Friday, July 15, 2022

Clearance Chess Tactics Explained: A Guide to Devastating Sacrifices

 

A colorful Painted Image of the Back rank of a chess board in oranges and blacks.
"A sacrifice is a calculation, not a guess." - Emanuel Lasker

Master the Art of Making Way for Victory

Chess is a constant battle for control of the board. Sometimes, your own pieces can get in the way of a powerful attack. Enter the clearance sacrifice, a tactical weapon where you give up material to open lines and unleash your fury! Studying clearance tactics will sharpen your tactical vision and elevate your game. Here's your one-stop shop to master this skill!

Clearance Sacrifice: This tactical maneuver involves giving up a piece (pawn or minor piece) to vacate a square. This newly opened square often creates a critical line (file, diagonal, or rank) for your other pieces to launch a devastating attack on your opponent's king or key position.

Line Sacrifice: A specific type of clearance sacrifice where you give up material to open a specific file or diagonal. This newly opened line allows your rooks, queen, or bishop to dominate that line and potentially deliver checkmate or capture valuable enemy pieces.



BOOKS (Free)

Chess Tactics and Combinations - 84 Page PDF -Exeter Chess Club - This free 84-page resource by the Exeter Chess Club covers clearance sacrifices on page 33 . (Free)

Clearance Chess Articles

Chess Tactics Guide : Clearance Sacrifice - A clear and concise guide with 4 well-explained clearance sacrifice examples.

Games Databases

Clearance - 60 Games with a clearance Tactic (Chessgames.com)

Clearance Chess Puzzles


LiChess Puzzle Themes

Clearance Tactic - 53,000 Puzzles - Dive into a massive pool of over 53,000 clearance tactic puzzles on LiChess

Clearance LiChess Studies

Interactive Learning for Clearance Mastery

  • Clearance Sacrifice - 15 Chapters  This in-depth study  provides detailed instruction across 12 lessons, guiding you through gaining material and checkmates with clearance sacrifices. 3 tests at the end solidify your learning!

  • Line Clearance - 19 Chapters - Delve into the specific intricacies of line clearance tactics with this 19-chapter study. The first 3 chapters provide foundational theory, followed by a wealth of illustrative examples.

  • 557 - 620 CLEARANCE - 64 Chapters  (26 Clearance Puzzles and Rest Interference Puzzles)

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.

Clearance Tactic Video Lessons


Using Clearance Sacrifices to Improve Pieces - 30 Min Hanging Pawns - Giving up material in order to improve your position and make your pieces better.

Clearance In Chess | Chess Tactics - Line Clearance - 15 Min - Lesson on the deliberate sacrifice of material with the goal of "clearing" either a square or a line.

Chess Tactics #9: CLEARANCE ➡️ 5 Amazing Puzzles explained MOVE by MOVE - 7 Min FM Mederos - Sharpen your skills with FM Mederos as he guides you through 5 carefully chosen clearance tactic puzzles, explaining each move in detail.

How to find tactics in chess! --Clearance Sacrifice with 7 chess puzzles - 9 Min

Advanced Tactics : Clearance (5 Puzzles) - 10 Min

Line Blocking and Line Clearing in Chess | Chess Tactics - 8 Min IM Kavutskiy- delves into the concepts of line blocking and line clearing, illustrating them with tactical examples. This foundational knowledge is crucial for mastering clearance sacrifices.

Clearance In Chess | Chess Tactics - Line Clearance - 15 Min - 

Advance 22 - Clearance Sacrifice - 10 Min- Lesson w/ example and 2 Master games
Advance 23 - Clearance Sacrifice Practice - 6 Min - 3 master games

10 Levels of Tactics: The Clearance Sacrifice -  36 Min - Chess nerd - Let's not only learn but MASTER the Clearance Sacrifice with this Challenge for all levels! (New - 6/4/24)

Morpheus Academy ( Videos of live stream teaching kids Chess)

Examples from master play of the concepts of Square Clearance and Line as a powerful tactic.


Chess Diagnostic

Covers Clearance! advanced tactics. I cover the method to break down very complicated chess positions. I go really deep in these lessons to lay a foundation for further practice of more complicated chess puzzles and positions.


