Monday, April 9
IM Valeri Lilov Connect Opening to Middlegame | Opening, Middlegame
Connecting the opening to middlegame is something that occurs in every game we play. Yet, it is not the thing we tend to utilize in order to improve finalizing our opening and utilize a more efficient structure in the middlegame. In this video, IM Lilov provides the rules behind a successful completion of your opening.
Tuesday, April 10
IM Bill Paschall Bundesliga Berlin Battle! | Opening, Strategy
The Berlin Defense is one of Black’s most solid answers to 1.e4 and the Ruy Lopez. Strong players must be deeply prepared in the Spanish and 4.d3 is the recommended way to avoid the abysmal Berlin endgame. Nisipeanu is a world class 2700 and his preparation is very deep. In this game Bacrot employs a novel defense on move 9, but White quickly responds with a positional piece sacrifice leading to great complications.
Wednesday, April 11
FM Dennis Monokroussos Attack Like a Caveman | Tactics
If you like to attack from the earliest moves, the Jobava-Prie Attack may be just the thing for you. In this all-GM game, well-known theoretician Victor Mihalevski is flattened by Olexander Bortnyk in impressive style. Bortnyk sac’d a rook early on, and in return obtained not only serious kingside attacking chances, but a positional grip in the center and on the queenside as well. Go and do likewise.
Thursday, April 12
IM David Vigorito Beating the 2.c3 Sicilian | Opening, Endgame
In a team event, one of my mates expressed to me that he was having trouble with the 2.c3 Sicilian. I had him watch my old videos right here on Chesslecture.com! I believe they are still quite relevant, so go dig them up. In the tournament I ended up facing 2.c3 myself, so I was determined to show him that Black can play for a win, even in a quiet line. The result was a rook endgame win, but the game was still practically a miniature.
Friday, April 13
GM Eugene Perelshteyn Attack Like the Great Mikhail Tal! | Tactics, Middlegame
What makes a beautiful attack? Sacrifices? King hunt? Unusual tactics? In this game GM Perelshteyn has it all! However, just like some of the attacks by Tal, the engine finds refutation…. But it doesn’t mean that the attack is bad since it was almost impossible to find all the defensive moves in time pressure. Remember that it’s always easier to attack than to defend in chess! If you are human of course…