Opening Traps & A New Course in Spanish

NOW it’s the last chance to sign yourself up for the upcoming webinar“Chess Opening Disasters and Traps” (Sunday, 21 September).

• You’ll learn how to eliminate opening troubles in your games.
• IM Alex Kundin will reveal some of the most effective opening traps your opponents will likely fall for!

•  You can read all the details, and sign up for the webinar here:LINK

Let’s have a little test of your skills right now.

After the moves 1.e4-e5 2.Nf3-Nc6 3.Bc4, Black – seeking simplification – can blunder away a pawn with 3…Nd4. What would be your initial impulse with White?

How would you play here as White?

Although this trap is pretty simple, you can’t imagine how often White players fall right into it! According to my database, 4.Ne5 is the 2^nd most popular choice! 198 Players played 4.Nd4, while 155 overly optimistic guys captured the pawn with 4.Ne5.

After 4.Ne5-Qg5 White realizes what’s wrong, but now it’s too late…

Surprisingly, White is lost!

I will not analyze the position thoroughly – it’s pretty simple and you can work out the details yourself. The most natural game continuation is 5.Nf7-Qg2 6.Rf1-Qe4 7.Be2-Nf3#

White was mated in 7 moves!  

Being a chess coach, I must teach students to play properly and avoid tricky lines. However, I do agree that some opening traps work very well, especially in blitz games and/or against club players.

You can learn another nice example of an opening catastrophe from a free video lesson, “Chess Opening Disasters”, prepared by our guest coach IM Alex Kundin:LINK

If you wish to get some nice victories right at the starting phase of a game, you may join our Sunday’s webinar: LINK

There’s good news for Spanish-speaking students. The course, “An Endgame Expert”, is now available in Spanish language:

<< Get the Course in SPANISH Now >>

I’m not sure why, but very often I receive messages from Spanish-speaking students, who ask me to provide the courses into their mother tongue. Hence, I’m glad to present this new translation for you.

By the way, three other courses have been translated to SPANISH already:

• “The Grandmaster’s Secrets“: LINK
• “The Grandmaster’s Openings Laboratory“: LINK 
• “How to Beat Titled Players“: LINK 

Each additional language pack for a course that you already own is only $7. For example, if you own an English version of the course, “The Grandmaster’s Secrets”, you can get its Spanish version for just $7. Get your Language Pack here: LINK

If you don’t even have an English version of the course, “An Endgame Expert“, this might be a good time to study it!

<< Get the Course in ENGLISH Now >>

With this one course, you’ll learn everything you need to become an expert in endgames. 

I do receive messages from students all the time. In the past I used to publish them regularly, but then I stopped because there were simply too many of them.

Still, it might be interesting for you to know about the experiences of other students. Hence, I’ll provide a few right here.

I bought my first course back in November, and I was immediately hooked. I own dozens of chess books, read dozens more, and I learned more in that one course than all of them combined…

 This week I beat an opponent 250 rating points higher than me, and in doing so I achieved my highest online rating ever. Before my rating was padded from playing lots of weaker competition; now I’m doing it against players I never thought I’d consistently beat!

 Johnathan Petit

I have purchased and trained every course and I am now enjoying the benefit of no-nonse chess knowledge. So far I have only lost a single serious game last year and none this year, so my rating will raise as I continue to win. The courses by Igor Smirnov is by far my best investment.

Richard

Hello sir,

I am a chess player from India rated 2250.

I have studied your Dvd’s and improved a lot in all stages of the game. Last time after studying Endgame Expert, I improved a lot and won some games too in serious tournaments.

Praneeth Surya, India

 LINK SUMMARY

• Webinar “Chess Opening Disasters and Traps”: LINK
• Free video lesson “Chess Opening Disasters”: LINK
• “An Endgame Expert” in English: LINK
• “An Endgame Expert” in Spanish: LINK 

 There’s simply NO way for you NOT to become a strong chess player… 

Webinar: “Typical Mistakes in Practical Middlegame and Endings.”

Today I have some good news for you. IM ValeriLilov will conduct a live webinar“ Typical mistakes in practical middle game and endings” on Sunday, 17 August.

