Sicilian Wing ( Portsmouth ) Gambit - B20 - Opening Theory

Portsmouth Wing Gambit Warfare
Conquer the Sicilian

The Sicilian Defense is one of Black's most popular responses to 1.e4. But what if you could disrupt their plans with an aggressive gambit right out of the gate? Enter the Sicilian Wing Gambit (also known as the Portsmouth Gambit). This exciting opening sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and quick attacking chances.

Here are some reasons to add the Wing Gambit to your chess arsenal:

• Confuse your opponent: The Wing Gambit is a less common opening, throwing your opponent off-balance.
• Sharpen your tactics: The gambit nature leads to sharp, tactical positions, perfect for honing your tactical skills.
• Gain a quick advantage: The gambit can lead to a rapid development advantage and potential for a checkmating attack.

Let's delve into the wealth of resources available to master the Wing Gambit!

Wikipedia Page - Wing Gambit
The most common Wing Gambit is in the Sicilian Defense

(Portsmouth Wikibooks Opening Theory)

 (1.e4 c5 2.b4   or   1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4)

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Sicilian Wing Gambit Chess Articles

Dive into the rich theory, captivating history, and key variations of the Portsmouth Gambit.

• Chess Opening Basics: The Sicilian Wing Gambit - Chessable Opening Guide - This beginner-friendly guide provides a solid foundation, explaining core ideas and plans for White in the Wing Gambit.
  
  
• The Wing Gambit: Opening Guide for White & Black - Chessable Blog Guide - Go beyond the basics with this exploration of various Wing Gambit lines, potential Black responses, and its suitability for faster chess formats.
  
  
• Dirty Opening TRICK to Win in 7 Moves [Sicilian Defense Trap] - GM Igor Smirnov - Embedded Video w/ Game - Sharpen your tactical vision with a look at some potent opening traps White can spring in the Wing Gambit.
  
  
• Magnus Carlsen Demolishes a GM Using Portsmouth Gambit - GM Igor Smirnov - Article w/Embedded Videos - Witness a masterclass in action! Analyze a detailed game where Magnus Carlsen himself wields the Wing Gambit to devastating effect. w/ 27 Min Video about this Opening Gambit.
  
  
• The Sicilian Wing Gambit - Revisited - In-depth - Blog Post, Computer Lines, Traps, w/ Embedded Video (Nice)
  
  
• Wing Gambits in Chess - By Edward Winter - Embark on a historical journey! This article delves into the Wing Gambit's rich past, tracing its lineage back to the 17th century, including famous players and showcasing interesting games that illustrate its evolution. (Very Nice) 

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Sicilian Wing (Portsmouth) Gambit LiChess Studies

Master the Gambit Through Interactive Training! Explore these Lichess studies to solidify your understanding of the Wing Gambit's concepts, analyze real games, and test your skills move-by-move.

• Sicilian Wing's Gambit - 10 Chapter Study - A well-structured study outlining a complete opening repertoire for the Wing Gambit.
  
  
• Spicy Gambits: Sicilian Wing Gambit! - 22 Chapter Study -Dive into 22 games with computer and human analysis, uncovering hidden tactical opportunities and positional nuances.
  
  
• Portsmouth Gambit | Opening: Sicilian Defense - 9 Chapter Study - In this study, we will go over variations of the Sicilian Defense: Portsmouth Gambit, and look at master games with this opening. (90+ Hearts)
  
  
• Karpov_ChessMood's Study - 10 Chapter Study - Delve into a comprehensive study with over 20 games linked for deeper analysis. 
  
  
• Wing Gambit Tricks - 8 Chapter Study - Deepen your understanding with 7 analyzed games, focusing on critical moves and positional ideas.

New to Lichess Studies? No problem! This section includes a brief explanation of these interactive tools, highlighting how they can help you test your knowledge and master the Wing Gambit concepts move-by-move.

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Sicilian Wing Gambit Puzzles

Put your Wing Gambit knowledge to the test! Dive into this extensive collection of puzzles specifically designed to sharpen your tactical skills within the Sicilian Wing Gambit.

LiChess Opening Puzzles 

Wing Gambit - 1320 Puzzles
Wing Gambit Deferred - 100 Puzzles

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Sicilian Wing Gambit Game Databases

Witness the Wing Gambit in Action! Delve into these comprehensive game databases featuring real-life encounters where the Sicilian Wing Gambit was employed by both White and Black.

