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After her opponent makes several nonsensical developing moves, Ahsritha grabs the initiative with an early f4-pawn push and she never looks back! Her coach, GM Bojkov explains all and provides many useful insights into the Dragon Formation, including multiple "Marco Hop" examples of Nd5! Listen in on Dejan's points about technique and her ability to maintain control over her nerves. Enjoy! | Watch video
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The second installment in GM Bojkov's new video series brings us another game full of practical lessons for our learning! Many typical and instructive mistakes were made by Ashrita (and her opponent), but she also executed some very nice middlegame plans against white's IQP, arising from an Alapin Sicilian, to gain a small advantage heading into the endgame. | Watch video
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With his new video series, GM Bojkov intends to provide useful insights into the world of amateur chess by reviewing the games of his own private students. He will also teach the members of Chess.com what he teaches his students -- highlighting their triumphs and failures along the way. Here we learn many critical ideas in the Alapin Sicilian structure (d5 break) and then some interesting "Major Piece Ending" technique. Enjoy! | Watch video
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GM Dejan Bojkov brings his installment on Aron Nimzowitsch in our Greatest Chess Minds series to a close today. The topic? One of Nimzo's final contributions to "modern chess understanding": The Mysterious Rook Move! It is known that the late Nimzowitsch was a pioneer of "prophylactic thinking" and his play with the Towers of Power was no exception! | Watch video
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Today GM Bojkov highlights another great contribution Nimzowitsch made to the chess community: Developing the theories of the blockade and over-protection as important themes in prophylactic thinking. Here Nimzo employs his own opening (1...Nc6 against 1.e4) and proceeds a deep plan surrounding the d5-square and blockading the bad dark-squared white Bishop. | Watch video
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Yet another thing the good doctor Tarrasch and the great Aron Nimzowitsch disagreed about was central control! In-particular, Nimzo's theory was that occupying the center with your pieces, on key squares, can be just as effective as gaining a space advantage with your pawns. GM Dejan Bojkov explains, but regardless of where they stood on this debate, we can all thank these two "chess fore-fathers" for pioneering these discussions. | Watch video
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In this amazing display, the great Nimzowitsch proved that he was ahead of his time in terms of his understanding of positional principles, prophylaxis, and "deep planning". After forcing a closed position from a Nimzo-Indian Defense, he slowly organizes his pieces with both an eye on his opponent's threats as well as a potential Kingside attack. GM Bojkov explains all... | Watch video
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"A Knight on h1 possesses some sort of magic", according to the great Nimzowitsch. At least he felt that way for a few more games after this brilliant win. As GM Bojkov spins this tale, he highlights the moves Nimzowitsch played that would have made the good doctor Tarrasch cringe. Nimzo's brilliant play is startling however, | Watch video
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GM Bojkov brings us yet another great example of how Dr Tarrasch influenced his generation, and how his theories on chess still affect the great players of today! He focuses on Tarrasch's contributions to the first stage of the game once again, but particularly, how the good doctor used all his pieces together, and his plans "flowed" from one side of the board to another. Enjoy! | Watch video
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Get ready for one of the most interesting "Passed Pawns vs a Rook" battles you have ever seen! Of course, you have to sit through twenty minutes of awesome endgame technique by Dr. Tarrasch first, but the wait is well worth it! Try to learn something from how he maneuvers the Rook and dark squared Bishop too. GM Dejan Bojkov is, once again, your guide! | Watch video