Here’s a recent online blitz game against a slightly higher rated opponent. 1. d4 f5 Regular readers will know that I often play the Dutch myself, even though the engines disapprove. I also try a lot of different lines against it with White. 2. Bg5 This is apparently the Hopton Attack, from a game Hopton … Continue reading "Run, Harry, Run!" The post Run, Harry, Run! appeared first on...

Last week, we examined some concepts you should employ during the transition between the middle and endgame. We briefly touched on the role pawns play. This week and next, I want to really drive home just how important pawns are, not only throughout the game but especially during the endgame (we’ll finish our student game … Continue reading "A Foundation for Beginners Thirty Nine" The...

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement” Bo Bennett (businessman) As a junior I knew this under the name “Russian defence”. For quite a while it did not make much sense to me why any player would use it. Of course at that time I wanted to get an edge … Continue reading "Need sure points? Petroff Defence Edition" The post Need sure points...

People often buy and read the wrong books, as you will have seen from my previous articles. I suspect people often buy and read opening books which, while perhaps excellent in themselves, are pitched at the wrong level for them. Broadly speaking, you could say that there are three types of opening book: 1500 books, … Continue reading "Wrong Opening Books" The post Wrong Opening Books...

Before we can finish our student game, we have to look at an extremely important part of the middle-game, the transition into the endgame. For this reason, I am going to delay the finish of our game until the week after next because I want to go over this transition in detail. It is very … Continue reading "A Foundation for Beginners Thirty Eight" The post A Foundation for Beginners Thirty...

Διάλεξη του διεθνούς μετρ και συγγραφέα Ηλία  Κουρκουνάκη με θέμα «το Γκαμπί της Βασίλισσας». Θα παρουσιαστούν οι κυριότερες ιδέες στην ορθόδοξη άμυνα του γκαμπί της Βασίλισσας (1.δ4 δ5 2.γ4 ε6), με ανάλυση σημαντικών...

“Choices are the hinges of destiny” Pythagoras My student shared with pride below end of the game. Do have a look at the line he chose to win it and form an opinion about it. Would you play the same or differently? The first move I questioned was 36… Rd4. It did not feel the … Continue reading "Quick Decisions (7)" The post Quick Decisions (7) appeared first on The Chess Improver.

I’ve recently reviewed, in another place, The Secret Ingredient, by Jan Markos and David Navara. One sentence by Markos really resonated with me. In real chess, the width of your calculation is usually much more important than its depth. There are exceptions, as he points out, especially in endings. In pawn endings, for example, you’ll … Continue reading "Width and Depth" The...

This week, we are finally going to work further through the student game we started playing roughly three weeks ago. I want you to consider everything we discussed in our examination of the middle-game and some of its principles. Don’t worry if you don’t remember everything discussed because I’ll go over the key points you … Continue reading "A Foundation for Beginners...

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement” Bo Bennett (businessman) A true student of the game would definitely explore the shark infested waters of the King’s gambit. Beside being one of the oldest openings, it could also help you sharpen your eye for tactics on both sides of the board. … Continue reading "Need sure points? King’s Gambit...

I often see posts on various Facebook groups asking something like “My rating’s been stuck at 800 for months: how can I improve?” Of course, at one level, the answer’s simple: stop hanging pieces. But they’re never amused when you suggest that. They tend to be more impressed by advice to, for example, read Modern … Continue reading "Hanging Offence" The post...

While I promised that we would continue playing through the beginner’s game we started a few weeks ago, I’ve decided to address a subject that is key to all phases of the game and is absolutely necessary for improvement. The subject matter of this article came up this past week as I took over a … Continue reading "A Foundation for Beginners Thirty Six" The post A Foundation for...

“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart This week’s selection was presented to me with pride by one of my students. His annotations are still a work in progress but give a glimpse … Continue reading "Students Analysis (6)" The post Students Analysis (6) appeared...

Many years ago maverick IM and chess teacher Mike Basman wrote about a nightmare he’d had. A pupil’s game started 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 and now his pupil refused to recapture because he’d been taught to avoid doubled pawns. I’ve seen this several times myself. Sometimes, but not … Continue reading "Mike Basman’s Nightmare" The post Mike...