365Chess.com

• B20: Sicilian, wing gambit 1. e4 c5 2. b4 - 1943 Games

ChessTempo.com

• Sicilian Defense, Wing Gambit (B20) - 1007 Games

Chessgames.com (Game Collections)

• Wing gambit victories - 37 Games - Uncover classic games featuring successful Wing Gambit play by legendary players like Marshall, Alekhine, and Keres.
• Sicilian wing gambit - 9 Games - Deepen your understanding by studying games categorized by specific thematic ideas within the Wing Gambit.
• Sicilian Wing Gambit for Black - 5 Games - Learn valuable defensive strategies from Black's perspective in these Wing Gambit games.
• Sicilian: Wing Gambit-2. b4-Black wins - 9 Games - Analyze games where Black successfully countered the Wing Gambit, providing valuable insights for both White and Black players.
  
  

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Sicilian Wing (Portsmouth) Gambit Video Lessons

Tony Williams Portsmouth Gambit - 2 Hr - Camberley Chess Online lecture about this gambit

A Wild Line You Need To Learn - Sicilian Defense Counter (Tricky Gambit) - 20 Min - NM Nelson Lopez -Three games played against the same opponent, highlighting the effectiveness of a surprising move, Rook takes A3, which sacrifices a rook for a bishop.

The Wing Gambit | Dynamic Play against the Sicilian Defense | Chess Openings | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 17 Min - Analyzes various responses from Black, including accepting the gambit and counter-attacking in the center. He provides insights into the strategic and tactical ideas

CRUSH French and Sicilian Defense with The Wing Gambit - 28 Min - Gotham Chess - Chess Opening lesson for beginners and intermediate players.

Blast The Sicilian Out of The Water! | Portsmouth Wing Gambit!! - 37 min - IM Miodrag Perunovic - In-Depth Guide to the Portsmouth Gambit. Believes this gambit is even better that the Wing Gambit. (New 6/20/2024)

Crush Sicilian Players With The Wing Gambit!! - 53 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic - Video Below - In-depth analysis of the Wing Gambit , offering a comprehensive guide to this aggressive opening. Various responses to the Wing Gambit, including side variations and main lines, while emphasizing the importance of activity, center control, and piece development. Includes tactical motifs, such as the Greek Gift, and strategic plans for exploiting open files and weak pawns.

Remote Chess Academy - GM Igor Smirnov

• Powerful Chess Opening Against the Sicilian Defense | Tricky Wing Gambit - 18 Min
  
  
• Brutally PUNISH the Sicilian Defense (Carlsen Used This Tricky Gambit Opening) - 19 Min
  
  
• Crush the Sicilian Defense: Unknown & DEADLY TRAP for White - 16 Min
  
  
• Smirnov Gambit Part-1 | Powerful Chess Opening Against the Sicilian Defense - 27 Min
• Smirnov Gambit Part-2 | Powerful Chess Opening Against the Sicilian Defense - 24 Min
• Smirnov Gambit Part-3 | Powerful Chess Opening Against the Sicilian Defense - 25 Min
  
  

Anti -Wing Gambit Videos

• Beating ALL the Anti-Sicilian Systems! - GM Chris Ward - 16 Min - Starts out with the Sicilian Wing Gambit and shows us one of the shortest ever GM games to persuade us to not fear White’s play.
  
  
• Taking Down the Wing Gambit!! | Deep Dive | Sicilian | GM Naroditsky's Theory Speed Run - 70 Mins (Real Nice Lesson) - A deep dive into the Wing Gambit , showcasing how to counter it effectively. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the opening’s principles rather than memorizing theory, demonstrating this through a live game analysis.
  
  
• Facing the Anti Sicilians | Grandmaster Opening Repertoire - 56 Min - GM Moulthun Ly - Recommendations in the Sicilian against all White's Anti-Sicilian options.
  
  
• GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaches you how to punish the Wing Gambit! - 9 Min - Shares his first-round game from the Reykjavik Open! Learn how to beat the pesky Wing Gambit with strong central play and material advantage.

Sicilian Wing (Portsmouth) Gambit Games w/ Analysis

Magnus Carlsen Uses The Wing Gambit to Beat 5 GM's - 28 Min - Practical part of a two-part video series on the Wing Gambit where we see it in action.