1.      What “a webinar” is?

It’s a live TRAINING session with a coach. During this event you can communicate with a teacher via chat, perform the tasks, and ultimately, develop necessary SKILLS. Thus it’s a really effective way of training that brings you immediate results.

You may read more about our webinars in this article: LINK

2.     “Typical Mistakes in Practical Middlegame and Endings”

If your chess progress is not as fast as you want (or if you stuck on some level) – this is caused by some errors in your games.

It’s hard to get rid of our weaknesses. Moreover, sometimes we can’t even realize exactly what’s wrong. You just keep learning chess, but don’t get the desired results…

In Remote Chess Academy we interact with thousands of students. Hence we know the most common weaknesses of chess players. We’ll be glad to help you eliminate the weak sides of your play, and to unleash your movement forward.

3.     Should I attend the webinar of IM ValeriLilov?

Certainly I will conduct some webinars myself in the future. At the same time, I will also invite my friends – experienced coaches and strong players – to make such training sessions for you.

Every chess coach has his area of specialization, where he is the most knowledgeable and experienced. If you accumulate the best techniques from different teachers, that will form your comprehensive and powerful chess understanding.

Even when I ask another coach to make a webinar/lesson for you, I supervise his work closely. I will always make sure that you get only high-quality and EFFECTIVE training.

By the way, if you haven’t seen Lilov’s lesson about prophylaxis – please, do so here: LINK

4.     Why is this webinar paid?

You can check it here: LINK

While I’m engaging the best coaches to make highly effective training sessions for you, I’ll try to keep the price really small. For instance, the fee for the webinar “Typical mistakes in practical middle game and endings” is only 5 usd.

• Event: IM Lilov’s webinar “Typical Mistakes in Practical Middlegame and Endings“
• Date: Sunday, 17 August at 5pm(17:00) BST (London time, you can check it here: LINK)

• Price: 5usd.
• Seats: seats are limited to 100.

<< Sign yourself into the webinar now >>

 The registration for the webinar will be closed 2 hours before the start of the webinar.

After the registration, you will be able to send 1 or 2 of your games in .pgn format, with your comments and questions or troubles related to the topic of the webinar. IM Lilov will explain and clear your doubts.

This is optional to send your games or questions. If you have no specific questions, you are still welcome to join the webinar!

During the webinar each position will be analysed on a first come, first served basis. Hence, you should sign up for the webinar as early as possible!

<< Sign yourself into the webinar now >>

The Webinar and Students’ Questions

Students have sent me a lot of questions about the webinar, “The Art of the Endgame”, which will take place this Sunday (27 July). Hence, I’ll answer them all right here.

1.     What’s the point of the webinar? How does it differ from a video lesson?

During a webinar, you have communication with a coach in live mode. I’m telling you the tasks, while you can ask your questions. This is real TRAINING, which develops your SKILLS. Hence, you’ll be able to improve your chess strength properly during the webinar.

A video lesson or a text article provides some information to you. Any chess player can find tons of information about a chess game on the Internet. So what? Has this overabundance of content made you a strong player? Probably not.

Information does not affect your play. Only a new SKILL can do so.

2.     Will you provide a recording of this webinar later on?

Yes, but it will be provided ONLY to the participants in the webinar.

At the same time, of course, it’s a lot more useful to take part in a webinar, rather than to watch its recording later on. Again, you should get the full benefit from the TRAINING that will improve your SKILLS.

3.   I don’t have any specific questions or problems for the endgame. Should I still participate?

The participants in the webinar have a unique chance to submit their games. I’ll analyse them and will help the participants to improve.

However, it’s OPTIONAL to provide your games. If you have no specific questions, you may still take part in the webinar. You’ll improve your endgame skills as well as your overall chess understanding (because the endgame is pure strategy).

4.     Why is the webinar paid?

1)    Firstly, let’s be realistic. Do you really believe that a certain GrandMaster would spend his time and effort to share his secrets with potential competitors? 

