Want to Play Serious Chess Online with a Fun Team Twist? Try the Lichess 4545 League!

 

Are you a chess player who enjoys longer games but struggles to find consistent competition online?

Do you miss the camaraderie of playing on a team but find high-pressure tournaments intimidating?

Well, the Lichess 4545 League might be your perfect match!

Classical Chess with a Social Side

The Lichess 4545 League is a unique online chess competition for players of all skill levels. It combines the focus and intensity of classical chess (games with longer time controls) with the fun and support of a team environment. Here's what makes it special:

• Compete Weekly: Play a serious chess game (45 minutes each + additional time per move) against a similarly rated opponent every week over eight rounds.
  
  
• Team Up for Fun: Join a team of 6-8 players and cheer each other on throughout the league.
  
  
• Fair Play Guaranteed: The league uses a Swiss-style format and rating system to ensure you face opponents with similar skills, minimizing upsets and maximizing learning.
  
  
• Low Risk of Cheating: The league leverages Lichess's robust anti-cheating system, so you can focus on enjoying the game.
  
  
• Completely Free: No entry fees or hidden costs! Just your love for chess.

More Than Just Chess

The Lichess 4545 League isn't just about winning or losing. It's about:

• Building friendships: Connect with fellow chess enthusiasts from around the world through team chat and friendly competition.
  
  
• Sharpening your skills: Analyze your games, discuss strategies with teammates, and watch other league matches to improve your chess.
  
  
• Enjoying the challenge: Take your chess to the next level with a time control that allows for deep strategic thinking and calculated moves.

Ready to Join the Fun?

The Lichess 4545 League welcomes players of all backgrounds. Here's how to get started:

1. Head over to https://www.lichess4545.com/team4545/ to learn more about the league and upcoming seasons.
2. Keep an eye on the website or social media for announcements about registration.
3. Sign up as an individual (or with friends!) and get ready to be drafted onto a team.
4. Join your team's Slack channel and connect with your teammates.
5. Sharpen your skills, get ready to have fun, and experience the thrill of competitive team chess!

The Lichess 4545 League offers a unique opportunity to combine the strategic depth of classical chess with the camaraderie of team competition. So, what are you waiting for? Check out the league website today and see if it's the perfect match for your chess passion!

Czech Benoni - A56

Unlock the Czech Benoni:
A Solid & Strategic Defense for Black 

The Czech Benoni Defense is a chess opening employed by Black to counter White's initial move 1.d4. It features the moves:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5

Seeking a dependable defense against 1. d4? Look no further than the Czech Benoni!

 This strategic opening, championed by the Czech chess master Karel Hromádka, equips Black with a solid pawn structure and the potential for dynamic counterplay. While less aggressive than other Benoni variations, the Czech Benoni offers central control and opportunities to launch a powerful f5 pawn break. Master the art of maneuvering and strategic planning in closed positions .

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Czech Benoni Articles 

Unveil the strategic ideas behind the Czech Benoni with these articles.

The Czech Benoni: Explained - The Chess World Guide - WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos -  A comprehensive guide that explores the ideas behind the Czech Benoni and its main variations.

The No-theory Defence, or how to meet 1 d4 if you are over 35 - This is a review by Steve Giddens about Andrew martins Czech Benoni Book. Interesting Review and Discussion about this opening.

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Czech Benoni LiChess Studies

Practice what you learn! These interactive Lichess studies let you explore key Czech Benoni positions move-by-move, test your understanding, and solidify your knowledge.

• Ben Finegold Czech Benoni - 6 Chapter Study (All 6 Chapters are GM Ben Finegold games.)
  
  
• Czech - Benoni  - 6 Chapter Study  - study made from IM Miodrag Perunovic - How to play the Czech Benoni Step by Step Video (Video Below)

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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Czech Benoni Puzzles

Sharpen your tactical vision! Test your skills against these challenging Czech Benoni puzzles

• Czech Benoni Defense Puzzles - 91  Lichess Opening Puzzles
  
  WTHarvey.com
• Benoni Defense Puzzles (ECO A56) - 31 Puzzles
  
  

Think you can solve these puzzles? Put your Czech Benoni skills to the test!