GM Analysis #9: Williams vs Dragun: Sicilian Wing Gambit 2 b4!? - 26 Min - GM Simon Williams - I take a look at a game I played against the young Polish Grandmaster Kamil Dragun. I played the super aggressive Sicilian Wing Gambit, with 2 b4!? and got a very promising position.

Sharp play in the Wing Gambit | Standard Chess #294 - 55 Min - IM John Bartholomew - I encounter an opponent who busts out the Wing Gambit, 1.e4 c5 2.b4!?. Though I decline the gambit, a tactical position soon ensues where my calculation left me wanting more.

Daniil Dubov Plays Wing Gambit Against Sicilian Defense - 6 Min

Johnathan Schrantz - Blitz games

• Win FAST with the Portsmouth Gambit - 3 Min
• Surprise the Sicilian with the PORTSMOUTH GAMBIT - 8 Min
• Holy Gambit Grail #14: Portsmouth Gambit - 10 Min
• Sicilian Players Always Mess This Up - 9 Min
• He Was Ready for the PORTSMOUTH GAMBIT - 10 Min
• Somebody Fell Into My EVIL PORTSMOUTH GAMBIT Prep - 8 Min
• Sicilian Players are NEVER Ready for This - 12 Min

Queen's Indian Defense - E12 - E17 - Opening Theory

Queens Indian Defense Resources

Wikipedia Page

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6

E12 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6

E13 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5

E14 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3

E15 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3

E16 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7

E17 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7

E18 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3

E19 – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Qc2

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Free Books / Courses Queen's Indian

Short & Sweet: Fernandez's Nimzo-Queen's Indian - Free Chessable Course - 10 Lines w/ 22 Min Video - GM Ernesto Fernandez

Queen's Indian Defense- Tournament Edition - 27 Lines - Free Chessable Course 

Short & Sweet: Accelerated Queen's Indian Defense - 25 Variations w/ 67 Min Video - Free Chessable Course - IM Yuriy Krykun

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Queen's Indian Defense Articles

You Can Trust the Queen’s Indian Defense - Chessable Blog Opening Guide (Nice Article w/ Embedded Course Video)
Queen’s Indian Defense – Complete Guide - Chessworld Article w/ 33 Min Embedded Video

The Excellent Queen’s Indian Defense - IM Alberto Chueca - Opening Guide

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Queen's Indian Defense LiChess Studies

Queen's Indian Defense -6 Chapter Study (400+ Hearts)
Queen's Indian: The Complete Guide - 13 Chapter Study (140 Hearts)

MASTER 🐱‍👤😎😎 Queen's Indian Defense - 14 Chapter Study (100+ Hearts) 6 Chapters on Pawn Structures

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Queen's Indian Defense Puzzles

WTHarvey.com

Queen's Indian (ECO E15) - 15 Puzzles

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Queens Indian Defense - 1091 Puzzles (Broken Below into Variations)

Kasparov Variation - 201 Puzzles
Kasparov-Petrosian Variation - 115 Puzzles
Capablanca Variation - 40 Puzzles
Classical Variation - 186 Puzzles
Spassky System - 95 Puzzles
Fianchetto Variation - 159 Puzzles
Petrosian Variation - 46 Puzzles

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Queens Indian Game Databases

Chessgames.com

Queen's Indian (E12) 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 - 10,600 Games

365Chess.com

E12-E19_Queen's_Indian_defence - (Page with all the Variations Outlined w/ Links)

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Queen's Indian Defense Video Lessons

Queen's Indian Defense Opening Theory - 7 Video Playlist - (2.5 hrs)- Hanging Pawns

The Modern Queen's Indian: US Chess School w/ GM Hellsten - 71 Min - Great lesson

The Fridman Variation of the Queen's Indian Defense - 35 Min- GM Matthias Whals

Dominate with the Queen's Indian Defense ⚔ GM Jan Werle [ChessWorld] - 32 Min

Chess Openings: How to Play the Queen's Indian! - 9 Min - Chess.com

1.d4 Solid Repertoire: Queens Indian Defense - 10 Min - NM Bryan Tillis

Queen's Indian Defense: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 45 Min - Video Below

Queen's Indian Traps and Tactics

Small Opening Mistake | The imprisoned Bishop | Queen's Indian Defence - 5 Min - Chessbase India

