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Is it ever really possible to master something without learning to love it? You can continue to "force feed" yourself technical, and boring positions in the endgame if you want, but you may never learn to like the final stage of chess and therefore, never really become a great endgame player. Or, you can learn to appreciate the finer details of a game like the great Ulf Andersson, and become an endgame master yourself! | Watch video
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When the best in the world actually has to play defense, he does it pretty well! In the game McShane-Carlsen, London Classic 2011 the "world's greatest amateur" had the world #1 on the ropes, but when Magnus puts on a defensive clinic (clearly recognizing white's plan as well as which pieces to exchange and when/how to exchange them) the young Englishman is unable to crack black's blockade. Enjoy GM Shankland's review and take more notes on how to play defense! | Watch video
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Grandmaster Kaidanov is featured this month on Chess.com, and with today's video he begins a new series on what he puts as "arguably the most important skill to develop as a chess player". Though he doesn't claim it as the easiest, he provides the best advice he can on how to "build the muscles" of defensive mindedness, while displaying five practical examples on the subject of preventing your opponent's plans/ideas. Enjoy! | Watch video
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GM Shankland provides his next defensive planning and prophylactic thinking video today, and it's his last where he uses the subject matter of Opposite Colored Bishop endings to illustrate his critical thinking points. Once again, there is much to learn about how to prevent your opponent from achieving their goals, and this time black's task is much harder because he can't simply sacrifice the Bishop for the pawns. | Watch video
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GM Josh Friedel makes it look easy today! Breaking down black's toughest defense (the "3rd Rank Defense") with style! The Queen vs Rook Endgame "evolved" and became much harder to win once computers figured out this approach, even stumping Super GM Nigel Short once or twice! But Josh explains the key thing to understand about this puzzle, and recommends using our Computer Tools to practice it yourself! | Watch video
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GM Shankland continues his new videos series on how to develop defensive plans with another Opposite Colored Bishop ending. He breaks down the difficulties one might face when trying to prevent their opponent's goals, and he offers step by step advice for your critical thinking skills! He provides an advance example that even stumped fellow Chess.com Video Author GM Friedel in a real game... | Watch video
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GM Josh Friedel continues with his June Featured video series by covering the "next step" towards mastering the Queen v Rook Ending. He breaks down the "2nd Rank Defense" in a systematic way, offering both exact refutations for black's moves as well as practical advice. Advice such as "keeping the Queen operating on the long diagonals is always a good approach if you don't see an immediate win". Take notes and enjoy. | Watch video
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With his new video series, Grandmaster Sam Shankland intends to turn all of our members into great defenders! In this first, highly instructive position, Shanky breaks down the "steps of defense" in both practical and concrete principals. He talks about the importance of establishing what your opponent is threatening, and then finding the "weak link" in regards to what you can actually prevent! You must watch this video if you consider yourself an ambitious chess player! | Watch video
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International Master Rensch brings you the long awaited "sequel" series to the Everything You Need to Know on the Endgame video brought to you many moons ago! Well, maybe it wasn't long awaited, but it's here and it doesn't disappoint! Danny does his best to give you practical advice, along with critical "x's and o's" about the final stage of a chess game. Enjoy! | 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