Chess Strategy

In the 2nd video lesson we have seen Bobby Fischer skillfully transferring the advantage from one shape into another. Now example by his successor Anatoly Karpov.

White has space advantage and the only real weakness to press against is c5 pawn. To get more from this position, Karpov has to regroup his pieces and provide them greater mobility.

Anatoly Karpov - Svetozar Gligoric

42. Qg1!

Here is how Karpov elaborated his plan:
- Black’s only weakness is c5 and White should press against it in order to tie in defence as many units as possible.
- Best place for King is f3. Checks are not possible, Bg4 is being over-protected, g1-a7 diagonal is cleared for pressing on c5 and 2nd rank is available for fast Rooks’ transfer.
- White has to fight for h-file and kingside initiative. H-file cannot be taken after Black regroups his pieces to oppose the threat, but then White will suddenly strike on queenside using excellent mobility of pieces.

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Welcome to the second video lesson. Featured game is Addison-Fischer.

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Typical positions with Karlsbad pawn structure involve the following arrangement of pawns: white - a2, b2, d4, e3, f2, g2, h2, and black - a7, b7, c6, d5, f7, g7, h7. The variation got its name from the Karlsbad Tournament in 1923, where some of the participants wanted to avoid the sharper Cambridge-Springs opening. If we examine the arrangement of pawns, we see that a symmetrical pawn balance in the center does not exist. The pawn structure is dynamic and can develop into positions with isolated pawns or into positions with hanging pawns. Karlsbad pawn structures occur mainly from Queen’s Gambits, but they can also arise from Nimzo-Indian, Gruenfeld and Caro-Kan as well.1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5

After 4…Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 white obtains a full center, which is typical for the Half-Tarrasch Defense.

5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3

6.Nxd5 isn’t good, because of 6.Nxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ 8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8 and black has an extra piece.

6…Be7 7.Bd3 c6 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Nf3

One of the greatest chess players of all time, Mikhail Botvinnik, used to play this line with 9.Nge2 and, after 9…Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.f3, white tries to create a position in which he opens the center, with e4. There are many positions with pawn structures other than the Karlsbad which fit in with Botvinnik’s line. Many modern chess players play 9.Nge2 with much success. Such players as Gary Kasparov and Evgeny Bareev have had successful results with it. We will elaborate on 9.Nge2 variations later.

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How to Reassess Your Chess: The Complete Chess-Mastery Course - This is my favorite book that I have read to date out of many. Silman not only helps the beginner, but also re-teaches the importance of certain aspects of the game to the advanced player. Such things as learning the best squares for the knight, and keeping them there (otherwise known as outpost) . The difference between light square and dark square bishops is also covered. It really teaches the importance of middlegame and how to have long term advantages. I highly recommend this book for beginners and advanced players .

Any of Yasser Seirawan’s books by Microsoft. Yasser has been the easiest master I have had understanding as I advanced in chess. I recommend any book out of his collection!

Play Winning Chess - An introduction to chess and some basic strategies

Winning Chess Tactics - An introduction to tactics with puzzles

Winning Chess Strategies - A book on how to use small advantages and use strategies to make them

Winning Chess Openings - Gives a brief description on hundreds of the most popular openings, as well as opening strategies

Winning Chess Endings - Introduction to the endgame

Winning Chess Brilliancies - Notable games in chess that are analyzed by the author.

Winning Chess Combinations - Teaches players how to recognize the main combination patterns; somewhat of a follow up to Winning Chess Tactics

by Lance Johnson

This item is named after one chapter in the fantastic Mikhail Shereshevsky’s book Endgame Strategy.

I believe the proper usage of this principle is one of the main distinctions between strong masters and rest of the players. Strong masters have this “instinct” to always take the most from the position and also a certain feeling of caution to prevent surprises.

“Do not hurry” principle can be used in positions with small but permanent advantage and when opponent has no active counterplay. The main features are causing further weaknesses in opponent’s camp, masking our own plans and strong psychological pressure.

This psychological pressure consists of weakening opponent’s attention by “putting him to sleep” before the final action. “Sleepy” opponent will miss the best defence or possible counterplay, with great probability. Inpatient “hyperactive” opponent could force things on his own damage. An entire chapter can be written only on the subject of sleep, so we will skip it and focus on other aspects, but you can look at some “boring” Petrosian’s or Karpov’s games.