Chess Trap 33 (Queen's Indian Defense) - 8 Min

Chess Tactics in the Queen's Indian with IM Hans Niemann - 28 Min

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Queen's Indian Defense Game Videos w/ Analysis

Queen's Indian Defense - 15 Video Playlist- agadmator's Chess Channel (Games from Tal to Carlsen )

Queens Indian Defence - 63 Video Playlist- kingscrusher

Queen's Indian Defense Theory - 20 Video Playlist- Jozorov's Chess Channel

Queen's Indian - 17 Video Playlist - Chessbase India

Garry Kasparov - Crushing The Queen's Indian Defense - 16 Min 
Kasparov destroys the Queen’s Indian in 23 moves - 13 Min - Chess Network

Polugaevsky-Korchnoi Queen's Indian Defense - GM Dariusz Swiercz - 51 Min
Seirawan vs. Timman, 1990 | Queen's Indian Defense - GM Yasser Seirawan - 56 Min

Standard Chess #253: IM Bartholomew vs. Larsens_son (Queen's Indian Defense) - 42 Min
Standard Chess #62: fanta6 vs. IM Bartholomew (Queen's Indian Defense) - 41 Min

Sudden Impact! - Stockfish vs Seer - Queen's Indian Defense, Kasparov Variation - 15 Min
 

Ruy Lopez (Spanish) - Marshall Attack (Gambit) C89

Demystifying the Marshall Gambit:
A Comprehensive Guide

Marshall Attack Wikipedia Page

 Dive into the rich history and tactical brilliance of the Marshall Gambit with a curated collection of articles, studies, and game analyses.

The Marshall Gambit in the Ruy López Opening

 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5)

is known for its sharp and aggressive play,
which can lead to tactical and exciting games.

Bishop's Bounty Ruy Lopez (Spanish) Main Page

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Marshall Gambit Articles 

Delve into the theory, history, and key variations of the Marshall Attack.

• The Marshall Gambit  -  Edward Winter - Huge page with Pictures, History and Games. (Really Well Done) (More of a Marshall through History)
  
  
• Marshall Gambit – Playing Against the Ruy Lopez  - Chessable Blog Opening Guide (Nice place to Start)
  
  
•  Openings for Tactical Players: Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack  -  Chess.com Article by GM  Gregory Serper - 4 opening tactical Puzzles 
  
  
• Capablanca vs Marshall Attack, 100 years later - Chessbase Article about this Game with Annotations.

 

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Marshall Gambit LiChess Studies

Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.

• Marshall attack  - 56 Chapter Study   (Study at Top of post) - Very in-depth 
  
  
• RANSACK the Ruy Lopez  - 4 Chapter Study

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Games Databases

Analyze real-life games featuring the Marshall Attack and see how it's played in practice.

 

365Chess.com

• C89: Ruy Lopez, Marshall counter-attack  - 3386 Games  (7 Sub-Varients Listed w/Links)

Chessgames.com

• Ruy Lopez, Marshall (C89)  - 1643 games  (1893 -2023)

Chess Tempo

• Spanish game marshall Attack (C89)  -  1699 Games

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Marshall Gambit Video Lessons

Learn from chess masters in video tutorials that explain the Marshal Attacks key ideas and strategies.

• Ruy Lopez, Marshall Attack | Chess Openings Explained - 60 min - St.Louis CC - Nick Risko teaches all about the Marshall Attack in the Ruy Lopez. This Marshall is an aggressive gambit, characterized by a pawn sacrifice with d5.
• Maul 'em with the Marshall Attack | Chess Openings Explained  - 45 Min - St. Louis CC - Jonathan Schrantz teaches the Marshall Attack (sometimes seen as a gambit) in the Ruy Lopez. See the original game where it failed, then see a modern improvement on the idea.
• Learn How to Use The Marshall Attack in The Spanish Opening - Chess24 - 20 min - GM Gustofsson - Jan looks at what has become the main choice for White at the top-level 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 and now 12.d3 instead of 12.d4. Why would White play this more timid move? There is a subtle reason behind the selection which Black must be aware of.
• Master the Marshall Attack ⎸Chess Openings, Ruy Lopez, Marshall (C89) - 20 Min - Hanging Pawns - Lesson on this Line of the Closed Ruy lopez

