Modern Defense (B06): Unleash a Flexible and Dynamic Opening for Black!

  

The Modern Defense 
 A Dynamic Chess Opening for Black

• Flexible and strategic: Fight for the center without directly contesting it.

• Active piece play: Fianchetto the dark-squared bishop for quick development.

• Solid pawn structure: Build a strong foundation for dynamic play.

• Effective against 1. e4 or 1. d4: Adaptable to White's opening moves.
  

• This post is your launchpad to explore the Modern Defense! We've curated a collection of resources to help you understand its concepts, sharpen your skills, and elevate your chess game.

Modern Defense Wikipedia Page

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BOOKS (Free)

Short & Sweet: The Modern Defense - FREE Chessable Course -This concise course by CM Vjekoslav Nemec offers 22 trainable variations with 2 hours of free video MoveTrainer® instruction. It's the perfect starting point for players new to the Modern Defense.

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Modern Defense Chess Articles 

Equip Yourself with Modern Defense Knowledge: Dive deep into the fascinating world of the Modern Defense with this curated selection of articles! We've gathered resources for players of all levels, from foundational concepts explored in comprehensive guides to strategic insights from renowned chess masters. 

The Ideas Behind the Modern Defence - ( Exeter Chess Club ) - This comprehensive article delves into the core strategic principles behind the Modern Defense, laying a strong foundation for your understanding.

5 Reasons to Play Modern Defense -  ( WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos ) - Discover the key benefits of wielding the Modern Defense in your chess arsenal, making it a compelling choice for Black players.

Strike Back Now With the Modern Defense - ichess.net -This extensive guide by iChess.net serves as a one-stop shop for beginners. It offers a complete overview of the Modern Defense with embedded videos, making it an excellent starting point.

Modern Defense Chess Opening – Deep Dive with GM Damian Lemos - Take a deeper dive with Grandmaster Damian Lemos in this iChess.net article. With video analysis included, this resource provides detailed exploration of the Modern Defense for intermediate players.

How to Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses – GM Fabien Libiszewski - Learn winning strategies from Grandmaster Fabien Libiszewski! This iChess.net article explores both the Pirc and Modern Defenses, offering valuable insights for Black players looking to expand their repertoire.

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Modern Defense LiChess Studies

• Modern Defense - 15 Chapter Study (One of the Nicer ones)  (626 hearts) - Different Variations, Common Traps and a few Model games.
  
  
• The Modern Defense - 16 Chapter Study - Different Variations Shown
  
  
• Reference games - BLACK - B06 Modern Defense  -  64 Chapter Study  - All 0-1 Games (No Annotations)

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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Modern Defense Chess Puzzles
Test your tactical vision and put your knowledge of the Modern Defense into practice with these engaging puzzles. 

WTHarvey.com

Chess puzzles from the Robatsch (ECO B06) - 9 Tactics Puzzles - Get started with a set of tactical problems focusing on the Robatsch (ECO B06) variation.

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Robatsch Defense -  69 Puzzles - Dive deeper into the Robatsch variation with a dedicated set of tactical challenges specifically tailored to this sub-opening.

Modern Defense - 13,749 Modern Puzzles -Deepen your understanding with a vast collection of Modern Defense puzzles categorized by variations, allowing you to focus on specific areas of your game.  (Broken into 13 Variations on Main Puzzle Page)  

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Games Databases

365Chess.com

B06: Robatsch (modern) defence 1. e4 g6  -  54,000 Games   


B06 Sub-variants:

• Robatsch (modern) defence                                  Main Line 53901 Games

• 1. e4 g6

• Norwegian defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. g4 Ng7                    3 Games

• Robatsch (modern) defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7                                                 Main Line

• Robatsch defence, three pawns attack

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4                                        1979 Games

• Robatsch defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3                                     2951 Games

• Robatsch defence, Gurgenidze variation

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5      1142 Games

• Robatsch (modern) defence

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6                                 Main Line

• Robatsch defence, two knights variation

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3                          7793 Games

• Robatsch defence, two knights, Suttles variation  

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6                  2844 Games

