Friday, January 27, 2023

Alekhine's Defense B02 - B05

 

Unlock the Secrets of the Alekhine's Defense:
Your Complete Resource Guide 

The Alekhine's Defense (1. e4 Nf6) is a dynamic and aggressive chess opening where Black challenges White's central control early on.

This unconventional approach can catch your opponents off guard and create excellent winning chances with a complex and unbalanced middlegame.

Ready to unlock the secrets of the Alekhine's Defense and surprise your opponents? Let's explore the resources!

Wikipedia Page

Page of resources on this variation.


BOOKS (Free)

Internet Archive

Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence by John Cox  - 97 Page PDF

Alekhine Alert!: A Repertoire for Black against 1 e4 by Timothy Taylor  - 287 Page PDF



Alekhine's Defense Chess Articles


Alekhine Defense: How to Play as White and Black  - Chessable Blog Opening Guide ( Very nice) - This comprehensive guide covers everything from strategic concepts and tactics to specific variations for both Black and White. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of the defense and offers practical advice for all skill levels. (Great all-around resource)

The Alekhine's Defence  - Simplify Chess Guide - Another In-depth Guide To Learn this opening.

Alekhine’s Defense - Guide from IM Alberto ChuecaThis article provides a quick start for Black players, focusing on the main line and core concepts behind the aggressive Alekhine approach. (Ideal for beginners who want to try the Alekhine quickly.

Alekhine's Defense: World Champion Openings - GM Bryan SmithThis in-depth guide explores the aggressive Alekhine's Defense (1...Nf6). Learn how to exploit White's space advantage and launch your own attacks, with historical examples and strategic insights.


Alekhine's Defense LiChess Studies

Up your Alekhine's Defense with Interactive Lichess Studies!



LISTUDY Alekhine Defense (Site Where Studies are put in and turned into Movetrainer Courses)

Alekhine's Defense   -  26 Chapters  (Can Learn and Practice all the Opening Moves here!)

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.



Game Databases


Chessgames.com

Alekhine's Defense (B02-B05)  - 12 Annotated Games
Alekhine Defense Sadler's Collections Plus  - 103 Games
Historically Important Alekhine's Defense Games  - 38 Games
Alekhine's Defense (B02-B05)  - 12,061 Games


365Chess.com

B02: Alekhine's defence 1. e4 Nf6  - 41,400 Games
B03: Alekhine's defence 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 - 22,610 Games
B04: Alekhine's defence, modern variation 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 - 13,000 Games
B05: Alekhine's defence, modern variation, 4...Bg4 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 - 5900 Games


Alekhine's Defense Chess Puzzles

wtharvey.com

Alekhine's Defense (ECO B02)  - 8 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense (ECO B03)  - 7 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense, Modern (ECO B04)  - 9 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense, Modern (ECO B05) - 13 Puzzles


LiChess Puzzle Page

Alekhine Defense -  6000+ Puzzles (Almost halfway down the Page -  w/ 13 Variations to pick from)



Alekhine Defense Videos

Lessons

Alekhine Defense Opening Theory  - 6 Video Playlist  - Hanging Pawns
Alekhine's Defense  -  41 Video playlist  - Sibi Chess


Alekhine's Defense: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 50 Min - History, key strategies & famous games to understand this aggressive opening.

How to Play the Alekhine Defence | Grandmaster Repertoire - 22 Min - GM Mouthun Grandmaster Repertoire on how to play the Alekhine with Black.

Alekhine's Defense - Concepts and Quick Theoretical Overview - 60 min - Tony Rotella - I give a brief overview of the history and lore of Alekhine's Defense, why you'd want to give it a punt as Black, as well as a quick tour of the main variations.

The Alekhine Defense ♟ – Play for a Win with Black! - GM Marian Petrov - 61 Min - dives deep into the Four Pawns Variation, showing Black how to exploit an aggressive pawn structure. (Ideal for players who want to learn a specific, sharp variation.)

Alekhine Defense Opening Masterclass  - 94 min - This comprehensive video covers all 14 variations and 6 gambits within the Alekhine Defense. (Best for those who want an exhaustive exploration of every line.)

Beat 1.e4 with Alekhine's Defense!!  -  34 min - IM David Fitzsimons - analyzes how World Champion Magnus Carlsen uses the Alekhine, discussing various strategies and lines. (Perfect for players who want to learn from a master.)