Tactics and Traps

• Marshall Attack: Almost 6000 People Made This Mistake - 6 Min
• Spanish Marshall - The f3 Faux Pas (trap no. 250) -  4 Min
• Spanish Marshall - Original Marshall 11…Nf6 idea #1 (trap no. 256) - 5 Min
• Spanish Marshall - Original Marshall 11 Nf6 idea #2 (trap no. 257)  - 3 Min
• Spanish Marshall - Original Marshall 11…Nf6 idea #3 (trap no. 258) - 4 Min
• Spanish Marshall - Original Marshall 11…Nf6 idea #4 (trap no. 259) - 5 Min

Marshall Gambit Game Videos (Analyzed)

Ruy Lopez: Marshall Gambit - Chess Opening  - 31 Video playlist - kingscrusher 

• Master Class | Ruy Lopez | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky  - 20 Min
• Chess Opening: Marshall Attack (Gambit) - Ruy Lopez - 13 Min  Remote Chess Academy
• Carlsen plays the Marshall Gambit | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Magnus Carlsen - 21 Min 
• Using Your Special Attack Against the World Champion (Marshall vs Capa) - 17 min - GM Nakamura
• The Marshall Attack! || Radjabov vs Ding || FIDE World Cup (2019)  - 9 Min - Agadmantor
• New Poison in the Marshall Attack! || Carlsen vs Ding - 14 Min - Agadmantor
• Ivanchuk Unleashes the Marshall Attack  - 17 min - Agadmantor
  
  

"Chess is a sea of troubles, and victory is merely a postponement of the shipwreck."
 - Savielly Tartakower

 

FREE Chessable Tactics Courses

 

Chessable offers a comprehensive list of free tactics courses that are accessible to everyone.

 These courses cover a wide range of tactical themes, including pins, forks, skewers, and more. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, these courses provide a great opportunity to improve your tactical skills and sharpen your chess tactics.

The best part is that you only need to create a free account on Chessable to access all these courses. With just a few clicks, you can start learning and practicing these tactics in a fun and interactive way, without having to spend a dime. So why not take advantage of this amazing resource and start improving your chess skills today?

 

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Tactics Problem Books

Chessable Challenge  - 61 Tactics problems  From the Opening to the Endgame (Kind of a Test of your Chess Knowledge)

Basic Checkmate Patterns  - 35 Basic mating Patterns w/ 1hr 14 min video

Basic Chess Patterns - 50 Tactics Problems  (Beginner and Intermediate)

Typical Tactical Tricks: 500 Ways To Win!  -  510 Tactics Problems  -  (Really Great Free Course -Beginner to Intermediate)

Bishops on the Attack  - 202 Tactics problems  (All Using Bishops)

King on the Attack   - 60 Tactics problems  (Using the King as a fighting Piece)

Knights on the Attack - 200 Tactics problems (Learn to look for those Forks)

Rooks on the Attack -  200 Tactics problems (Rook tactics)

Pawns on the Attack  - 200 tactics Problems (Checkmates, combinations and tactics, and endgames)

Queen on the Attack  - 225 Tactics problems  (All taken from games where Players are 2500+)

Tactical Resources: Creative Attack & Defense - 38 tactics problems (High Quality positions to practice attacking and Defending)

Tactical Resources: Creative Attack & Defense 2  -  38 tactics problems

Tactics Madness   - 55 Tactics Problems - From User Submitted games

Cool & Forcing Combinations  - 45 tactics problems

Trompowsky Tactics 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 -  123 Tactics problems  from this opening

Dodgy's 1. e4 e5 Tactics  -  249 Tactics  Problems 
( Learn Openings and tactics that arise in them)
Scotch Game and Scotch Gambit
Italian Game (Giuoco Piano)
King’s Gambit
Vienna Game
Danish Gambit

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Tournaments

(These Are Free courses with Analysis of the Games and Normally a Tactic from that game to practice)

World Chess Championship 2021: Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi  -  2hr 50min Free Video, 100 positions to practice. Amazing Analysis of these games.

