# Tips and Tricks

[**What’s the International Phonetic Alphabet, and how do I use it?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-is-the-international-phonetic-alphabet-used/)  
Jul 23  
[Ari Moline, Ph.D.](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/emily/)

[**How Duolingo teaches writing skills**](https://blog.duolingo.com/covering-all-the-bases-duolingos-approach-to-writing-skills/)  
Jul 2  
[Cindy Blanco, Ph.D.](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/cindy/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Chigorin Defense?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/chigorin-defense-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Catalan Opening?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/catalan-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the King’s Indian Attack?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/kings-indian-attack/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Slav Defense?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/slav-defense-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Queen’s Gambit?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/queens-gambit-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Vienna Game?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/vienna-game-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)

[**Chess openings: What is the Trompowsky Attack?**](https://blog.duolingo.com/trompowsky-attack-opening/)  
Jun 30  
[Katherine Wise](https://blog.duolingo.com/author/katherine/)