Important Games
Sort:
Concepts explained in todays session:
1)Why knights are generally developed before bishops
2) If the center can no longer be controlled, develop an attack on the side of the board with a space advantage.
2) If the center can no longer be controlled, develop an attack on the side of the board with a space advantage.
3) It's good to set up tactics (e.g. discovered attacks), however, the threat of being able to play them is worth more than playing early when they can be defended against.
4) Normally, a pawn chain points in the direction you have a space advantage.
5) When under attack, first ask, "Is there a way to ignore it?", then ask, "is there a way to defend?".
6) What defines a strong or weak pawn structure?
The Pirc Defense is a hypdermodern defense, meaning that it doesn’t try to control the center early on with his pawns. Instead black tries to attack the center with this minor pieces from the sides and then once the foundation is in place, then looks to undermine the center control that white usually has.
Key position: Tactical Question
Key position: Strategical Question
Webinar 2: Concepts Explained
1) All good openings are about center control, or a view to control in the future.
2)Open and Closed games
3)Positional and Tactical games
4)Bad vs Good Bishops (and when to exchange them)
5)Bad vs Good Bishops (Endgame: Bishops of same colour)
6)Advanced Tactics (Discovery's, Double Attacks, Applying basic tactics to valuable squares, instead of pieces) Depth 1-2
7)Thinking structure* and move evaluation
8)How to use gambits (valuing a pawn sacrifice)
Applying the Concepts
Concept: The Opening
The object of the game of chess is to checkmate the enemy king. However, in the opening, there is no way to win by force, so the next best thing is to create "advantages".
My definition of an advantage is "Any feature or difference which increases the possibility the opponent will lose, either by a mistake or the inability to defend"
Controlling the center is an advantage
Owning more material is an advantage
All opening theory is based around the control of the central squares (d4,d5,e4,e5). The player that enjoys the most control of the center, is more able to dictate play, and has more moves available (can reach most of the board). The player without the control of the center is likely cramped (pieces blockading each other) and does not have much space to move.
My definition of an advantage is "Any feature or difference which increases the possibility the opponent will lose, either by a mistake or the inability to defend"
Controlling the center is an advantage
Owning more material is an advantage
All opening theory is based around the control of the central squares (d4,d5,e4,e5). The player that enjoys the most control of the center, is more able to dictate play, and has more moves available (can reach most of the board). The player without the control of the center is likely cramped (pieces blockading each other) and does not have much space to move.
Example
Concept: Good and Bad Bishops
Instructional Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phI82EetT_w
Advanced Version of the Bad Bishop problem
Notice a double attack (fork) doesn't need to attack two pieces, it only needs to attack two important squares; a8 and f7. a8 has an en-prise rook (not guarded) and f7 is a mating square.
By thinking of double attacks in terms of important squares, it will make it easier than remember is a fork is "attacking two pieces", you will begin to see more and further ahead; naturally.
Example