Tournament Tactics: Tata Steel Chess 2020  - 3hr 21Min Free Video, 146 Tactics to practice

Champions Chess Tour 2021  -  54hrs Free Video  -  823 trainable Variations   (Pretty Amazing Free Course)

Chessable Masters Tournament  - 4hr 31 Min Free Video -  65 trainable variations

2021 Superbet Chess Classic | Grand Chess Tour -  110 Trainable variations

#TwitterChessTournament Tactics  -  65 Trainable Variations   (Amateur Tournament w/Tactics)

Olympiad Tactics 2018  -  112 Trainable Variations 

Champions Chess Tour 2021 [ESP]  - 394 trainable Variations  (Course in Spanish but the Chess is pretty universal)

Razor-Sharp Tactics: Women’s World Rapid & Blitz 2022  -  109 Trainable variations ( NEW Course Broken down into East , Medium, Hard Tactics)

 (All of these courses can be used for Free with their Movetrainer. You can set it to Woodpecker them as well. For Free you can run 5 courses at any one time and practice till your hearts desire )

 

Demystify the Chess Middlegame (FREE Resources!)

 Conquering the Middlegame
 Essential Chess Resources to Sharpen Your Skills

The middlegame, the heart and soul of chess, is where strategies unfold, tactics unleash their fury, and the entire game's course can shift dramatically. Mastering this dynamic phase is crucial for chess players of all levels.

This comprehensive guide equips you with a treasure trove of valuable resources to elevate your middlegame prowess. We've categorized them for easy navigation, catering to both beginners seeking fundamental concepts and seasoned players aiming to refine their strategic thinking.

Why Focus on the Middlegame?

• Strategic Planning: The middlegame is your canvas to craft a winning strategy. You'll learn to exploit weaknesses, control key squares, and create imbalances favoring your piece activity.
• Tactical Awareness: Sharp tactics often come to the forefront. You'll develop your ability to identify and execute powerful tactical opportunities like forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks.
• Positional Understanding: Chess isn't just about brute force. The middlegame hones your positional understanding, teaching you the value of piece placement, pawn structure, and king safety.

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Books (Free)

Chess blueprints : planning in the middlegame by Yakovlev, Nikolay  - 282 page PDF

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Chess Middlegame Articles

• Chess Middlegame Strategy: The Ultimate Guide For Beginners  - Really Nice Guide (In-Depth) - This comprehensive guide, perfect for beginners, dives into the fundamentals of middlegame play. Learn where to best position your pieces and gain valuable general tips to build a strong foundation for success.
  
  
• General Middlegame Advice  - Nice in-depth Guide By Exeter Chess Club - Feeling overwhelmed by middlegame complexity? This guide, compiled from beginner's chess books, offers practical strategies to simplify your decision-making process.
  
  
• 16 tips on how to improve your middlegame in chess  -  Chess delights - Consider this a handy cheat sheet packed with actionable tips to elevate your middlegame prowess. Quickly reference these pointers to make informed choices during your next game.
  
  
• 9 Middlegame Concepts You Must Know - TheChessWorld - Overview of all the Major Middlegame Concepts w/ 40 min Embedded Video

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Middlegame LiChess Studies

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

• Middlegame Strategies  -  11 Chapters  (495 hearts) - This comprehensive study delves into each piece's role, guiding you through the process of making a plan and exploiting an exposed king.
  
  
• The Art Of The Middle Game  - 11 Chapters (295 hearts) - Based on the renowned work by Alexander Kotov & Paul Keres, this study condenses the wisdom of the masters, teaching you how to form a plan and effectively attack your opponent's king in a castled position.
  
  
• How to WIN in the Middlegame - 9 Chapter Study  (777 hearts) - Harness the winning techniques employed by GM Igor Smirnov through this study, packed with insights gleaned from his video lectures.
  
  
• 11 Middle Game Plans - 12 Chapter interactive Study -Dive into an interactive learning experience where you'll learn a valuable lesson and plan from each carefully chosen position.
  
  

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Chess Middlegame Video Lessons

Playlists

• Chess Middlegame - 53 Video playlist  - Remote Chess Academy
  
  
• Chess Middlegame Ideas - 50 Video Playlist  - Hanging Pawns
  
  
• The Middlegame in Chess - 35 Video playlist  - Jim's Chess Channel
  
  
• Learn Chess - Middlegame Strategy - 9 Video Playlist  - Chess Explained
  
  
• Miss Strategy's Middlegame Show  - 48 Video Playlist  - IM Anna Rudolph
  
  
• 50 middlegames master class - 23 Video Playlist - Gotham Chess

Lessons

The 10 Best Chess Plans For The Middlegame - Chess Strategy For The Middlegame - Midgame Strategy - 13 Min - NM Nelson Lopez - several examples of types of chess plans and strategies that you can use in your next game!