In 99% of the lessons out there, the authors tell you WHAT moves were played together with the eventual sidelines. So what? This does not clarify their real secrets: exactly how they find such moves while playing a game.

Imagine that somebody shows you how a car moves but does not teach you HOW to drive a car (how you can do so yourself).  This is an analogy to what you get in most of the free lessons on the Internet.

2)    Secondly, in the case of free lessons, nobody has a real motivation for them. A student knows that this is just “another free lesson from the Internet”. An author does not feel any responsibility, because this is his free lesson (his gift). Obviously, under such poor circumstances, the results will be poor as well.

Based on my many years’ experience (both as a student and as a coach), I know that paid lessons are MUCH more effective.

In the first (free) webinar I held, there were around 200 participants. That’s a lot of people and I could not allocate my attention to everyone’s personal needs. This time, I’ve set a relatively large entry fee. Hence, there will be a small group of students and I’ll be able to provide my full support to everyone.

5.     How will the webinar’s information differ from the course “An Endgame Expert”?

If you have studied the course “An Endgame Expert” – good for you! You are already way beyond most other players of your level. Now it’s time to go forward and achieve greater goals!

The webinar will be based on the STUDENTS’ needs and questions. I’ll analyse your games and will show you what’s wrong and how to get better. That’s quite a unique chance for you!

The webinar, “The Art of the Endgame”, will take place on Sunday 27 July at 5p.m. BST (that is London time – you can check it here: LINK)

 << Sign yourself up for the Webinar NOW >>

2nd Webinar : The Art of the Endgame

Golden opportunity to end your endgame troubles

I am happy to announce that I will be conducting the second webinar on Sunday 27th July at 5 p.m. (17:00) BST – London time (you can check it on this LINK).

The topic of the webinar, “The Art of the Endgame”, will be confined to “ENDGAMES ONLY”.

<< Register for the Webinar >>

Since places are limited, please hurry up and register!

Participants may send me one or two games in .pgn format, with their comments and questions or troubles related to the endgame only. I will explain and clear your doubts.

During the webinar each position will be analysed on a first come, first servedbasis. Hence, you should sign up for the webinar as early as possible!

NOTE: This is optional to send your games or questions. If you have no specific questions, you are still welcome to join the webinar!

The first webinar was conducted on 6^th July 2014 on the topic “The Art of Defence in Chess”. The response and interest shown by the students were overwhelming and fascinating.

 Also Get the ENDGAME EXPERT chess course now - HERE

The entry fee for this webinar, “The Art of the Endgame”, is $20 USD. After you have registered for the webinar, you’ll be given the chance to submit your games and questions. Since places are limited, please hurry up and register!

<< Register for the Webinar >> 

NOTE: The registration for the webinar will be closed 2 hours before the start of the webinar.

How to finish a game - Part 1 Queen vs Rook

As you know, I held a WEBINAR on Sunday 6 July, and it was a great success! After that, many students asked me to do another one. That’s why I’m glad to announce to you that I will hold a NEW webinar soon, probably at the end of July (between 25th and 30th). In the next few days, I’ll give you the final date. This date will be the result of the SURVEY below, so you must complete it.

Here you’ll find the Survey:Participate Now!

Today I’ll show you a new video made by Manikandaswamy, entitled « How to finish a game? » where you’ll learn how to play an endgame queen v rook encounter. This video is the first one of the series and we will put up the other videos soon.

Fundamental Endgame Principles: Win More Games

Please note that the special offer will expire in 1 day. Sunday 29 of June is the LAST day when you still can take advantage of our Special Offers:

• 15% DISCOUNT for the courses “The Grandmaster’s Secrets”, “The Grandmaster’s Openings Laboratory“, “How to Beat Titled Players” (you can get the SPANISH version of these courses as well).
• Special “Packages” designed according to your level in chess, that will ensure your smooth and constant progress: LINK
• You can get another Language Pack for the course you already own.

You may read more about these Special Offers here

Today, you can learn an article written by Yury Markushin specially for the students of our Remote Chess Academy. It’s called “Fundamental Endgame Principles: Win More Games“.

