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In this lively summary of white's perspective in the Scheveningen formation, IM Rensch discusses white's tactical patterns in more detail. Reviewing two of his own losses against the Nd5 and Nf5 "Knightmare sacrifices"! He also highlights some interesting stories that took place during these games that should serve as family fun for all... He finishes with an interesting look at a possible endgame from this structure. | Watch video
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The more pieces there are on the board, the more points black will score! Or at least it certainly seems to be the case in the Berlin Defense. As we observe in the sixth video of GM Bojkov's series on the structure commonly reached via the Ruy Lopez, black needs to keep some sort of imbalance in the position in order to be successful. The imbalance of the day is Opposite Colored Bishops. Enjoy! | Watch video
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Will the next Minor Piece step right up?! GM Bojkov's detailed look into the "Spanish Endgames", commonly reached via the Berlin Defense, continues today with a discussion about the Bishops. Here we see that endings featuring Bishops of the same color should also be avoided by black, with high level games from players like Wang Yue, Michael, Adams, Jakovenko, and more to prove it! | Watch video
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The ponies come to the rescue! Well, not really... As we learn in GM Dejan Bojkov's next installment of this very important endgame (important for "Lopez Players" and "non-Lopez Players" alike) the Knights don't improve a worse pawn structure in the endgame much more than the King's do. The maneuverings of the Knights are extremely instructive no less, and is a joy to watch white's well-timed kingside breakthroughs... | Watch video
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Never fall asleep on your pawn structure! Especially when playing black in the Berlin Defense... GM Bojkov's description of white's positional advantages in the infamous "Ruy Lopez Endgame" should be instructive for both Beginner and Advanced players alike. His practical examples display excellent technique for the first player and leave you with a confident understanding of this endgame. | Watch video
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Learn this highly useful theoretical draw, and rule the world! Well, maybe you won't rule the world, but at least you won't blunder away a drawn ending like this Grandmaster did! GM Melik Khachiyan continues his extremely practical series on commonly made mistakes in all types of endgames involving Rooks. Here we see black's "unbreakable" fortress broken by "self-destruction"... | Watch video
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Your journey continues today! IM Rensch leads us into the final stage of chess with a few goals in mind: Understand the power and important role your King plays in the endgame; recognize and execute the power of your passed pawns; understand that in all "roughly equal" endgames, those two factors will often dictate your results. Oh, and push, push, push your passed pawns! | Watch video
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Three pawns vs a Rook, and several blunders to go with it! GM Khachiyan continues today with another "quickie" filled with mistakes for your entertainment. It isn't all a laugh though, as Melik makes some very instructive insights into not only the psychology of such positions, but the "xs and os" that go with it. "Please don't put your King on the same file as your furthest advanced pawn", begs Melik. Listen to the man! | Watch video
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Alert: We have a prison break! Today GM Bojkov highlights the brilliant, and then not-so-brilliant, play by GMs Sergey Erenburg and Timur Gareev from the Berkeley International earlier this year. The critical features show that a trapped Rook should have led to a forced loss for white (if black had advanced the c-pawn) - but when the a4-Rook escaped, well, so did pure chaos! Try to follow the variations and improve your practical Rook Ending knowledge. | Watch video
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Calling all beginners! Have you ever heard of a novelty... in the Endgame? Well, just as theory develops in the Opening stage of the game at a rapid pace nowadays, Endgame knowledge was once evolving rapidly as well. A big contributor to modern day ending theory is the man behind the curtain in this game: Akiba Rubenstein. Watch as he shocks the world by turning a drawn ending, into a forced win. Beware of King and Pawn endings! | Watch video