-
NEW
If you want to see the forest through the trees, you have to first see the "bushes"! GM Melikset Khachiyan continues his discussion of short, simple calculations, or "bushes" of analysis. By examining some highly tactical historical games of Alekhine, he shows how it doesn't take long to go two or three moves deep for several candidate moves. You'll find the right path faster by calculating the same way - watch and learn the grandmaster technique. | Watch video
-
NEW
Are you constantly playing opponents who play solid, boring lines, hoping to trade everything right away and never spicing it up? GM Leonid Kritz has, and he shows how methodical probing and switching of ideas can still keep some life in the position. He continues his series by showing how to counter the plans of his previous videos. Kritz admits you sometimes have to allow some weaknesses, but you play to win, don't you? | Watch video
-
Karpov doesn't play often anymore, but he lives on through GM Leonid Kritz. Here, our video author stifles every pawn push, thwarts every attack, and makes life generally miserable for his opponent. Instead of improving his own position, Kritz's plays only to stop all counterplay. Eventually his opponent cracks with the seemingly innocuous ...h6. Amazingly, this is all Kritz needs to break through! | Watch video
-
Are you trying to become a grandmaster by analyzing positions a dozen moves deep? GM Melikset Khachiyan shows you that two or three moves at a time is plenty! Here he beats an FM by only calculating in small chunks - what he called "bushes". Khachiyan achieves his strategical aims without once envisioning the position more than a few moves ahead. Chess just got a lot easier! | Watch video
-
The ever-modest GM Gregory Kaidanov begins his video series on positional play with, what else, a loss! He builds an attacking position despite playing against the isolated queen pawn, but loses his initiative when white creates a giant outpost. Kaidanov warns students to be critical of all exchanges, while showing how backward knight moves (Silman's favorite!) can sometimes save the day. | Watch video
-
Melik walks us through a recent game of his where he used his "backup opening" to defeat his lower rated opponent, IM Amanov. He talks about the positional strengths and the flexibility behind his opening choice, and why he feels it's a solid one for players looking from a different approach to 1.e4. Take notes on his opening advice, and enjoy the instructive finish. | Watch video
-
GM Melikset Khachiyan plays an old foe and gives a clinic on how to slowly pick apart the "Stonewall" pawn formation. He also gives sage advice on what to do when you are surprised out of the opening. The methodical effort includes play on both sides of the board, and involves both knights retreating to the first rank! The final zugzwang idea is a picturesque and fitting finish to this tense positional struggle. | Watch video
-
GM Bojkov reviews another great game by the legendary Gligoric today, and in doing so, he highlights Gligoric's ability to convert on a material advantage with precise technique and accurate calculation. The balance displayed by the Yugoslavian Grandmaster to attack the kingside, yet always maintain a watchful, "tactical eye" on the queenside is amazing. A rook lift to remember is executed in this one, so take notes! | Watch video
-
Today Ben Finegold presents part 2 of his series on Grandmaster Preparation, highlighting the benefits of being well prepared, not only for what might happen on the board, but for the practical aspects of being confident, using less time than your opponent, and taking that experience into future games. He reviews a sharp game in the Sicilian that ultimately leads to an interesting, and rather peculiar Rook Ending. | Watch video
-
Making his Chess.com video debut today, GM Leonid Kritz discusses the effective strategy of winning games not by coming up with brilliant attacking plans, but rather by taking the mindset into every position that you must stop your opponent's counterplay first and foremost. He provides a wonderful example game in the Rossolimo Sicilian, and highlight the critical decisions he made (like not castling long) along the way to victory. Enjoy! | Watch video