Neal Bruce

I’ve been studying chess in a serious way for 5 years. This thread is about: 1. Why I started this journey 2. My beliefs, skills, tools, process 3. How I made chess study a daily practice and part of my identity I hope it will help you in your chess journey. 🙏

🎉Congratulations to IM-elect Rose Atwell who has achieved a live rating over 2400 after round 3 of the Charlotte Spring GM Norm Invitational! With 4 IM norms secured, she has earned the International Master title pending FIDE approval! 🎉 @atwell_rose

@atwell_rose @CLTchesscenter Way to go Rose!

The @CLTchesscenter says that I reached 2400 FIDE in my live rating. I have 4 IM norms, so this means I'm now an IM-elect. Thanks to them for consistently organizing these events, and thank you to my family, friends, coach, and everyone who has supported me along the way. ♟️😃

I played an FM in round 3 of my norm tournament. And I won! I messed up the opening though, and we reached a queenless middlegame where I was worse. Below he took Rxb7. This is a mistake after Rd2+ Bxd2 Rxd2+ Kg3 Rxa2 when I should be better with 2 minor pieces for the rook.

I’m always shocked when I face the Halloween Gambit. 🎃 Or in the case, the Hallowqueen Gambit. 😈 Sorry, I could not resist. 🤣 #chesspunks

@atwell_rose @LozHCooper @CLTchesscenter Good luck Rose!

Now I'm back in Charlotte! I'm here for a GM norm tournament organized by the @CLTchesscenter. My main goal here is to earn the IM title by reaching 2400 FIDE (I already have the norms). I think my live rating is about 2390, so I'm pretty close! 🍀 🔥🙂

The “never again” tactic come is many shapes and sizes: White pieces, Black pieces, e4, d4. 😊 #chesspunks

@CryptoSala Blitz is fun for me, but I also play blitz to improve my openings and time management.

@NealBruceBC I practice new openings all the time but when playing blitz you play the same old you feel comfy with 🤣😭

I’m changing some of my opening lines to course/book recommendations from my long standing “best guesses”. 🤣 And I’m finding it so hard to rewrire my brain to play the new lines. 🤯 #chesspunks

@Deepesh42747070 Well done 🏆

@NealBruceBC C4 yeahh, c4, kxc4, nd2 fork, eventually winning

A pretty White to move and win from my Blitz game. 😊 #chesspunks

@MeerMaurits Well done Maurits 🏆 In the game, the Knight let go of the Rook, then resigns.

@NealBruceBC c4 and either the king lets go of the knight or the knight lets go of the rook.

@GMNeiksans PS. I love your passion for coaching, and I think your rates are very reasonable.

@GMNeiksans Thank you Arturs 😊

A big day today - not only it's my birthday, but I'm also launching my own official website! gmneiksans.com

@akaNemsko @SGradijan If you don’t play chess, what are you doing these days?

Me: I don't really play chess anymore Also me: Just hit my all-time bullet high of 2700! Been playing a ton of GM's in the pool so was nice to beat one in the final game to get over the line 🥳😁

Real game tactic. White to move. It is quite tricky. All silly one move answer will automatically be considered wrong. #ChessTactic #ChessPunks

I checked and this line is also covered in van Forrest's excellent LTR: Tarrasch. 👍

Stockfish taught me a cool idea in the Tarrasch today. Why is 7…Nbxd4 a mistake? 🤔 #chesspunks

@franciscofelipe Well done! 🏆

@NealBruceBC If black plays e5 then knight can't move because then black plays Bxf2 an white loses queen

@billforsternz Perfect Bill 🏆

@NealBruceBC Oooo, how does White meet ...e5 in reply? It looks like the knight is doomed because moving the knight succumbs to ...Bxf2+ winning the queen.

From my Blitz game. An important line to know in the Tarrasch. Black to move and gain an advantage. 🤔 #chesspunks