First Thing First

Chess is a game that has been enjoyed for centuries and is played on a 8x8 square board. Understanding the layout of the chess board and the characteristics of each piece is essential for playing the game effectively. In this video, we will take a closer look at the chess board, its squares and its coordinates, as well as the various pieces that make up a chess set, including their names and relative values. This video will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the building blocks of the game of chess.

0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:04.100 To build a great building, we need to lay a strong foundation. Similarly 1 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:06.400 before we get into the intricacies of 2 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:09.700 the game let us begin with the basics first - the chessboard 3 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:10.400 and the pieces. 4 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:20.100 Let's begin to examine the chessboard in detail. Now as 5 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:22.500 you can see, we have 32 dark 6 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:25.300 colored squares and 32 light color squares in 7 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:27.300 the chess board making a total of 64. 8 00:00:28.100 --> 00:00:32.600 And we can also see there are horizontal lines, which 9 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:34.600 we call them as ranks and 10 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:37.800 vertical lines, which we call them as files. 11 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:40.200 There are eight ranks and 12 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:43.900 eight files and the ranks are marked 1 to 13 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:46.800 8 and the files are marked A to 14 00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:49.500 H. Now that we have covered ranks and 15 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:53.100 files let us explore the concept of diagonals. The 16 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:56.400 highlighted squares on the board A1 to 17 00:00:55.400 --> 00:00:56.800 H8. 18 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.200 And H1 to A8, these are 19 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.700 called the diagonals as you can see the diagonals always 20 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:05.300 run 21 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.700 across the white squares or the dark squares, let 22 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:12.700 us move to the topic of center just like 23 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:15.500 a capital city is the source of power for 24 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.700 the nation similarly in the chessboard the central 25 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.800 squares are the most important squares. Whoever 26 00:01:21.800 --> 00:01:24.700 controls them has better control over 27 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:28.700 the game the highlighted squares E4 E5 28 00:01:27.700 --> 00:01:31.400 D4 D5 29 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:33.800 these four squares we 30 00:01:33.800 --> 00:01:36.300 call as a center of the chess board when you develop 31 00:01:36.300 --> 00:01:39.400 the pieces you must develop them as close towards the 32 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:40.600 center as possible. 33 00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:45.600 Let us know go to the concepts of kingside queenside 34 00:01:44.600 --> 00:01:47.500 and the center on the 35 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.900 screen. You see the files Mark A 36 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:54.200 B and C are highlighted and 37 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.300 these are called the queen side 38 00:01:56.300 --> 00:01:59.700 files. Now let's move to the king side files. These 39 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:03.900 are the files marked by the alphabets H 40 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:05.600 G and F. 41 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:09.100 So these files are called the kingside files. 42 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:15.000 That leaves the E and D files. These 43 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:17.700 are the most important central files. 44 00:02:17.700 --> 00:02:20.300 Now we are going to understand the correct way to 45 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:21.000 set up a chess board. 46 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:25.100 Now that's not the right way. Can you tell me why? 47 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.500 Yes, the right hand corner. We have a dark colored 48 00:02:29.500 --> 00:02:32.800 square. This is not the right way to set up a chess board. Let's see 49 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:33.000 again. 50 00:02:35.100 --> 00:02:38.600 Yes, that's the right way to set up a chess board. We always need 51 00:02:38.600 --> 00:02:41.700 to remember that the bottom right hand corner square should 52 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:44.200 always be a white one. Now that we have seen how to 53 00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:47.200 set up a chess board let's see how the chess board looks from 54 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:51.400 White's perspective. As you can see the H 55 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:53.400 file is to my right side and the 56 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:56.000 A file is to my left side, and the first 57 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:57.400 rank is closer to me. 58 00:02:58.200 --> 00:03:01.500 And the eighth rank is further away from me this we 59 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:04.300 need to keep in mind when we set the chess board. Let's see what happens 60 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:05.700 when we turn the board around. 61 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.600 Yeah, now we are looking at the board from black's perspective 62 00:03:13.600 --> 00:03:16.400 as you can see the A file has 63 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.400 moved to my right side and the H file has come 64 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:22.400 to my left side. And that's this is how it usually is 65 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.500 from black's viewpoint. Not only that we can 66 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:28.100 also see the eighth number track is close to 67 00:03:28.100 --> 00:03:31.400 me. And the first number rank is towards my 68 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:32.400 opponent's side. 69 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.800 Yeah, let's now see how to name the squares using 70 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.400 the coordinates as we have seen earlier. 71 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:42.600 The files are marked A to 72 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:45.800 H, and the ranks are marked 1 73 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:46.400 to 8. 74 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:51.500 Let's point at a square random square D4. 75 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:53.500 Let's see how it works. So now 76 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:57.400 we see a B C D moving 77 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.700 up all the way. 1,2,3,4 78 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:02.500 as we can see the two lines meet at 79 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.400 the point D4. 80 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:07.200 So that's how we identify the squares. You need to be 81 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:10.700 really good at identifying squares based on the coordinates 82 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:13.300 because we have to use that to write the 83 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.300 notations on the score sheet. It's time to get a chess set out 84 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.000 because I'm going to ask you a few questions. Are you ready? 85 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:23.200 So point out to me the square C6. 86 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:27.700 Yes, that's right. As you can see the A 87 00:04:27.700 --> 00:04:30.500 B C and the numbers 1 2 3 88 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:33.200 4 5 6 meet at this Square. So 89 00:04:33.200 --> 00:04:34.800 that makes it the C6 Square. 90 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.100 Now quickly show me the square G7 91 00:04:39.700 --> 00:04:42.400 Yes, you got it. Very good. Now that we 92 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:45.100 have covered everything, we need to know about the chess board. 93 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:46.900 Let's move to the chess pieces. 94 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.800 The king is the most powerful piece in the game as you 95 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:52.600 can see there is a cross on top of its head. 96 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.600 The abbreviation for the king is K. It has 97 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.500 infinite value the most important piece in 98 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.500 the board. The objective of the game is to checkmate the 99 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:05.000 opponent's king that also means we need 100 00:05:05.200 --> 00:05:06.800 to keep working very safe. 101 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:11.200 The queen as you can see, there is a 102 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:14.500 crown on top of its head. It's the second most powerful piece 103 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:18.000 in the boat. The abbreviation for queen is Q 104 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:20.000 and it has 9 points. 105 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:22.200 The rook 106 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:26.300 It's the third most powerful piece after the king and 107 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:26.700 the queen. 108 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:29.500 the abbreviation for the rook is R 109 00:05:30.100 --> 00:05:31.700 and it's worth five points. 110 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:33.900 the knight 111 00:05:34.700 --> 00:05:35.500 or horse 112 00:05:36.900 --> 00:05:39.800 It is the fourth most powerful piece after the 113 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:41.200 king queen and rook. 114 00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:44.700 The abbreviation for the knight is N 115 00:05:44.700 --> 00:05:46.600 and it's worth three points. 116 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:49.200 the bishop 117 00:05:50.200 --> 00:05:51.100 it's equivalent to 118 00:05:52.100 --> 00:05:52.900 the knight's worth 119 00:05:53.900 --> 00:05:56.000 the abbreviation for the bishop is B. 120 00:05:56.800 --> 00:05:58.100 It's worth three points. 121 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:02.300 Now we come to the smallest unit the pawn. 122 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:06.500 It's worth one point and there are no abbreviations for this now 123 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:09.800 that we have learned about the chessboard and the pieces, let's 124 00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:12.500 learn how to set up the pieces on the chess board 125 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.400 there. You can see the rooks occupy the 126 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:16.900 corner squares. 127 00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:19.200 followed by the knights 128 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.100 and followed by the bishops 129 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:25.600 that leaves us with two empty squares 130 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:26.500 in the middle of the bird. 131 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:29.900 And that's where the king and queen are going to come. 132 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.200 You need to be extremely careful where you 133 00:06:33.200 --> 00:06:36.800 place the king and the queen because many young children make mistakes 134 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.800 here. The queen should always go 135 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:40.800 to its own color. 136 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.600 So it occupies the square D1. 137 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.000 Leaving the empty square E1 for the 138 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:47.300 king. 139 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:51.500 There you have the pieces on the first rank and the 140 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:54.400 second rank is completely taken over by the pawns. 141 00:06:56.200 --> 00:06:59.500 As we have seen we have arranged the pieces from the white side. 142 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:01.700 Let's do the same for the black side. 143 00:07:03.400 --> 00:07:04.700 The rooks go to the corner. 144 00:07:06.400 --> 00:07:07.000 followed by the knights 145 00:07:08.100 --> 00:07:09.200 then the bishop 146 00:07:10.200 --> 00:07:13.900 And as usual, the queen takes its own color. So the 147 00:07:13.900 --> 00:07:15.500 black queen goes to D8. 148 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:18.400 Leaving the square E8 for the king. 149 00:07:20.400 --> 00:07:23.200 The pawns as usual occupy the second rank from 150 00:07:23.200 --> 00:07:26.300 black's perspective. Now that we have learned how to 151 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:29.300 arrange the pieces. Let me ask you a question. Can you 152 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:31.400 rearrange the pieces in the correct position? 153 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.100 There you have it very good. Let's quickly go through 154 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:37.900 what we have learned in this episode. 155 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:03.000 156 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:28.200 In the next episode we are going 157 00:08:28.200 --> 00:08:31.300 to learn how to move the pieces and for the advanced or the 158 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:34.300 intermediate guys, don't worry there's lot more interesting stuff 159 00:08:34.300 --> 00:08:35.200 coming your way.

Moving the Pieces

In chess, each piece has its own unique way of moving across the board, and understanding these movements is crucial for playing the game effectively. In this video, we will take a closer look at different pieces (pawn, knight, bishop, rook, queen, and king) and examine their movements in detail.

Pawns & Pawns

Chess pawns are often considered the weakest pieces on the board, but they play a crucial role in determining the outcome of a game. Pawns have the ability to protect their own pieces, control key squares, and advance towards their opponent's side to eventually promote to a more powerful piece. Understanding the unique characteristics and capabilities of pawns is essential for developing a strong chess strategy. In this video, we will cover everything you need to know about chess pawns and their movement.

WEBVTT This is the transcript file for Pawns & Pawns 1 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:03.500 Pawn is the soul of Chess. So said the legendary chess 2 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:04.600 player Philidor. 3 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:15.000 As you can see pawn moves vertically along 4 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.100 the file one step at a time 5 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:18.000 usually. 6 I00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:21.200 Pawn can never go backwards. 7 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:25.500 There are four special moves pawn is 8 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:26.200 capable of 9 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.200 Let's Make a list out of them. 10 00:00:28.900 --> 00:00:31.300 The first one is pawn moving 11 00:00:31.300 --> 00:00:33.800 to two squares from its initial position. 12 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:37.400 The second one is capture. 13 00:00:38.800 --> 00:00:41.500 The third is promotion of the pawn. 14 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.400 And finally the en passant. When the 15 00:00:45.400 --> 00:00:48.000 pawn is in its initial position we have 16 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:51.200 the option to move it to one square or to two 17 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.700 square at the same move. 18 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:56.700 For example on the board we can see the pawn 19 00:00:56.700 --> 00:00:59.700 on D2 can move to D4 in one 20 00:00:59.700 --> 00:01:02.600 move. Now this option is available for all 21 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:05.700 the pawns as long as they remain in their initial 22 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:08.300 squares and we can move the pawn to two 23 00:01:08.300 --> 00:01:11.600 squares at any stage of the game be the opening 24 00:01:11.600 --> 00:01:14.500 the middle game or the end game. Let's start learning 25 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:17.100 about how to capture now as you can see 26 00:01:17.100 --> 00:01:19.400 the pawn on E4. 27 00:01:20.100 --> 00:01:23.100 can capture the pawn on F5? 28 00:01:24.300 --> 00:01:26.100 or pawn on D5 29 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:31.100 the pawn can capture only along one square 30 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:33.500 diagonally on either side 31 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.700 usually all the pieces move and 32 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:39.800 capture in the same way, but the pawns they 33 00:01:39.800 --> 00:01:42.200 move in a particular way and capture in 34 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.800 a different way. Let us now explore how a pawn 35 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:48.200 can move two squares from its initial position. 36 00:01:49.300 --> 00:01:52.400 Now on the screen just tell me can the 37 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:54.900 pawn on D3 move to D5 or not. 38 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.200 No, you cannot do that. You can only move the 39 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.100 pawn to two squares when it is in its initial position. Let's 40 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:05.200 see another example now tell me 41 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.100 can we move the pawn? 42 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:10.000 F2 to F4 or not 43 00:02:11.600 --> 00:02:14.400 Yes, we can do that since the pawn 44 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.500 is in its initial position. We can move it two 45 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:20.300 squares forward. Let's see a few examples on 46 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:20.900 capture. 47 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:24.600 Now we have the position on the screen with white pawn 48 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:26.700 on F4 and black pawn on F5. 49 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.500 Can the white pawn capture the black pawn? 50 00:02:30.600 --> 00:02:33.600 No, we cannot capture the pawn when 51 00:02:33.600 --> 00:02:36.900 it is on the same file. Let's move to the next position. We 52 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.500 have the white pawn on F4 and the 53 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:40.600 black pawn on G5. 54 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:43.000 Can we do a capture here? 55 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:47.200 Yes, when we capture we need 56 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:50.600 to remember that the captured piece goes out 57 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:53.500 of the chessboard and is replaced by 58 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:56.500 the capturing piece. Now that we have covered two of 59 00:02:56.500 --> 00:02:59.500 the special moves with the pawns. We still need to learn about 60 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:02.700 pawn promotions and en passant this 61 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:05.500 we will do in the classroom. So we have seen 62 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:08.700 two of the special moves with pawn already. Let's move 63 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:12.300 to the third special move with a pawn that is promotion. Now 64 00:03:11.300 --> 00:03:14.300 as we know the pawn moves 65 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:17.600 in a vertical line along the file, let's assume there's 66 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:21.100 a pawn on E2. It moves to E3 E4 67 00:03:20.100 --> 00:03:23.800 E5 E6 E7. 68 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:27.900 See nothing happens but something magical happens when 69 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:30.600 the pawn moved from the seventh rank to the eighth rank. 70 00:03:30.600 --> 00:03:33.500 Now we need to remember the pawn 71 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:36.300 cannot remain pawn on the eighth rank. 72 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:39.700 It needs to become something else. Now my question to 73 00:03:39.700 --> 00:03:42.600 Advika. Can we promote pawn into 74 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:44.600 a king? No, why not? 75 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:49.400 Rosh, I have a question for you. Can we 76 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.700 promote a pawn on the seventh rank and promote it 77 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:54.900 to a pawn? No, why not? 78 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:59.500 Looking good. We already 79 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:02.400 have a pawn. Okay. So as we 80 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:05.400 have said earlier the pawn can only 81 00:04:05.400 --> 00:04:08.600 become any of the other pieces other than pawn or 82 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:12.000 a king now my question to you Laksh when 83 00:04:11.100 --> 00:04:14.700 the pawn promotes to a rook 84 00:04:14.700 --> 00:04:17.500 or a bishop or a knight. What do 85 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:20.200 we call it under promotion? Excellent. 86 00:04:21.400 --> 00:04:25.100 And it's not good. Okay, Shivika my 87 00:04:24.100 --> 00:04:27.600 question to you when we have the pawn and 88 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:31.000 promote it into a queen. What do we call it promotion promotion? 89 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.900 That's it. So I think you all understood the 90 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:36.100 concept of promotion and under promotion, right? 91 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:40.200 Very good. Let's now move to the fourth special move with 92 00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:43.700 pawn which is called the en passant. Okay, it's 93 00:04:43.700 --> 00:04:46.300 slightly confusing and even difficult for me at times. 94 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:49.900 So, let's see what it means. Now. Let's assume 95 00:04:49.900 --> 00:04:53.400 the white pawn is on E5 Square. Okay, and 96 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:55.200 pawn is on the fifth rank. 97 00:04:55.900 --> 00:04:58.300 The opponents adjacent pawn. That is 98 00:04:58.300 --> 00:04:59.300 the pawn on the D7. 99 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:00.800 so when it makes the 100 00:05:01.700 --> 00:05:04.400 pawn on D7 move to two squares 101 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:08.800 D7 to D5 when the pawn comes we have 102 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.500 to assume the pawn moved just one file 103 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:14.800 and we can capture the pawn. It 104 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.500 takes D6. This is called en passant. 105 00:05:18.200 --> 00:05:18.900 understood 106 00:05:19.400 --> 00:05:22.200 Okay, so now let me ask a few questions to you. 107 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:24.200 Rosh 108 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:28.300 If black plays E5, can we do an 109 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:31.600 en passant? Can you show it for me, please? Okay, let me 110 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:33.000 make the move E5. 111 00:05:34.200 --> 00:05:37.300 Yeah, very good. So this is the right way to do an 112 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:40.800 en passant. So what he did when he captured 113 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:43.700 he assumed the black pawn to be on the E6 114 00:05:43.700 --> 00:05:46.100 square. He removed the pawn on 115 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:49.100 E6 and put the white pawn on the 116 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:52.700 E6 Square now all this we need to remember in 117 00:05:52.700 --> 00:05:55.200 chess. We are not allowed to use two hands 118 00:05:55.200 --> 00:05:58.400 to make a move. So we need to do this with one hand 119 00:05:58.400 --> 00:06:02.000 Rosh, can you show me again? How you remove the 120 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:02.800 piece and 121 00:06:05.200 --> 00:06:07.700 See, that's how it should be done. Very good. 122 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:11.500 Wow, now, let's see Shivika. I'm 123 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:12.700 going to ask a tricky question. 124 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:13.700 now 125 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:17.300 I play the move F4. Can you 126 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:20.500 do an en passant? No, why not? Because when 127 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:23.500 our pawn is on a fourth 128 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:26.400 rank now when it is in the fifth rank, we 129 00:06:26.400 --> 00:06:29.300 can do en passant. Yeah, when the pawn is on the fourth rank 130 00:06:29.300 --> 00:06:32.500 we cannot do an en passant only whenever pawn is on the fifth 131 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.100 rank we can do en passant very good. Lakshesh 132 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:39.300 if white plays C4 can black do 133 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:42.400 an en passant. Yes. Okay. Can you show it for me how it 134 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:42.700 is done? 135 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:44.300 Yes. 136 00:06:46.900 --> 00:06:49.800 Yeah, so in this example, we saw 137 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:52.400 the black pawn from my side. 138 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:55.400 It was on the fifth rank and the white pawn 139 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:56.500 moved from the initial square 140 00:06:57.400 --> 00:07:01.000 two squares and immediately Lakshesh captured 141 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:03.600 it B sticks C3 now. 142 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:06.300 Let's move to Advika. I have a tricky 143 00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:09.200 question for you. I'm going to play rook B5. 144 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:13.000 So can you do an en passant here? No, can you tell me 145 00:07:13.200 --> 00:07:19.000 why because you yes, so 146 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:21.500 she's right now we can only en passant 147 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:24.400 a pawn and we cannot en passant a piece. Let's quickly 148 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:26.100 run over what we have seen in this episode. 149 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:50.600 In the next episode we are going to see something very interesting that is 150 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:51.600 called the castling.