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This is transcript of the video lesson posted few days ago.

Hi everyone and welcome to the first Chess Strategy video lesson. We will present an example to illustrate typical problems while proceeding from middlegame to ending. Careful chess analysts have noticed that this is exactly the moment when number of mistakes is rapidly increasing.

In some sense, it is natural occurrence as many players are reaching the point of “overload”. It is necessary to calculate long lines, evaluate different relations of pieces and recall of memorized endgame axioms. But probably the most important event is of psychological nature, when player has to regroup his thought for different character of struggle.

Mark Taimanov - David Bronstein
Zurich, 1953

More experienced viewers will recognize Volga-like pawn structure. The board sees material balance, the position is about equal and Black has just offered Queens exchange. Should White accept it? Bronstein thought that incoming endgame would be in his favor because pawns c3 and e4 are possible targets. With Queens present on the board, importance of these weaknesses would be minimized by huge activity of White’s Queen, which can start operations against Black King or pawn e7. Therefore, White should have avoided the exchange. But the game went on with… Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the first video lesson. Featured game is Taimanov-Bronstein.

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I am aware of the accent, microphone and neigbor’s dog, let me know if there are other problems. Transcript will be posted in few days.

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Longer video lessons will be available for registered users only.

This long awaited edition was finally out of print on January 31, and it already collected fantastic reviews. Here are some excerpts:

Silman’s Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master

“He has divided the book into various sections, based on the playing level of the reader. More advanced readers will read most of the book; beginners need only read the opening chapter. As your play improves, you consult the next section of the book to see what additional lessons you must master. Indeed, you must thoroughly assimilate all of the material in each section before going on to the next section.

A special note for chess teachers, and those who wish to have lessons from chess teachers: I have used the general content of the first three sections of this book as the basis of my lessons with students for many years. (Unlike Silman, I didn’t write it down in book form.) So, buying this book is a good substitute for instruction from a teacher.” - by Petrosian

“Readers familiar with Silman’s other books will not be disappointed. As ever, his writing is full of life, energy and humor. It communicates something of the author’s love for the game, and offers a glimpse into his personality. Most important, in the quality of his instruction he is absolutely peerless. Truly, he has a gift for breaking down a position, walking through the required technique step by step, underscoring the ideas and plans, adding hints there, warning of pitfalls there. His colorful prose keeps the experience memorable and enjoyable. The level of detail seems about right for each rating class.” - JimmyBob

Silman’s Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master

Fellow chess authors have also praised this 500 pages manual - GM Pal Benko, GM Gregory Kaidanov and GM Alex Baburin among others. People who have read Silman’s earlier books will for sure buy this one as well. Others should be at least tempted to see what’s this all about.

It’s not a *real* exchange sacrifice as Black could have taken it back anytime, but the Rook maneuver was really amazing yet efficient.

Bruno Parma - Tigran Petrosian
Moskow, 1971

The Rc5 is under attack and it can’t go back on c-file because White has crushing e5. But Petrosian was planning way in advance.

21… Rh5!

Suicidal move at the first glance. Rook is running among opponent’s pieces and pawns, setting itself on *volley* g4. Note that 22. Qe3 Rxh2 with Ng4 is losing for White.

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I like this game because it’s a nice short sample of important strategies - pawn structure transformation, weak pawns, proper exchange and power of Bishop’s pair.

Vassily Smyslov - Mikhail Tal
Bled, 1959

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Qc7 10. a4 Be6 11. a5 Qc6 12. Bf3 Nbd7

Both players were aiming for this position. Tal didn’t use the earlier opportunity to play b7-b6 and prevent White’s a5, because Nd7 is firmly controlling b6 square and it’s impossible to attack b7 pawn. Pawn a5 is good blocker but at the same time it can be responsibility (as seen in Hort-Fischer last week). With Black Queen and dark-squared Bishop around, White pieces might be tied defending a5.

13. Nd5

This is good time for Nd5, before Black puts his Rook on c8 pressing against c2 pawn.

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