• Robatsch defence, Pseudo-Austrian attack

• 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4                          7172 Games

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• Chessgames.com

• Robatsch (B06)   - 72 Annotated games

• Modern Defence - 10 Games with Different Plans in the Modern

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• Modern Defense Video Lessons

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• Modern Defense Opening Theory - 5 Video Playlist -  Hanging Pawns (Almost 2 hrs)
  Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! -6 Video Playlist  - Chess Giant (New - 6/4/24)
  
  

• Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! - 23 Min - Chess Giant 
  
  Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense with …a6!!!! - 28 Min - Chess Giant - In this video, we look over some of the most dangerous concepts in chess openings for black including the Modern Defense, Pirc Defense, Czech Pirc Defense, and Hippopotamus Defense. These openings may be slightly different, but have many similarities in terms of overall chess opening ideas, chess opening strategy, and chess opening principles.
  
  How To Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses - GM Fabien Libiszewski - 29 Min - In this video, Grandmaster and opening theoretician Fabien Libiszewski explores the many tactical opportunities and strategic plans available to Black in the Pirc and Modern defenses. It is a free preview of his brand new 8-hour in-depth training designed to give you a lifetime repertoire for Black.
  
  MODERN DEFENSE - GURGENIDZE VARIATION - 20 Min - Introduction to the Modern Defense - Gurgenidze Variation. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6. Learn how to play with Black pieces against e4 opening. Winning with the Modern Defense.
  
  TOP Opening TRAPS | 🔥🔥 | Hikaru Modern Defense 2021 - 5 Min - Black's set-up: Gurgenidze variation g7-g6 ,Bg7 with c7-c6 and d7-d5- Modern Defence Hybrid between Modern Defense and Caro-Kann where you can set opening traps early on for White. Win quickly with Black following online chess superstar GM Hikaru Nakamura.
  
  Beat the London system | Burn it down with the modern defense! - 19 Min - With all the talking and praising for the white side of the London System over the last years, it´s time to try to take it apart with black. And what better way to do it than simply using my favourite Modern Defense
  
  Beat the Jobava London with the Pirc/Modern Defense  - 17 Min - Last time i showed how to beat the traditional London system with the modern defense, and since then i found out that white often tries to counter my idea by using the Jobava system in the london, so today i bring you an antidote against that as well
  
  The Modern Defense | Play the modern by Shirov with ...c6 - 30 Min - Continuing with my favourite Modern defenses, here´s the one Shirov used to play regularly, making ...d6 and then the more unusual...c6, often with the idea of expanding the queen side pawns.
  
  The Modern Defense, Tartakower variation ( or the rat) - 30 Min - This opening was my bread and butter when i started playing chess, and it is now one that i still play and i do so with both colors. The interesting thing for me is to show you my whole story with it, playing it at first with black for more than 7 years, and after that resolving what to do against it with white. Enjoy!
  
  

• Play Against The Modern Lessons

• Universal Killer Attack vs Modern & Pirc!! - 13 Min IM Perunovic - Presents a chess strategy known as the Universal Killer Attack, which is effective against both the Modern and Pirc defenses. 
  
  Beat Modern Defense as White: Chess Opening Secrets - 3 Min - Coach Kestony - Discover the ultimate strategies to Beat Modern Defense in chess with this in-depth guide. Offers detailed insights and tactics for chess players looking to improve their opening game when playing as White. Learn how to gain an advantage from the start and outmaneuver your opponent in the Modern Defense opening
  
  Super Fast Analysis on Crushing The Modern Defense!! - 7 Min - IM Pernuovic
  
  
  GM Naroditsky - Naroditsky - Modern Defense - 6 Video playlist

Master Class | Crushing The Modern Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 23 Min

CRUSHING the Modern Defense | Caro-Kann, Gurgenidze System | GM Naroditsky’s Theory Speed Run - 60 Min 

Beginner To Master | Chess Speedrun | C3 Vs Modern (Saragossa) | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 22 Min

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• Modern defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)

• Playlists

• Pirc and Modern Defence  -  113 Video playlist  - kingscrusher - Famous and Instructive Games with detailed analysis