Castling & Illegal Moves

This video provides an introduction to the concept of castling and illegal moves in chess. Castling is a special move that allows players to quickly protect their king and reposition their rooks. It's a crucial part of chess strategy, as it helps players quickly mobilize their pieces and create a safer position for their king. On the other hand, illegal moves in chess refer to moves that break the rules of the game, such as moving a piece to an occupied square, moving a piece in an illegal manner, or putting the king in check while making a move. In this video, we will explore the ins and outs of castling, including the different types of castling. We will also discuss the various illegal moves in chess and what to watch out for during a game.

WEBVTT - This file is the transcript file for Castling & Illegal Moves 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.900 King is the most important piece in the game of chess. One 1 00:00:03.900 --> 00:00:06.500 way to ensure the king remains safe is 2 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:08.100 by castling it to safety. 3 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.300 Let us see what happens when we castle our King 4 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:20.700 on this example. See what happens when the 5 00:00:20.700 --> 00:00:23.400 white king castles on the queen side or in 6 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:25.200 other words long castle. 7 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:30.300 In this example, we see the white king castling on 8 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:31.100 the short side. 9 00:00:32.400 --> 00:00:35.300 Let's move to the black's viewpoint. Let us 10 00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:37.800 now see what happens when black castles on the king side. 11 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.500 Now, let's see what happens when black castles on the queen side. 12 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.500 Now we have seen what happens to the king and 13 00:00:45.500 --> 00:00:48.200 the rook when we castle on the queen side 14 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.300 and the queen side. Now I have few questions for 15 00:00:51.300 --> 00:00:51.700 you guys. 16 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:55.500 Now which piece we need to touch when we 17 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:56.800 castle Advika? 18 00:00:57.400 --> 00:01:00.400 The King The King very good. So it's very 19 00:01:00.400 --> 00:01:03.400 important to remember we should not touch the rook 20 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:06.500 first. We should always touch the king first 21 00:01:06.500 --> 00:01:10.600 and then only we should start the process of castling. What 22 00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:12.200 happens when we touch the rook first 23 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:14.600 Lakshesh? We have to 24 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.700 play the rook move. Can you Castle? No, why not? 25 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.400 Because we have touched the 26 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:24.600 rook now if we will touch the king 27 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:27.900 then it will not be accepted as 28 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.600 castle. So what he means is when we 29 00:01:30.600 --> 00:01:33.100 touch the rook for castling we will 30 00:01:33.100 --> 00:01:36.400 not be permitted to castle because the correct way to castle is by 31 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:39.300 touching the king first. If you touch the rook first, we'll be 32 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:43.300 obliged to make the rook move, but we cannot castle. Rosh, 33 00:01:42.300 --> 00:01:45.600 I have a question for you. Can we castle 34 00:01:45.600 --> 00:01:46.800 using both the hands? 35 00:01:47.300 --> 00:01:50.200 No. Shivika, can 36 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.100 you tell me what is the symbol for a long side castling? 0-0-0 37 00:01:55.800 --> 00:01:58.500 And Advika, can 38 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:02.000 you tell me what is the symbol for a short side castle? 0-0. 39 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:04.300 Now for 40 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:07.200 you Lakshesh, can you tell me if I have 41 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:10.000 moved the rook earlier and come back 42 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:13.200 to the same square would black have the option to 43 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:17.100 castle again or not? No. Can you tell me why? Because we 44 00:02:16.100 --> 00:02:17.900 have moved 45 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:21.700 the rook and if we have moved the rook 46 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:24.100 we can't castle. Very good if we have 47 00:02:24.100 --> 00:02:27.400 moved the king or the rook already and if 48 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:30.400 they have come back to their original position, we lose the 49 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.200 right to castle. Okay. Now, let's move to 50 00:02:33.200 --> 00:02:36.500 the position in front of you Lakshesh. Can you tell me if black 51 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:39.800 can castle here or not? No. Why not? Because 52 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:42.500 the knight is on tree? Yeah if 53 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:45.200 there is a piece in between the king and the rook 54 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:48.400 we are not permitted to castle now. Let's see in 55 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.300 this position Advika and which side should white 56 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:51.600 castle? 57 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:56.000 On the long.. on the queen side on the 58 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.300 queen side, very good. Can you tell me why we cannot do a short castle 59 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:02.300 here? Because if we castle we get a check from 60 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:04.700 the rook. Yeah if we do a short castle 61 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:08.400 can see the king will be under a check 62 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.200 and this is not permitted. 63 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:14.200 Now Shivika, can you tell me if black can castle on 64 00:03:14.200 --> 00:03:17.400 the queen.. king side or not? He can not castle. Yeah, very 65 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:20.700 good. So now we have to remember this rule when we 66 00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:23.500 are trying to castle, the king is moving it cannot move 67 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:26.200 to a square where it will be under a check. 68 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:29.300 So we need to castle only when the king 69 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:33.000 cannot cross over a check. Now Rosh, can 70 00:03:32.100 --> 00:03:35.600 you tell me in this position white can 71 00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:38.400 castle on the king side or the queen side? Is it permitted or 72 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:38.500 not? 73 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:40.200 Why not? 74 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:43.600 Because King had a 75 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:46.500 check. Yes, very good. So in this position Rosh 76 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.600 position, the king is under check. You cannot castle 77 00:03:49.600 --> 00:03:51.500 your king when it is under check. 78 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:55.200 Kids, did you understand the concept of castling now better? Yes (in unison)... 79 00:03:56.700 --> 00:03:57.600 That's the spirit. 80 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:31.700 So in the next episode we 81 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:34.200 are going to see something more interesting related to 82 00:04:34.200 --> 00:04:37.200 playing in tournaments that is how to use a chess clock 83 00:04:37.200 --> 00:04:40.100 and how to fill score sheet, write the results of 84 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:41.400 the game and so on.

Algebraic Notations & The Chess Clock

This episode details the concept of Algebraic Notations in Chess and the Chess Clock. Algebraic Notations are the standard way of recording and communicating chess moves, and are used by players around the world. Understanding how to read and write algebraic notations is essential for analyzing and studying games, as well as for playing against opponents. The Chess Clock, is a device used to keep track of the time each player takes to make their moves. It's an important tool for tournament play, as it ensures that the game is played within a specific time frame. In this video, we will explore the basics of algebraic notations, including how to write and read moves, and how to use them to annotate games. We will also discuss the chess clock, including how it works, when it's used, and its impact on the game.

WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.600 In this episode we are going to learn several things that 1 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.200 will be useful to you when you play in a chess tournament. 2 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:09.900 First we are going to learn how to mark notation. 3 00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:13.500 And then I'm going to teach you how to fill up a score 4 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:16.900 sheet, and subsequently we are going to learn how to operate a chess 5 00:00:16.900 --> 00:00:17.100 clock. 6 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:25.300 Let's begin with notation first. 7 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:29.300 On the screen you see a white bishop on 8 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:30.700 the square f4. 9 00:00:31.700 --> 00:00:34.400 Now, let's assume the bishop moves to 10 00:00:34.400 --> 00:00:36.000 the square h2. 11 00:00:37.300 --> 00:00:41.200 Now on the score sheet, you need to mention the bishop 12 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:43.200 with a capital B as we have seen 13 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.800 before and the file h in small 14 00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:49.500 and the rank number 2. 15 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:53.600 So we need to write as Bh2. 16 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:56.000 Let's see another example. 17 00:00:56.900 --> 00:00:59.600 Let's take a queen on d1. 18 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.100 It moves to square d5. 19 00:01:06.300 --> 00:01:07.100 How do we write this? 20 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:08.800 Yes. 21 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:10.800 Queen in capital 22 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:13.800 d in small 23 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.700 and the rank 5 so it's Qd5. 24 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:21.600 Let's see an example with a pawn 25 00:01:21.600 --> 00:01:24.600 now. We have the pawn moving from e2 to 26 00:01:24.600 --> 00:01:26.400 square e4. 27 00:01:27.300 --> 00:01:30.300 As you have seen already before a pawn does 28 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:34.600 not have an abbreviation. So you just need to write e4. 29 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:38.000 You just need to write the destination square, 30 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:42.500 that's it. Let's see another example the pawn moving from 31 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:44.900 g2 to g4. 32 00:01:46.600 --> 00:01:49.100 Yes, we just write g4. Now that 33 00:01:49.100 --> 00:01:52.300 we have learned how to write notation, let us move to 34 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:55.800 how to write a score sheet. As you can see, this is 35 00:01:55.800 --> 00:01:58.400 an example of how your score 36 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:01.300 sheet looks when both players have filled it 37 00:02:01.300 --> 00:02:02.300 after the game. 38 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.800 Now, let's see how your score sheet looks when 39 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:07.900 it is not filled. 40 00:02:09.600 --> 00:02:12.100 As you can see at the top you have the 41 00:02:12.100 --> 00:02:13.000 column event. 42 00:02:14.100 --> 00:02:16.700 You need to fill the details about the tournament here. 43 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:20.200 And we have the row white. 44 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:22.700 You need to write the white player's name. 45 00:02:24.200 --> 00:02:25.200 The row black, 46 00:02:26.200 --> 00:02:28.800 you need to fill up the details of the black players here. 47 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:32.100 And the tournament name. 48 00:02:33.200 --> 00:02:36.500 Let's look at the various possible results in a chess 49 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:36.700 game. 50 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:41.200 There are three kinds of results that is possible, either the 51 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:41.900 white can win, 52 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:44.900 the white losses and black wins 53 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:47.100 or the game ends in a draw. 54 00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:50.800 Whoever wins the game gets one point. 55 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:53.000 The loser gets none. 56 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:56.100 And if the game is drawn both players get 57 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:57.100 half a point each. 58 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:02.500 The way we denote it in chess is a 59 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:05.400 white win is shown as 1-0. 60 00:03:06.700 --> 00:03:09.100 The black win as 61 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:09.500 0-1, 62 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:14.700 and your draw is denoted by 0.5 - 0.5. 63 00:03:13.700 --> 00:03:16.600 Let's see how to 64 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:18.700 fill up a score sheet in a tournament scenario. 65 00:03:19.600 --> 00:03:22.800 Now we have the white pawn moving to e4. 66 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:26.400 So on the white column the first move, 67 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.500 you need to write e4 the e 68 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:30.500 should be in small caps. 69 00:03:31.600 --> 00:03:33.200 and black plays e5 70 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:37.800 so we fill up the first black move as 71 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:39.500 small e 5. 72 00:03:40.700 --> 00:03:44.600 Let's go to the second move Knight f3. The 73 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:46.800 knight goes to f3. The knight 74 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:49.700 is denoted by capital N and the 75 00:03:49.700 --> 00:03:52.400 f file small f and the 76 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.200 rank 3 Nf3. 77 00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:58.600 And black plays Nc6. 78 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:00.800 So the knight is denoted by. 79 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:02.600 capital N 80 00:04:03.600 --> 00:04:07.000 And the file by small c and the 81 00:04:06.100 --> 00:04:08.400 rank by the numerical six. 82 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:11.300 This is how we fill up a score sheet. 83 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:15.100 At the end of the game, we need to fill up 84 00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:18.300 the result as well. If white wins, we put 85 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:21.200 1-0, if black wins we 86 00:04:21.200 --> 00:04:24.700 put 0-1 and if it's a draw we put 87 00:04:24.700 --> 00:04:25.700 0.5-0.5. 88 00:04:27.200 --> 00:04:29.100 That's how we fill up a score sheet. 89 00:04:29.700 --> 00:04:33.100 Let's see how a chess clock looks and works. This 90 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:35.200 is the official chess clock approved by 91 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:38.200 FIDE, the world chess organization. Now as you 92 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:41.300 can see, there are two sides to the chess clock and 93 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:44.500 you have time mentioned on both the sides. 94 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.600 Now, every tournament has their 95 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.800 own time controls, which you should take note of 96 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:53.200 before you enroll into a tournament, and if you 97 00:04:53.200 --> 00:04:56.700 have any questions on that, please ask the tournament referee 98 00:04:56.700 --> 00:04:59.500 and he will be able to help you. Now what happens is 99 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:02.500 when it is white's turn to move the 100 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:06.100 knob on his side is always on the top when white 101 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:08.400 has made the move on the board, you have 102 00:05:08.400 --> 00:05:11.100 to make the move and then press the clock. 103 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:14.400 This is how it is done. And when it is done the other 104 00:05:14.400 --> 00:05:17.500 side's clock starts running and when black 105 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:20.900 has made the move he needs to press the clock and it 106 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:23.300 goes back and forth. Let's quickly go through 107 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:25.200 what we have learnt in this episode. 108 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:44.100 In the next 109 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:47.600 episode we are going to learn about the three different stages in 110 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:48.300 the game of chess.

