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Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman
Chess Opening Theory
Advanced Chess Books on Openings - Article about Book Strengths and List at end of recommendations.
Picking a Reptertoire - Some Basic Advice on Different Opening Systems
Creating an Opening Graph - provides a blueprint for managing opening complexity - create an opening graph to identify key lines, variations, and ideas you need to know. This simplifies study and allows you to build an opening repertoire tailored to your style and memory.
Opening Prep And Troll Attacks - Great info on Opening Prep
Opening Failures And How to Avoid Them - Beginner Lesson
Castling Early And Piece Coordination - Beginner lesson
Opening Questions And A Dream Mate - General Opening Questions from readers.
You Can't Always Get What You Want - 6 Games - Long Conversation about openings.
Picking an Opening by Style - 2 games - Short Article on Chess Style
You Must Know Your Opening Basics! - 1 game, 1 Puzzle - Lesson on understanding your openings at a fundamental level, not just memorize moves. Learn the ideas behind plans so you can adapt when opponents deviate. Master games help cement this understanding.
Learning An Opening - 1 Game - Analysis and General Lesson on Learning an Opening.
Monster Opening Preparation - 6 Games - the page titled "Monster Opening Preparation" by IM Silman discusses the importance of thorough opening preparation for chess professionals. It highlights two main aspects of opening preparation:
Normal Opening Preparation: This includes the process of selecting and preparing new openings. It involves studying recent results, memorizing main lines, and understanding the tactical and positional patterns within the chosen system. For complex openings, players may invest significant time looking for fresh and explosive ideas. The article references a game from the 2008 World Championship Match between Kramnik and Anand to illustrate this point.
Opening Preparation Based on Desperation: Sometimes, opening study focuses on saving a favorite line that has been refuted by opponents. This requires faith in one's chosen system and a commitment to discovering ways to make it viable again. IM Silman shares a personal experience of dealing with an opponent's surprising opening line and subsequently developing a strong response to it.
The article highlights the need for in-depth preparation in chess and how strong opening knowledge can impact the outcome of games, as seen in various examples from World Championship matches and Silman's own games.
Of Non-Theory and Non-Memorization - 3 games - When facing the inevitable “leaving the theoretical pathways” move
To Master an Opening You Need to Embrace Defeat! - 6 Games , 13 Puzzles, King's Indian Defense
1.d4 Nc6 and the Philosophy of Odd Openings - Master game - Lesson on Any reasonably sound opening is quite playable at the club level, and that includes various gambits and some rather odd/bizarre systems of development – they all need to be taken seriously!
Advanced Lesson 1800 + - Choosing and playing a specific chess opening system.
Riding the Winds of Fashion, Part 1 - 4 Games, 9 Puzzles - Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense
Riding the Winds of Fashion, Part 2 - 11 Games , 8 Puzzles - the Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian opening and its evolution in chess. In Part Two of the series,he explores the concept of keeping the center fluid while playing this opening. White has various ways to achieve this, aiming to utilize the power of the bishops. The article also discusses the pros and cons of embracing fashionable opening systems, highlighting the need to stay updated with rapidly changing theory.
Riding The Winds Of Fashion, Part 3 - 21 Games (Mostly About the 4.f3 Nimzo Indian)
Benoni
Chess Patterns Are For Everyone (Benoni) - 3 Benoni games
The Mighty Benoni - 6 games , 3 Puzzles - Nice Lesson from a Full game
If You Putter, Your Game Will Sputter - 1 Puzzle , 8 Master games - (Amateur game)(analysis focuses heavily on the Modern Benoni opening and the resulting middle-game positions.) The key messages are to play purposefully, in accordance with your opening, avoid passivity, maintain pressure when ahead, find direct winning lines in endgames, and believe in your own skill. Overly complex or cowardly moves lead to trouble.
Black Knights Tango - The Mexican Defense - 3 games - Theory and some history on the Tango
Budapest Gambit
The Budapest!? - 2 Lines in the Budapest and Book Resources
The Budapest Gambit Revisited - Ideas for Black and White (3 Analyzed games)
The Blunder Gland and The Fajarowicz - 3 games w/ bunch of Analysis on the Fajarowicz (Budapest gambit)
Caro-Kann
Caro-Kann (Reaping The Whirlwind!) - Lots of Caro Stuff (Main Lesson on when Opponent Deviates in an Opening)
Caro-Kann (Swinging for the Fences) - Analysis and Lessons from a Full game (Advance Variation)
Caro-Kann Mega-Theory - 4 Master games - Lots of Analysis- lesson appears to be a discussion about the challenges and intricacies of playing a highly theoretical and complex opening variation in chess, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with the latest theory to excel in such positions.
Kt Maneuvers Against the Advance Caro-Kann - 6 Games - STRATEGIC SUMMATION for 3…Bf5 in the Caro Advance w/ Knight Lessons
Caro-Kann Advance Variation - 2 Games - Short Article on a line in the Advance
Finishing Off A Wounded Opponent - 2 Puzzles, 5 Master Games - (Amateur Game) - A tactical Caro-Kann game illustrating key attacking ideas like striking decisively when ahead, calculating forcing variations thoroughly, and precisely converting winning endings.