Modern Defense   - 13 Video Playlist  - Jozarovs Chess Channel - Famous and Engine Games w/ analysis

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• GM Moulthun Ly 

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  When To Blow Open The Centre | Pirc/Modern Defence | Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 13 Min - Key Takeaways: - Again value the Bishop pair even if the position is not yet fully open - Look for chances to open the centre especially if the opponents king is yet to
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  Preparing A Queenside Attack | Modern Defence | GM Moulthun Ly - 22 Min - Key Takeaways: - A fairly easy attacking setup for Black in this opening is to meet 0-0-0 with a c6-b5-Nd7-Qa5-Nb6 followed by Be6-Rb8-Nc4 attacking ideas - Delay your kingside knight development to stop Bh6 - Go for quick queenside counter play before White attacks on the kingside
  
  Spotting Weaknesses and Setting Up a Queen Trap | Modern Defence | Rapid Training Game - 28 Min -
  
  Unleashing Your Dark-Squared Bishop | Modern Defence Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 7 Min - Hi guys, in this series we will do a speed run from Beginner all the way to Master explaining my thoughts along the way.
  
  
  

• GM Bok vs GM Hikaru | Modern Defense | Blitz Chess - 5 Min - GM Benjamin Bok
  
  Extremely Violent Modern Defense Caused The Fire On Board - 11 Min - Chess School - Ivan Sokolov vs Tiger Hillarp Persson Koge op 1997, DEN, rd 7 Modern Defense: Standard Defense (B06)
  
  Modern Defence : Aggressive Pawn Structure : Molina vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Gibraltar 2012 - 20 Min

• THE BEEF EATER | Epic Opening for Black - 42 Min  GothamChess   (Plays 3 Games of this Variation)

• Magnus Carlsen plays the Modern Defence going into the Hippo || vs Kovachev 2003 - 9 Min

• Leela doesn't mind living dangerously | Stockfish vs Leela | Modern Defense - Averbakh System - 22 Min

• Modern Defence: Sokolov vs Shirov France 1994 - 7 Min

• Austrian Exchange Sac Brilliancy || Jovanovic vs Rapport || Modern Defence - 12 Min

• Positional masterpiece in Modern Defence: Schaufelberger vs Ljubojevic - 5 Min

• Amazing Chess Game: Wei Yi vs Magnus Carlsen : Bilbao (2016) · Modern Defense: (B06) - 21 Min

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Unleash the Power of Passed Pawns (Chess Strategy)

 

Mastering Passed Pawns:
 From Creation to Promotion

This comprehensive guide equips you with everything you need to learn about passed pawns in chess.

 Learn how to create passed pawns from various positions, protect them effectively, and ultimately convert them into unstoppable queens!

 Passed Pawn Wikipedia Page

What is a Passed Pawn?

In chess, a passed pawn is a pawn that has advanced beyond all of the opponent's pawns and has no enemy pawns on either the same file (vertical line) or adjacent files blocking its path to promotion.

Imagine a clear path ahead, with no enemy pawns to stop it. That's a passed pawn!

Why are Passed Pawns Important?

Passed pawns are valuable because they have a strong chance of being promoted to a powerful queen. Since only your opponent's pieces can hinder your pawn's progress, a passed pawn with proper support can be a game-winning advantage in the endgame.

Types of Passed Pawns:

There are various types of passed pawns, each with its own strategic considerations. Here are a few examples you might encounter:

• Isolated Passed Pawn: Stands alone on a file with no friendly pawns nearby.
• Connected Passed Pawns: Two or more passed pawns standing side-by-side on adjacent files.
• Outside Passed Pawns: Located on the "a" or "h" file (farthest from the king), often requiring special strategies.
  
  

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Passed Pawn Chess Articles

Dive deeper into passed pawn concepts with these insightful articles.

• Creating a Passed Pawn from a Pawn Majority -  Article showing Several ways of going about it.
  
  
• The Mighty Connected Passed Pawns - Nice Article
  
  
• Pushing Passed Pawns - Chess Improver Article
  
  
• Outside Passed Pawn (1) - Chess Improver Article
  
  

The Wayback Machine: Your Ally in Chess History

While some classic chess resources may disappear from the internet, their wisdom lives on! Here, we delve into archived articles.