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Game Databases

Delve into real-game examples and analyze how top players have handled the Czech Benoni. Here are some popular chess databases to explore:

365Chess.com

A56: Czech Benoni defence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 - 4441 Games

Chess Tempo

Benoni Defense, Czech Benoni Defense (A56) - 4752 games

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Czech Benoni Video Lessons

In-depth video lessons breaking down key strategies, ideas and patterns for mastering the Czech Benoni as Black

Czech Benoni - 13 Video Playlist - Palm Beach Chess - NM Bryan Tillis (Nice Chess Lessons w/ about 75 Min Video Total)

How to Play The Czech Benoni | Step by Step!! - 14 Min -IM Miodrag Perunovic - Master a unique Black setup with early development, f5 pawn breaks, and strategic bishop exchanges. Learn from a master and outplay your opponents!

A Detailed Guide to the Czech Benoni - 57 Min - Hanging Pawns - Go beyond move memorization! This in-depth guide by Hanging Pawns focuses on pattern recognition, strategic ideas (b5/f5 for Black, f4/b4 for White), and maneuvering for key pawn breaks.

The Czech Benoni: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 45 Min - Ben Finegold -Unlock the strategic ideas and winning potential of the Czech Benoni Defense. GM Finegold analyzes key pawn breaks, practical play vs. engine analysis, and shares a thrilling victory!

Chess opening system for Black: Czech Benoni (Master Chess Lecture) - 7 Min - Melbourne Chess Club - Explore the Czech Benoni's flexibility, pawn storm potential, and path to victory against 1.d4. Master a dynamic opening system for Black!

Unveil the Czech Benoni's Strategic Depths - 15 Min - thechesswebsite - delves into key moves, positional ideas, and traps to avoid for a lasting Black advantage.

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Czech Benoni Game Videos (W/Analysis)

Czech Benoni - Chess Opening - 12 Video playlist - Kingscrusher (Famous Chess games and some nice Chess lessons)

The Czech Benoni wins! | Salo Flohr vs Bent Larsen Copenhagen 1966 - 15 Min - GM Daniel King

Czech Benoni - Standard chess #6 - 34 Min - ChessNetwork

Grandmaster Tips - Secrets of Locked Positions - 45 Min - GM Josh Friedel (Great Video of Deep Analysis and Chess Strategy Lesson on playing the Czech Benoni)

Bishop's Bounty Benoni Defense Page

Halasz - McDonnell Gambit C21

Unleashing the Halasz Gambit: A Chess Opening Full of Surprise

The Halasz Gambit is a chess opening marked by the move 3.f4?!, is a seldom-used Gambit dating back to the days of Romantic Chess and 19th century strategies. 

Its origins can be traced back to at least 1840, but it gained prominence through the advocacy of Hungarian correspondence chess player Dr. György Halasz.

While the gambit appears questionable, it has yet to be conclusively refuted as it falls into the category of unexplored openings with aggressive play that leads to short games.

A Chess Opening with opening venom similar to the King's Gambit in strategy, the Halasz Gambit seeks to dominate the central squares and unsettle the opponent's central pawn.

The opening moves are:

1. e4 e5

2. d4 exd4

3. f4

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Halasz Gambit Articles

Halasz Gambit: Chess Opening Guide (Main Line, Theory, History, and More) - Opening Guide - Chess Journal

Anatomy of a Gambit: Dissecting the Halasz - Old Chess Cafe Text Article (Bunch of Games at Bottom)

Unusual & Aggressive Chess Opening for White | Halasz Gambit - GM Igor Smirnov (w/Embedded Video)
Video Below Because it is Really well done and easy to follow chess tutorial.

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Halasz Gambit LiChess Studies

The Dangerously Underestimated Halasz Gambit - 6 Chapter Study  (w/Interactive Quiz) (15 Hearts)

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Game Databases

365Chess.com

C21: Halasz gambit 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. f4 - 111 Games

Chess Tempo

Center Game, Halasz-McDonnell Gambit (C21) - 51 Games

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Halasz Gambit Video Lessons

Opening Strategy | The Secrets of Winning with 1.e4 e5 | Halasz Gambit - 30 Min

Random Guy Invents An Aggressive Gambit With 89% Win Rate! - 14 Min - GM Igor Smirnov (Video Up Above)

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Game Videos (W/ Analysis)

Blitz chess postmortem #740: Center game - Halasz gambit - 11 Min - Jim's Chess Channel

Stonewall Dutch Defense A92 - A95

 

Mastering the Stonewall Dutch: Strategic Insights

Dive into the strategic world of the Stonewall Dutch, renowned for its solidity and flexibility.

