Thursday, March 9, 2023

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?
 

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



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 )

A Colorful Graffiti Image of a king chess piece

 

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Alekhine's Defense - 4 Pawns Attack B03

Created A page for this Variation and have added a link to it on my Alekhine's Defense Page.



Chess Board Image of Alekhine Defence 4 pawns attack set up.

 Link On Sidebar under Opening Theory links


Friday, February 24, 2023

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.


Books (Free)

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


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



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.


Chess Middlegame Video Lessons

Playlists


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


St.Louis Chess Club

Playlists


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

AI Drawn Image of Detailed Chess Pieces in a Fantasy Setting Chess Board
"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

Friday, February 10, 2023

Italian Game, Rousseau Gambit C50 Opening Theory

 Rousseau Gambit Resources

Wikipedia Page
The Rousseau Gambit (or Ponziani Countergambit)
is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 f5
White has three main choices in the Rousseau Gambit:
1. Defend the e4 pawn with d3 and trust the extra tempo will make itself felt.
(With This move Black can Transpose into the Lucchini Gambit)
2. Accept the gambit with 4.exf5.
3. Strike back in the center with 4.d4.


Rousseau Gambit Chess Articles

Rousseau Gambit in the Italian Game - Guide w/ Embedded video by GM Igor Smirnov
Rousseau Gambit: Where Italian Game and King’s Gambit Meet - Chessable Blog Opening Guide
Lucchini Gambit: A Little Known Chess Opening - Chessable Blog Opening Guide


Rousseau Gambit LiChess Studies


Rousseau Gambit - 12 Chapter Study (at Top)
Rousseau Gambit - 11 Chapter interactive Study (80 hearts)
Rousseau Gambit vs. Italian - 25 Chapter Interactive Study
Super Cool Rousseau Gambit Traps! - 5 Chapter Study
Rousseau Gambit in the Italian Game - 5 Chapter Study (Just 5 games Played By Guys 2000+)


Lucchini gambit - 4 Chapter Study (1100 hearts)


Game Databases

Chessgames.com

Italian Gambits (C50-C55 actually) - 2 Games in this collection

365Chess.com

C50: Rousseau gambit 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 - 104 games


Rousseau Gambit Video Lessons


Learn This INSANE NEW Gambit!! - 26 min - Gotham Chess
The Rousseau Gambit | Risky Opening Choice for Black in the Italian Game | IM Alex Astaneh - 10 Min
The MOST AGGRESSIVE Gambit Ever? - 34 min - Johnathan Schrantz
The BEST Chess Opening Against 1.e4 - Every Move is a Trap! -19 min GM Igor Smirnov
The BEST Chess Opening Against 1.e4 | TRAPPIEST Gambit for Black - 14 Min GM Igor Smirnov


Lucchini Gambit

(If White Plays Rousseau Gambit Declined. and on move 4.d3 black can transpose to this Gambit)
Lucchini Gambit - Every Move is a Trap - 16 min - TheChesswebsite
Lucchini Gambit - Accepted Variation - 13 min -TheChesswebsite
Top 10 Traps in the Lucchini Gambit | Chess Opening Tricks, Moves, Strategy & Tactics - 9 Min


Rousseau Gambit Chess Traps

Italian - Rousseau Gambit - Equal but in Chains (trap no. 58) - 4Min


Rousseau gambit Game Videos (W/Analysis)

Facing the Rousseau Gambit (3...f5?!) | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. artur74blef - (1376) - 35 Min IM John Bartholomew
Morphy vs the Rousseau Gambit | Learn Giuoco Piano Ep.1 - 10 Min
Discovering a New Opening Trap | Lucchini Gambit - 4 Min - Im Eric Rosen
Lucchini Gambit || Stockfish 8 vs Stockfish 14 - 8 Min


Silver Chess Pieces On a Chess board, Knight, bishop and pawns