Silmans Opening Archive Articles
Opening Analysis - Beating the Dragon - Karel van der Weide
Combating the Sicilian Dragon - IM Andrew Martin
Levenfish Attack - IM Andrew Martin
Dragon Forever - IM Andrew Martin
ACCELERATED DRAGON (UOGELE VARIATION) - IM John Donaldson
ACCELERATED DRAGON (NON-MAROCZY)
MAIN LINE WITH 11…Qh5 - IM John Donaldson & Silman
Accelerated Dragon Marcozy Bind - Jeremy Silman

How to Beat a Grandmaster - IM Timothy Taylor
Part 1 - Accelerated Dragon Marcozy Bind
Part 2 - Accelerated Dragon Marcozy Bind
Part 3 - Accelerated Dragon Marcozy Bind

ChessCafe Articles
The Yugoslav Attack - 13 Page Article By IM Gary Lane
Traps in the Dragon - IM Gary Lane
The Sicilian Dragon: Yugoslav Attack (B 78) - Informant @ Chesscafe

Remember:

The Wayback Machine is a powerful tool for accessing historical chess content. Utilize it to unearth hidden gems and enrich your chess knowledge!

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Passed Pawn Lichess Studies

These interactive Lichess studies provide the perfect platform to transform your passed pawns into unstoppable queens. Through engaging exercises, you'll:

• Sharpen your vision: Learn to identify passed pawns in various positions.
• Craft winning strategies: Practice techniques to protect and advance your passed pawns.
• Master endgame conversion: Dominate the endgame by promoting your passed pawns into powerful queens.
• Test your understanding: Challenge yourself with a variety of passed pawn scenarios.

• Passed Pawn Practice - 16 Chapter Interactive Study
  
  
• Pawn Structure 2 - 25 Chapter Study (Nice in-depth Study)
  
  
• Passed Pawns: Reassess your chess - 25 chapter Study (Lot of info from Silman's Book)
  
  
• Chess Homework Passed Pawns - 23 Chapter Study - Nice Study of Passed Pawn exercises.
  
  

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

Witness Passed Pawns in Action: Explore Real Game Examples

Chessgames.com (Game Collections)

• THE POWERFUL PASSED PAWNS - 37 Games 
  
  
• Passed Pawns - 190 Games 
  
  

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Passed Pawn Lesson Videos

GM Johan Hellsten (U.S. Chess School) (These are Gold)
Discusses the strategic and tactical aspects of passed pawns in chess, using examples from his own games and famous matches. He emphasizes the importance of advancing passed pawns, removing their defenders, and the role of other pieces in supporting pawn promotion. 

• Passed Pawns - Part 1 | U.S. Chess School - 71 Min - GM Johan Hellsten delivers a lecture focusing on the idea of passed pawns w/ 8 examples.
• Passed Pawns Part 2 | U.S. Chess School - 73 Min - GM Johan Hellsten delivers the second part of a lecture focusing on the idea of passed pawns w/ 9 examples.

Passed Pawns: What to Do? | Secret Life of Pawns - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 36 Min - Shows his game against Vietnamese GM Nguyen from the 2017 World Rapid Championship. See the crucial moments in this game where passed pawns were the focal point.

The Passed Pawn is Making a Run for It! | Secret Life of Pawns - GM Denes Boros - 50 Mins - Grandmaster Denes Boros shows strong games, including his own, where a passed pawn sealed a victory.

Outside Passed Pawns

Creating An Outside Passed Pawn in Chess | GM Alex Ipatov - 8 Min

Outside Passed Pawn Explained in 7 minutes! - Daily Lesson with a GM 295 - 7 Min  - Learn why outside passed pawns are a decisive advantage in King and Pawn Endgames. GM Gabuzyan breaks down all the fundamentals you need to know about such pawns in this chess lesson.

Winning Techniques to Stop the Outside Passed Pawns | Intermediate Level | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 7 Min - You will learn different methods how to stop the pawn promotion if the opponent's passed pawn is located on the a- or h-file.