Game Videos w/ Analysis

Brilliant Clearance Sacrifice: Nepomuk vs Frohlich - Graz 1888 - 3 Min

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Magazines, Periodicals & Newsletters


Active and Archived Chess Magazines


Mechanics-institute-chess-room - Weekly Chess magazine (Active)

California Chess Journal - Archive with Back issues 45- 50 Pages Each (Started back up again in 2021) 

MACA Chess Horizons - Archives - Massachusetts Chess Assoc. (22 Back Issues most recent 2018)

Northwest Chess Magazine —  Archive of Chess News from Washington, Oregon and Idaho (Monthly from 1965 - 2021)

Swiss Chess Newspaper - 2000 - 2021 (Bimonthly Archive 45-50 page PDFs) All in German

California Chess Periodicals - Over 80 Chess Periodicals Listed here from 1960-2009
California Chess Articles from U.S. and World Chess Periodicals - 22 Magazines here from (1857 to Present)

Internet Archive Chess Magazines

Inside Chess 

(25 Dec 1989) - 46 Page PDF 
(22 Jan 1990) - 30 Page PDF  (5 Feb 1990) - 29 page PDF  (19 Feb 1990) - 27 Page PDF 
(5 March 1990) - 25 Page PDF  (19 March 1990)
(5 March 1990) - 25 Page PDF  (19 March 1990) - 25 page PDF 
(8 June 1992) - 25 page PDF  (20 July 1992) - 34 page PDF  (Tal Issue) 
(17 Aug 1992) - 26 Page PDF (Bobbys Back Issue)   (31 Aug 1992)  - 24 Page PDF
(14 Sept 1992) - 24 Page PDF (Fisher-Spassky II)   (12 Oct 1992) - 25 Page PDF
(8 March 1993) - 22 Page PDF   (19 April 1993) - 22 Page PDF

Modern-Chess-Issue-1 - 67 Page PDF    (2015)
British Chess Magazine - November 2015 issue - 56 Page PDF


Chess Mate January 1983 by Manuel Aaron (Ed) - 36 Page PDF
Chess India - June 1981 - 48 Page PDF

Chess Life 1959 -  204 Page PDF

50 Moves magazine - October 2015 issue - 102 page PDF
50 Moves magazine - December 2015 issue - 72 Page PDF

Chess Review 1934 (12 Issues)  - 279 Page PDF
Chess Review 1935 (12 Issues)  - 325 Page PDF
Chess Review 1936 (12 Issues)  - 321 Page PDF
Chess Review 1937 (12 issues)  - 320 Page PDF
Chess Review 1938 (12 Issues)  - 322 Page PDF
Chess Review 1939 (12 Issues)  -289 Page PDF

Chess Review 1940 (12 Issues)  - 229 Page PDF
Chess Review 1941 (12 Issues) - 261 Page PDF
Chess Review 1942 (12 issues) - 312 Page PDF
Chess Review 1943 12 Issues) - 456 Page PDF

Chess Review 1953 (12 Issues) - 432 page PDF
Chess Review 1954 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF
Chess Review 1955 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF
Chess Review 1959 (12 Issues) - 432 Page PDF

Larry Evans Teaches Chess - 75+ Chess articles from Chess Life from 1978-2007



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Sunday, July 10, 2022

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.

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.

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.

Modern Defense 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.

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)  


Games Databases

365Chess.com

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


B06 Sub-variants:

  • 1. e4 g6
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. g4 Ng7                    3 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7                                                 Main Line
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4                                        1979 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3                                     2951 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5      1142 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6                                 Main Line
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3                          7793 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6                  2844 Games
  • 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4                          7172 Games


  • Chessgames.com


  • Modern Defense Video Lessons

  • 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

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


  • 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

  • GM Moulthun Ly 




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Saturday, July 9, 2022

Decoding Pawn Breaks in Chess: A Complete Guide

 