Discussions with Parents : Part 1

GM Ramesh and Olympic Mental Trainer Vaibhav Agashe discuss how to overcome pressure when your child is playing in a tournament, price of negative emotions, designing the perfect environment and expectations and their expressions.

3 Stages of Chess

Chess is a complex game that is played in three distinct stages: the opening, the middle game, and the endgame. Each stage has its own unique challenges and strategies, and the outcome of the game is often determined by how well players navigate these stages. In the opening, players develop their pieces, control key squares, and create a solid foundation for their future plans. The middle game is characterized by tactical battles and maneuvering, as players look to gain a positional advantage and prepare for the endgame. The endgame is the final stage of the game, where players use their remaining pieces to checkmate their opponent's king and win the game. In this video, we will explore each of these stages in detail, including their key characteristics, strategies, and tips for success.

WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.300 In this episode we are going into few complex 1 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:06.400 topics. We are going to learn the three different 2 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:09.500 stages in the game, the opening, middle game and 3 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:11.500 the endgame and what defines them. 4 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.400 Let's move to the opening phase now. There is no clear definition 5 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:24.400 how to describe an opening 6 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:27.200 stage. In this stage we try to develop all 7 00:00:27.200 --> 00:00:30.600 our pieces as quickly as possible and also castle 8 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:33.600 our king to safety. But the problem with this understanding 9 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.700 is I've seen many kids develop their 10 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:39.200 kingside pieces alone, castle their king 11 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:42.400 and start playing like they have completed the opening and 12 00:00:42.400 --> 00:00:45.100 they are well into the middle game. My suggestion is to 13 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:48.300 quickly develop all the eight pieces until you 14 00:00:48.300 --> 00:00:51.100 do that to treat the game as still in the opening phase. 15 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:54.800 Now in this example, we see that 16 00:00:54.800 --> 00:00:57.300 white has developed his king 17 00:00:57.300 --> 00:01:00.800 side pieces and castled the king but that 18 00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:04.000 does not mean he is into the middle game. He is 19 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:06.900 still in the opening stage because the queenside 20 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:08.800 pieces are not yet developed. 21 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:14.900 In the second example, we see that white has 22 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:17.600 developed all the eight pieces. At 23 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:20.500 least once - now we can consider that white 24 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:22.400 has already gone into the middle game. 25 00:01:23.300 --> 00:01:25.300 But can we say the same to black as well? 26 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:27.300 No, we cannot. 27 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:31.200 As we see black has not developed few of 28 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.400 his pieces yet. 29 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:35.900 They remain in their original squares. 30 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:40.700 So in this example we can say black is 31 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:43.100 still playing in the opening stage. In the 32 00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:46.500 third example we see that both white 33 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:49.500 and black have moved at least 34 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:51.900 once all their eight pieces. 35 00:01:53.300 --> 00:01:56.400 So my way of bringing opening to an end 36 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.500 is when both sides have developed all 37 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:02.300 their eight pieces. Let's move to the middle game. 38 00:02:03.100 --> 00:02:06.200 This is the most important phase in the game as in the 39 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.500 opening phase it usually takes 15 to 18 moves and 40 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.700 most of the game is played in this stage. In this 41 00:02:12.700 --> 00:02:16.400 stage we try to do different things like attacking 42 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.700 the opponent king 43 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.100 or putting our pieces in a better 44 00:02:21.100 --> 00:02:21.600 square 45 00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:24.600 or try to win material, 46 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:27.600 open lines for our pieces. 47 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:31.300 And there are many other interesting strategies which we'll 48 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:34.400 be covering in subsequent episodes. Let's move to 49 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.100 the endgame stage now. When the queens are 50 00:02:37.100 --> 00:02:40.600 exchanged we call it as an end game. As you 51 00:02:40.600 --> 00:02:43.400 can see on the screen the queens are off the 52 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:46.400 board and from here the endgame stage starts. 53 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.600 In the endgame we try to convert the 54 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:53.300 advantages we had accumulated in 55 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:55.100 the middle game into a win. 56 00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:59.700 This we usually try to do by either promoting 57 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:00.400 the pawns 58 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:04.300 or checkmating the opponent king. I hope you 59 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.700 have learnt about the three stages of the game, the opening, middle 60 00:03:07.700 --> 00:03:10.600 game and the endgame. Let's quickly recap what 61 00:03:10.600 --> 00:03:11.200 we have learnt. 62 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:30.400 In the next episode we are 63 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.700 going to learn about a simple middle game concept - the attack.

The Attack

Attack is one of the most important aspects of chess strategy, as it allows players to put pressure on their opponent's pieces and king, and ultimately win the game. A successful attack requires careful planning and execution, and involves using a combination of pieces to create threats and force the opponent to make defensive moves. In this video, we will explore the basics of attacking in chess, including how to identify opportunities for attack, how to coordinate your pieces, and how to use tactical elements such as forks, pins, and discovered attacks to your advantage. We will also cover various types of attacks, such as the king-side attack, the queen-side attack, and the central attack.

WEBVTT - This file was is the transcript file for The Attack. 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.300 In the previous episode we had learned the three stages 1 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:06.600 of the game, the opening, middle game and the 2 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.000 endgame. In this episode, we are going to 3 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:11.000 learn the concept of attack. 4 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:20.400 Kids, so we have covered many of the basic things in 5 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:23.500 the previous episodes. We have seen how the pieces move, 6 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:26.300 how the pieces are named, what their values are 7 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:29.600 we have learnt about some interesting concepts like castling, 8 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.900 en passant, pawn promotion, under 9 00:00:32.900 --> 00:00:35.000 promotion. Now we are going to 10 00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:38.000 move into other topics and these are in the 11 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:38.800 field of the middle game. 12 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:42.500 Okay. So one of the most important concept we 13 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.200 have to learn is to give a threat to the 14 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:47.600 opponent's pawn or a piece or the king. 15 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:51.800 Okay. So this we are going to see in detail. The concept 16 00:00:51.800 --> 00:00:54.900 we are going to look now is the attack. Now 17 00:00:54.900 --> 00:00:55.900 let's imagine the position. 18 00:00:56.900 --> 00:00:59.200 With a pawn on e3 the white pawn on 19 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:01.500 e3 and with the knight on d5. 20 00:01:02.100 --> 00:01:05.700 Okay. So now white to play white makes the pawn 21 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:08.100 move on e4 and what it does 22 00:01:08.100 --> 00:01:11.300 from e4. It is threatening to capture the black knight 23 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:14.800 on d5. So this is called an attack. 24 00:01:14.800 --> 00:01:17.900 Now, let's understand the attack in detail. 25 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:21.900 Now let us go to the next example where 26 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:24.700 white has pawns h2 g2 f2 27 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:27.600 the knight on f3 with the 28 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:29.200 white queen on d1. 29 00:01:30.100 --> 00:01:33.500 Now in this case, let's assume there's a black bishop on c8 and black 30 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:36.000 moves the bishop to the square g4. 31 00:01:36.800 --> 00:01:39.400 Lakshesh, can you tell me is that an attacking 32 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:42.500 move or not? No, it's not an attack. 33 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:45.700 Very good. Because the first instance 34 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:48.300 the knight on f3 is defended by 35 00:01:48.300 --> 00:01:49.200 the pawn on g2. 36 00:01:50.300 --> 00:01:53.900 Okay, the second reason why it's not an attack. It's 37 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:56.700 because after playing bishop g4, even 38 00:01:56.700 --> 00:02:00.500 if black bishop captures f3 white 39 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:02.700 can play gxf3 and 40 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:05.000 black did not gain any material. 41 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:09.300 So the thing to understand here is only when 42 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:10.100 a threat 43 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:11.800 is made 44 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.600 and then the capture results in gain of material 45 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:18.200 we can call that threat as an attack, 46 00:02:19.300 --> 00:02:20.900 but if the threat 47 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:24.700 does not lead to gain of material after 48 00:02:24.700 --> 00:02:25.400 the capture, 49 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:27.700 we cannot call it an attack. 50 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.800 Got it. So, let's see few examples. 51 00:02:31.700 --> 00:02:34.500 We had already seen with the white pawn 52 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:37.400 on e3 moving to e4 with a 53 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.100 black knight on d5 white was threatening to 54 00:02:40.100 --> 00:02:43.800 capture the knight and the knight has three points. The pawn 55 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:46.600 has one point, right? So by this capture 56 00:02:46.600 --> 00:02:48.500 white will gain material. 57 00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:52.400 So that is an attack. So 58 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.400 now we have covered how to attack with a pawn. 59 00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:58.800 So let's see examples of attack with 60 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.300 the other pieces. So let's start with the king. 61 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:04.600 So let us say we have the white king on 62 00:03:04.600 --> 00:03:04.800 d2. 63 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:08.900 and the black knight on d4. 64 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:12.700 Now in this case white can attack the 65 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:16.200 black knight in three different ways - king 66 00:03:15.200 --> 00:03:18.600 can go to c3 or d3 67 00:03:18.600 --> 00:03:21.300 or the e3 from these three 68 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:24.600 squares then king will be threatening to capture 69 00:03:24.600 --> 00:03:28.100 the knight leading to gain of material, right? So 70 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:30.200 that's an example of an attack with 71 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:32.700 the king. Now let's move with the queen. 72 00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:36.300 Let's keep the white queen on g1 73 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.300 and the black rook on c8. 74 00:03:40.300 --> 00:03:43.200 Okay. Now let's see the different ways where we can 75 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:46.500 attack the black rook so the queen g1 76 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.500 can go to g4 and threaten the 77 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:50.400 rook on c8. 78 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:54.800 Now if I try to do in other ways, for example, if I 79 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:57.500 move the queen to c1 or if 80 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:00.500 I move the queen to c5 in both 81 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:03.500 these cases the black rook can capture 82 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:06.500 the white queen so we will actually be 83 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:09.200 losing material instead of gaining. So that's not 84 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:12.400 an attack, It's called a blunder. So the only way 85 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.700 we can threaten the black rook is 86 00:04:15.700 --> 00:04:18.400 to play queen g4 and attack 87 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:21.500 the black rook, got it? Now, let's look at the other pieces. 88 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:22.600 Now we have 89 00:04:24.700 --> 00:04:27.600 bishop on g7 black bishop on g7 90 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.300 and the white rook on 91 00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:33.800 a1. Now, there are two different way, the 92 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.400 white rook can attack the bishop on g1. 93 00:04:36.900 --> 00:04:39.600 So the first way is to move the rook 94 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:42.400 to a7 the 7th Rrank and the other way 95 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:45.600 is to go rook g1 from these squares 96 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:48.400 the bishop will be under attack. Is it clear? 97 00:04:48.400 --> 00:04:51.200 Now, let's move to the bishop. So let's say 98 00:04:51.200 --> 00:04:53.400 I have the white bishop on f1. 99 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:56.400 and a black rook on c8 100 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:59.400 Now there are two ways the bishop can attack the rook 101 00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:02.800 one is by moving the bishop to h3 and the 102 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.900 other by moving the bishop to a6. 103 00:05:05.700 --> 00:05:06.300 Got it? 104 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:07.500 Now, let's move 105 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:08.900 to the knight. 106 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.800 Let's have a white night on c4. 107 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.600 And let's have the black queen on 108 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:16.300 f7. 109 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:20.000 In this case the knight c4 can go to 110 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.100 either d6 or to the square e5 111 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:26.900 in both this cases the knight will be threatening to 112 00:05:26.900 --> 00:05:28.800 capture the queen on f7. 113 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.900 So we have seen how to attack, give a 114 00:05:32.900 --> 00:05:35.200 threat which will lead to gain of 115 00:05:35.200 --> 00:05:38.000 material which is what we call as an attack 116 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:41.900 with different examples. Now, let's go 117 00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:44.100 to some examples in front of you. 118 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:47.400 Lakshesh, can you tell me how white can 119 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:48.800 attack the black rook 120 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:50.600 without losing material? 121 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:54.800 Yes there is only one way and that is c4. Can 122 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:55.500 you make the move on the board? 123 00:05:56.400 --> 00:05:58.100 Very good. So with this move 124 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:00.400 white is threatening to capture 125 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:03.200 the black rook. Can you catch this? 126 00:06:04.200 --> 00:06:04.500 Wow. 127 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.300 Rosh now tell me you have a queen 128 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:11.500 extra the opponent has rook and a bishop. Can you 129 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:15.200 tell me how the white queen can attack the black bishop? Qc1! 130 00:06:14.200 --> 00:06:16.400 Can you make the move? 131 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.100 Slipped it, it's fine. Yep. Can you tell 132 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:26.300 me how the bishop can be attacked by white? 133 00:06:26.900 --> 00:06:29.200 It can be attacked in two ways - one 134 00:06:29.200 --> 00:06:32.500 is Ra3 and the other is Kf2. 135 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:35.200 Can you make the moves on the board? Ra3 136 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:36.100 one way, right! 137 00:06:37.200 --> 00:06:39.600 The there is king f2. 138 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:43.100 One chocolate. Advika, can you 139 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.300 tell me how the knight on e5 can attack the queen 140 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:49.400 on b2? It can attack it in two 141 00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:52.600 ways one is Nc3 and one is Nc4. 142 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.500 Fantastic. So the knight 143 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:58.800 can attack the queen in two different ways. Guys, 144 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.000 have you seen how quickly Advika has mastered 145 00:07:01.700 --> 00:07:04.500 how the knight moves? This is 146 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:05.900 very important. Very good. 147 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:11.600 Excellent. I think now we have understood the concept of attack very 148 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:14.300 well. Let's do a quick recap of what we 149 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:15.300 have learnt in this episode. 150 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:30.200 Yeah in 151 00:07:29.200 --> 00:07:32.500 the next episode we are going to learn what happens 152 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:35.300 when we attack the king and it's called a check.