Connected Passed Pawns

How to handle connected Passed Pawns in Bishop Endgames? | Intermediate Level | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 18 Min -  IM Andrey Ostrovskiy will teach you how to play with and against two connected passed pawns in the opposite colored bishop endgame.
A Subtle Way to Create Connected Passed Pawns - Daily Lesson with a GM 361 - 7 Min - GM Avetik shows how you can create connected passed pawns by sacrificing material at the right time.

Passed Pawn Endgames

Rook & Passed Pawn Endgames - Endgames for Tournament Players - 23 Min - St.Louis CC - Learn how to enforce your passed Pawn by placing your Rook behind it.

Understanding Passed Pawns | Principles of Chess Endgames | GM Naroditsky - 54 Min - After clarifying the definition, we consider the various ways of creating passed pawns, and identify five special types of passers that frequently occur in pawn endgames.
Crush your Opponents With Passed Pawns in the Endgame! - GM Roman Dzindzichashvili - 20 Min - we learn about how to create passed pawns in the endgame. We also see how we can attempt to stop our opponent from doing the same thing.

Pawn Breakthroughs

Pawn Breakthroughs - GM Ben Finegold - 42 Min - Grandmaster Ben Finegold guides you through a jungle of tied-up pawns. How do we untangle this mess and break through with a powerful passed pawn? Sacrifices, king position, and more...

What a Pawn Wants, What a Pawn Needs | The Secret Life of Pawns - GM Yasser Seirawan - 35 Min -  shows examples of increasingly difficult pawn breakthroughs. Even when the position looks perfectly symmetrical there are ways to get a passed pawn.

Pawn Races & Breakthroughs - FM Aviv Friedman - 46 Min - Using a variety of compositions and games, Aviv refines our knowledge of Pawn sacrifices (to create passed Pawns) and King opposition.

Vienna Gambit (C25) Opening Theory

Vienna Gambit Resources

1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4

This is a gambit in which white sacrifices a pawn to gain bold control over the center of the board. The Vienna Gambit gains a slow advantage over time.

C29 Sub-variants:

Vienna gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 

Vienna gambit, Kaufmann variation1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Qe2 

Vienna gambit, Breyer variation1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Be7

Vienna gambit, Paulsen attack 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 

Vienna gambit, Bardeleben variation1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5

Vienna gambit, Heyde variation 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. d4 

Vienna gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 

Vienna gambit, Wurzburger trap 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3 Qh4+ 6. g3 Nxg3 7. Nf3 Qh5 8. Nxd5

Vienna gambit, Steinitz variation1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. d3

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Vienna Gambit Articles

Never accept the Vienna Gambit! - (2 Annotated Games)
Dangerous Chess Openings: The Vienna Gambit - Nice Article By GM Illingworth
The Vienna Gambit with 5.Qf3 at the Alrick Man - Kenilworth Chess Club Article (2 Annotated games)
The Critical Line of the Vienna Gambit - Kenilworth Chess Club (Annotated Torre vs Marshall Game)
Complete Tournament Games and Vienna Gambit Analysis - Kenilworth CC - (9 Annotated games)
How To Play The Vienna Gambit - A Complete Guide For Beginners - Chess.com Article w/embedded Video lesson

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Vienna Gambit LiChess Studies

Vienna • Ideas: Intro - Part 1 (7 Chapter Study)The goal of this study is to get you started quickly by presenting 5 crucial lines you will face and the general ideas behind them.
Vienna Gambit • Deepdive: Gambit Accepted - Part 2 (23 Chapter Study Interactive)
Interactive Lesson - The Vienna Gambit - 9 Chapter Study (1900 hearts)
Vienna Gambit Masterclass - 64 Chapter Study (Super In-depth) (100 hearts)
Vienna Gambit • Deepdive - 25 Chapter Interactive Study (45 hearts)

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Games Databases

Chessgames.com

Vienna Gambit (C29) 1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 f4 - 1664 Games In Database 
Vienna Gambit (C29) - 19 Annotated games

365chess.com

C29: Vienna gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 - 2896 Games Broken into Sub Varients

