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🔥 Coupon code: CHESSNOOB64

• Get up to 10-17% discount at the Chessnut store (can be used in conjunction with other coupons, though the total saving is capped)
• Get a 20% discount on the Chessiverse premium tier membership!

I’ve really been enjoying Chessiverse, an online chess platform that specialises in (almost 600!) AI-powered chess bots of all different styles and play strengths. As mentioned in a recent article and video, I’m undertaking a collaboration with Chessiverse, and today, I’m going to show you something really cool! 🤩

I’m going to leave a more detailed review of Chessiverse for later. Instead, today I going to demonstrate a genuinely brilliant combination. I love chess robots, such as the Chessnut Move.

Although the first party Chessnut app has bots, it’s not terribly exciting to play against a weakened version of Stockfish, or a weakened version of Leela Chess Zero. Maia is fun to play against, with it being trained to play in a human-like way, but it has limited variety. I love the Chess.com bots, and the seasonal bots are a great diversion. However, there are only a small number of bots that are approximately at one specific (e.g., YOUR) playing strength.

This makes Chessiverse a fantastic tool. There are many dozens of bots within the 400-ELO band of most beginner and intermediate players, meaning that these are bots that won’t be overly easy or difficult to defeat! Furthermore, you can choose bots that play specific openings or play in specific styles. And as these are somewhat human-like in their responses, you can practice aggressive Romantic attacks and gambits, without being immediately shutdown and refuted!

I must give a special acknowledgement to the amazing free software that makes this possible. Chessconnect started out as a Chrome web extension (connecting Chessnut electronic boards to Chess.com) but now is also an Android and iOS app and supports many different boards and online chess services! It’s the glue that massively extends the capability of many electronic chess boards, including the Chessnut Move robot, and future-proofs these against manufacturer obsolescence and neglect. This has been developed by the talented and generous Dr Jörn Gehring. He doesn’t charge for Chessconnect, so if you use it and like it, shout him a tea on his “Buy me a tea” link on the Chessconnect website!

In the video, I demonstrate four games on the “speed run” feature on Chessiverse!

• Game 1: A weird Vienna Gambit declined
• Game 2: Giuoco Piano game
• Game 3: Vienna Gambit declined
• Game 4: Wayward Queen Attack: Kiddie Countergambit

I do think that the bots played somewhat in a human-like way as “beginners”, especially with some of the choices for inaccuracies. I liked the fact that the bots will resign at realistic points in the game, rather than play on until checkmate. There were a few times when the bots played moves that didn’t feel quite human: either a move that was “too good” for their simulated play strength, or a blunder that seemed a little inexplicable, though admittedly, real beginners do blunder their queens when they take them out early! 🤣 Check out the games in the video and below and let me know what you think with a comment! ☺️

* * *

Learn how to play the best chess opening attacks in the Romantic style with my new book, “Become a Chess Assassin!” available now on your local Amazon store!

[Event "Chessiverse Rated Game"]
[Site "Chessiverse.com"]
[Date "2025.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Danny Enpassant"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Time "03:18:19"]
[WhiteElo "834"]
[BlackElo "872"]
[Termination "Resign"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.50x50o.b3ba794d99f9.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/game_analysis_self/36ee5aaa-a962-11f0-84c1-e9222758257b.a39c977c.160x160o.4e885b33ea62.webp"]
[BlackCountry "3"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2dyQQev3A6/analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 {Vienna Game, let's go $1} 2... Nf6 3. f4 g5 $4 {[%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d7;to;d5;persistent;false] Bizarrely
aggressive move by Danny $1} 4. fxe5 $1 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e5f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f6;persistent;false]} 4... Ng4 $6
{[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d7;to;d5;persistent;false,f6g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f6;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false]
The ongoing aggression $1} 5. Qxg4 h5 {Danny charges forth $1 There is something
admirable in a bot that doesn't play \"by the rules\" $1} 6. Qe2 d6 7. d4 dxe5 8.
Qb5+ Qd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;b8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false] Danny tries to trade
queens...} 9. Qxe5+ Qe7 10. Qxe7+ {[%c_arrow
e5h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false] I could have taken
the rook $1 However, I thought that I'll \"cash in\" as without queens on the
board, the advantage is \"locked in\".} 10... Bxe7 11. Nf3 g4 12. Ng5 $6
{[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f3;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Offering to have a
trade. Stockfish prefers Ne5, but a trade is best for me if it is accepted by
Black.} 12... Bxg5 $6 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]
They accept.} 13. Bxg5 g3 14. hxg3 c6 15. O-O-O f6 16. Bxf6 a5 17. Bxh8
{[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Winner;animated;true] With their material
obliterated, Danny resigns. Good game, GG $1} 1-0