How To Use Pawns In Chess Middlegames - 15 min - IM Levy Rozman

Creating Strategic Plans | Chess Middlegames  - 28 Min - Hanging Pawns

Middlegame strategy - Using all pieces in the middlegame - 17 min Jozarov's Chess Channel - Today's theme is again the middlegame strategy with the principle of using all of your pieces in the attack.

Finding the best Squares for your Pieces with Maneuvering | Chess Middlegame | GM Sam Shankland - 16 Min - GM Sam Shankland will show you how to improve the placement of your pieces.

The Influence of centralized Pieces in the Middlegame | Chess Strategy - 15 Min IM Ostrovskiy - learn the influence of centralized pieces in the position based on practical examples.

The Golden Rules for the Middlegame |  IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 27 Min - IM Andrey Ostrovskiy is teaching to you the golden middlegame rules that every chess player needs to know. (Video below)

Tactical Motifs MiddleGame

Middlegame Tactical Motifs | Full Lesson | Oxford University Chess Club - 61 Min

Secrets of the Middlegame 🕵 Unexpected Tactical Chess Opportunities - GM Danny Gormally - 40 Min - In this sample from his course Danny looks at the unexpected tactical opportunities that can arise in every game.

Middlegame Mistakes

Most Common Middlegame Mistakes of Club Players [FM Viktor Neustroev]  - 47 Min - Learn How to Avoid Mistakes in the Middlegame and Improve Your Performance! Covers Many middlegame topics.

Typical Mistakes in Practical Middlegame and Endings - 5 Min

NM Robert Ramirez

• Chess lesson # 91: Middlegame Strategy - 35 Min
• Chess Lesson # 118: Middlegame Mastery  - 23 Min
• Chess Lesson # 138: Master The Middlegame - 13 Min
• Chess Lesson # 101: Middlegame Strategy Playing VS The Isolani Pawn Structure - 46 Min
• Chess Lesson # 149: Middle-game Strategy Tip  - 14 Min
• Easy Opening With Easy Middlegame Plan | Chess Lesson # 191 - 16 Min

St.Louis Chess Club

Playlists

• Mastering the Middlegame Lectures  - 15 Video playlist - Ben Finegold 
• Saint Louis Chess Club | Mastering the Middlegame  -  47 Video Playlist - Assorted Speakers 

Middlegame Planning | Mastering the Middlegame - GM Josh Friedel  - 46 Min 
Develop a Middlegame Plan - FM Aviv Friedman - 2014.10.22  - 49 Min
The Early Middlegame: What to do?! | Road to 2000  - 52 min  NM Caleb Denby
Restriction: Shutdown of Pieces | Mastering the Middlegame - GM Cristian Chirila - 49 Min
Two Bishops in the Middlegame - GM Eric Hansen  - 47 Min
Endgames & Middlegame Exercises | Grandmaster's Choice - GM Yuniesky Quesada - 66 Min
Akobian at the 2014 Olympiad | Mastering the Middlegame - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 37 Min
My Great Middlegames of 1987 & 1988 - GM Ben Finegold - 41 Min
Ben's Wild European Days | Mastering the Middlegame - GM Ben Finegold - 43 Min
Thanksgiving Open Middlegames - GM Ben Finegold  - 45 Min

Game Videos (Emphasis On Middle-game Plans)

Developing a Plan in the Early Middlegame | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. trhdude (1844) - 31 MIN

Middlegame Strategy of Anatoly Karpov by GM Ben Finegold  - 50 min - Analysis of 3 of Karpov's games

"Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do." - Savielly Tartakower

Updated London Page

 Just Cleaned Up , Organized, and Updated  The London Opening page on the Sidebar.

          - Added some New Guides and Articles
          - Added New Opening Lesson Video Playlist (From GM Aman Hambleton)
          - Added links to The Chessgames.com and 365Chess pages of London games
          - Added Some New Annotated game Videos  and 2 Playlists of  70+ Annotated Game Videos

          -  Added Highlighted Links To The Following Pages There Now
          -  Link  To Jobava London Opening Page 
          -  Link To Anti-London Page 

The Devious Decoy Tactic: A Comprehensive Guide

 

The Decoy Tactic:
 A Masterful Way to Lure Your Opponent

Sharpen your chess arsenal with the art of the decoy!