Play the Alekhine Defense ♟Chess Opening with GM Damian Lemos - 27 min -focuses on core concepts like counter-attacking and pawn structure, providing viewers with the tools to navigate the Alekhine's complexities. (Solid choice for players who want a strategic overview with variations.)

Alekhine Defense Traps and Tactics


Playing Against the Alekhine's Defense

Refute the Alekhine Defence / Exchange Variation / Full Repertoire! - 35 min -Master a complete repertoire against the Alekhine's Defense, focusing on the Exchange Variation. Learn "secret" strategies and White's most effective continuations.

Chess Training 
Learn a strong Exchange Variation repertoire for White against the Alekhine's Defense. This 3-part series explores main lines and sidelines after Black's ...cxd6 capture.


Chess Tips: Crush The Alekhine Defense!!  - 43 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic -Master the Samisch Attack, a dynamic strategy to counter the Alekhine's Defense. IM Perunovic emphasizes controlling the center, exploiting weaknesses, and tactical opportunities for White.

Chess Openings: Crazy 2 Pawns Attack vs Alekhine Defense!! - 35 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic  Explore the aggressive "Crazy 2 Pawns Attack" against the Alekhine's Defense. IM Perunovic showcases pawn sacrifices, tactical ideas, and strategies for gaining an advantage.

How to WIN against the Alekhine Defense  - 29 min  - IM Alex Astaneh -Learn winning strategies against the Alekhine's Defense! IM Astaneh emphasizes center control, development, and tactical ideas for White. He analyzes common mistakes and offers tricks like the h3 move and the d5 pawn sacrifice.


Alekhine Defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)

Alekhine Defense - 7 Video Playlist  - agadmantor   (Famous Games)

Alekhine's Defense Chess Games - 14 Video Playlist  - Chess w/ Suren

Alekhine's Defence - Chess Opening  - 111 Video playlist  - kingscrusher



Fighting Against the Alekhine's Defense | Classical Chess - 59 Min IM Rosen

GM Naroditsky
Master Class | Alekhine Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 26 Min
Master Class | Alekhine Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 21 Min
Master Class | Alekhine (The Better Scandi) | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 45 Min
Queenside Vs Kingside Castle!! | Alekhine's Defense | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 28 Min
Master Class | Alekhine's Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 20 Min
Four Pawns Attack | Alekhine's Defence | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 22 Min

Close up of a knight and pawn on a chess board set in an Alekhine defense, watercolor
Chess first of all teaches you to be objective - Alekhine


Monday, January 23, 2023

Chess Fortress Guide - Save Your Endgame

King Feeling Trapped? 

Secrets of Chess Fortresses. 

Feeling the pressure in the endgame with your king under attack? Don't resign just yet! Chess offers a remarkable defensive strategy called a fortress that can turn a losing position into a well-deserved draw.

A fortress is a strategically crafted defensive position in the endgame where your king is virtually impregnable. By cleverly utilizing the remaining pieces and pawns on the board, you can create a safe haven for your king, making it impossible for your opponent to deliver checkmate.

Here's what makes a chess fortress so powerful:

  • Impenetrable Defense: The fortress utilizes your remaining pieces and pawns to create a zone around your king that your opponent simply cannot penetrate.
  • Draw Potential: By securing your king and creating a stalemate situation, you force a draw even if you have less material than your opponent.
  • Strategic Maneuvering: Building and maintaining a fortress requires precise piece placement and calculated moves to maximize its effectiveness.

Get ready to transform from an endgame underdog into a fortress-building champion!

Well take a look at the various resources available to help you master the art of fortresses.

First, you can learn more about fortresses by checking out the Wikipedia page dedicated to the topic. This page contains a wide variety of positions and is a great starting point for anyone looking to learn more about fortresses.

Wikipedia Chess Fortress Page




Chess Fortress Articles

Here, you'll find a curated selection of articles to help you understand and master the art of Chess Fortresses:

The Basics:

  • Chess Fortress – 7 Must-Know Positions  -  FM Yuriy Krykun  What is it, how to build one, and how can this knowledge help from the practical point of view? 7 Must Know Endgame Positions.

  • Fortress - Chess.com Definition page w/ examples

Building Your Arsenal:

  • Fortress - FM Michel Coto - Some of the Most important Fortresses you should Know.

  • How To Build A Chess Fortress - GM Gregory Serper - Building a fortress can save a seemingly lost position. Therefore any tournament player should know these typical positions where a huge material advantage is not enough to win the game!