Written by Yury Markushin TheChessWorld.com 

Endgame is the part of the game which if improved can lead to a major rating boost for a majority of pre-master level players. However, most players do not pay specific attention to this stage of the game and do not invest their time into developing it. Don’t make that mistake in your chess.

Understanding of the basic endgame principles will not only improve your results in the games against equal strength opponents, but will also give you a serious weapon that can be used against both weaker and stronger players.

What that means, is that you will win almost all of the games against a weaker opponents in the endgame and will hold your grounds against a much stronger opposition. I have compiled a list of the most important endgame principles that will help you to win more games.

1. Activate your King early

Activating your King in the early stage of the endgame is probably the most important principle that many players overlook. How many games were lost in equal material ending just because one side was wise enough to activate the King a few moves before his opponent did?  Millions.

A simple rule of thumb is to activate your King at the early stage, as soon as it will not place the King under an immediate danger. Many players believe (quite incorrectly) that the King should only be activated in King and Pawn ending when there are no pieces on left the board.

This is not the case in most of the games. The King can be used as a powerful weapon even with the rooks and minor pieces present on the board.  In the example below even though the rooks are present on the board, both sides should activate their Kings.

White to move

2. Passed pawns must be pushed

Many players know about the importance of creating passed pawns. However, it stops there. When a player creates a passed pawn he just leaves it alone and starts planning something else, shifting his attention to the other side of the board. You should always remember that the passed pawn possesses an imminent treat for your opponent.

The closer the pawn gets to the end of the board, the more valuable it is. A passed pawn on 7th rank may easily be worth a Rook. On the diagram below you can see the simplest example it may be the case. The rook must be sacrificed for the pawn to avoid queening.

White to move

At the same time a passed pawn deep inside the enemy’s territory is usually weak if not supported by other pawns and/or pieces.

Therefore, the passed pawns must be pushed and protected!

3. Exchange pieces when you up in pawns

Just imagine you’re a pawn or two up in the game. What kind of endgame would it be easier to win: two pawns + King vs. King or two pawns + King + 3 other pieces vs. King + 3 other pieces?

The answer is simple and obvious. Of course winning the King and Pawn endgame is a better option if you’re up in material.

In the position with 3 other pieces on the board, you’re risking to get checkmated even before starting to push your pawns. These extra pawns are far less valuable in middle game positions, than in the endgame.  In the diagram below, white is two pawns up, therefore they should exchange pieces to realize their advantage.

It can be easily achieved via 1.Re8+ Rxe8 2.Qxe8 Rxe8 3. Rxe8+ Kh74. Rxh8 +-

White to move

Here are the two rules to remember:

I. If you are up in pawns, exchange pieces

II. If you’re down in pawns, exchange them off

4. Double check your calculations

Endgame is the most straightforward part of the game in terms of calculation simplicity. There are not many pieces and pawns on the board, making it possible to calculate deep variations, sometimes until the pawn promotion or some other decisive event.

The price of a mistake significantly increases in the endgame since a single wrong King move, lost tempo or pawn can quickly lose the game. Therefore, it is necessary to double check your calculations to avoid these unfortunate accidents, called blunders.

5. Place your Rooks behind passed pawns

In the rule #2 we already talked about the importance of passed pawns, that they must be pushed and most importantly supported. The best way to support an advance of the passed pawns is by placing a rook behind it.

Since the pawn will move through a file and the rook controls the files very well, it makes perfect sense to support a passed pawn with a rook. Also the rook placed behind the passed pawn won’t be obstructing the promotion square (as in the case of the rook in front – bad idea).

Correct way to protect the passed pawn

placing your rook behind your opponent’s passed pawn works equally well to prevent queening.

6. Place your pawns at opposite color squares to your Bishop.

This is a somewhat counter-intuitive rule. Most players would think that placing the pawns on the same color squares as your Bishop is a safer bet since the Bishop can protect the pawns. However, this is incorrect because it would obstruct the Bishop and reduce the available space needed for maneuvers.

In the example below white has a dark squared bishop therefore; he places his pawn on the light squares locking the opponent’s pawns on dark squares. Not only white obtained more space for his bishop, but also created some targets.