This comprehensive guide equips you with valuable resources to master this deceptive tactic. Explore articles, puzzles, video lessons, and real game examples to identify decoy opportunities, calculate variations, and outsmart your opponents.

The Decoy Tactic in Action:

• Lure the Big Guns: You aim to tempt your opponent's most valuable pieces, like the king or queen, away from their safe zone.

• Sacrifice Smartly: You offer a less valuable piece, often a pawn, to create an attractive target for your opponent.

• Snap the Trap: Once your opponent takes the bait, their captured piece becomes exposed, creating an opening for an attack.

• Exploit the Weakness: This attack can take many forms, like a fork, pin, skewer, or even checkmate!

• Calculated Advantage: You need to think strategically and consider different scenarios to ensure your sacrifice leads to a clear benefit.

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Decoy Chess Articles

Introduction to Chess Tactics: Decoys - Chess Strategy Online Article - This article provides a good overview of the decoy tactic, including how to identify opportunities to use it and how to calculate the consequences of a decoy sacrifice. 5 Example Problems at the end.

Tactics 101: Devious Decoy Sacrifices – Baiting the Wins - Real Nice Article w/ Different Piece Decoy Explanations and examples.

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Decoy LiChess Studies

Sharpen your tactical vision with these exceptional Lichess studies on the decoy tactic!

• Learning About Decoys - 7 Chapter Interactive Study
  
  
• Decoy - 21 Chapter Study with Lessons and Problems (Very Nice!)
  
  
• Tactics by motif 2: Decoy - 64 Chapter Interactive Study - Amazing Study (Decoys from 30 Famous Games and another 34 Examples all for you to practice interactively)
  
  
• Decoys - NM Ralph Tan - 12 Chapter Study - All Decoys from actual Games.

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Games Databases

Chessgames.com

These collections of games from Chessgames.com features games where a decoy tactic was used to win the game. Studying these games can help you see how decoy tactics are used in practical play.

• Decoy - 106 Game Collection 
  
  
• TACTICS. DECOY 39 Game Collection 
  

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Decoy Chess Video Lessons

Decoys: Dupe the Defender | Beginner Breakdown - NM Ralph Tan - 58 Min - St.Louis Chess Club -  a chess class on decoys. A decoy is a tactic that lures an enemy piece off its square and away from its defensive role.

Chess Tactics: Decoy - 9 Min - TheChessWebsite - in-depth explanation of the decoy tactic in chess, which involves luring an opponent’s piece to a disadvantageous square, often through sacrifice. The presenter, Kevin from thechesswebsite.com, demonstrates various scenarios where decoys can be effectively used to gain material advantage or to expose the opponent’s king to a mating pattern.

Chess lesson # 38: Decoy vs Deflection | Chess tactics with National Master Robert Ramirez - 9 Min - In this video, National Master Robert Ramirez explains the chess tactics of deflection and decoy. He clarifies the differences between the two, provides examples, and demonstrates how to practice these tactics. Deflection involves distracting a defender to achieve an objective, while a decoy lures an opponent’s piece into a disadvantageous position.

Trapping your Opponent with a Decoy | Chess Tactics | Improver Level | IM Kostya Kavutskiy - 9 Min - a lesson on the decoy tactic in chess, explaining its distinction from deflection and demonstrating its application through classic game examples. He emphasizes the importance of observation skills in identifying decoys and provides tips for spotting such tactics in play.

28 Days To Better Chess Tactics - Day 21 - Decoy Attacking Chess - 7 Min - provides insights into advanced chess tactics focusing on the decoy technique. It features three positions from famous games, demonstrating how to use decoys to gain a tactical advantage. The presenter explains each position, highlighting the importance of forcing moves and the consequences of different decisions.

Chess Tactics, Decoy, Examples - 5 Min

Secrets of Chess Tactics | Decoy Tactic Stunningly beautiful secrets revealed | Everything you need! - 30 Min - Kingcrusher - delves into the intricacies of chess tactics, specifically focusing on the decoy tactic. It provides definitions, distinguishes between decoy and deflection, and presents numerous examples from chess history to illustrate the tactic’s effectiveness. 

"The decoy is one of the chief tricks in the tactics of chess." - Max Euwe