Monday, January 27
GM Eugene Perelshteyn – Petrosian Gives a Lesson to the Young Kasparov on Defense! | Opening, Strategy
It is not often that the attacking genius Garry Kasparov is stumped. Yet, this is exactly what happens to him in this game vs. the former World Champ, Tigran Petrosian. Petrosian plays a series of incredible defensive moves to change the course of the game in his favor. Can you find it? Hint: think outside the box!
Tuesday, January 28
IM Bill Paschall – Paul Keres Hidden Gems, Part 3 | Middlegame
Tigran Petrosian – a young future World Champion – is tested by top notch opposition for the first time in this Soviet Championship. This is a creative and impressive attacking game very typical of Keres at his peak. Petrosian fails to handle an unusual line in the King’s Indian Defense. A very instructive attack by Keres against a weakened young Petrosian who lost 5/5 to start this event !
Wednesday, January 29
FM Dennis Monokroussos – Another Masterpiece from the Carlsen Assembly Line | Tactics
When Magnus Carlsen plays “ordinary” grandmasters (or in this case, “mere” 2500s), he often makes them look like rank amateurs. His opponent in round 1 of the 2019 World Rapid Championship, Azamat Utegaliyev, seemed guilty of nothing worse than an inaccuracy on move 8, and the next thing he knew, he was lost. Carlsen prevented him from castling, opened the center, and won quickly and powerfully (though not quite perfectly). It’s an impressive and instructive game, and as with many of Bobby Fischer’s best games, you’ll marvel at how easy he makes it look. Alas…
Thursday, January 30
GM Leonid Kritz – Take Care When Defending Against the Quiet Italian Game! | Opening, Strategy
The Italian opening, played very often nowadays instead of the Spanish, seems very simple, but in reality requires a lot of attention from the black player. White does not put too much pressure on the position of black, but if Black does not take care then he can get in strategic troubles very quickly, and this game is one of those examples.
Friday, January 31
GM Robert Hungaski – Blunting the Catalan Bishop, Part 1 | Strategy
The Catalan is not just an incredibly popular opening at the moment, it is also a great tool for us to continue weaving topics of general strategy with the building of an opening repertoire. Just as we previously associated the Exchange Caro-Kann with the principle of the Sheltered Knight, now we will try to see ways in which we may blunt the Fianchettoed Bishop. Therefore, this series will focus on the Closed Catalan (when Black refrains from playing …dxc4).
In this first part we’ll look at Kovalyov’s attempt at shutting down the g2-bishop by means of 9…Na6!?