The Check

Check is an important part of the game, as it alerts players that their king is under attack and they must take immediate action to defend it. When a player's king is in check, they must either move their king to a safe square, block the attack with another piece, or capture the attacking piece. If a player's king cannot escape check, they are said to be in checkmate and the game is over. In this video, we will explore the basics of check in chess, including what it is, how to recognize it, and how to respond to it. We will also cover advanced concepts such as double check and discovered check, and how they can be used to gain an advantage over your opponent.

WEBVTT - This file is the transcript file for The Check 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.400 In the previous episode we had learned the concept of 1 00:00:03.400 --> 00:00:06.100 attack. In this episode we are 2 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:09.200 going to see what happens when we attack the king. 3 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:12.200 In chess terms we call it a check. 4 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:21.400 In the previous episode we have seen the concept of attack. 5 00:00:22.200 --> 00:00:25.100 And in this episode we are going to see what happens when we 6 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:26.100 attack the king. 7 00:00:26.900 --> 00:00:29.300 When we attack the king we call it as a check. 8 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:32.300 Okay, the king is said to be under check and when the 9 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:36.800 king is under check we need to respond to the check immediately. Any 10 00:00:35.800 --> 00:00:38.200 move we make which does 11 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.600 not respond to the check, it's an illegal move, right? That's 12 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:45.000 not permitted. Now, let's see a few examples of 13 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.400 how a check looks in practice. 14 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:51.200 Now, let's assume the white king on e1. 15 00:00:51.900 --> 00:00:54.900 And the black bishop plays bishop f8 16 00:00:54.900 --> 00:00:56.100 to b4. 17 00:00:57.300 --> 00:01:00.300 Okay. So now the bishop has given the white 18 00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:03.700 king a check because the king is under attack and we 19 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:06.500 need to do something about it. Now we have seen how a 20 00:01:06.500 --> 00:01:09.300 check happens with the bishop. Now, let's see what happens 21 00:01:10.300 --> 00:01:13.400 when we attack the king with other pieces. Let's have 22 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.100 the black king on f4. 23 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:20.500 White has Bishop on e1. Now I 24 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:23.200 play bishop d2 giving a check for 25 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:24.900 the king on f4. 26 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:28.800 Okay. So now here the white bishop is 27 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:31.900 giving a check to the black king. Let's 28 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:34.400 move to the other pieces the black king on 29 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.600 c6 and I have a white queen on 30 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:40.000 e1. Let's see the different ways where 31 00:01:40.600 --> 00:01:43.500 we can give a check to the king on c6. Now 32 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:46.300 the first way I can give check on 33 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:49.600 h1, which gives a check along the diagonal the 34 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:52.400 second way I play Qe4 again along 35 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:56.300 the diagonal the third I can play Qe6. I'm 36 00:01:55.300 --> 00:01:58.800 giving a check along the rank and the 37 00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:01.400 fourth way I can play Qc3. It gives 38 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:04.500 a check along the file and finally I can play Qc1 39 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:07.500 which is also a check. 40 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.300 So now we have seen how a queen can give 41 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:13.600 check to black in different ways. Let's move 42 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:16.200 to the rook. Let's have a white rook on 43 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:19.300 f1 and the black king on d4. 44 00:02:19.900 --> 00:02:23.200 So now I can play rook to f4, give 45 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:25.200 a check along the rank or I 46 00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:28.200 can play rook d1 giving a check along the 47 00:02:28.200 --> 00:02:28.400 file. 48 00:02:29.100 --> 00:02:32.600 Got it? Now, let's see how to give a check with the knight. Let's have 49 00:02:32.600 --> 00:02:34.500 a black knight on h2 50 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:38.200 and the white king on e1. 51 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:41.300 Now the black knight can go 52 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.500 in this direction and to the square f3 which will 53 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:49.100 be a check to the king on e1. Let's 54 00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:51.400 see how to give a check with a pawn. 55 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:55.900 The black king on c8 white pawn on d6 the 56 00:02:55.900 --> 00:02:58.400 pawn moves to d7 giving a check to 57 00:02:58.400 --> 00:02:59.400 the king on c8. 58 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:02.200 So now we have seen how to give a check 59 00:03:02.200 --> 00:03:04.200 with various pieces and pawns. 60 00:03:04.900 --> 00:03:07.700 Now the most important question what happens 61 00:03:07.700 --> 00:03:10.300 when our opponent gives a check to our 62 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.600 king. What are the options we have? Let's go 63 00:03:13.600 --> 00:03:16.200 into that now. When our king is 64 00:03:16.200 --> 00:03:19.800 under check, we usually have three options. The first 65 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:23.100 option is we can capture the piece 66 00:03:22.100 --> 00:03:25.200 which is giving a check to the 67 00:03:25.200 --> 00:03:28.300 king. So let me give a simple example. Let's have the white 68 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:31.400 king on e1 black plays the 69 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.300 pawn on f3 to f2 and gives a check. 70 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.200 And I simply capture the pawn, king on f2. 71 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:41.500 So this is one way to respond to a check. 72 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:44.300 Let's see other ways of responding to a check. 73 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:48.200 Let's Imagine a king white king on 74 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:48.900 d3. 75 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:52.500 The black rook gives a check from 76 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:53.400 d8. 77 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:58.400 And now I have white bishop on b2. So 78 00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:00.800 the bishop goes to d4 blocking the 79 00:04:01.600 --> 00:04:05.100 check so with the king on d3 bishop d4 80 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:07.500 blocks the check from rook 81 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:08.200 d8. 82 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:12.900 Got it. Now there is another option which is 83 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:15.200 simply moving the king away from 84 00:04:15.200 --> 00:04:15.700 a check. 85 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.400 So let's go to the same situation where I have the king on white King 86 00:04:19.400 --> 00:04:21.800 on e3 black plays rook 87 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:25.200 e8 check I can simply move the king 88 00:04:25.200 --> 00:04:25.600 away. 89 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:27.300 to f3. 90 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:31.700 So these are the options we have when we are under check. Now, 91 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:34.300 let's go to the position in front of you. 92 00:04:34.900 --> 00:04:35.900 now Lakshesh 93 00:04:36.400 --> 00:04:39.300 black has just played Re1 and given a check. How 94 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:40.100 would you respond? 95 00:04:41.400 --> 00:04:45.000 I would respond by moving the king 96 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:46.400 on a2. 97 00:04:47.200 --> 00:04:50.600 Very good. So he says he will play Ka2 which 98 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.200 simply moves the king away from the 99 00:04:53.200 --> 00:04:53.500 check. 100 00:04:54.200 --> 00:04:57.500 Now, can you tell me how would you respond to the check we 101 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:00.700 have the same position in front of you? I would simply capture 102 00:05:00.700 --> 00:05:03.500 the rook. would simply capture the rook that's good. 103 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:06.300 The rook did not have any protection. This is 104 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:09.400 the second way we can capture the piece that is 105 00:05:09.400 --> 00:05:13.200 given the check. Now how would you respond? I would 106 00:05:12.200 --> 00:05:15.400 simply block the rook to give 107 00:05:15.400 --> 00:05:15.600 check. 108 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:20.700 Yeah, this is the third possibility available. We can 109 00:05:20.700 --> 00:05:22.100 simply block 110 00:05:23.200 --> 00:05:23.800 the check. 111 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.400 Now we have seen how to give check 112 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:30.500 and how to respond to a check. Now there 113 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:33.600 is another interesting concept which is called a 114 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:36.700 double check. Okay, so let's see 115 00:05:36.700 --> 00:05:39.400 what happens in a case of double check? 116 00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:42.400 Now in this position with the rook 117 00:05:42.400 --> 00:05:45.700 on e1 and knight on e4 we 118 00:05:45.700 --> 00:05:48.600 have two options. White can play Nd6. 119 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:52.300 Which is the knight is giving a check as well as 120 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:55.600 the rook is giving a check as well and the knight 121 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.300 can go to f6. So in case 122 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:01.300 of Nf6 as well both the knight and the 123 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:04.400 rook are giving a check. Now in case of check we 124 00:06:04.400 --> 00:06:07.600 had the options to block the 125 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:10.300 check or capture the piece which gave 126 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:13.200 the check but in case of double check, we don't 127 00:06:13.200 --> 00:06:16.200 have those options. We only simply have to move the king 128 00:06:16.200 --> 00:06:19.300 away. Got it. So the only way 129 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:21.700 to respond to a double check is to move the king. 130 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:25.600 Now Rosh, can you tell me how black can 131 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:26.700 give a double check in this position? 132 00:06:29.700 --> 00:06:32.100 He can move Re4. Re4, fantastic. Now you actually can see in 133 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:35.300 this position the black rook on e4 and the 134 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.800 bishop on a5 they are giving a check and the only 135 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.100 way to escape from the check is by moving 136 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:44.300 the king either to f2 or the f1 square. 137 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:45.300 Got it? 138 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:50.100 Yeah, so now I think we have covered the important 139 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:52.200 concept of check and double check in this 140 00:06:52.200 --> 00:06:55.400 episode. Let's quickly run through what we have learnt so 141 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:55.700 far. 142 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:13.500 143 00:07:15.400 --> 00:07:18.600 In this episode we have learned how to give a check and 144 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:21.600 respond to a check and in the previous episode we had 145 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:24.200 learned how to give an attack. In the next 146 00:07:24.200 --> 00:07:27.500 episode we are going to learn how to respond to an attack 147 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:29.400 and that is called the defence.

Introduction to Defence

Defense is a critical aspect of the game, as it allows players to protect their pieces and king from their opponent's attacks. A good defense requires careful planning and understanding of the tactical and strategic elements of the game. In this episode we discuss the four (5!) different ways in which we can defend against an attack.

WEBVTT - This file is a transcript of Introduction to Defence 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.600 In the earlier episode, we had learned the concepts of attack and 1 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.300 check and how to respond to a check. In this 2 00:00:06.300 --> 00:00:09.300 episode we will learn how to respond to an attack by 3 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:10.100 defense. 4 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:19.300 In the earlier episodes, we have seen two topics relating to 5 00:00:19.300 --> 00:00:22.300 middle game that is attack and check and this 6 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:25.300 episode we are going to learn how to respond to an attack. 7 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:28.200 Got it? Okay. So Pragya, can 8 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:31.300 you tell me what is the one possible way to respond to 9 00:00:31.300 --> 00:00:34.000 an attack? Blocking? Fantastic? How about 10 00:00:34.300 --> 00:00:39.300 your Rosh? Very good Advika? Sir, moving 11 00:00:37.300 --> 00:00:40.600 the piece. Moving the piece away, fantastic. 12 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.200 Supporting fantastic. So these are 13 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:47.200 the four ways that we usually employ to defend 14 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.800 against a threat. So Pragya, 15 00:00:49.800 --> 00:00:51.800 can you repeat the four things again for me? 16 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:56.200 Blocking, blocking supporting supporting moving 17 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.600 the piece away moving the piece away. 18 00:00:58.300 --> 00:01:01.200 Capturing very good. So now we know how to 19 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.700 respond to your threat at the higher level. There is 20 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:07.700 the fifth option available. That is simply ignoring 21 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:10.600 the threat sometimes you can choose to sacrifice 22 00:01:10.600 --> 00:01:13.700 material which we'll be seeing in subsequent episodes. 23 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:16.700 Got it? So now let's see how we 24 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:19.200 can apply what we have learned in a practical 25 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:19.600 situation. 26 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:23.700 Now, let's go to the position on the board. Let's 27 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:24.600 pause and think. 28 00:01:25.800 --> 00:01:28.200 Pragya, can you tell me what black should 29 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:29.400 do here? Bishop f5? 30 00:01:29.800 --> 00:01:32.300 Can you tell me why? The bishop was under 31 00:01:32.300 --> 00:01:35.800 attack and we need to save the bishop by moving away, right? 32 00:01:35.800 --> 00:01:38.300 Very good. Let's go to the next position. 33 00:01:38.300 --> 00:01:41.500 Rosh, can you tell me what should black 34 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:44.900 play here? Queen C7, very 35 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:47.700 good that saves the queen. Let's quickly 36 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:49.900 go bring the next position on the board. 37 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:55.300 Advika, can you tell me what should be done here? 38 00:01:56.100 --> 00:01:59.400 d6 d6 the pawn on d5 39 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:02.300 was under attack by moving the pawn to d6 40 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:03.800 we saved the pawn. 41 00:02:04.600 --> 00:02:07.400 Now, let's go to the next position the final one 42 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:07.900 for today. 43 00:02:09.700 --> 00:02:12.400 Shivika, the bishop on b7 is under 44 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:15.500 attack. How should we save it? Bishop c8. Bc8 45 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:18.400 Wonderful. That's the only square available for the 46 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.300 bishop to move and the bishop was under attack. So by moving 47 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:24.600 it to Bishop c8 we defend it. Okay, so 48 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:27.100 I'm going to give you some slightly difficult 49 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:28.800 puzzles now. 50 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:32.600 Let's start one by one. 51 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:36.500 Pragya, can you tell me what is black threatening here? 52 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:41.300 Black is threatening. Rd1. Winning the 53 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:44.500 queen. Yes, very good. So how can white defend against 54 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:47.200 you? We should play Bf3, can you make the move on 55 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:47.300 the screen? 56 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:51.700 Fantastic. So now as we can see the Bf3 57 00:02:51.700 --> 00:02:54.600 is controlling the square on d1 and it 58 00:02:54.600 --> 00:02:57.300 is preventing Rd1 threat. This is 59 00:02:57.300 --> 00:03:00.900 preventing the threat before it actually happens on 60 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:03.600 the board. Very good Pragya. Yeah now Rosh, 61 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:06.300 can you tell me which pawn is under attack for 62 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:06.600 black? 63 00:03:09.600 --> 00:03:12.700 a4 pawn is under attack. 64 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:15.400 a4 pawn is under attack very good and can we defend it? 65 00:03:16.300 --> 00:03:20.300 Yes, can you tell me how? Fantastic can 66 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:21.300 you make the move on the board, please? 67 00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:26.400 Wow, he has really understood the concept. Advika, can 68 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:27.900 you tell me which is under attack now? 69 00:03:29.600 --> 00:03:32.200 Other b6 pawn, the b6 spawn. Okay. So what should white 70 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:35.200 do about it? Be3. Can you make the 71 00:03:35.200 --> 00:03:36.000 move on the board, please? 72 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:40.200 Very good. Shivika now, can you 73 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:42.300 tell me which is under attack here? Queen. 74 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.800 The queen on d8, very good. So what should we do about it? Qc7. 75 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:50.000 What does it do? It is defending 76 00:03:49.200 --> 00:03:52.200 and the queen and attacking the 77 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:55.800 bishop. Fantastic. So in this example, we saw that the 78 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:58.800 queen not only defended itself. It 79 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.500 also gave a counter threat to the bishop. So this 80 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.500 is the concept of defense with attack. I hope 81 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:08.200 you understood the concept of defense today? Yes?Yes! 82 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:10.100 very good. 83 00:04:11.100 --> 00:04:14.600 So let's quickly go through what we have learnt in today's 84 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:15.100 class. 85 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:23.300 86 00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:31.400 In the next episode we are going to look in detail about 87 00:04:31.400 --> 00:04:32.100 capture.