[Event "Chessiverse Rated Game"]
[Site "Chessiverse.com"]
[Date "2025.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ken Knightly"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Time "03:22:42"]
[WhiteElo "790"]
[BlackElo "846"]
[Termination "Resign"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.32x32o.b1cf5b001ab7.webp"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/game_analysis_self/b4e6494e-a963-11f0-8121-e5aecdcf0b05.43fc4879.160x160o.5fc201dd7168.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "195"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4EUsXV4TsU/analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 {Italian Game: Two Knights Defense} 4. O-O Bc5
{We're playing a Giuoco Piano Game - super solid by Ken} 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7.
Nfd2 Ng4 {Let's try and be a bit aggressive $1 I was hoping for a Fishing Pole
Attack...} 8. Qe1 {[%c_arrow
d2f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d2;to;f3;persistent;false,h2h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;h2;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false]}
8... Qh4 {Let's immediately threaten checkmate $1} 9. Nf3 Qh5 10. Qe2 $6
{[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a2a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;a2;to;a4;persistent;false,c4b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c4;to;b3;persistent;false,h2h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;h2;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false,a4;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false,b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false]
As is common in Giuoco Piano games (which is why I don't like them $1), it's not
always obvious what the best move is $1 The engine thinks that Bb3 is clearly the
best. h3 and a4, which are more logical looking, are okay.} 10... Be6 $6
{[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g4h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;h2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false] My idea was trading
the bishops and opening the f-file. In the game, I didn't see Nxh2 with White's
f3-knight pinned to the queen. It's one of the great reasons to train on a real
3D board; I saw this immediately in analysis on a computer so clearly, I need to
develop my board vision for OTB chess more $1} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. h4 O-O 13. Nh2
Bxf2+ $2 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Here, I
miscalculated the trade sequence, and I realised it afterwards. Still, it's
okay. Board vision $1} 14. Rxf2 Rxf2 15. Qxg4 $1 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false]} 15... Qxg4 16. Nxg4
Re2 $6 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f2f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f2;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] The engine suggests
retreating all the way to f7, but I was hoping that keeping the rook on the
second rank would work out} 17. b4 $4 {[%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g1f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g1;to;f1;persistent;false] Luckily, it
did $1} 17... Rf8 $2  {[%c_effect
f8;square;f8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e2e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e2;to;e1;persistent;false,e1c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;c1;persistent;false,e1g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]
Immediate Re1+ fork is obviously better} 18. a4 $2 {[%c_effect
a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c1d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c1;to;d2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false] It seems that Ken
doesn't do well in the latter half of middlegames; perhaps, realistic for
beginner players $1} 18... Re1+ $1 {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;c1;persistent;false,e1g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;g1;persistent;false]}
19. Kh2 Rxc1 20. a5 Rff1 21. Ne3 Rh1+ 22. Kg3 Rxb1 {Let's trade off White's
pieces $1} 23. Rxb1 Rxb1 24. Kh3 b6 25. Kh2 bxa5 26. bxa5 Nxa5 27. g4 Rb2+ {I'd
intended Rb3, but the Chessnut Move board was a bit too sensitive $1} 28. Kh1 Rb3
29. Kg2 Rxc3 30. Kf2 Rxd3 31. Ke2 Rd4 32. Nc2 Rxe4+ {[%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Winner;animated;true] And Ken admits defeat and resigns. Good
game, GG $1} 0-1


