment Your Game Leaves Your Prep

2026-06-23T17:20:48.993Z

Build your repertoire, save any position as a flashcard, track your stats, and see exactly when a game leaves your prep.

Chessalyz May Update: Matty Got Specific

2026-05-14T18:52:45.71Z

Matty's AI coaching now backs up his recommendations with real variations from the position. Three before-and-after examples inside.

Your Chess Training Plan Should Be Boring

2026-04-24T18:31:55.626Z

Why the best training plans aren't exciting, and why that's a good thing.

How to Play Online Chess with Real Intensity

2026-04-15T15:52:20.395Z

A pre-game checklist and mindset shift to get more out of every online game you play

Stop Gatekeeping Opening Study

2026-04-09T18:22:46.984Z

Why chess players of every rating level should study openings, and what to focus on at each stage

What a Figure Skater Can Teach You About Chess Improvement

2026-03-25T19:21:40.745Z

How an Olympic figure skater's approach to competition, failure, and pressure can make you a better chess player

Chessalyz Update: Flashcards Are Here (+ Full Mobile Support)

2026-03-18T18:51:31.312Z

A walkthrough of our biggest update yet, including spaced repetition flashcards, full mobile browser support, player search, and bug fixes.

What Every Chess School Got Right (And What You Can Steal From Each One)

2026-03-11T18:49:19.016Z

Five training philosophies from five different countries. You don't need to be from any of them to use what works.

What “Talent” Actually Means in Chess (It’s Not What You Think)

2026-02-25T16:55:16.95Z

Talent exists but it's not what's holding you back.

You Asked, We Built: What's New in Chessalyz (Spring 2026 Updates)

2026-02-12T02:31:53.56Z

Dark mode, coach sharing, more free analyses, and a bunch of bug fixes

What If Your Biggest Chess Problem Has Nothing to Do With Chess?

2026-02-05T04:14:38.728Z

How out-of-game issues sabotage your results and what to do about them

The 4 Questions Strong Players Ask on Every Move (That You Probably Skip)

2026-01-23T17:16:22.174Z

A simple thinking system to reduce blunders and find better moves

We Just Made a Big Upgrade to Chessalyz.ai's Feedback Algorithm

2026-01-17T19:53:24.766Z

How we made the AI feedback feel more like a real coaching conversation

You Can't Improve Alone: My 2025 Chess Year in Review

2026-01-01T17:18:32.167Z

Playing, coaching, creating, and building. One lesson connected all of it.

Stop Studying Grandmasters. Start Studying Yourself.

2025-12-10T19:25:19.499Z

Stop thinking about what others do. Start understanding what you do.

3 Lesser Known Websites to Improve Your Chess Game

2025-09-17T20:28:56.217Z

Hidden gems that have flown under the radar

Higher-Rated Players Want You to Be Afraid of Them

2026-05-12T17:26:06.632Z

Your fear is their biggest weapon. Here's how to stop handing them the game.

We Built a Prediction Game for the 2026 Candidates Tournament

2026-03-28T16:42:07.962Z

Make your predictions for every game of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and compete on the leaderboard.

The Chess Cookie Jar

2025-12-21T16:47:16.114Z

Why your brain forgets your best chess and how to fix it

How to Know You’re Getting Better at Chess Even When Your Rating Doesn’t Show It

2025-12-02T21:45:36.838Z

Focusing on habits, reflection and process can reveal real improvement that a rating can’t

How to Improve at Chess with the CLIMB Method

2025-10-09T19:43:24.225Z

This acronym makes all the difference in how you approach improvement