Beyond the Basics:
  • Was Magnus Carlsen Wrong About Chess Fortresses? - GM Gregory Serper - What he probably meant is that even though fortresses do exist in chess, the majority of the positions that look like a fortress can be penetrated. Several Examples

  • How To Break Fortresses - GM Daniel Naroditsky - Examine three crucial fortress-breaking methods that will often enable you to overcome even the stoutest resistance.




LiChess Fortress 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.

  • Fortresses in Pawn Endgames: - 37 Chapter Interactive Study - From simple Fortresses to Detailed Studys w/ Interactive Puzzles at the end. (Very Detailed and in-depth study)

  • Fortresses  -  16 Chapter Study -  Different types w/ puzzles at the End.

  • The great Fortresses  - 14 Chapter Study - All the Basic Fortresses you should Know.

  • Fortresses  - 9 Chapter Study - Explore fortresses built around bishops and pawn walls, along with real-game examples to see these strategies in action.

  • 10 Elementary Fortresses  - 12 Chapter Study - This study provides a solid starting point for beginners, focusing on fundamental fortress principles.

  • Endings: Fortress  - 4 Chapter Study


Chess Fortress Video Lessons


The Fortress | Endings for Tournament Players - GM Varuzhan Akobian  - 45 Min -This comprehensive lecture by GM Akobian lays the groundwork, explaining the concept of fortresses and demonstrating various positions where material disadvantage can be overcome with a well-constructed fortress.

You Can't Penetrate the Fortress! Draw! | Endgame Exclam!! - GM Varuzhan Akobian 46 Min - Identifies positions where a player is down material, but can manage a draw with the fortress technique. See how the stronger side can't force the King out of the corner structure.

Don't Let Her In! Queen vs. Fortress | Insane in the Endgame - GM Alex Shabalov - 56 Min - A chess endgame class focusing on fortresses to defend against queen attacks.

GM Johan Hellsten: Fortresses | U.S. Chess School 4.20.2021  - 64 Min Deepen your understanding with this focused lecture by GM Hellsten, featuring a detailed discussion of 14 essential fortress examples.

5 Chess Fortresses You Must Know | Chess Ending | ChessMaster2000  - 16 Min - 
Gain valuable insights from this video as it unveils five crucial fortress formations you should be familiar with.


How to build a Fortress in Chess | Must-Know defensive Method for the Endgame - 17 Min  IM Ostrovskiy
Main method of making a draw in the opposite colored Bishop endgame, the so called “Fortress”.

How to build a chess fortress | must-know defensive patterns - 10 Min NM 

FM Chris Wallis Lecture: End Game Fortresses  - 67 Min 

Building a Fortress | Forts in Chess | ChessKid - 10 Min
Explains the important concept of fortresses on the chessboard: what they are, how to set them up, and why you would want to use them. 
 (New - 6/1/24) Beginner


Hamersmith Chess Club


Endgame Studies


Fortress Game Videos w/ Analysis

Endgame Fortress Brilliancy: Grandmaster Paul Benko vs International Master Bonin  - 3 Min

Chess Fortress: Hans Ree vs Vlastimil Hort 1986 Never give up!!!  - 3 Min

Fortress to Believe in! || Nakamura vs Carlsen  - 15 min

Endgame Fortress Brilliancy : Grandmaster Grigory Serper vs GM Hikaru Nakamura - 6 Min

Tigran's Fortress | Fischer vs Petrosian | (1971) | Game 5  - 12 Min


"I don't believe in fortresses." - Magnus Carlsen


Wednesday, January 18, 2023

QGD Tarrasch Defense D32-D34

 

The Tarrasch Defense is a chess opening characterized by the moves:

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c5
This is a Variation of the Queens Gambit Declined


BOOKS (Free)

Short & Sweet: Tarrasch Defense  - FREE Chessbale Course  - GM Jordan van Foreest - 10 Trainable Lines w/30 Min Video
Short & Sweet: Ganguly's Semi-Tarrasch -  FREE Chessable Course - GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly - 33 Trainable Lines w/44 Min Video


Tarrasch Defense Chess Articles 

TARRASCH DEFENSE -  Chess Pathways Article
Refutation of the Tarrasch Defence - Short Article by GM Alex Colovic
Queen’s Gambit Declined – Taking Down the Tarrasch Defense  -  ichess.net Article


BLOGS

The Semi-Tarrasch – How to Play, Attack and Counter (as White & Black) - Opening Guide on Chessable Blog