Introduction to Capture

Capturing is an integral part of the game, as it allows players to remove their opponent's pieces from the board and gain a tactical advantage. Capturing is done by moving one of your pieces to the square occupied by your opponent's piece, effectively capturing it and removing it from the board. In this video, we will explore the basics of capturing in chess, including the rules of capturing, the different types of captures, and the tactical and strategic elements involved in making successful captures. In this episode, we discuss the concept of capture. What is it, What happens when a capture is performed and What are some pieces which can not be captured!

WEBVTT - This file is the transcript for Introduction to Capture 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.500 One of the ways to play for a win in the game of chess is 1 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.600 by winning material from the opponent. And how 2 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.900 do we do that, by using the concept of capture. 3 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:12.500 And that's what we are going to learn in this 4 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:12.600 episode. 5 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.500 Let's start with some very simple example of 6 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:24.800 capture and then I will ask you a few questions. Okay, 7 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:27.100 the first position let's bring it on the 8 00:00:27.100 --> 00:00:27.300 board. 9 00:00:29.200 --> 00:00:32.400 And in this position Pragya, can you tell me what should 10 00:00:32.400 --> 00:00:35.300 white do? White should play 11 00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:38.400 d into e5 by winning a pawn. Very good. So in this position black 12 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:41.600 white should play d takes e5 and we've 13 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.600 become a pawn up. Now Pragya can we 14 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.400 capture our own material? No, we cannot capture our own material 15 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:52.000 This you guys need to remember we can only capture opponent's 16 00:00:51.300 --> 00:00:54.400 material. We can never capture our own 17 00:00:54.400 --> 00:00:54.700 material. 18 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:58.500 Now Shivika, can you tell me what happens to 19 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:01.500 the captured material? It goes out of the board. 20 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.400 Very good. Now Advika can you 21 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.400 tell me if our opponent's king is under check 22 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:10.700 and he makes some illegal move, can we 23 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:11.600 capture his king? 24 00:01:12.300 --> 00:01:15.100 No, we can't. Why not? Because then it would be 25 00:01:15.100 --> 00:01:18.300 an illegal move. It will be an illegal move very good. So I 26 00:01:18.300 --> 00:01:22.000 think we have understood the concept of capture very well. Let's test 27 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:24.500 it with few more examples. Okay, let's bring 28 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:26.500 the next position on the screen. 29 00:01:28.300 --> 00:01:32.100 Okay, so Rosh, can you tell me what we 30 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:32.700 should do here? 31 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:36.700 There is a pawn on c4 that is hanging. 32 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:40.400 dc4 dc4 by playing 33 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.100 dc4 black wins a pawn. 34 00:01:44.100 --> 00:01:47.900 Let's quickly bring the next position on the screen. And Advika, 35 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:50.700 this question is for you. What should white 36 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:51.900 play here? 37 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.300 Nxd5. Fantastic. It's not an 38 00:01:56.300 --> 00:01:59.100 obvious capture because the pawn on 39 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:02.600 d5 is being defended by the pawn on e6. So 40 00:02:02.600 --> 00:02:05.600 here what white is doing is actually giving up 41 00:02:05.600 --> 00:02:08.800 three point knight for a 42 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.300 1 point pawn. After ed5 it looks 43 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:15.000 like black has won a piece. But if 44 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:18.000 we continue the calculation a little bit more white can 45 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.400 capture Queen takes d5 and there 46 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:23.100 is no way the black can defend the rook on 47 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:27.000 a8. So this is called a combination that we 48 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.800 use some tactical means to gain material, 49 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:30.800 understood? 50 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:34.100 So let's go to the next position on the screen. 51 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:38.500 Shivika, can you tell me what should 52 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:39.200 white do? 53 00:02:41.600 --> 00:02:44.400 Queen into d7 check queen into d7 54 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:47.500 check the queen on a4 was under attack by none other 55 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:50.100 than the black queen herself and there is 56 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:53.300 only way capture without losing a 57 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:56.200 piece because if queen a5 or b4 58 00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:59.800 we lose material so the only other capture which does 59 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:02.900 not lose material is queen d7 check. 60 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:06.500 Okay, so let me give a few positions on your board. 61 00:03:07.600 --> 00:03:10.700 So have something about the position and tell 62 00:03:10.700 --> 00:03:14.200 me what we should do? Advika first 63 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:16.700 let's start with you? What should black 64 00:03:16.700 --> 00:03:17.300 play here? 65 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:22.600 Bxc6 B in to c6. So 66 00:03:22.600 --> 00:03:25.700 is there any other capture possible other than Bc6? There is. 67 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:30.700 Okay. Can you tell me which move? e into d4 so why 68 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:33.300 not play ed4 because then we would lose a 69 00:03:33.300 --> 00:03:36.700 piece. We would lose a piece right very good now Shivika 70 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:39.200 in this position, which capture is good for black. 71 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.800 Rook into f4. 72 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.400 What is the other capture possible? Rook into f2 but 73 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:48.200 it loses material. Very good. The pawn on f2 74 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.100 is under defense. So if you capture Rook f2, we lose to 75 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:54.600 bishop f2, right? So the only capture where we don't lose material 76 00:03:54.600 --> 00:03:57.400 is Ra4. So this is very important to 77 00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:00.500 remember not any capture is good. The capture 78 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:03.900 should ensure that we don't lose material. Okay. 79 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:06.600 So usually we do capture either to 80 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:09.700 exchange material or to gain material not 81 00:04:09.700 --> 00:04:12.600 definitely not to lose material 82 00:04:12.600 --> 00:04:13.800 now Pragya 83 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:17.000 can you tell me which piece is under attack now in your position? 84 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:21.900 The queen on d2 the queen on d2 its under threat by the knight on c4. The 85 00:04:21.900 --> 00:04:24.900 knight on c4. So what should we do here? Bishop 86 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:27.100 into c4? Bishop into c4. Can you make it on the 87 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:27.200 board? 88 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:32.400 Yes, so this way we remove the attacker by 89 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:33.000 capturing it. 90 00:04:33.700 --> 00:04:36.500 Okay, so I hope you all understood about 91 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:39.600 the principle of capture in today's lesson. So 92 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.700 let's quickly go through what we have learnt today. 93 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:54.100 So in the next episode we are going to learn about checkmate 94 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:54.800 and stalemate.

Checkmate & Stalemate

Checkmate and stalemate are the two ways in which a game of chess can come to an end. Checkmate occurs when a player's king is in a position where it cannot escape attack, and the player is unable to make any legal move to avoid capture. On the other hand, a stalemate occurs when a player is not in check but cannot make any legal move, resulting in a draw. In this video, we will explore the basics of checkmate and stalemate in chess, including what they are, how to recognize them, and how to respond to them. In this episode, we discuss the concepts of checkmate and stalemate. How do they get delivered and their different nuances.

WEBVTT - This file is transcript of Checkmate and Stalemate 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.300 The ultimate objective in the game of chess is to 1 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:06.300 deliver checkmate to the opponent king and that is what 2 00:00:06.300 --> 00:00:09.300 we are going to learn in this episode. We are also going 3 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.500 to learn a related term called the stalemate. 4 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:19.700 Let's start with an example. 5 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:25.600 Now in this position we see the black king 6 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.200 is boxed in on g8 square and the white queen 7 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:31.400 on h6 Kf6, very close to deliver a checkmate. Let's 8 00:00:31.400 --> 00:00:35.400 see how it is done. Now white can play Qg7 9 00:00:34.400 --> 00:00:37.300 check and the 10 00:00:37.300 --> 00:00:40.100 king has no way to run or to block 11 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:43.400 the check or to capture the queen. So we 12 00:00:43.400 --> 00:00:46.500 call this a checkmate. Now, let's go to the next example. 13 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:49.600 So in this position we see the black king again 14 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:52.500 is boxed into b8 followed closely by 15 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:55.500 the white king on b6 and the black white rook, which looks 16 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:58.500 far away on the h1 square. It is not possible to 17 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:01.600 deliver checkmate with only one piece. We 18 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.400 need coordination of at least two pieces for 19 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.400 this to happen. And that's what we are going to learn from 20 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:11.000 this position. Now white can play Rh8 21 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:13.600 That's a classic example of a checkmate 22 00:01:13.600 --> 00:01:16.300 Now as we can see the black king cannot move 23 00:01:16.300 --> 00:01:19.600 away cannot interfere any piece or capture 24 00:01:19.600 --> 00:01:22.000 the rook on h8. Now that we have learned 25 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:25.400 concept of checkmate let us now move to the 26 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.900 concept of stalemate what it essentially means 27 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:31.600 is when it is one side's turn 28 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:34.600 to move and he is not under check but 29 00:01:34.600 --> 00:01:37.300 he's still not able to make any legal moves then 30 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:40.400 he said to be under stalemate. Let's go 31 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.800 to some examples to understand this concept better. In 32 00:01:43.800 --> 00:01:46.500 this position as we can see the white 33 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:49.700 king is on g6 the queen on f7 and 34 00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:52.600 the black king is on h8. Now, it's black 35 00:01:52.600 --> 00:01:55.700 turn to play as we can clearly see black is 36 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:58.300 not under check and he doesn't have any 37 00:01:58.300 --> 00:02:01.200 other pieces apart from the king and the king 38 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:04.100 has no squares to move. So this is a 39 00:02:04.100 --> 00:02:06.700 classic example of what a stalemate means 40 00:02:07.300 --> 00:02:10.200 Let me reiterate it once again when it 41 00:02:10.200 --> 00:02:13.200 is your turn to move you are not under check and 42 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:16.300 you still don't have any legal moves left. then you are 43 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:19.200 said to be under stalemate and the game ends in a draw. 44 00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:22.600 Let's look at another example. We almost 45 00:02:22.600 --> 00:02:25.400 have the same position. But here there is 46 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:29.000 a small trick. There is a black pawn on e6 and 47 00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:31.500 the white pawn on a4. Now these two 48 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:35.100 pawns alter the result of the game completely. 49 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:38.000 Let's see how it happens. Now, it's 50 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:40.300 black turn to move again. And as I've 51 00:02:40.300 --> 00:02:43.200 seen earlier example, the king has nowhere to go 52 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:46.500 and he's not under check, but we cannot 53 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:49.300 call it a stalemate because black has a 54 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:52.700 legal move the pawn going to a5 because 55 00:02:52.700 --> 00:02:55.400 of this reason we cannot call it a stalemate 56 00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:58.600 and he'll be forced to play a5 and 57 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:02.000 white delivers checkmate in many ways. For example, Qf8 or 58 00:03:01.700 --> 00:03:04.700 Qg7 or Qh7. 59 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:08.300 Let's see another example here and I have a question for you. 60 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:14.200 Now in this position we have 61 00:03:15.100 --> 00:03:17.900 another classic example, which looks like a stalemate. 62 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.200 But you guys have to tell me whether it's a stalemate or not. 63 00:03:23.100 --> 00:03:26.500 Yes, it's not a stalemate because black can 64 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.400 play the pawn to one square ahead and 65 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:32.700 since he has a legal move it's not a stalemate anymore. 66 00:03:33.700 --> 00:03:36.400 That's it. We have seen the concepts of 67 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:39.300 checkmate and stalemate. Let's do a 68 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:40.500 recap of what we have learned. 69 00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:52.300 In the next episode we are going to learn some basic concepts of 70 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:52.900 checkmate.

The Basic Checkmates

Checkmates are the ultimate goal in a game of chess, and understanding them is essential for improving your overall game. There are several different types of basic checkmates, each with its own unique characteristics and patterns. In this video, we will explore the most common and fundamental checkmates. We will look at the tactical and strategic elements involved in setting up and executing these checkmates, and we will also cover tips and tricks for recognizing and avoiding them. In this episode, how to deliver checkmates with the help of queen, with the help of two rooks and with the help of a rook.