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Vienna Gambit Video Lessons

Lessons
WIN WITH 1. E4 | The Vienna Gambit - 25 Min IM Rozman
Win With 1.e4, Aggressive Chess Opening | Vienna Gambit - 18 Min - Gm Igor Smirnov

Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Vienna Gambit! - 16 Min Chess Giant

How to Play The Vienna Gambit | Grandmaster Repertoire - 32 Min GM Moulthun Ly
Vienna Gambit | Win 90% of your games! (Probably) - 8 Min Earl Haig Chess Club
Chess Openings: Vienna Gambit - Forgotten but Tricky!! - 28 Min IM Miodrag Perunovic

Black Play Against The Vienna Gambit
How to WIN against the VIENNA GAMBIT - 20 Min - IM Alex Astaneh
How to defeat the Vienna Gambit as black! - 7 Min NM Nelson Lopez

Game Videos

Vienna Gambit - 55 Video playlist- kingscrusher (Famous games)

Vienna Gambit || Bobby Fischer vs Steven Morrison || Simul 1964 - 11 MinOhhh! Vienna Gambit! Classical game analysis 3# - 12 Min
Master Class | Vienna Gambit | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 23 Min
Master Class | GM's Blunder Too, Vienna Gambit | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 25 Min
Schallopp vs. Gossip | Vienna Gambit - FM Aviv Friedman - 41 Min

Ruy Lopez (Birds Defense) (C61) - Chess Opening Theory

Ruy Lopez (Spanish) Birds Defense Resources

3....Nd4 - Bird's Defence
This variation from black is an attempt to avoid having the pinned knight which can be a bit of a problem for black. White now should exchange off the knight by playing 4. Nxd4 exd4

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4

BOOKS (Free)

The Modenized Ruy Lopez  Vol 1 A Complete Repertoire for White - 18 Page (Chap. 2 Birds)  PDF
500 Ruy Lopez Miniatures By Bill Wall  - 122 Page PDF
Easy Guide to Ruy Lopez by John Emms  - 74 Page PDF

Ruy Lopez (Birds Defense) Articles

Bird's Defense Bibliography (C61) - at the Kenilworthian Chess Club  
Huge amount of info and resources pointed at this opening 2008.) 
Ruy Lopez Bird's Defense (C61) Update - (Updated Info from Kenilworthian)  

Bird Defense Opening Theory   by NM Dana Mackenzie
6 Part Lesson
Bird by Bird Part 1
Bird by Bird Part 2
Bird by Bird Part 3A
Bird by Bird Part 3B
Bird by Bird Part 4
(Sunday Morning Analysis) - More Analysis on B by B Pt 3

Ruy Lopez (Birds Defense) LiChess Study

Easy Guide to the Ruy Lopez - 10 Chapters

Games Databases

Chessgames.com

Ruy Lopez Bird Defence Games - 872 Games
Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense (C61) - 3 Annotated Games

365Chess.com

C61: Ruy Lopez, Bird's defence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 - 2400+ Games

Chess Puzzles by Opening

C61 - Bird Defence - 10 Puzzles  ( Work on those Opening Tactics )

Annotated Games

Adolf Anderssen - Max Lange, Breslau 1859 - 2 Page .Pdf Annotated move by move
Tudev Ujtumen (IM) vs. Anatoly Lein (IM) - 

Ruy Lopez (Birds Defense) Chess Video Lessons

Anderssen vs Lang - 5 Min 
Bird's Defense: Ruy Lopez Chess Opening - 12 Min
Mastering the Spanish (Ruy Lopez) - Bird Defence - 12 Min
A Short Romance - The Bird Variation (Ruy Lopez) - 14 Min GM Hansen

Birds Defense Chess Trap Videos

Spanish Bird Variation - The Birdsnathcer (trap no. 143) - 5 Min
Chess Gambit for Black that I LOVE (Against the Bird's Defense) - 8 Min NM  Lei

Birds Defense Game Videos w/analysis

Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense: Grandmaster Leonid Shamkovich vs Bruce Carlley - 4 Min
LIVE Blitz Chess Commentary #163: Ruy Lopez - Bird's Defense - 12 Min
Gata Kamsky vs Vassily Ivanchuk (C61 Ruy Lopez Bird's Defence Tilburg - 8 Min
Ruy Lopez: Samuel Standidge Boden vs Henry Edward Bird - 6 Min  Chess School

PGN Game Downloads

Ruy Lopez Bird Defence - 602 Games (Via Univ. Of Pitt Archives)

Back Rank Weakness - Chess Tactic

Backrank Weakness:
The Most Common Chess Checkmate You NEED to Master!

