Red Tengco
Welcome
to Chessosophy
The series that aims to teach you the philosophy behind chess improvement. Actually, Chessosophy is less about formal philosophy, and more about a teaching method that explores the chess mindset required to deepen how you learn and grow in the game.
The name itself came from a moment in class when a student blurted out, "This isn't a chess class, it's a philosophy class." That offhand comment captured the spirit of how I teach perfectly—and Chessosophy was born.
What is Chessosophy?
If I could change one thing about how academic subjects are taught, it would be to increase focus on the why. But why is the why important? Recognizing the purpose and reasoning behind what we learn develops true understanding, not just memorization.
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Chessosophy is the chess mindset. It goes beyond instruction to reveal concepts that guide chess improvement and decisions—concepts players might otherwise hold only as unspoken intuitions. It also expresses larger ideas that extend outside the game, yet remain connected to it.
It has two branches:​
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Puzzle Chessosophy​​​​​​​​
A teaching method that gives students a clear purpose for both the chess concepts they study and the decisions they make, by presenting and proving statements through a carefully chosen series of puzzles. These statements are purposely designed to invite later reflection as general learning concepts—ones not limited to chess.
On YouTube, these statements appear as bold claims in the title.
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Broader Chessosophy
An extension of Chessosophy that explores ideas outside the puzzle format, connecting chess to larger themes to show how the game can be valuable beyond the board.
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This is where I share and express my ideas on the practical applications of chess and its connections to the real-world.
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To be continued...
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Puzzle Chessosophy
Chessosophy 1
Chess is Pattern Recognition
Chessosophy 1 shows the importance of learning tactics. Instead of mindlessly training them, you can think, “I’m practicing tactics because chess is pattern recognition, and I want to sharpen that skill.”
Chessosophy 2
Pattern Recognition is Fallible
The simulation theory suggests the idea that because humans have a natural tendency to create miniature versions of themselves—through games, virtual worlds, and other mediums—it’s plausible we too exist within a larger simulation. A counter-argument is that patterns don’t necessarily extend indefinitely, i.e. pattern recognition is fallible.
In chess, it’s the same. Undermining the foundation of the first episode, Chessosophy 2 focuses on an exception to a common chess pattern, revealing a moment when your tactical instinct can be deceived.
Chessosophy 3
Patterns Combine
Completing the trio on patterns, Chessosophy 3 builds on Chessosophy 1’s idea that “chess is pattern recognition,” showing how the tactics you learn can combine to make you a stronger player.
In a game of chess, the winning tactic is often made up of smaller, interconnected tactics.
Chessosophy 4
Perfect is the Enemy of Good
Coming soon...
Broader Chessosophy
The Popularization of Chess is a Counter-attack Against the Diminishing Attention Spans of Society
Coming soon...
Chess is an Analogy Machine
Coming soon...