WEBVTT - This file contains video transcript of Basic Checkmates 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.200 In the previous episode, we had learned the concepts of 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.800 checkmate and stalemate. In this episode I'm 2 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:09.300 going to teach you how to deliver checkmate with 3 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.200 one queen two rooks and one rook. 4 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.300 Let's start off with a very simple example on how 5 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:24.200 to mate with a queen and the king. Now in 6 00:00:24.200 --> 00:00:27.600 this position we have a very classic pattern where 7 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:30.800 white can deliver checkmate very quickly. Now he 8 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:33.600 can do that in many ways with Qf2 9 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.900 check with Qa1 check Qb1 10 00:00:36.900 --> 00:00:39.500 check Qc1 check all of 11 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:42.500 this leading to a checkmate. Now, this is the easy 12 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.200 part. The next example is going to be a little 13 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:48.400 more complex and you really need to pay good attention to 14 00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:51.600 understand this. Now we have the classic position where 15 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.300 the black king is in the center of the board and the 16 00:00:54.300 --> 00:00:57.200 white king and queen they are not coordinating well because they 17 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.300 are cut off from each other. 18 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:09.000 So what we have to do now is to 19 00:01:08.300 --> 00:01:11.500 slowly push the black king to a corner 20 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:14.300 and finally bring the king close to the black king 21 00:01:14.300 --> 00:01:17.400 and deliver checkmate. So let me explain how 22 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:18.100 we do this 23 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:22.200 in the board. So white plays Qc3 24 00:01:22.800 --> 00:01:25.600 Now what the queen does here is first it 25 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:29.000 takes a position in L pattern. Can 26 00:01:28.100 --> 00:01:31.300 you see the L pattern between the white 27 00:01:31.300 --> 00:01:34.200 queen and the black king? Yeah. This is the way to go. This is 28 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.300 very important to remember when we do this what happens to 29 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:40.500 the opponent's king. He will be slowly pushed to go 30 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:43.400 backwards. So now he goes 31 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.200 to Kf5 and we 32 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:49.800 continue the process we play Qd4 again 33 00:01:49.800 --> 00:01:52.300 taking the classical L pattern. So when 34 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:55.200 he goes Ke6 now, what's the way 35 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:55.400 to do? 36 00:01:56.900 --> 00:01:59.900 Yes, Qc5 again. 37 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:02.300 we take the classical L pattern. So 38 00:02:02.300 --> 00:02:04.700 let's see what happens if we goes Kf6. 39 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:06.900 Now this is tricky 40 00:02:08.100 --> 00:02:09.400 but we still 41 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:12.300 can get to the L pattern. 42 00:02:13.100 --> 00:02:14.800 Now he goes Ke7. 43 00:02:15.700 --> 00:02:17.200 We play Qc6. 44 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:19.800 Kd8 45 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:23.400 Qb7. Now finally, we got 46 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:26.500 what we wanted. We have pushed the black king all 47 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:29.300 the way to the eighth rank and the queen has cut off the king. 48 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:33.000 So there is no way the black king is going to come towards 49 00:02:32.100 --> 00:02:35.300 the center again. So once we got the king 50 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:38.400 cornered to the eighth rank, the next important step is 51 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.200 to get our king all the way as close as possible 52 00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:44.400 to the black king and take a opposition position and 53 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.600 deliver checkmate. Let's see how it is done. 54 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:50.400 So now when the king goes to e8 now, 55 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:53.700 there is no need to take a knight position because we already 56 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:56.100 have the king where we wanted on the 57 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:59.300 eighth rank. So it's time to quickly get the 58 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:02.900 king towards the black king. Now. Let's see what happens just 59 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:04.400 bringing the king to f3. 60 00:03:05.300 --> 00:03:08.300 Ke8 black has nothing more to do than just 61 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:08.900 wait 62 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.300 for the inevitable to happen. So the white 63 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:13.600 king is moving. 64 00:03:15.100 --> 00:03:18.400 Upwards and this is a critical position when we 65 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.400 have the queen. It doesn't really matter where we 66 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:24.600 go. But ideally we should take an opposition position. So 67 00:03:24.600 --> 00:03:27.400 when the kings face each other this is 68 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:30.700 called an opposition position and whatever black does 69 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:33.300 we simply deliver a checkmate. 70 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.500 That's it. It's not so difficult. Only three 71 00:03:36.500 --> 00:03:39.300 things we need to remember here. First, push the 72 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:42.700 black king off by taking the knight position the 73 00:03:42.700 --> 00:03:45.300 L pattern and then once the king goes to 74 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:48.200 the eighth rank. Now, it's time to bring the king all the 75 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.500 way up take an opposition position and finally 76 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.900 deliver a checkmate. 77 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.300 That's it guys. Now that we have learned how to deliver checkmate with 78 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.300 a queen let's move to the next way to deliver 79 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:00.600 checkmate with two rooks. 80 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:04.000 Now in this position which we have in front of us 81 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:08.300 the white king has been cornered to the a file 82 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:11.800 and the black Rook on b7 has cut it 83 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:13.000 along the b file. 84 00:04:13.600 --> 00:04:17.200 So now all black has to do is play Ra8 85 00:04:16.200 --> 00:04:19.300 and deliver checkmate. So here we 86 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:22.600 see instead of the king and the rook coordinating we 87 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:25.600 have the two black rooks coordinating perfectly one 88 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.500 rook cutting off the king from getting out and 89 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.300 the other rook giving the checkmate. 90 00:04:30.900 --> 00:04:33.300 Let's go to the next example where the 91 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:36.600 mate is not so simple. In the position in front of us, now 92 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:40.100 we have the black king on f6. So we 93 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:42.500 have to coordinate the two rooks well, so 94 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:45.500 one rook should be cutting off the king the other 95 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:48.600 rook should give a check and push it even towards the 96 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.400 corner. So, let's see how it is done. Now white to play 97 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:53.400 place Ra6 check 98 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:57.500 the black king has to go back because the other rook 99 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:00.800 has cut its escape square now the rooks 100 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.200 work in perfect coordination rook goes 101 00:05:03.200 --> 00:05:03.800 to b7 102 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:07.500 pushing the king to the eighth rank where exactly where 103 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:10.300 we want it and finally deliver the 104 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:13.300 checkmate with Ra8 again here you see 105 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:16.200 the rooks work in perfect coordination. We don't really 106 00:05:16.200 --> 00:05:19.500 need the help of the king here. So far we have 107 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:22.500 learned how to deliver checkmate with queen and two 108 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:25.500 rooks. Now, we are going to learn something which is little more 109 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:28.500 tough that is giving checkmate with one 110 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:30.600 rook. Let's go to the position on the screen. 111 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:35.600 So here we have the black king already cornered and 112 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:38.400 the white King has taken the opposition. Now, this is the position 113 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:41.100 white should be aiming for so you need to 114 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:44.500 remember this clearly. Now, how does white 115 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:47.100 give checkmate? It's very simple. We just play 116 00:05:47.900 --> 00:05:50.300 rook to a4 and it's a checkmate. 117 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:54.300 Now, let's move to another example, which is very complex. So 118 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:57.300 in this position the white king and rook, they are not coordinating 119 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:00.500 very well and the black king is in the center. So, how 120 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:03.300 do we checkmate? We follow some of the things which we 121 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:06.600 did with the queen but with a difference, but the first 122 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:09.600 thing to do is cut off so we 123 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:12.100 have cut off the king along the fourth rank. Now it cannot 124 00:06:13.400 --> 00:06:16.600 come to the third rank. So he needs to stay as 125 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:19.700 close to the center as possible. So he plays Kd4. Now 126 00:06:19.700 --> 00:06:22.800 It is very important in rook 127 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.300 and king we need to coordinate them well. 128 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:28.800 We cannot push the king to the eighth rank just with 129 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.500 the rook alone. We need the help of the king. So, 130 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:32.400 let's see. 131 00:06:33.400 --> 00:06:34.700 Bring the king closer. 132 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:39.400 Black play Ke4 stays to the close as 133 00:06:39.400 --> 00:06:40.700 close to the center as possible. 134 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.300 white plays Kf2 135 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:48.000 And if black takes the opposition with 136 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.800 Kf4 now, this is the exact moment 137 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.500 when white should give a 138 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:53.600 check. 139 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:57.500 And when we give the check the king will be forced to 140 00:06:57.500 --> 00:07:00.100 go backwards. So let us see what happens. 141 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.300 He goes Ke5. Now, it is 142 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:06.200 very important that we don't take an opposition with 143 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:09.900 the king immediately rather we should force him 144 00:07:09.900 --> 00:07:12.100 to come to the opposition. Now 145 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:16.600 the white king goes to f3 again plays 146 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:20.200 taking the classical L pattern. Now, if 147 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:22.800 black comes to f5, we already 148 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.200 know we are ready to give a check and 149 00:07:25.200 --> 00:07:28.500 push the king backwards. So let's go 150 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:28.600 back 151 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:33.600 and see what happens if the black king 152 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.500 does not go to f5 but goes to d5 153 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:39.400 instead. So the white king should again 154 00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:41.200 take an L pattern. 155 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:44.200 black king goes to c5 156 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.300 white goes Kd3 157 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:50.500 black goes Kb5. Now the rook is under attack. We 158 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:53.300 cannot take an L pattern but using the 159 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:56.500 king we can play Rc4 and we 160 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:59.900 again have managed to cut off the king now along the 161 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:00.300 file. 162 00:08:01.200 --> 00:08:04.100 So black has only two files to move the 163 00:08:04.100 --> 00:08:07.500 king. Let's see what happens if he stays on 164 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:10.500 the knight file with Kb6. So here 165 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:13.900 we are again use the king and 166 00:08:13.900 --> 00:08:16.900 bring it as close to the enemy king as possible for 167 00:08:16.900 --> 00:08:17.800 Kb5. 168 00:08:18.700 --> 00:08:20.800 Kd5 we have taken the position. 169 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:25.500 Kb6 now we can again 170 00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:26.800 cut off 171 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:30.100 so the king is being pushed towards the 172 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:32.400 corner slowly, but surely. 173 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:34.600 When he goes Kb7 174 00:08:35.800 --> 00:08:36.300 he can go 175 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.500 Kd6 176 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:42.000 He goes Kb8. 177 00:08:43.400 --> 00:08:46.600 Finally we get this 7th rank cut off. Now 178 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:49.300 he has been cut off along the eighth rank. 179 00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:51.400 It's time to bring the king closer. 180 00:08:52.300 --> 00:08:53.500 Goes Kb6 181 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.400 and then finally we have the checkmate. So that's 182 00:08:58.400 --> 00:09:01.200 the way to checkmate with the rook and the king. 183 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.400 I know it's a complicated process but my suggestion 184 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:07.400 is try keeping the king and rook in different positions 185 00:09:07.400 --> 00:09:10.300 bring the rook as close as possible 186 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:13.200 to the opponent's king, cut him off and then 187 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:16.300 with the help of our king we have to take the L pattern 188 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:19.800 and slowly push the king towards the corner and finally we 189 00:09:19.800 --> 00:09:22.400 get the opposition and deliver checkmate. in the 190 00:09:22.400 --> 00:09:25.700 next episode we are going to learn some basic checkmates 191 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.700 in one move and two moves.

1 or 2 Move Checkmates

One and two move checkmates are quick and efficient ways to end a game, and they are an important part of the tactical arsenal of any chess player. In this video, we will explore the basics of one and two move checkmates and the common patterns!

WEBVTT - This file contains transcripts of 1 or 2 Move Checkmates 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.800 In the previous episode we had learned how to deliver checkmate 1 00:00:03.800 --> 00:00:06.300 with one queen, two rooks and 2 00:00:06.300 --> 00:00:09.100 one rook. In this episode we are going to 3 00:00:09.100 --> 00:00:12.900 learn how to coordinate different pieces to deliver checkmate 4 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:15.400 and we are going to start off with mate in 1. 5 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:25.500 Now, let's see few examples of how a queen 6 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:28.800 and a king delivers a checkmate and move to other 7 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:31.800 examples where different units coordinate 8 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:34.300 to give checkmate in one. Now in this 9 00:00:34.300 --> 00:00:38.000 position we have the king boxed in 10 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:39.000 on g8. 11 00:00:40.300 --> 00:00:43.900 And you can tell the answer already right we have seen this before. Yes. 12 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:47.500 Qg7. That's the checkmate. Let's 13 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:50.600 quickly bring the next position. In this 14 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:53.600 case we are going to see how the king and 15 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.300 the rook coordinates. This also we have covered in 16 00:00:56.300 --> 00:00:59.300 the previous example, so it's not going to be too difficult for us. 17 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:03.300 Yes, Ra1 and it's a 18 00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:07.000 checkmate. This example is going to be slightly difficult. We 19 00:01:06.100 --> 00:01:09.600 are going to see how a king bishop 20 00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:12.600 and knight coordinate together and deliver a 21 00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:13.600 checkmate in the corner. 22 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:18.000 Yes, that's it. The bishop goes 23 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:20.800 to c3 and delivers a checkmate. That 24 00:01:20.800 --> 00:01:23.200 is nowhere the black king can go. 25 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.500 In the next example we have the black king 26 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:29.400 on h1 here the white colored bishop and 27 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:33.100 the night have to coordinate and deliver checkmate with Bd5 28 00:01:32.100 --> 00:01:34.400 check. 29 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:38.400 Now we are going to learn how to deliver checkmate in two 30 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:41.900 moves by using the coordination of different sets 31 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:44.500 of pieces. This position is 32 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.300 little more complex because in earlier positions we 33 00:01:47.300 --> 00:01:50.500 saw where there were too many pieces left and the mate 34 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:53.200 was not too difficult, but here with more pieces on the board 35 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.800 it's going to be slightly complex than before, but 36 00:01:56.800 --> 00:01:59.500 I'm sure you can do it. Now it's black to 37 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:02.400 move. We just have to find the correct sequence of 38 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.300 checks and it's mate in two. 39 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:08.300 Yes, the first move is Qh2 40 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:11.100 The white King has nowhere else to 41 00:02:11.100 --> 00:02:12.600 go than to f3. 42 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:16.200 And using the pawn on g3 we move the 43 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:19.200 queen to f2 and it's a checkmate. Let's go to 44 00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:22.100 the next position. In this example as we see 45 00:02:22.100 --> 00:02:25.500 the white king is still in the center and it 46 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:28.500 looks like it won't be easy to deliver a checkmate but 47 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:31.600 black has too many pieces in the attack and he 48 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:34.100 can still give checkmate in two moves. Can you find 49 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:34.600 that for me? 50 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:39.500 Yes Bf2 check 51 00:02:40.600 --> 00:02:41.800 king goes to f1 52 00:02:43.100 --> 00:02:45.500 right Rd1 and that's a checkmate. 53 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:49.900 Now that we have understood how to coordinate various pieces to 54 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:52.400 deliver checkmate in one and two moves. 55 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.300 Let's go to the classroom and see how the kids have 56 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:58.400 picked it up. Okay. So we have seen the theory behind 57 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:01.900 giving mate in one and checkmate in 58 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:04.400 two moves. Let's see few more examples here. Okay. 59 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:07.400 So let's bring up the first position of mate in 60 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:07.600 one. 61 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:09.600 So give it a think. 62 00:03:10.900 --> 00:03:13.600 Rosh, can you tell me how white can checkmate 63 00:03:13.600 --> 00:03:16.400 black in one move Be3 checkmate 64 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.300 Be3 checkmate. Very good. That's how 65 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:22.700 it should be done. Now let's go to some complicated 66 00:03:22.700 --> 00:03:25.300 examples in mate in two 67 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:28.300 positions. OK. So let's have the first complicated position on 68 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:28.600 the screen. 69 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:31.400 Let's give it some thought. 70 00:03:34.200 --> 00:03:37.300 Okay, Pragya. Yeah in this position. Can you tell me 71 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:41.200 how black can be checkmated in two moves? Qg5 72 00:03:40.200 --> 00:03:43.200 check Qe7 Queen into e7 73 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:46.400 checkmate. Fantastic. So white should play Qg5 74 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.200 check there is no way to block the check other than 75 00:03:49.200 --> 00:03:52.400 Qe7 we capture Qe7, and it's 76 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.000 a checkmate. 77 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:56.300 Very good. So let's bring the next position on 78 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:56.800 the board. 79 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:59.600 Let's pause and think for a few minutes. 80 00:04:01.600 --> 00:04:04.800 OK Advika, can you tell me how white 81 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:07.400 can give mate in two. Qd5 Ke7 82 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.500 Qe5 mate. Yeah, very good. 83 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:13.300 So first we need to give Qd5 84 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.800 check the King goes to e7 and Qe5 85 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.800 it's a mate. Very good. So the 86 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:21.000 final position for the day. 87 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:24.200 So we have it here. 88 00:04:25.400 --> 00:04:26.100 so Shivika 89 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:30.000 your turn how to give mate in two? Nc6 check 90 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:32.300 followed by Qe8 checkmate. Yeah, 91 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.600 basically the queen needs to go to e8 92 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.100 to deliver checkmate, but the knight is on the 93 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:41.900 way. So we just throw it away with a check and either capture 94 00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:44.300 we go Qe8 and it's a mate 95 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:44.400 in two. 96 00:04:44.900 --> 00:04:47.300 Fantastic, we have learned a lot 97 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:50.500 about how to give mate in one and mate in two 98 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:53.000 moves in coordination of different pieces. In the 99 00:04:53.200 --> 00:04:56.400 next episode we are going to see common mating patterns.

