https://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blogdatajunkie's Blog2026-07-22T10:58:40.558Zhttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/what-do-i-even-work-on-now/xocSXN5c2026-07-22T10:58:40.558Z2026-07-22T10:58:40.558ZWhat do I even work on now?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=j-8p5sz_H4J0.webp&w=880&sig=a2362a91e6b1aaffb81f25b22ec82870a5766a1b" /><br />You had a bad tournament. The next day, what do you actually do?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/what-the-scoreboard-never-tells-you/jyNzrehl2026-07-18T21:18:33.865Z2026-07-18T21:18:33.865ZWhat the scoreboard never tells you<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=JB0BkI4_JVZ0.webp&w=880&sig=45b39c400123024a0a9a348f33b8866e4ee9518d" /><br />Why results are the worst judge of your chessIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-best-non-chess-book-ive-read-for-chess-improvement/zTAMosRu2026-07-11T21:14:47.264Z2026-07-11T21:14:47.264ZThe best non-chess book I’ve read for chess improvement<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=RBaG8HFAEN6F.webp&w=880&sig=593f853fae1e5e82f66ae95d9b0da224a53d4e83" /><br />The Will to Keep Winning by Daigo UmeharaIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/10-chess-books-that-changed-how-i-see-the-game/wAtmPaqd2026-07-04T21:22:21.176Z2026-07-04T21:22:21.176Z10 chess books that changed how I see the game<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=b_3QLuF4xoOp.webp&w=880&sig=6090548ce5f7b15a370c1b21f4e1e9a4c8e73d12" /><br />Are chess books still relevant?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-most-game-reviews-dont-make-you-better/rICQotgq2026-06-27T21:42:42.595Z2026-06-27T21:42:42.595ZWhy most game reviews don't make you better<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=5w8KYQbEi1vB.webp&w=880&sig=a8c6e43a6e1dae9373da072e40d0f9f91d37ff46" /><br />And what to do insteadIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-most-players-study-hard-and-still-dont-improve/qG7lKJfa2026-06-20T21:01:32.117Z2026-06-20T21:01:32.117ZWhy most players study hard and still don’t improve<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=lr__ysXeHXqt.webp&w=880&sig=74baab59eb7b25200010af40b64a254f97eb6c9e" /><br />And the system I built to fix thisIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/igor-zaitsevs-attacking-the-strongpoint/IfiM3Ocs2026-06-13T21:16:30.022Z2026-06-13T21:16:30.022ZIgor Zaitsev's Attacking the Strongpoint<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=jOZv9FNoJiYa.webp&w=880&sig=2abc3fef873095f1152676909ccd837062d9ef63" /><br />A philosophy of chess from a man who chose the shadowsIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/40-good-enough-moves/Sh6OQNRD2026-06-06T21:22:42.315Z2026-06-06T21:22:42.315Z40 Good (Enough) Moves<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=5f8c_kMFHAnP.webp&w=880&sig=48d7efeea3b0ab6f36f52100f1b76df9f13ac0bb" /><br />Why it can be helpful to lower the bar from 'good' to 'good enough'IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-most-chess-players-never-learn-from-their-games/g0BFImnU2026-05-31T07:47:35.797Z2026-05-31T07:47:35.797ZWhy most chess players never learn from their games<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=hnWQGG3zn4zl.webp&w=880&sig=aca34fac5d50d05f74d7242799b2dc85137f08bb" /><br />What a fighter pilot coaching a Norwegian soccer team can teach youIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/i-knew-i-wasnt-going-to-be-a-normal-person/rPauZgv12026-05-24T01:35:05.478Z2026-05-24T01:35:05.478Z"I Knew I Wasn't Going to Be a Normal Person"<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=YO0cGqd9huO_.webp&w=880&sig=c25fb6941568e52f2a473fe3c82f315a33952230" /><br />A grandmaster's reflection after our gameIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-upstream-problem/a7YpXkmZ2026-05-17T03:59:06.746Z2026-05-17T03:59:06.746ZThe Upstream Problem<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=kz8MhqcIGOyG.webp&w=880&sig=17ea5123face90bd29b5926bc13fb5f41c7490c6" /><br />How studying endgames changed my middlegame without me tryingIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/how-to-think-like-a-master-in-quiet-positions/qVuwdgJp2026-05-09T23:40:27.587Z2026-05-09T23:40:27.587ZHow to think like a master in quiet positions<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=SkdjwfOO3V-9.webp&w=880&sig=7e91472abb47955f9a80d0537686f00e0f2877e7" /><br />The 3CE methodIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/what-your-self-talk-says-about-your-chess/zz90tybJ2026-05-03T10:28:55.56Z2026-05-03T10:28:55.56ZWhat your self-talk says about your chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=3BrDwUH-AMsC.webp&w=880&sig=52cab059c16eb75d020415e542f1c09b5c309f13" /><br />What you tell yourself shapes your focusIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/5-benefits-of-otb-tournaments/JwwDNNj22026-04-21T10:18:37.968Z2026-04-21T10:18:37.968Z5 benefits of OTB tournaments<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=CzvbdZ9WI-Fq.webp&w=880&sig=81019a2217833a7050d6cbc58f254686a2c240d0" /><br />There's nothing like 9 rounds of 90+30IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/youre-studying-chess-openings-the-wrong-way-do-this-instead/3OSUKrap2026-04-09T11:05:37.112Z2026-04-09T11:05:37.112ZYou’re studying chess openings the wrong way (do this instead)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=nYl1_pdjyagW.webp&w=880&sig=1d1885135d9c2be0f1ad3abb3e1321d8850b1873" /><br />If memorising opening lines made you stronger, many club players would be masters.IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/our-64-most-memorable-blunders/lQMr8Pc42026-03-18T07:03:40.055Z2026-03-18T07:03:40.055ZOur 64 most memorable blunders<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=Q8o9sbCkegWa.webp&w=880&sig=f9e161172af3ac955fd6bdb75080814170d35126" /><br />Add your worst move to this community collectionIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-three-pillars-of-tactical-skill/RuyIXNTr2026-03-03T19:57:48.808Z2026-03-03T19:57:48.808ZThe three pillars of tactical skill<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=1LonwZQTTgPB.webp&w=880&sig=7cfce4487e101058c0b30a4402c7d8f05151ce84" /><br />Which one do you need to strengthen?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-you-overthink-in-chess-and-how-to-stop/574BwtcB2026-02-17T19:27:30.27Z2026-02-17T19:27:30.27ZWhy you overthink in chess (and how to stop)<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=-_DknVhA2I-N.webp&w=880&sig=b4882cee1d43686a2abdb8ef5bf86fbdb869445f" /><br />It took me 25 years to realise thisIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/emulate-someone-you-admire/scDXNcOx2026-02-11T07:43:02.587Z2026-02-11T07:43:02.587ZEmulate someone you admire<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=b5aYfKmc28-G.webp&w=880&sig=5c2106f72502592cfb65ed709557c647f189f316" /><br />Chess advice from a professional guitaristIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-5-stages-of-chess-mastery/xnX6l5i12026-01-29T06:44:37.59Z2026-01-29T06:44:37.59ZThe 5 Stages of Chess Mastery<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=H0k9Kaa3Ps_4.webp&w=880&sig=7f389da2446cb7d6ee86e4991a46b8da90aeaa15" /><br />Where are you?IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/three-signals-of-future-strength-in-chess/lEo7Sut82026-01-22T22:04:05.826Z2026-01-22T22:04:05.826ZThree signals of future strength in chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=r7ldWw2BTjZT.webp&w=880&sig=3f06925323fa34a0172ab1c316086f8b86322a33" /><br />Trainable behaviours I noticed while giving a simul at the Australian JuniorsIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/do-this-on-your-opponents-turn/3KRj203S2026-01-14T19:55:47.574Z2026-01-14T19:55:47.574ZDo this on your opponent's turn<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=JmQl49A75kM5.webp&w=880&sig=dcab61d08d3b2d7e1f9157ccca999ea76aa77f7e" /><br />5 simple habits to use your time better and level up your chessIM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/the-top-mistake-amateur-players-make/IkQzyVY82026-01-01T21:45:46.942Z2026-01-01T21:45:46.942ZThe top mistake amateur players make<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=HUSHtnq7P7wf.webp&w=880&sig=9734509535ac5d73114bd4911ea8d2f4cf263516" /><br />+ best chess books I read in 2025IM datajunkiehttps://lichess.org/@/datajunkie/blog/why-your-tactics-arent-improving/5lcSErLF2025-11-28T19:47:51.844Z2025-11-28T19:47:51.844ZWhy your tactics aren’t improving<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=A532zvxEAeUu.webp&w=880&sig=05d06fe7e3a98875593413eda84ea0d2c9cef1df" /><br />The 4 fixes that can help you become a tacticianIM datajunkie