Monday, March 25
Eugene Perelshteyn – Important Novelty in the King’s Indian Defense – Beating Hikaru Nakamura | Opening, Tactics
What makes an Opening variation playable or unplayable? How does Opening theory develop? Watch this instructive lecture by GM Perelshteyn, where he shares with you a bizarre novelty in the King’s Indian that helped him defeat none other than Hikaru Nakamura! This game changes the course of the entire line!
Tuesday, March 26
FM Dennis Monokroussos – The Elusive Queen | Tactics
We continue our series on Vladimir Kramnik with yet another super-sharp victory over his archrival Veselin Topalov. Topalov, with White, went for an anti-Semi-Slav line that has become even more popular over the past couple of decades, and as usual Topalov did his best to make the middlegame as complicated as he could. Unfortunately for Topalov, his assessment was mistaken, and Kramnik took over the initiative. Topalov was banking on the precarious position of Kramnik’s queen, and Kramnik was skirting the precipice. He held his balance, and with a series of brilliant tactical ideas not only survived but won quickly and convincingly. Perhaps at their mutual bests, Topalov was the better tactician – perhaps. But if so, the margin was narrow, and as we’ve seen Kramnik won many tactical struggles against Topalov, supplementing his more positional wins.
Wednesday, March 27
GM Leonid Kritz – Importance of Controlling the Center | Strategy
This is a great example of how strategic factors outweigh material in chess. White sacrificed a pawn, but got total control over the center, and it was more than enough to see that only he is playing for win. Old principles should never be forgotten, and center control is one of the most important ones!
Thursday, March 28
IM Bill Paschall Crushing the Caro-Kann, Part 7 | Opening, Tactics
In part seven we follow an exciting battle between two of the most successful players in recent years. Grandmaster Vachier-Lagrave plays a classic and aggressive continuation. What seems like tactical chaos is actually a deep strategic concept by White. The Black kingside is hemmed in and the defense is never allowed to properly complete his development. An instructive game which hinges on long term concepts!
Friday, March 29
Nadya Kosintseva A Nimzo-Indian Repertoire for Black, Part 3 – Meeting 4.Qc2 & 5.a3 & 7.Bg5 | Strategy, Tactics
In this lecture we continue learning the classic lines that arises after white’s 4.Qc2 followed by 5.a3. We will go over the schemes of development when white moves the dark-squared bishop to g5 pinning the black’s f6-knight. This set-up, on one hand, limits black’s pieces in their choices, but, on the other hand, gives black additional strategic and tactical tools. Now, the main target for black’s attack becomes the c4-pawn, which can be exposed after black advances c5 and brings his rook to the c-file. We will go over the variations that demonstrate black’s options in attacking on the queen side and learn typical tricks for both sides.