Discussions with Parents : Part 2

In this episode, we bring together a group of experts to discuss a topic of great importance for chess players, especially for those who participate in tournaments: How to deal with tournament pressure. Joining us are chess parents who have seen their children experience tournament pressure firsthand, a mental trainer who specializes in helping athletes manage stress, and a legendary chess coach with years of experience working with players of all levels. In this video, we will explore the different ways in which tournament pressure can affect players, both physically and mentally, and we will discuss various strategies and techniques that can be used to help manage this pressure. We will also hear from our panel of experts as they share their personal experiences and insights on this topic, and offer advice on how parents and coaches can help players overcome tournament pressure. So, whether you're a player who struggles with tournament pressure or a coach or parent who wants to help your child or student, this video will provide valuable information and inspiration.

WEBVTT - Transcript of the vide - Discussions with Parents : Part 2 0 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:10.000 In this episode we are going to take up another very important topic with 1 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:11.100 regard to parents 2 00:00:11.600 --> 00:00:14.100 especially the chess parents.Now today we are 3 00:00:14.100 --> 00:00:17.000 going to discuss about effective way to communicate with our children. 4 00:00:27.200 --> 00:00:30.900 Sir, how can we communicate with the child if 5 00:00:30.900 --> 00:00:33.400 he is not able to concentrate properly during 6 00:00:33.400 --> 00:00:33.800 the match? 7 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.100 Is it only about the match or maybe about the 8 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:41.500 training at home also or some 9 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:44.300 other activity? During the match. Okay. Yeah, I think in 10 00:00:44.300 --> 00:00:47.600 a match again, if you see the concentration span 11 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.400 cannot be too long. So you may need 12 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:53.700 to take some small breaks from time to time. But the break cannot 13 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.300 be too extended to the extent that you forget your 14 00:00:56.300 --> 00:00:59.200 position on the board and forget about the 15 00:00:59.200 --> 00:00:59.800 game completely. 16 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:03.400 So maybe at some stage after the games you can 17 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:06.500 give that like a feedback that okay this is what we 18 00:01:06.500 --> 00:01:10.000 have observed and it might be better that, you know, sit 19 00:01:09.300 --> 00:01:12.700 longer let it come as a suggestion rather 20 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:15.200 than directing them do this or don't do this. 21 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.800 It's better to give like a suggestion. Once that 22 00:01:18.800 --> 00:01:21.700 suggestion becomes their own idea they're more likely to accept 23 00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:24.100 that the second thing is that okay, if you 24 00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:27.900 have given a suggestion and if you think something is improving some 25 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.500 aspect is getting better we have 26 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:33.400 to give them a feedback on that particular part. So it's 27 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.100 like a reinforcement of good things. Many times 28 00:01:36.100 --> 00:01:39.600 mistake is done that we tend to criticize a 29 00:01:39.600 --> 00:01:42.500 lot that okay this is what you have not done this is what 30 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:45.800 is wrong but pointing out mistake 31 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:48.600 again and again doesn't really change the behavior. They don't 32 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:52.000 really learn. So the learning principle is to identify something 33 00:01:51.300 --> 00:01:54.500 which they have done right and give 34 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:57.500 them a feedback that okay. I like that you have done this. So as 35 00:01:57.500 --> 00:02:00.400 soon as they start to get more attention from 36 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:00.600 the 37 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:04.100 parents on the things which they are doing right that behavior 38 00:02:03.100 --> 00:02:06.200 gets enforced. So try and 39 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.400 look for these small small opportunities of communicating and 40 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:12.900 telling them things which they are doing right and keep reinforcing 41 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:13.400 that behavior. 42 00:02:23.600 --> 00:02:26.300 Yeah, is there a danger in this approach that if we 43 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:29.100 praise too much on things which are supposed to 44 00:02:29.100 --> 00:02:32.600 be normal the child gets some kind of a boosted ego and 45 00:02:32.600 --> 00:02:35.300 then they keep expecting praise from all over and they cannot 46 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:39.200 take criticism. It's more about acknowledging the 47 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:42.500 things which are happening right rather than just praising them. So it 48 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:45.900 means that you're trying to improve their concentration and 49 00:02:45.900 --> 00:02:48.300 son is watching less 50 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:51.400 TV now or he's sitting slightly longer 51 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.600 than normal and he didn't get distracted acknowledging that 52 00:02:54.600 --> 00:02:57.600 part is very important because that behavior immediately gets 53 00:02:57.600 --> 00:03:00.600 reinforced. So I'm not saying generally praise 54 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:03.700 them too much praise of course is important the things 55 00:03:03.700 --> 00:03:06.600 which are not good but because general tendency what happens 56 00:03:06.600 --> 00:03:09.200 is that we keep just pointing out mistakes that 57 00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:12.600 okay this is not good this is not good. And that's where they 58 00:03:12.600 --> 00:03:15.500 get attention of the parents on the things which 59 00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:18.600 they are not doing right but suppose they are doing something. I'm 60 00:03:18.600 --> 00:03:21.300 trying to ask you to like find out a 61 00:03:21.300 --> 00:03:21.600 genuine 62 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:24.000 reason to praise them it can't be 63 00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:28.300 fake that okay I'm just praising you. No because it's useless but you're 64 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.700 trying to make a change and identify the 65 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:33.600 change if they change a lot a bit 66 00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:36.300 also then praise them so we're 67 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:39.500 focusing on both their good and bad qualities and 68 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:42.400 reinforcing more under good qualities because it is 69 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.000 yes the things which they are really trying to change. Fine. 70 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.200 Sir, you know a child loses a very important 71 00:03:49.200 --> 00:03:52.600 match, you know as ambitious parent most of 72 00:03:52.600 --> 00:03:55.600 the parents have seen we end up losing on the child, you know, we don't 73 00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:58.400 want to but then what is the best way where 74 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.500 you can really make the child understand that this is where they were 75 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.800 going wrong. See I think first of all when the 76 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:07.100 game is about to be over you have to 77 00:04:07.100 --> 00:04:08.500 really control yourself beforehand. 78 00:04:10.100 --> 00:04:13.500 Please do not wait for the child to come and what happened don't even 79 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:16.300 ask that question that did you win or lose because 80 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.700 that question is going to trigger the whole thing because then because 81 00:04:19.700 --> 00:04:22.400 actually what happens when they're playing they start 82 00:04:22.400 --> 00:04:25.200 thinking about the reactions of the parents what's going 83 00:04:25.200 --> 00:04:28.200 to happen, how am I you know, will I 84 00:04:28.200 --> 00:04:31.400 get scolding or they will be unhappy because instead of 85 00:04:31.400 --> 00:04:34.600 focusing on the game and fighting they start 86 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.100 thinking about parent's reactions. How will I 87 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:40.400 what am I going to tell why I lost what kind of mistake I've made. 88 00:04:40.400 --> 00:04:43.700 So best thing is that okay because they've gone in nobody 89 00:04:43.700 --> 00:04:47.000 is just going to give away game without you know fighting don't 90 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:49.600 ask the question, did you win or lose? It's okay. 91 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.200 How was the game? That's a better question to ask. How was 92 00:04:52.200 --> 00:04:55.300 it? Did you fight? Did you enjoy even not necessary to 93 00:04:55.300 --> 00:04:58.200 ask too many also they will tell you something if they 94 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:01.600 want to tell otherwise give them the space just, you know, give at 95 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.900 least an hour or so. Don't talk about it subsequently because 96 00:05:04.900 --> 00:05:05.300 here 97 00:05:05.900 --> 00:05:08.100 You have lost a game you're walking out and now you 98 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:11.000 have to suddenly start answering questions. How was it? Why did you 99 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:14.400 lose? What was the game? Nobody likes it and it's very stressful 100 00:05:14.400 --> 00:05:17.900 because first of all you have to understand that the games are 101 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:20.400 extremely stressful. It takes lot 102 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:23.100 of effort to really, you know, play the game 103 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:26.600 and then at the end of it you're tired because no 104 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:29.300 no amount of counseling will help them if they 105 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:32.200 are getting a scolding after the match. They will be 106 00:05:32.200 --> 00:05:35.300 scared to lose because they are being treated differently that 107 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.400 okay if I win I get a lot of praise if 108 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:41.400 I lose I get scolding then why will 109 00:05:41.400 --> 00:05:44.000 not be you know, they have they will be scared of losing, right? 110 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.600 Yeah, in many situations. I have seen some of my students like 111 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:01.500 when they lose games when they're very young and get disproportionate 112 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:03.300 negative reaction from the 113 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:06.100 parents the children first the initial reaction they 114 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:09.300 get upset because I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't commit a mistake 115 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:12.600 but I am being scolded. They start 116 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.100 fearing like if they lose a game they don't want 117 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:19.100 to meet the parents immediately because they have to do a lot of explaining and 118 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:21.100 they are made to feel guilty in the 119 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:24.300 long run and subsequently what happens is from the 120 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:27.200 fear stage. It becomes kind of indifference and they start become 121 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:29.000 putting some distance 122 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:33.200 from the parent when these things happen and so 123 00:06:33.200 --> 00:06:36.900 we need to watch out for this one. You have to really see the atmosphere at 124 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:37.100 home. 125 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:40.300 Is it different when they are winning? And is it 126 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:43.700 different when they are losing if it is if there 127 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:46.100 is the whole house is very tense and is too much 128 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:49.500 of discussion going on in the evening about what happened. What happened 129 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:52.500 they are bound to be scared of losing. So that 130 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:55.600 needs to be watched and similarly. I think 131 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:58.200 as a part of the communication it's very necessary to 132 00:06:58.200 --> 00:07:01.800 like give positive instructions if you 133 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.300 say that okay, don't do this or don't do 134 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:09.000 this mistake or don't you know, don't lose 135 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:10.600 your concentration. That's a 136 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:11.200 negative word. 137 00:07:12.200 --> 00:07:15.300 It's not just about the fancy term of positive and negative but 138 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:18.500 it is about attracting their attention on something when 139 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:21.400 we point out a mistake and say don't do this mistake we 140 00:07:21.400 --> 00:07:24.700 are reminding them of the mistake rather than that it 141 00:07:24.700 --> 00:07:28.100 should be a positively burdened instruction about specifically 142 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:30.900 what to do that ok, concentrate longer 143 00:07:30.900 --> 00:07:34.100 or let's say a reaction is 144 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:36.200 a suggestion is about relaxing during 145 00:07:36.200 --> 00:07:39.500 the night that okay relax. So one can 146 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:42.900 say don't be tense and the other one is instruction is 147 00:07:42.900 --> 00:07:45.300 be relaxed or try to be as normal as 148 00:07:45.300 --> 00:07:48.400 possible. So those suggestions make a 149 00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:51.500 lot of difference if it is positively worded message is 150 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:54.600 positive. It is neutral to positive. It does 151 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:57.100 help them basically the language and the choice of 152 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:59.400 words. Yeah matter a lot. It matters a lot. 153 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:08.400 We also need to learn a lot. Yeah, I think it's very important 154 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:11.300 for chess parents. They also need 155 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:14.600 to evolve with the different threats 156 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.600 demands of the situation because being a chess player is not 157 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.700 easy. I've seen many young children they come 158 00:08:20.700 --> 00:08:23.500 to chess with lot of enthusiasm bubbling with 159 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:26.400 the energy and lot of hope and by 160 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:29.500 the time they are 11 or 12 years old. They are like many 161 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:32.100 of them already have a lot of doubts about themselves and I don't 162 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:36.000 think anything happens to them naturally or 163 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:38.700 hormone wise that is giving this doubts. 164 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:41.400 It's mostly from the environment perhaps they are 165 00:08:41.400 --> 00:08:44.300 getting these doubts about themselves. So as parents 166 00:08:44.300 --> 00:08:47.300 and trainers we need to be extremely careful on 167 00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:50.300 what here focus going to focus our attention on 168 00:08:50.300 --> 00:08:54.100 if you can focus on what they should be doing and where 169 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:56.400 they can get better and use a 170 00:08:56.400 --> 00:08:59.100 better language probably you make a big difference at the 171 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:02.500 same time. I think I'll give it to the parents a lot because it's not 172 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:05.400 easy because I've seen the raising. 173 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:08.000 competitive sports person is is one of 174 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:11.300 the toughest things. So yeah and talk to them. It's absolutely because 175 00:09:11.300 --> 00:09:14.600 there's so much of come, you know, I think commitment to 176 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:17.300 it being with them supporting them. It's a 177 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:20.100 extraordinary thing that you do journey for both the child 178 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:23.200 as well as the parents. Okay how much effort it takes to 179 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.500 actually take them around and you know being always there 180 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.400 for the kids. I thinkkids appreciate it as 181 00:09:29.400 --> 00:09:32.600 well. Yeah, definitely get from the kids. They understand the 182 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.200 parents are doing a lot for them. They have 183 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:38.400 achieved something in front of their parents' eyes. So I 184 00:09:38.400 --> 00:09:40.600 think we should be thankful for that.

Different Types of Draws

In chess, a draw can occur when both players agree to end the game without a winner, or when certain conditions are met during the game that result in a draw. In this video, we will explore the various types of draws that can occur in chess, including draws by agreement, stalemate, three-fold repetition, the fifty-move rule, and insufficient material. We will also look at how these draws are determined, how they are recorded in notation, and how they can be used as part of a player's overall strategy.