This comprehensive guide equips you with the knowledge and resources to exploit and defend against a critical chess concept: the back rank weakness.

Why Learn Back Rank Weakness?

• Master the Most Common Checkmate:Backrank mates are the single most prevalent checkmate on chess training platforms like LiChess, with a staggering 94,250 problems compared to just 19,000 for all other checkmate themes combined.
  
  
• Sharpen Your Mating Skills: Learning to identify and exploit backrank weaknesses equips you to deliver swift checkmates and dominate the game.
  
  
• Fortify Your Defenses: Understanding BackRank threats empowers you to build a secure home for your king, preventing similar attacks from your opponent.
  
  
• Essential First Step: Mastering backrank weakness is a critical foundation for any chess player looking to improve their tactical prowess.

Your One-Stop Back Rank Weakness Chess Resource Hub!

Wikipedia Back Rank CheckMate Page 

 General Knowledge and info

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Backrank Weakness Chess Articles

• A Common Tactic - The Back Rank Problem - Lesson On the USCF Site by Susan Polgar - Master the basics from a chess legend.
  
  
• CHECKMATE PATTERNS: THE BACK RANK MATE - PawnBreak Article
  
  
• Back-Rank Mate - Chess.com - Explore the definition, explanation, and examples of back rank mates.
  
  
• Back-Rank Mate – Checkmate Patterns - Short Article w/ couple examples and talks about prevention.
  

Predator at the Chessboard - (54 Pages Total)
Deep-Dive

•  The Back Rank Mate Simple Cases. - 6 pages of Simple Cases (beginner)
•  The Back Rank Mate - Interpositions - 6 Pages of Interpositions - Here is a different problem to consider: he may be able to interpose a piece on the back rank, sticking it between your attacker and his king. Sometimes such interpositions will derail your plans; sometimes they won’t. 
  
•  The Back Rank Mate - Sealing off King Flight Square - 6 Pages
•  The Back Rank Mate - Drawing Defenders Forward - 5 Pages - When the enemy king’s position is well-fortified a sacrifice may be needed to loosen it up.
  The Back Rank Mate - The Role of the Bishop I: Pinning Defenders. -
• The Back Rank Mate - The Role of the Bishop I: Pinning Defenders. - 5 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - The Role of the Bishop II: Preventing a Recapture. - 4 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - The Role of the Bishop III: Driving Back the King - 7 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - Applying Pressure up Close - 9 Pages - The same technique we have been studying can work well up close: your bishop or queen makes a capture on f7 or an equivalent square in front of the king. Since your capturing piece has protection the king must retreat, leaving it unable to defend itself and resulting in mate.
  
• The Back Rank Mate - Combining Back rank Themes w/ Forks - 4 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - Combining Back rank Themes w/ Discoveries - 4 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - Combining Back rank Themes w/ Pins - 3 Pages
• The Back Rank Mate - Combining Back rank Themes w/ Removal of the Guard - 5 Pages

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Backrank Puzzles

• 20 Back Rank Problems & Exercises  - Printable PDF
  
  
• 29 Back Rank Mate Examples from Games - Games from Alekhine ,Bird and even Polgar
  
  
• Back Rank Mates. - 8 Page PDF -  20 Detailed Examples - w/ 9 Tests and 9 Exercises

Lichess Blog

(Breaking Down the Back rank Mates into Specific types of Tactics Used)
Back Rank mate (Using X-Ray Tactic)  -  7 Puzzles 
BackRank Mate - (Queen Sac, Bishop - Rook Combo) -  12 Puzzles 
BackRank Mate (Double and Single Knight helper) - 13 Puzzles
Back Rank mate (Bishop Helper)  - 16 Puzzles
BackRank Mate - (Queen Sac, Knight - Rook Combo)  - 6 Puzzles
Back Rank mate (Attacking the a or h File)   -  8 Puzzles
Back Rank mate (Unpinning your Rook to Mate) - 7 Puzzles
Back Rank mate (High Level Puzzles)  - 17 Puzzles    (2200 - 2650 Rated Assorted Puzzles)

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Backrank 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.