[Event "Chessiverse Rated Game"]
[Site "Chessiverse.com"]
[Date "2025.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Ken Knightly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Time "03:33:07"]
[WhiteElo "854"]
[BlackElo "790"]
[Termination "Resign"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.50x50o.b3ba794d99f9.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/game_analysis_self/b4e6494e-a963-11f0-8121-e5aecdcf0b05.43fc4879.160x160o.5fc201dd7168.webp"]
[BlackCountry "195"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/38LD5XXnhU/analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 {Vienna Gambit, let's go $1} 3... Bc5 $4 {[%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false] It is common (and
realistic $2) that beginners blunder against the Vienna Gambit $1 Ken seems to be
playing moves reminiscent of an Italian Game/Giuoco Piano, and that's a mistake
against the Vienna $1} 4. fxe5 $1 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e5f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f6;persistent;false] Vienna Gambit
idea: if Black doesn't defend their e5-pawn, fxe5 is almost always correct $1}
4... Nxe4 {I've certainly seen this against human opponents. Black freaks out at
the attack, refuses to retreat their knight to g8, and so desperately captures
the pawn $1} 5. Nxe4 Qh4+ 6. Ng3 Qf4 $6 {[%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c5;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false]} 7. Qe2 $6 {[%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g1f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g1;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] Defend the e5-pawn. I
wasn't sure whether Qe2 or Nf3 was better. The knight was better (as typical $1).}
7... Bxg1 8. Rxg1 Nc6 9. d3 Qh4 10. Qe3 {[%c_arrow
e2e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e2;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false] I actually intended
to play Qe4 to offer a trade of queens, but like last game, I had the piece too
close to the board, and it detected Qe3 first...} 10... O-O 11. Qe4 Qe7 12. Bf4
Qh4 13. O-O-O Re8 14. Nf5 Qf2 15. Be2 Qxe2 $2 {[%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Under pressure, the bot trades away
their queen... I'm not 100\% sure that this was entirely realistic $2} 16. Qxe2
f6 $6 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d7;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 17. Qg4 {[%c_arrow
g4g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;g7;persistent;false,f5g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f5;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false] Checkmate threat $1}
17... g6 18. exf6 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Winner;animated;true] At this
point, Ken resigned. Good game, GG $1} 1-0


[Event "Chessiverse Rated Game"]
[Site "Chessiverse.com"]
[Date "2025.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Emma Castlewright"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Time "03:39:55"]
[WhiteElo "857"]
[BlackElo "863"]
[Termination "Resign"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/game_analysis_self/645dcb2e-a967-11f0-ac0b-b51e34e5ad90.f38c0e18.160x160o.d438ef25b169.webp"]
[WhiteCountry "164"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.b9866645.50x50o.b3ba794d99f9.webp"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/4JWGSDyck6/analysis"]

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 {Wayward Queen Attack  $1 It's very interesting that a bot will
play this, and it is consistent with human beginner players  $1} 2... Nf6 {My
standard response now is the Kiddie Countergambit: let's go  $1} 3. Qxe5+ Be7
{[%c_highlight e7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false]} 4. Bc4
Nc6 {[%c_arrow
c6e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c6;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] The idea is that we
now chase the queen $1} 5. Qf4 d5 {[%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] The move to know $1} 6.
exd5 Nb4 {[%c_arrow
b4c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;b4;to;c2;persistent;false,b4d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;b4;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]}
7. Bb3 Nbxd5 {[%c_arrow
d5f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d5;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false] We chase the queen $1}
8. Qh4 $2 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f4d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f4;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] It's often difficult
for White to find the correct square for their queen. This was a mistake.} 8...
Ng4  {[%c_arrow
e8g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e8;to;g8;persistent;false,e7h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e7;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false]
Apparently, castling was the best move here, but my idea was to form an attack
on White's f2-pawn, and to keep the chase of White's queen, prompting them to
blunder $1} 9. Qg3 O-O 10. Nf3 $2 {[%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g3d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g3;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] Qd3, putting a second
attacker on my d5-knight was best.} 10... Bc5 $5  {[%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e7d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e7;to;d6;persistent;false,d6g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d6;to;g3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false]
Bd6 chasing the queen again is best, but I decided to see whether the bot would
respond to the tactical hit on f2 $1} 11. Nh4 $4 {[%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e1;to;g1;persistent;false] Nope, they
blunder $1} 11... Bxf2+ $1 {[%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f2;to;e1;persistent;false,f2g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f2;to;g3;persistent;false]
Royal fork $1 White must trade their queen for two minor pieces $1} 12. Qxf2 Nxf2
13. O-O Qxh4 14. Bxd5 $6 {[%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 14... Ng4  {[%c_arrow
h4h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;h4;to;h2;persistent;false,g4h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;h2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false] Very direct: attack
on h2} 15. Rf5 $4 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]} 15... Qxh2+ 16. Kf1
Qh1+ 17. Ke2 Bxf5 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Winner;animated;true] Can a bot
suffer emotional damage $2 In any case, they resigned at this point $1} 0-1