Blogging Is Like Chess , Why Strategy Matters More Than Speed

Inspired by yesterday’s chess tournament at Harrow Shanghai, I started thinking about how blogging and chess actually have more in common than I first realized. Both are slow games. Both reward thinking ahead. And both can feel incredibly frustrating when you rush and make careless moves.

As I watched my son play, calmly analyzing the board before making each move, it struck me how similar that is to how I approach writing and building this blog. It’s not always about speed or output. It’s about strategy, timing, and knowing when to take action and when to pause and think.

So, today I want to explore a few ways blogging is actually more like chess than most people give it credit for.

1. You Need a Plan Before You Make a Move

In chess, you don’t just move your pieces randomly. At least not if you want to win. You think about your opening, your mid-game, and your endgame. You try to control space, anticipate what your opponent might do, and create a structure that leads to a win.

Blogging works the same way.

If you just write blog posts without any kind of plan, you end up with scattered content that doesn’t really serve anyone. But when you sit down with a strategy—thinking about your audience, your goals, your SEO structure, your monetization paths—you start playing a very different game.

Every post becomes a move that supports your broader strategy.

2. Patience Beats Impulse Every Time

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make in chess is moving too quickly. They spot a piece they can take and grab it without thinking about the consequences. It might feel good in the moment, but one or two careless moves can cost you the whole match.

Same with blogging. Sometimes it’s tempting to chase trends or post just for the sake of it. But if you publish too fast, without reviewing your structure, proofreading, or thinking through your message, it often backfires. A blog post that’s rushed rarely performs well over time.

Slowing down doesn’t mean being lazy. It means being intentional.

3. Learn From Losses and Missed Opportunities

Even the best chess players lose. What sets them apart is that they analyze their games afterward. They study their mistakes. They look at the position where things went wrong and they learn from it.

As a blogger, you’ll write posts that flop. You’ll launch ideas that don’t land. You’ll look back at old articles and cringe.

That’s normal.

But if you review what worked and what didn’t, you’ll improve. Over time, you’ll start seeing patterns. What headlines perform best. What tone your readers respond to. What types of content bring people back.

The trick is to treat every post—good or bad—as part of the learning process.

4. Your Opponent Is the Noise, Not Other Bloggers

In chess, you play against someone sitting across from you. In blogging, it can feel like you’re up against thousands of other content creators, all publishing faster, better, and with bigger audiences.

But the truth is, your biggest opponent is noise.

There’s already too much content out there. So your job isn’t to “beat” other bloggers. It’s to create something clear, focused, and useful, so the people who need it can find it. Don’t waste energy trying to outdo everyone else. Focus on playing your own game well.

5. Small Wins Lead to Big Gains

One chess move won’t win the game. But the right move, at the right time, can tip the momentum in your favor.

Blogging is the same. One great post might not change your traffic overnight, but if you consistently publish good content, build a real audience, and offer genuine value, the wins start to add up.

It’s the compounding effect of steady, thoughtful work that leads to big results down the line.

Final Thoughts , From the Chessboard to the Blog Dashboard

Watching my son think through his games yesterday reminded me how important it is to slow down, think long-term, and trust the process.

Blogging isn’t a sprint. It’s not about pumping out 100 posts as fast as you can. It’s about making smart, intentional moves. It’s about knowing your goals, learning as you go, and adapting your strategy when needed.

Like in chess, some days you win, some days you get checkmated. But either way, you learn. And next time, you come back stronger.

So next time you feel stuck in your blogging journey, maybe imagine it like a chessboard. What’s the position right now? What’s your next smart move?

And when in doubt, maybe just pause, breathe, and let the next move come to you.

Download my free blogging like chess worksheet.

blogging-like-chess-worksheet.pdf

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