Happy Friday!

It's been some time since we last met during NYTW and for some of you, our previous events. Many attendees at these events have expressed interest in more gatherings like this in the future.

While there are numerous events focused on specific industry sectors, roles, or individual statistics, Ari and I believe there should exist a community built on shared values.

Chess enthusiasts appreciate reasoning, problem-solving, and tinkering. We believe that this game is a wonderful way to connect with people through how they think.

For this reason, we are expanding Chess Not Checkers, online and offline, to connect even more people. Here's how we plan to do it:

• Chess Bites: Chess for busy people. We know many want to learn more about the game but don't have hours to dedicate to it daily. Chess Bites will feature snippets of openings, end games, and more to help you understand the game in a more engaging way.

• Events: More in-person events

• Virtual Chess Club on chess.com: Join our online club to meet others. More info coming soon.

We’re thrilled about what’s coming next, so let’s kick off with our first Chess Bites (and my favorite opening): The Sicilian Defense.

Chess Bites

The Sicilian Defense

^{P.S. We assume you already know how to play chess. If not, no worries! Reply to this email for a Chess 101 Guide.}

When I first started playing chess, my coach insisted that I begin with e5 as an opening. Why e5? Compared to other moves, e5 leads to fewer variations in the game while still maintaining a strong control of the center of the board. It helps you learn the basics without too much complexity.

As time went on, he let me explore openings that suited my personality and style better—the Sicilian Defense. 

Playing c5 instead of e5 creates, as John Gunn (mathematician and chess grandmaster) put it, an "asymmetrical" game. As the game develop, this will allow room for more strategic and tactical battles. It also open up the many variations of the Sicilian Defense (which we can cover in later Chess Bites).

I like to think of the Sicilian Defense as a "second mover advantage." In a typical chess game, White often gains a small advantage by moving first, especially with 1.e4, bringing them closer to controlling the center of the board. Rather than playing catch-up, Black chooses a more combative approach.

As Jonathan Rowson explained in his book Chess for Zebras: Thinking Differently About Black and White, Black will “let you open the position and develop your pieces aggressively, but at a price—you have to give me one of your center pawns.”

This already powerful opening gained even more popularity with the show The Queen’s Gambit. In the final episode, Beth’s mentor, Benny Watts, advises her to “play the Sicilian” against the reigning chess champion, Vasily Borgov. In this context, he actually encourages her to embrace her own sharp, aggressive, and confident style of play!