 Discover articles, studies, and videos to master this dynamic opening, favored by players for its ability to dictate the pace of the game and create imbalanced positions, offering opportunities for both attacking and defensive play.

Bishop's Bounty Stonewall Pawn Structure Page 

Bishops Bounty Main Dutch Defense Page 

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Stonewall Dutch Articles

How To Play The Stonewall Dutch - GM Bryan Smith - Chess.com Article

The Dutch Stonewall - Exeter Chess Club - booklet for Juniors

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Stonewall Dutch LiChess Studies

Stonewall Dutch Defense - 7 Chapter Interactive Study (521 Hearts)

The Dutch and Anti-Dutch Systems - 6 Chapter Study (901 Hearts) Study at Top of Page

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Games Databases

Chess365.com

A92: Dutch, stonewall variation 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 - 1032 Games
A93: Dutch, stonewall, Botvinnik variation 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3 - 561 Games
A94: Dutch, stonewall with Ba3 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3 c6 8. Ba3 - 424 Games
A95: Dutch, stonewall with Nc3 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. Nc3 c6 - 776 Games

Chess Tempo

Dutch Defense, Stonewall Variation, Modern Variation (A90) - 2920 Games
Dutch Defense, Stonewall Variation, General Variation (A92) - 353 Games
Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, Stonewall Variation (A93) - 361 Games
Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, Stonewall Variation (A94) - 437 Games
Dutch Defense, Classical Variation, Stonewall Variation (A95) - 769 Games
Dutch Defense, Modern Stonewall Variation (A97) - 2133 Games

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Stonewall Dutch Puzzles & Tactics

WTHarvey.com

Dutch, Stonewall, Botvinnik Var. (ECO A93) - 10 Puzzles
Dutch, Stonewall with Ba3 (ECO A94) - 10 Puzzles
Dutch, Stonewall (ECO A95) - 10 Puzzles

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Dutch Defense : Stonewall Variation - 43 Puzzles
 

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Stonewall Dutch Video Lessons

Dutch Stonewall Defense - 16 Video Playlist  - japanesetutor (Think these videos might be from a book)

Stonewall Dutch IM Andrew Martin - 1hr 41 Min

The Stonewall Dutch · Chess Openings - 34 Min - Hanging pawns

Dutch Defense | Stonewall Attack!! - 23 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic
Ultra-Modern Dutch Stonewall | Fight The Catalan Without Fear!! - 41 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic

Stonewall Dutch for chess beginners (explained) - 14 Min - Bad Bishop Chess Channel

Stonewall Dutch Repertoire Preview - 10 Min - ChessGoals - Playing against Catalan

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Stonewall Dutch Game Videos (w/ Analysis)

Chess Stream #72 Fresh Ideas in the Stonewall Dutch - 28 Min - GM Simon Williams - featuring insightful ideas and in-depth analysis of two games.

Reykjavik Open: Facing an Indian Prodigy, Raunak Sadhwani, with the Stonewall Dutch Opening. Round 5 - 27 Min - GM Simon Williams

Play the Stonewall Dutch like Stockfish - 9 Min - ChessGoals

kingscrusher (Games with well done game analysis )
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen plays the Dutch Stonewall Defence against Vishy Anand! - 18 min - kingscrusher
World Chess Champion: Magnus Carlsen plays the Dutch Stonewall Defence against Fabiano Caruana! - 17 Min - kingscrusher
Amazing Tartakower Immortal game - Geza Maroczy vs Savielly Tartakower - 1922 - Dutch Stonewall - 14 Min - kingscrusher
Dutch Stonewall Chess Opening: Stockfish 6 vs Leela Chess ID 467 : Time Limit : 1/20 - 14 Min -kingscrusher
Outrageous Dutch Defence ‼ || Radoslaw Wojtaszek vs Simon Kim Williams aka "Ginger GM" - 14 Min -kingscrusher

THE POLISH IMMORTAL | Gluecksberg vs Najdorf. A beautiful game of chess - a cascade of sacrifices! 
 11 Min - GM Daniel King
Game Video Below