Winning Chess

Winning Chess Tactics - The Decoy

2020-02-19T16:51:00.000-05:00

A decoy in chess is the tactic of forcing a piece, usually a major piece, to move to a square (considered a poisoned square) that it would not normally go to with the use of a sacrifice, in an effort to win material or possibly the game.

Here's a great chess tactic video covering the use of the decoy. It contains several decoy tactics which cover the winning of material in some examples and the winning of the game in others.

Winning Chess Tactics - Alekhine's Defense

2009-08-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

The Alekhine's defense has never held the respect that has been given to the Sicilian defense and the Ruy Lopez because most masters feel is it a bit too chancy. The idea is for black to provoke an advance in the center at the expense of a tempo (lost by black's king's knight) giving black targets to attack with the idea that white's center may become overextended and collapse.

If you decide to play the Alekhine's defense, the main thing to remember is that after your knight has been chased around the board, you have to play aggressively and begin to attack center that white has built up or you run the risk of losing due to white's strong control of the center.

Here's a great video that shows some of the basic ideas of the Alekhine's Defense.

Winning Chess Tactics - Benoni Defense

2009-07-30T14:58:00.005-04:00

The Benoni defense is a modern opening against white queen pawn openings and is known for it's aggressive, tactical and almost reckless nature. Black obtains active pieces and a queen-side pawn majority at the cost of allowing white to expand.

The Dutch Defense - Stonewall Variation

2009-07-10T11:20:00.001-04:00

One of the better fighting defenses that black has at its disposal against 1. d4 is the Dutch Defense.
When white starts the game by playing d4, it is many times signaling that it is looking to play a more positional game than if it began with a move like e4.

Black has an opening like the Sicilian Defense (a variation of it will be discussed in the post below) to try to play a more tactical game against a player beginning the game with e4. And it has a opening like the Dutch Defense to try to play a more tactical game against a player beginning the game with d4.

Here is a video that shows the Stonewall variation of the Dutch Defense.

Sicilian Defense - Najdorf, English Attack

2009-06-23T12:32:00.001-04:00

One of the best defenses black has against e4 is the Sicilian defense. It also happens to be one the most complicated and tactical variations of all of the defenses that black could choose. Some of the many variations of this defense are the Najdorf, Dragon, Classical, Scheveningen and the Accelerated dragon variations, just to name a few.

Here is a terrific video that explains the Najdorf variation of Sicilian defense. (The ECO code for the Sicilian Defense Najdorf is B90.)

Winning Chess Tactics Leading To Checkmate

2009-06-02T11:00:00.003-04:00

Speaking with many beginner to intermediate level players, I hear the area they want the most help with is chess tactics. One can memorize an opening and study the reasons behind the opening moves but once a players gets into the middle game they are more, "on their own" than they are in the opening. And coming up with a plan or finding winning moves such as tactics are not something one can memorize.

This is why studying chess puzzles is often seen as one of the most helpful things a player can do to improve their ability to see tactics for themselves. Puzzles help with pattern recognition, meaning that even though you probably won't see a position in one of your games that will match a tactic or puzzle you studied, it will look familiar enough that it will help you determine what to play.

Here is a very nice chess tactics video that show a number of ways this particular game could have been won. Can you find the combinations that win?

The Power Of Opposition - Chess Endgame Study

2009-05-18T10:00:00.006-04:00

Here is another great chess video, this time covering the power of opposition in the endgame. Understanding this key tactic can help you win the closest king and pawn endgames or maybe even pull a draw from a seemingly lost position. This video covers simple opposition when the kings are a square apart as well as how to determine the opposition when the kings are separated by six or seven squares across the board.

Chess Strategy - How To Checkmate With A Bishop And Knight

2008-07-10T05:29:00.006-04:00

Checkmating your opponent when you have only a bishop and knight against his lone king is one of the toughest checkmates to master. This video shows you how to do it.

Chess Opening Theory - Scandinavian Defense

2008-07-03T05:47:00.003-04:00

Here is a chess video that covers many facets of the Scandinavian Defense. It takes a look at the book lines played by black and explores a number of different variations. This video also includes a grandmaster game between Karpov and Larsen.

Ruy Lopez Opening Chess Video - Classical Defense

2008-06-26T05:38:00.004-04:00

This chess video explores the Ruy Lopez Classical Defense opening. It also includes a game between Emanuel Lasker and Wilhelm Steinitz in the Chess World Championship rematch in 1896.

Chess Opening Theory - Anti King's Indian Attack

2008-06-12T04:43:00.006-04:00

Here is a chess video covering another chess opening. It shows alternative play for black against the King's Indian Attack.

A Nice Chess Tactic - Black To Move

2008-06-06T04:09:00.005-04:00

Chess is all about tactics and finding nice combinations. Here is a very nice chess tactic from Jrobi Chess.

Grandmaster Chess Tactics Video - Bobby Fischer

2008-06-04T05:55:00.005-04:00

This particular chess tactics video features a great set of chess tactics by Bobby Fischer in a match he played against W. Birch in 1963.

Grandmaster Level Chess Tactics Video

2008-06-01T12:36:00.011-04:00

Here is a Grandmaster level chess tactic from a game between William Steinitz and Johannes Hermann Zukertort. Feel free to pause the video and see if you can find the tactical line.