Strategic Chess Maneuvers
Harnessing the Power of Pawn Breaks

Elevate your chess game with a deep dive into the art of pawn breaks. Uncover the strategic significance of these pivotal maneuvers and learn how to wield them effectively to seize control of the board. With expert insights, instructive articles, and engaging video lessons at your fingertips. Bishops Bounty Pawn Structures Page (Organized Links to Info On over 20 Pawn Structures)

Books (Free)

(Free Chessable Course)

Judit Polgar: Free Endgame Lesson #2 - 14 Variations on Pawn Breaks 


Pawn Break Chess Articles

Theory of Pawn Breaks Explained! - Article with 20Min Video Embedded

Typical Pawn Breaks: Ruining the Opponent’s Pawn Structure - Short Article

Pawn Break Prophylaxis  - Article showing a few Games

Pawn Breaks, part 1 -Chess.com Article By GM Magesh and GM Arun

Pawn Breaks -  Nice Article by NM Dana Mackenze

The powerful e5 Pawn break against the Benoni: using it as White, neutralizing it as Black - Huge Article on this Specific Pawn Break

Pawn Breaks - Detailed Guide w/ Embedded Video  - IM Igor Smirnov

Chess Pawn Break: Guide To Using Pawn Breaks in Chess  - Very nice Guide at The Chess Journal

Pawn Break LiChess Studies



Progressive Pawn-break Studies - In these progressive studies you are presented with a collection of positions where a forced pawn breakthrough is on the board.

First pawn to queen wins the game.
Pawn Breaks 1/4 - [Easy]: lichess.org/study/ddiidonk
Pawn Breaks 2/4 - [Medium]: lichess.org/study/i4sO9cTx
Pawn Breaks 3/4 - [Hard]: lichess.org/study/lT0Aao3u
Pawn Breaks 4/4 - [Extreme]: lichess.org/study/xKG6VGB8

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.

Pawn Break Video Lessons


NM Dan Heismith


Pawn Breakthroughs - GM Ben Finegold - 2014.12.23 - 41 Min - 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...

Chess Strategy: Pawn Breaks - 20 Min - IM Asaf Givon will help you better understand the theory of pawn breaks.

Everything You Need to Know About Pawn Breaks - 31 Min - Dr Can's Chess Clinic - An extensive strategic overview of pawn breaks. We discuss all major functions of pawn breaks by solving instructive examples.(New - 5/30/24)

Chess Fundamentals #4: Pawn Play - 1.5 hr - Im John Bartholomew - discuss key structural considerations (isolated pawns, doubled pawns, backward pawns, pawn breaks, "hooks")

Why Your Pawn Breaks Aren't Working - 4 Min - IM Max Illingworth - Discusses the importance of pawn structure and pawn breaks in chess, using a game from the Kasparov variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined as an example.

Jims Chess Channel 

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Middlegame pawn breaks - 52 Min - ChessBase Video Series - Figure out how to hold the tension in the middlegame, why to hold it, and how to break through with your pawns in the right moment.

Importance of Pawn breaks in Chess - 2.5 hr GM Ramesh - the importance of pawn breaks in chess, highlighting how they can open up positions and provide strategic advantages. It emphasizes the need for careful planning and understanding of the game’s dynamics to effectively utilize pawn breaks.


Pawn Breakthroughs | Principles of Chess Endgames | GM Naroditsky - 47 Min - the endgame master's arsenal: pawn breakthroughs. We examine the 10 most common type of breakthroughs in abstraction, and then put them into practice by analyzing several real-life examples.

Pawn Breaks - 34 Min  FM James Canty - Pawn Breaks and the importance of them! We look at a game, Loek Van Wely vs Thilo Kabisch

Specific Openings

Season 2 Pawn Break - Ruy Lopez - 53 Min FM James Canty - Jose Raul Capablanca vs Edward Lasker in 1913, with a Ruy Lopez.

Under 1400: Preventing Pawn Breaks in the Hedgehog, with NM Spencer Finegold - 58 Min - preventing your opponents’ pawn breaks when Black has a Hedgehog structure. 
Pawn breaks: The Stonewall pawn structures - 1.5 hr  Coach Robert  - We start with two of the totally-blocked pawn structures: the kingside and queenside Stonewalls.



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