• Back Rank Mates  - 24 Chapters - 6 Lessons of Different types of Backrank mate w/ 19 puzzles
  
  
• Back rank weakness: - 32 Chapter - 32 Puzzles to solve
  
  
• Back Rank Combination - 33 Chapters - 33 back rank positions

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BackRank Chess Video Lessons

Back Rank Mate - 16 Video playlist - Chessbase India (Lessons and Games)


Understanding Back Rank Checkmates | How to Spot & Exploit Back Rank Weaknesses? - 32 Min -  Covering the topic of back rank mates from the beginner level going up to the intermediate level. The video covers five powerful techniques that one must learn in order to successfully deliver back rank checkmates or gain tremendous advantage in the game because of weaknesses in the back rank. To make these techniques, easy to understand and get a through practice of the same, each of these 5 techniques is explained with the help of 5 examples taken from the games of players who played in the tournament. That means, you will get to learn from 25 different chess positions.

Learn tactics around the Back Rank | Chess Tactics 101 - 14 Min - shows Motif plus 5 guess the move type problems to solve.

Back Rank Mate Concepts + Intermediate/Advanced Exercises To Test Your Knowledge Of This Tactic -  15 Min  NM Nelson Lopez

Grandmaster Lesson 3 - 6 Min - GM Lev Alburt (Examines a weak back rank) Real Old Video - is aimed at players ready for ideas that are a bit more complex. Alburt examines the problem of a weak back rank and the tactic that often capitalizes on this weakness—deflection. Alburt also discusses good and bad double attacks and points out that sacrifices require concrete calculation-visualization at every step. He teaches some of the red flags that indicate when and where to look for tactics,

Learn Tactics #7: Back-rank Mate - 73 Min WIM Jesse February - WIM Jesse February discusses the concept of back-rank checkmates in chess, using examples from recent and historical games. includes a detailed analysis of specific chess positions where back-rank checkmates are a key factor, and Jesse provides insights into the thought processes behind certain moves.

 Back Rank Checkmates: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold-50 Min - a lecture on back rank checkmates, explaining the concept and demonstrating it through various examples and puzzles.

Trent's Tactics - Back-rank checkmate - 41 Min  IM Trent Lawrence - In this episode, Lawrence will show us different tactics about the back-rank mate. And even though we know the motif now, some of the examples which Lawrence picked are still very challenging!

Master Back-Rank- Mates with IM Sopiko Guramishvili - 14 Min - he most typical checkmate with rooks, very common in amateur and master games alike. Many teachers advice, with reason, to don't move the pawns in front of your castle, to avoid creating weaknesses around the king. But this leads to different types of back-rank mates.

St. Louis Chess Club  Video Lessons

• Back-Rank Checkmate - Beginner Breakdown - 2014.06.17  - 42 Min -  a lecture for chess beginners on how to recognize, avoid and execute back-rank checkmate.
• Exploring Back-Rank Checkmate - GM Yasser Seirawan - 2013.07.31 - 39 Min - explores the idea of back-rank check mate in an intermediate-level
• Combinations on the Back Rank | Puzzler's Paradise - IM Vitaly Neimer - 34 Min - goes over increasingly complicated combinations that attack the back rank.
• Find the Under-Defended Back Rank Weakness | Tactics Time! - 36 Min  - National Master Jim McLaughlin shows puzzles and positions from Siegbert Tarrasch that mainly deal with back-rank checkmates and attacks.
• Combinations | Beginner Breakdown - 62 Min - Alex Moellering discusses common mating combinations that exploit weaknesses on the back rank. Solve tactics with the mysterious masked Alex!