Tarrasch Defense LiChess Studies

Some Tarrasch defense ideas  - 64 Chapter Study  (64 Heavily Annotated games ++ )
D34: Tarrasch Defence - 12 Chapter Study


Chess PUZZLES

Queens Gambit Declined Tarrasch Puzzles - 602 Puzzles   Lichess


GAMES Databases

365Chess.com

D32: Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch defence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 - 7490 Games
D33: Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, Schlechter-Rubinstein system 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3  -  4413 Games
D34: Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, Prague variation, 7...Be7 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 - 4437 Games


Chessgames.com

Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch (D32)  - 15 Annotated Games
Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch (D33)  - 6 Annotated Games
Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch (D34)  - 14 Annotated Games


Tarrasch Defense Chess Video Lessons

Tarrasch Defense Theory  -  14 Video Playlist  - Jozarov’s chess channel
Tarrasch Defense - Queen's Gambit Declined - 14 Min Thechesswebsite
Tarrasch Defense Opening Theory - 27 Min Hanging Pawns
Win with Tarrasch Defense with IM Marcin Sieciechowic  - 33 Min


The Semi-Tarrasch Opening explained by Leinier Domínguez - 2hr Video

Von Hennig Schara Gambit

The Von Hennig-Schara Gambit: Perfect! | Chess Openings Explained - 50 Min ST.Louis CC
GM Ben Finegold's Gambit Series: Von Hennig-Schara Gambit - 6 Min
How to play the Tarrasch Defense Correctly -D34 Tarrasch Defense, Advance Variation -b3 continuation - 20 Min - Jozarov’s chess channel
DIRTY CHESS OPENINGS! - The Von Hennig Schara Gambit!- Opening Traps and Common Mistakes by White - 51 Min - Jozarov’s chess channel
Tarrasch Defence: Hennig Schara Gambit Chess Opening : Leela Chess ID 467 vs Stockfish-6 - 11 Min Kingcrusher
FM Dennis Monokroussos - Hennig Schara Gambit Tactics - 30 Min


Against the Tarrasch

Positional Play: Beating The Tarrasch Defense! - GM Damian Lemos - 27 Min


St.Louis Chess Club

The Dubov Tarrasch | Road to 2000 - NM Caleb Denby - 57 Min


Tarrasch Game Videos Analyzed

Queens Gambit: Tarrasch Defence - Chess Opening - 24 Game Playlist - Kingscrusher
Tarrasch Defense  - 22 Video Playlist   - agadmator's Chess Channel


Most Attacking Chess Game - 7 (Von Hennig-Schara Gambit) - 15 Min
Jaime Sunye Neto vs Garry Kasparov - Tarrasch Defense: Symmetrical Variation - 9 Min 
Tarrasch Defense (D34) : Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov  - 44 Min Kingscrusher
Tarrasch Defence: Garry Kasparov vs Miguel Illescas-Cordoba - 9 Min

 IM Christof Sielecki (w/live Commentary)
Blitz Chess #4844 vs Muha750 Queens Gambit Tarrasch White - 13 Min
Blitz Chess #1386 with Live Comments Queens Gambit Tarrasch Variation - 9 Min
Blitz Chess #3536 vs JustKID Queens Gambit Tarrasch White - 8 Min
Blitz Chess #4962 vs MOMO1404 Queens Gambit Tarrasch White - 13 Min

IM John Bartholomew 
Standard Chess #57: fanta6 vs. IM Bartholomew (Tarrasch Defense) - 46 Min
Standard Chess #116: Boesemine vs. IM Bartholomew (Tarrasch Defense) - 42 Min
Blitz Chess #301: IM Bartholomew vs. IM Kassa Korley (Semi-Tarrasch Defense) - 16 Min
Standard Chess #150: IM Bartholomew vs. opus55 (Tarrasch Defense) - 7 Min
Standard Chess #211: IM Bartholomew vs. racketeer (Tarrasch Defense) - 53 Min
Blitz Chess #140: IM Bartholomew vs. IM Bryant (Tarrasch Defense) - 18 Min


Impressionist Painting of a Man Studying a Chess Board

Monday, January 16, 2023

All Gambits Updated for 2023

 Went Through all the Gambits on the Sidebar and gave them all a refresh and some New Links.

    Most have
          - Added Articles
         -  Added LiChess Studies
         -  Links to Game Databases  (Tried to get a link to some Annotated games for Each)
         -  Most all now have links to Playlists on You-tube for Video Lessons or Game Videos