https://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blogTheOnoZone's Blog2026-04-28T11:40:22.966Zhttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/chess-enlightenment/y5qpgJdX2026-04-28T11:40:22.966Z2026-04-28T11:40:22.966ZChess Enlightenment<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Swami Vivekananda" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=i52BYjfsVIT4.webp&w=880&sig=f4ab924a21c7ed6dcbd616e8664cdcda0f9abe8a" /><br />I open the door and literally fall to my knees, face in hands.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/whats-the-point-of-puzzles/biZe93DT2024-11-21T06:13:10.552Z2024-11-21T06:13:10.552ZWhat's the Point of Puzzles?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:biZe93DT:Q4a7l3S2.webp&w=880&sig=4d30ce7c582a8b03a88223fa48adedb598ae29f6" /><br />“Chess is 99% tactics,” is one of the most misleading chess quotes.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/chess-flavoured-peanut-butter/jugEhxDo2024-09-24T07:32:13.582Z2024-09-24T07:32:13.582ZChess Flavoured Peanut Butter<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:jugEhxDo:BeKqp5Xm.jpg&w=880&sig=7256f766911b04ae9f8be36f40844de6890dba0b" /><br />Inspiration struck me as I gazed at a half eaten jar of peanut butter.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/actual-rating-anxiety/aPq0XtJ82024-08-31T10:45:23.745Z2024-08-31T10:45:23.745ZActual Rating Anxiety<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:aPq0XtJ8:Ov3QJRPK.jpg&w=880&sig=65c5de1f70fa636b99acba3d67ae4ad7328423ef" /><br />Only I could find a glimmer of disappointment in the greatest chess moment of my life so far.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/adult-chess-clock/KkSnY3QI2024-05-02T14:19:29.813Z2024-05-02T14:19:29.813ZAdult Chess Clock<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:KkSnY3QI:XzHinwed.jpg&w=880&sig=66e27cac06bbe7f4efabc965043898b23304247a" /><br />I used to say that nobody doesn’t have the time for something, they just don’t want to prioritise it.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/the-ono-gambit/aFZKj4ey2024-03-31T21:16:35.554Z2024-03-31T21:16:35.554ZThe Ono Gambit<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:aFZKj4ey:CoilE16J.jpg&w=880&sig=083759ca18cb6e983d494986a48a3048d052629b" /><br />I am getting older.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/losing-consciousness/6cDLecKt2024-03-21T14:24:55.366Z2024-03-21T14:24:55.366ZLosing Consciousness<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:6cDLecKt:DIPIjZGb.jpg&w=880&sig=240dce9cf36693865caf5c8be9c8cfbdfbdcd0d3" /><br />It was game over.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/learning-to-learn/Xg3xJ4qX2024-03-07T06:19:26.842Z2024-03-07T06:19:26.842ZLearning to Learn<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Woman standing on staircase made of books" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:Xg3xJ4qX:5f1HCISs.jpg&w=880&sig=088ee2763fa31c5996957d896c4ddcaacea283c4" /><br />I used to think my time at university, whilst entirely useless so far in my career in terms of subject matter, had one redeeming feature: at least I learned how to learn.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/blundering-lunch/sj42OG2Q2024-02-29T10:27:03.285Z2024-02-29T10:27:03.285ZBlundering Lunch<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="An ice cream on the ground" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:sj42OG2Q:GtbCD8wx.jpg&w=880&sig=19fef0491a0078a8b0bd659cfa8a3ba8ffe77671" /><br />I completely blundered my homemade spicy bean burgers.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/imaginary-rating-anxiety/ot96qwvd2024-02-22T13:44:08.812Z2024-02-22T13:44:08.812ZImaginary Rating Anxiety<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:ot96qwvd:EG9ZompV.jpg&w=880&sig=36016cff26156bcf52b8dabcd9c74988c6bcff37" /><br />This is the story of one man’s suffering at the hands of his own imagination.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/i-hate-winning/9YhT0orT2023-11-16T13:32:43.118Z2023-11-16T13:32:43.118ZI Hate Winning<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:9YhT0orT:QD7hGutx.jpg&w=880&sig=e0954a1c5192b85968b60bc1b7a26cc3bd098079" /><br />Chess truly is eternal suffering.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/look-both-ways-when-you-cross-the-road/g9r5cMAL2023-10-03T11:59:00.488Z2023-10-03T11:59:00.488ZLook Both Ways When You Cross The Road<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Person crossing the street on a yellow zebra crossing" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:g9r5cMAL:ePx2vNdz.jpg&w=880&sig=fb2457d90c96c358089270965d936f1ebf24875e" /><br />My kid crosses the road like an absolute lunatic.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/how-to-be-a-man-in-chess/uxZNeaDO2023-09-22T14:49:51.237Z2023-09-22T14:49:51.237ZHow To Be A Man In Chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="A man and a boy playing chess" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:uxZNeaDO:nq8RjRKd.jpg&w=880&sig=895810b046ae29fc34b3227ea1dca0b10acddd0f" /><br />The locals called him ‘The Beer Monster’ - he liked that nickname.