The Tale of a Technical Wizard - 3 Master Games -The article discusses some typical plans and ideas for both sides in the Caro-Kann Defense. Analyzes a student's love of bishops, advising him to know his strengths and have patience converting technical endings.
Apocalypse In the Caro-Kann - 8 Puzzles, 1 Master Game- In-depth analysis of a Caro-Kann game highlighting common strategic errors like emotional decisions, underestimating minor pieces, and declining to trade queens. The game shows how inexperience and emotions can undermine performance despite creativity.
The Fog of War & The Caro 2 Kts - Advice on overcoming "calculation fog," Guides readers to better board vision via game study, pattern recognition, and using imbalances. Analyzing an instructive example gone awry, Silman emphasizes avoiding fixation on unsound tactical ideas. A deep dive into the Caro-Kann's Two Knights Variation concludes this rich offering.
Colle
Winning a Dead Won Game - 1 Puzzle, 1 Master Game - while containing general lessons on precision and calculation, the game specifically focuses on opening and middle-game concepts in the Colle System, making it an instructive example for those playing this solid 1.d4 opening.Colle, Caro, Top 10 List - 1 game ,3 Questions (Colle Book recommendations)
Imbalances and the Exciting Chigorin Defense - 3 Games
English Opening, Botvinnik System - Detailed Analysis of One game w/ many reference games. Lessons learned from gameFrench Defense
Playing Goliath: What Goes Wrong - Really In-depth French Defense lesson
The Deadly French Defense - 3 Games from 2018 Olympiad (Lots of Analysis and Puzzles)
The Pawn Center: Strength or Weakness? - 4 Games - Lessons about the French and the pawn Center
The Right Way to Study an Opening (French) - 9 Games - Core Lesson is to truly understand your openings by absorbing key plans and ideas from master games. This leads to better middle-game play. (Long lesson , Over 20 pages)
Chess Earnings & the French Defense - 1 Game - Basic French Analysis
Grunfeld
A Rare Line in the Grunfeld - Analysis of Grunfeld line with 3 Games
The Opening That Didn't Like Bobby Fischer (Grunfeld) - 17 Fischer Grunfeld Games
The Jaenisch/Schliemann Gambit - 6 Games - In-Depth look at this Gambit
Has The King's Indian Attack Been Forgotten? - 18 Full Games w History
KID
The King’s Indian Defense: Too Hot For You? - 3 Full games , KID Basics Lesson
Knowing, and Following, the Opening’s Correct Plan - KID - 4 games. Lesson of One Game from Opening to Endgame
Identical Twins: the KIA and the London System - 2 Puzzles , 1 master Game - An instructive London System Game highlighting key ideas like exploiting inaccuracies, precise move order, psychological draw offers, and resilient defending.
Latvian Gambit - SPLAT THE LAT? Not Quite! - Analysis of Latvian Gambit Lines
Nimzovich Defense, the Swing! - Analysis w/ 2 Games
The Fried Liver's Identical Twin (Two Knights- Philidor) - 2 games - Lesson on How Similar Openings have subtle but very important differences.
Philidor's Ghost Is Alive and Well - 2 Puzzles , 6 Master Games - Discover the fascinating world of the Philidor Defense in chess with this article. Explore its historical origins, key positions, and tactical intricacies. Learn how to use this opening effectively and avoid common mistakes as you delve into the captivating strategies of the Philidor Defense.
A Pirc Quirk - 3 Games - Some Pirc Opening Theory
Ruy Lopez
Ruy Lopez, Norwegian Defense - 6.Bxf7 sacrifice variation in the Ruy Lopez Norwegian Defence
Chigorin Ruy Lopez and the Mystery of Statistics - 3 games Analyzed (Fisher one also.)
Finnish Defense & Tournament Prep - 1 Game, 2 Questions - Scandy line, Tournament Prep
Sicilian Defense
Accelerated Dragon, Maroczy Bind - Quick look at this Opening
Death By Accelerated Dragon - 5 Games , 3 Puzzles - The lesson covers opening prep, greed, initiative versus material, passivity, endgame transitions, and stubborn defense. Proper middle-game understanding stems from fundamentals. (Over 20 Page Article)
Anti-Sicilian & Planning - an Anti-Sicilian Try
Singing Those Old Dragon Blues! - Yugoslav Attack
Driving Down The Mega-Theory Highway (Najdorf) - THE PROS & CONS OF SICILIAN NAJDORF MEGA-THEORY
Najdorf 6.Bd3 & High Initial Rating - 2 Games , 2 Questions, - Opening Fashions
The Wrath of Too Many Kans - 4 Games - Kan Sicilian
Uncooperative Opponents & Computer Symbols - 4 games - White has many other ways to avoid black’s heavy preparation after 1.e4 c5.
More Maroczy & Making Master - 4 games - Sicilian Dragon Maroczy Bind
Tiptoe Through the Tulips - 3 Puzzles , 6 Master Games - (Strong Amateur Game) - A Sicilian Game demonstrating the power of aggressive attacks as well as psychological factors like the draw offer. Keys include striking decisively with the initiative, challenging enemy threats, and precise conversion of advantages.
Smith-Morra Gambit - Shows 3 Lines for the Smith-Morra for Black
