Monday, December 17 IM Bill Paschall The Best of Bronstein, Part 3 | Strategy, Tactics
David Bronstein is widely regarded as one the greatest and most creative chess minds of all time. Perhaps best known for his creative attacking play, this game against Makagonov in part three illustrates his combinative and attacking ability. The advanced player might also notice the incredible intuitive nature of his game and the way in which the entire effort seems to flow from beginning to end.
Tuesday, December 18
FM Dennis Monokroussos A Very Instructive Knight vs. Bishop Ending | Endgame
Bobby Fischer was known for his love of bishops, and won many beautiful games with the bishop pair or with a single bishop vs. a single knight. But as is usually the case when a player is known for one of his strengths, his victories that don’t fall under the stereotyped heading are often overlooked. This win from the last round of the 1963-4 U.S. Championship, which Fischer won with a perfect 11-0 score, is a masterpiece of using a knight against a slightly ineffective bishop. It’s also an instructive example of how not to defend in such situations. It’s not the most exciting game you’ll ever see, but it’s an ending that will put half points in your pocket in the future, half points that could turn into rating points and prize money, and there’s something to be said for that, too.
Wednesday, December 19
GM Eugene Perelshteyn How to Win in Positional Style vs a Tactical Genius | Opening, Endgame, Strategy
What happens when your opponent is at least twice as young and also a tactical genius? GM Yaz answers the question: Play Simple Positional Chess. Watch and learn how the experienced GM sidesteps Grunfeld theory, gets a comfortable position and takes his young opponent into the endgame. He makes it look easy! You can do the same by following Seirawan’s recipe!
Thursday, December 20
IM Valeri Lilov How to Play the Opening | Opening, Middlegame
Everyone knows that piece activity means to have your pieces more advanced and controlling. Unfortunately, achieving that can prove much more difficult. Especially in the opening. The best way to learn how development works is to study the great grandmaster games and their unique approach to handling the opening. Follow IM Lilov’s latest lecture to learn more!
Friday, December 21
GM Leonid Kritz Carlsen – Caruana World Championsip, 2018, Game 6: The Champion Almost Goes Down | Opening, Tactics
A complete disaster for Carlsen in the opening that showed that he mostly prepared for the world championship with black, but not with white. After 15 moves the position is dead drawn, but Caruana manages to outplay the world champion and was very close to scoring his first point in the match. Bad luck at the end, though….