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/i-dont-speak-chess/utwseoUE2023-08-10T11:30:50.18Z2023-08-10T11:30:50.18ZI Don't Speak Chess<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Me holding a chess book upside down with a confused expression" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:utwseoUE:5CddPfWS.jpg&w=880&sig=00ef64eda17074ef86c01b3f2e810a0d48d13e3a" /><br />I caused mass confusion in my local farm shop by attempting to order 400 metres of butter.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/its-not-chess-its-you/hYGoISXk2023-06-22T15:26:32.141Z2023-06-22T15:26:32.141ZIt's Not Chess, It's You...<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:hYGoISXk:5Q4YccLV.jpg&w=880&sig=c812ca953bf8102af38669b98f4ef2857308250a" /><br />Geoff blundered their Queen and now they want to microwave their laptop.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/going-incremental/J2aot0xv2023-05-18T08:52:39.673Z2023-05-18T08:52:39.673ZGoing Incremental<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:J2aot0xv:BG5LL4fd.jpg&w=880&sig=0ca4d84de6e0c6fa9e380a9d224ac51847fcc084" /><br />Many Adult Improvers face an insurmountable opponent when it comes to chess time management: death.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/think-like-a-toddler/pYSLBMu22023-04-27T12:20:57.31Z2023-04-27T12:20:57.31ZThink Like A Toddler<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:pYSLBMu2:Pq00wngQ.jpg&w=880&sig=e14d2d4046458361a079ef9a2323e0165258b98f" /><br />He had never seen a balloon before.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/at-the-top-of-the-hill-go-faster/ZFNCo7MX2023-04-12T17:39:36.106Z2023-04-12T17:39:36.106ZAt The Top Of The Hill, Go Faster<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:ZFNCo7MX:C4620Rgc.jpg&w=880&sig=d43c472ddf48fda37a8aa2329f10e40fb8d5df56" /><br />I was 4 years old and preparing for the most important egg and spoon race of my life.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/what-the-fork-is-a-blunder-check/NATnH2B52023-03-09T07:44:01.544Z2023-03-09T07:44:01.544ZWhat the Fork is a Blunder Check?<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Boy with hands covering his face and big question mark next to his face" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:NATnH2B5:gHpR7OKZ.jpg&w=880&sig=b1faf3510074b685405d33a6dcd3d71179214274" /><br />The advice, to do a blunder check, is about as useful as sending someone out into the jungle and telling them to try and not die.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/ben-johnson-came-to-my-chess-birthday-party/OdC6TUG62023-02-16T17:27:12.787Z2023-02-16T17:27:12.787ZBen Johnson Came To My (Chess) Birthday Party<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Cupcake with two candles" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:OdC6TUG6:XIjWDAE6.jpg&w=880&sig=ac597d4bf8f862c5307e04ed8acc0007d740c945" /><br />I invited 436 chess celebrities to my second chess birthday party.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/your-2024-chess-study-plan/vYECzWbh2022-12-29T10:33:43.688Z2022-12-29T10:33:43.688ZYour (2024) Chess Study Plan<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:vYECzWbh:lsEtBb8S.jpg&w=880&sig=3d5ce6ef16ddc96d626b59fffb324492a42bfea2" /><br />I have achieved the dream of every Adult Improver: the perfect chess study plan.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/the-random-skills-of-adult-improvers/ncQ7ik5E2022-12-06T22:00:27.377Z2022-12-06T22:00:27.377ZThe Random Skills of Adult Improvers<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Dad playing chess, cooking and parenting two kids at the same time" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:ncQ7ik5E:1eep1kKX.jpg&w=880&sig=5049173af4cc2b4b25aaba46557b0f8416fa4ca2" /><br />Someone recently asked me if I had seen the Greek Gift and I thought it was a sandwich.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/your-chess-learning-style-with-braden-laughlin/OfLq68Of2022-11-25T23:38:24.453Z2022-11-25T23:38:24.453ZYour (Chess) Learning Style with Braden Laughlin<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Man sitting with a laptop under the cover of a giant book" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:OfLq68Of:f8uDvz9a.jpg&w=880&sig=107542f60de9289f58e6276035e264cd690c7286" /><br />I remember the first time I ever learnt about bishop vs knight.TheOnoZonehttps://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/becoming-unkillable/f5XaXhhj2022-11-02T18:26:57.393Z2022-11-02T18:26:57.393ZBecoming Unkillable<img class="ublog-post-image" width="880" height="550" alt="Muhammad Ali on the ropes" src="https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=theonozone:ublog:f5XaXhhj:40RkF5vO.jpg&w=880&sig=a573c65aad04f2e027735f24ed306e508ac1893d" /><br />There are two ways to die.TheOnoZone