Correct placement of pawns

Remember that the correct placement of pawns in the endgame is on the opposite color squares than your Bishop. However, if your opponent has a Bishop you want to obstruct it. That can be done by setting up a pawn chain on the same color squares as the opponent’s Bishop, if possible.

7. Play actively

Playing actively is a very important principle of chess in general which can be applied to the endgames in specific.  For example, activity of the Rook or a King in the endgame can well compensate an absence of a pawn. While playing passively and defensively in the ending where you’re down in material is a guaranteed lose, by playing actively you can change the game around and swindle away with a draw or even a win.

8. Keep your Bishop pair

It is a no brainier that a bishop pair is strong in the middle game, but in the endgame it becomes a devastating force, especially in somewhat open positions. Keep your bishop pair until the endgame, and you will most likely win that ending!

Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule, where the two knights or a knight and a bishop can be a better pair than the bishops. But these are very rare and only happen in locked up positions or with the knights (that for some reason cannot be exchanged off) located right in the heart of your position, next to the King.

Generally speaking, the bishop pair is the whole pawn better than two knights or a knight and a bishop.

9. Avoid weakening your pawn structure

Pawns do not go backwards. Before making a pawn move, especially in the endgame, think twice how would that affect your pawn structure. You also need to be careful with advances and exchanges since it can lead to weak, doubled or delayed pawns. Pawn weakness is that small advantage or disadvantage that can make or break your game.

Unless it is absolutely unavoidable try not to weaken your pawn structure, to have a better endgame chances.

10. A rook on a seventh rank is worth at least a pawn more

A white rook on a seventh rank (or a black on 2nd) is an incredibly powerful weapon. Not only it cuts off your opponent’s King from fully participating in the game, but also it can be used to very efficiently pick up the pawn since they are totally unprotected from the back.

A general rule of thumb for an endgame initiative is to place your rook on the seventh rank to create a lot of trouble for your opponent. Check the position below. The white rook on the 7^th rank completely dominates the position.

The rook on 7^th rank is very strong

These are some general rules and principles that should be used in most endgame situations, and if applied correctly will improve your endgame performance. However, the rules are not unbreakable. In every position you should use your judgment and evaluation of positions skill to decide what rule is applicable and what not.

If you liked this lesson then you should check our FREE Ultimate Endgame Tutorial: 10 Must Know Endgames Step-by-Step. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. If you enjoyed the article, please, write your comment below.
P.P.S. Let me remind you that our Special Offers will expire in 1 day. If you’d like to use them, please, do so now: LINK

Rook Endgames

Today we will talk about rook endgames.

Even if MOST endgames are rook endgames, a majority of players make lots of mistakes in these situations. That’s why we took a typical position that can help you in your future games (when you’ll meet similar positions).

In the example we will show you, it is a rook endgame played by the famous French champion Etienne Bacrot and the Russian Grand Master Pavel Tregubov. Bacrot with White and 100 points ELO over his opponent seems to be the favourite, but rook endgames are always very difficult, as you’ll see in this lesson.

Barcot, E – Tregubov, PWhite’s Turn

Take few minutes and think about this position. Rook endgames tend to be drawish pretty often. But you’ll see that, in practice, this is not easy at all.

In this case, you must analyse the position and find:

-         What is Black’s plan to play for a win?

-         How should White defend?

After that, please click the LINK to observe the actual game with comments.

If you wish to improve your endgame skills, you should study PRACTICAL examples. Endgame books, unfortunately, are filled with theoretical positions that may never happen in YOUR games.

Another important thing is to know the typical endgame PLANS. You are probably well versed in some middle game plans (attack on the kingside/king, pawn minority attack, etc.) but what about an endgame?

One of my friends (he’s a Russian GM) told me: “Once we reach an equal endgame, they all offer me a draw. And after I reject it, they do not know what to do”. 

Sadly, this is true of most intermediate players. If you want to overcome them, you may study the course “An Endgame Expert”. This single course will bring you to the ADVANCED level in endgames.

Click here to get ENDGAME EXPERT chess course!