WEBVTT - This is video transcript for Different Type of Draws 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.300 We have seen so far that in chess there are 1 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:07.400 three types of results possible. One white wins, 2 00:00:08.200 --> 00:00:11.300 two black wins and there is a third option 3 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:14.200 in which case neither of the player wins and 4 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.600 we call it as a draw. Let's see in which cases 5 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:19.700 the game ends in a draw. 6 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:28.400 There are five different situations in which 7 00:00:28.400 --> 00:00:31.300 the game can end in a draw. Let's see one 8 00:00:31.300 --> 00:00:34.800 example. In the position in front of you we see 9 00:00:34.800 --> 00:00:37.800 that the white king on a1 has no legal 10 00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:40.300 move the pawns on a2 and b3 11 00:00:40.300 --> 00:00:43.500 cannot move either and he's not under check and it 12 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:46.500 is white's turn to move. So in this case, it's a 13 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:49.100 simple draw and both players get half point. 14 00:00:49.800 --> 00:00:52.300 Let's move to the example which is 15 00:00:52.300 --> 00:00:55.800 called the threefold repetition. Let's look 16 00:00:55.800 --> 00:00:58.200 at the position on the screen. In this 17 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:01.800 place the white king is under check and he 18 00:01:01.800 --> 00:01:05.100 plays Kb1 black plays 19 00:01:04.100 --> 00:01:06.300 Qd1 check. 20 00:01:07.600 --> 00:01:09.500 White has to go Ka2. 21 00:01:11.100 --> 00:01:13.100 black plays Qa4 check 22 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:16.100 white plays Kb1 23 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:20.600 black again goes Qd1 check remember 24 00:01:20.600 --> 00:01:22.800 this is the second time black is doing this. 25 00:01:24.100 --> 00:01:25.900 White goes Ka2 26 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:29.500 and in this position black can claim 27 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:32.700 a draw by saying he is going to play Qa4 check 28 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:35.100 and we get the same position thrice on the 29 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:38.200 board. This is called threefold repetition. 30 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:42.200 The important thing to remember here is black 31 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.100 should not make the move Qa4, but 32 00:01:44.100 --> 00:01:47.800 he needs to call the arbiter and write 33 00:01:47.800 --> 00:01:50.900 the move on the score sheet Qa4 check 34 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:53.300 and tell the arbiter. I'm going to play 35 00:01:53.300 --> 00:01:57.100 Qa4 and claim a draw by threefold repetition 36 00:01:56.100 --> 00:01:59.300 rule. Let's learn how to 37 00:01:59.300 --> 00:02:01.700 claim a draw under 50 move rule. 38 00:02:02.300 --> 00:02:05.100 What it are simply means is if neither of 39 00:02:05.100 --> 00:02:08.400 the player for 50 moves have not made 40 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:09.800 any capture 41 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.200 Or a pawn move then either of the 42 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:16.400 player can call the arbiter and claim 43 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.400 a draw under 50 move rule, which simply 44 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.300 means both the players have been making moves 45 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:24.400 without making any progress. 46 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:28.400 Let's move to the next topic where one can 47 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:29.200 claim a draw 48 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.800 under the rule of insufficient mating material. 49 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:37.000 Let's see an example, in this position white 50 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.100 has only a bishop and a king 51 00:02:39.100 --> 00:02:42.500 and this is clearly not enough to deliver a 52 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:45.600 checkmate we need at least a rook 53 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:48.600 or a queen to deliver a checkmate if black 54 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:49.600 has no material. 55 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:53.500 So this is called claiming a draw under 56 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:55.200 insufficient mating material. 57 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:57.600 Let's see the next example. 58 00:02:58.700 --> 00:02:59.400 Now, can you tell me, 59 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.600 can white win in this position or not? 60 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:07.500 No white just has a knight and the king and he 61 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:10.300 cannot deliver a mate using just the knight and the 62 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.300 king either so this is also a draw under the rule 63 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:16.500 insufficient mating material. Now in 64 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:20.300 chess there is a fifth option available where a 65 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:22.400 game can end in a draw. So this is called 66 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.600 a draw by mutual agreement. If both 67 00:03:25.600 --> 00:03:28.700 players feel there is no good way to 68 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:31.500 continue playing for a win then either of 69 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:34.100 the player can offer a draw and if 70 00:03:34.100 --> 00:03:37.500 the other opponent agrees then the game is considered to 71 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:40.700 be drawn under mutual agreement. In 72 00:03:40.700 --> 00:03:44.200 this episode we have learnt about various 73 00:03:43.200 --> 00:03:46.200 ways under which the game can 74 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.300 end in a draw. 75 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:50.300 Let's quickly go through them. 76 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:06.600 In the next 77 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:09.900 episode we are going to learn about forcing moves.

Forcing Moves

In chess, a forcing move is a move that compels your opponent to make a certain reply, effectively limiting their options. These moves can be used to gain the advantage, set traps, and even win material. In this video, we will explore the basics of forcing moves, including how to recognize them and how to use them to your advantage. We will look at several different examples of forcing moves, including Check, Capture, Threats, and Pawn Breaks, and discuss how these moves can be used to take control of the game.

WEBVTT - This video transcript for Forcing Moves 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.300 In this episode we are going to learn something called forcing 1 00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:06.300 moves the moves check, 2 00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:08.100 capture, 3 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:09.900 threat, 4 00:00:10.600 --> 00:00:12.100 or pawn breaks. 5 00:00:18.200 --> 00:00:21.800 Usually young children have problem in calculating 6 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:24.000 variations. Ok, so I am going to 7 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:27.900 tell you a technique which can make it kind of simpler to 8 00:00:27.900 --> 00:00:28.200 understand. 9 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:32.800 Understood so the topic is forcing moves. 10 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:36.200 Okay. So let's see what forcing moves actually 11 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.600 means forcing moves actually means when 12 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.100 we play quiet moves which do not 13 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:42.700 give a threat 14 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:44.600 or a capture 15 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:46.700 or a check 16 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:51.000 or a pawn break. Any other move it's 17 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.000 a quiet move. When we consider quiet 18 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:56.500 moves in a positionvit is really difficult to 19 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:57.700 calculate variations. 20 00:00:58.800 --> 00:01:02.000 Got it. So if we want to make improvement 21 00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:04.500 in our calculation ability, we should 22 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:07.500 first practice looking at forcing moves 23 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.500 before we consider quiet moves. 24 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:11.300 Understood so far? 25 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:15.600 Ok, so, can you tell me what the 26 00:01:15.600 --> 00:01:17.400 forcing moves are Pragya? 27 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:22.300 check 28 00:01:23.300 --> 00:01:24.000 capture 29 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:27.800 threat and pawn breaks. These four 30 00:01:27.800 --> 00:01:31.200 are very important in calculation and 31 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:33.600 most young kids what they do while calculating 32 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:37.000 variation they keep going after quiet moves 33 00:01:36.300 --> 00:01:39.100 and then they get lost. They don't know how to 34 00:01:39.100 --> 00:01:42.400 proceed. Okay. So the kids who calculate really, 35 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:46.000 well, they are very good at employing forcing 36 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.200 moves while calculating. Okay, so in 37 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.200 any position you get in the middle game, the first 38 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.100 thing that you should be looking out for is a check. 39 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:57.600 So just look at any position in your 40 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:00.200 game and then ask yourself can I 41 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:03.300 give a check in this position? If there is a 42 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:06.100 possibility to give a check that is the first move you should 43 00:02:06.100 --> 00:02:10.200 be analyzing. Okay. So let's see a situation where a 44 00:02:09.200 --> 00:02:12.300 check is not possible then what should we 45 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:15.500 do? Lakshesh can you tell me if there is no check in 46 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:19.100 the position what we should be looking for? We should 47 00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:22.500 be looking for capture something. Yeah, so 48 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:25.800 if there is check not possible, then 49 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.600 we should be looking for captures. So if 50 00:02:28.600 --> 00:02:31.800 there are captures make a list of the captures and 51 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:34.800 start analyzing them if they are giving you 52 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:37.500 something good like a gain of material 53 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:40.900 or if it gives you a good attack then 54 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:43.500 you should consider playing it. So let's 55 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.500 assume the worst case there are no checks, 56 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:49.300 there are no captures. So what should we 57 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:52.200 do then? Advika? We should look 58 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:54.500 for threats. We should look for threats. So this is 59 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:57.200 sequence in which our mind should work. 60 00:02:57.200 --> 00:03:00.700 Ok. So when you are very young try to solve as 61 00:03:00.700 --> 00:03:03.600 many puzzles as possible very simple ones, 62 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:06.500 but when you are solving the puzzles always remember, 63 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:10.100 we should not look at quiet moves. We 64 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:12.100 should always first look for the check. 65 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:16.300 If there are no good checks look for captures, 66 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:19.700 If there are no good captures we should look for 67 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:23.900 threats just give attack something in opponent's 68 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:26.600 position. You can attack his pawn. You can attack his 69 00:03:26.600 --> 00:03:29.600 knight queen rook, whatever and if 70 00:03:29.600 --> 00:03:32.800 we attack his king what it becomes? Shivika? It 71 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:35.700 becomes a check we already know that right. So 72 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:38.700 now let's say this is the usual way people 73 00:03:38.700 --> 00:03:41.300 in general understand about forcing moves. 74 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:45.500 They usually consider only these three things check, capture, threat, 75 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:47.300 but in my experience I have 76 00:03:47.300 --> 00:03:50.200 seen there is a fourth concept, which is 77 00:03:50.200 --> 00:03:53.000 also very important and it helps a lot 78 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:56.000 in analyzing variations and that is 79 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:57.700 pawn break. 80 00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:01.800 Okay, so pawn break essentially means you introduce 81 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:03.300 tension between the pawns. 82 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:06.800 So, let's see what pawn break means with 83 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.200 a simple example in front of us. Now let's 84 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:12.300 assume there are white pawns on e4 d4 and a 85 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:16.100 black pawn on d6 and c7. Okay. So Advika, 86 00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:18.700 can you tell me which pawn break white 87 00:04:18.700 --> 00:04:21.400 can do here? If yes, the 88 00:04:21.400 --> 00:04:24.200 move e5 it introduces tension in the 89 00:04:24.200 --> 00:04:27.300 position. Now there is tension between the pawns e5 and 90 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:30.800 d6, got it? So this is also a very important tool 91 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:33.400 that can accelerate the speed in which the 92 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:36.700 game is going. So we should always look up ways 93 00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:39.500 where we can spice things up to the position and start 94 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:42.600 giving threadt. Okay, that makes the opponent really nervous. Okay. 95 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:45.100 So let's make a complete list 96 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:47.100 now of the forcing moves. Check, 97 00:04:47.900 --> 00:04:51.300 capture, threat, pawn breaks. Okay. 98 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:55.100 So the easy way to remember this is cctp. 99 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:58.200 Okay cctp that is 100 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:02.100 check capture threat and pawn breaks. So let's quickly 101 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:04.600 see few examples and we 102 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:07.400 will understand the importance of using forcing moves 103 00:05:07.400 --> 00:05:08.800 in our calculation. Okay? 104 00:05:09.400 --> 00:05:12.600 Now we are going to see some serious stuff from now. Okay 105 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.900 in the sense the positions we 106 00:05:15.900 --> 00:05:18.100 see here they are going to get really tough. 107 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:21.900 Okay, so you need to practice at home every 108 00:05:21.900 --> 00:05:24.500 day if you just watch this videos once 109 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:27.200 in a while, they are not going to be sufficient. You need 110 00:05:27.200 --> 00:05:30.600 to get some good puzzle books start solving puzzles at 111 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:33.400 home on a daily basis. So I would suggest for young 112 00:05:33.400 --> 00:05:37.100 children to solve around 10 to 20 puzzles every 113 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:37.300 day. 114 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:41.300 Okay, so if you start doing this at home 115 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.600 regularly, you will start improving your ability to 116 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:47.800 calculate and this is one of the most important thing 117 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.500 a young chess player should learn. 118 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:53.400 The kids who calculate better the kids who 119 00:05:53.400 --> 00:05:56.700 can apply forcing moves better they are 120 00:05:56.700 --> 00:05:59.600 free they usually become very strong players later 121 00:05:59.600 --> 00:05:59.900 on. 122 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.700 It will give you a big advantage over your opponents. 123 00:06:03.700 --> 00:06:06.700 So solving puzzles when you are young and 124 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:10.100 especially using forcing moves while doing them is 125 00:06:09.100 --> 00:06:12.800 very very very important. Got it? 126 00:06:14.100 --> 00:06:16.600 Okay, so let's bring up the first position on the screen. 127 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:20.700 So Pragya, can you tell me what white 128 00:06:20.700 --> 00:06:22.600 should do here Bd6? 129 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:26.100 If Kd6 Qd5 mate so they will take 130 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:29.700 Qd6 for that Rf7 check Ke8 131 00:06:29.700 --> 00:06:33.200 Rg7 mini material. Fantastic. Now, 132 00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:33.600 let's see 133 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:37.400 the terms which we use after every white 134 00:06:37.400 --> 00:06:40.100 move and that will make things very clearer in our 135 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:43.700 mind. So in this position white took Bishop d6, 136 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:44.200 what is that? 137 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:49.500 Yes, Shivika capture capture, right? So 138 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:52.500 we made a capture Bd6 now King 139 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:54.700 takes d6. And what's the move white play? 140 00:06:55.400 --> 00:06:58.500 Qd5 and it's a check. 141 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:01.800 It's a checkmate but it starts with a check right? So 142 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.500 Bd6 is a capture and if 143 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:08.300 Kd6 Qd6 Qd5 is a check, right? 144 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:11.100 So you see that two words we use capture. 145 00:07:11.700 --> 00:07:13.400 check cctp. 146 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:17.600 Right. So, let's see what happens if Qd6 for Bd6. 147 00:07:18.700 --> 00:07:22.400 And what is the move she said Rf7 check. 148 00:07:23.200 --> 00:07:26.300 Right. So Bd6 is a capture and for 149 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:29.000 Qd6 we see Rf7 check 150 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.300 and then for Ke8 we play 151 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:35.500 Rg7. What is that? It is a capture, 152 00:07:35.500 --> 00:07:38.900 right? So capture check 153 00:07:38.900 --> 00:07:41.200 capture. So we didn't 154 00:07:41.200 --> 00:07:44.300 see any quiet moves at all. Right. So in these three sequence, 155 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:47.200 we just saw capture check capture and we gain material. 156 00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:50.400 Okay, let's move to other examples so that 157 00:07:50.400 --> 00:07:52.300 we get more familiar with this concept. 158 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:57.300 Okay. This one is really complicated. So I 159 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:00.300 would suggest you to take anywhere from three to five 160 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:00.500 minutes. 161 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:05.100 Okay, Shivika I want you to 162 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:05.300 tell 163 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:09.600 what you have seen so far? Queen takes e5 164 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.300 check Ne7 rook takes 165 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:15.100 f8. If king takes if rook takes 166 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:18.900 f8 then Qe7 checkmate if king 167 00:08:18.900 --> 00:08:21.600 takes f8 then Qe7 check Kg8 168 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.700 Nf6 check Nf6 169 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:27.100 check winning the queen winning the 170 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:30.900 queen fantastic. Now, let's go through the whole answer 171 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:33.300 again. So the first thing she 172 00:08:33.300 --> 00:08:35.800 said is Queen takes e5 check 173 00:08:36.400 --> 00:08:39.700 and as we see the first move is a check and 174 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:39.900 then 175 00:08:40.800 --> 00:08:43.600 black plays Ne7 right 176 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:45.400 and for Ne7 177 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.400 we do 178 00:08:47.400 --> 00:08:50.100 Rf8 check it's not 179 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:53.900 only a check It's also a capture capture and check right? 180 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:55.200 So you see check 181 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:59.500 check capture and then if rook takes 182 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:02.300 f8, we just play Qe7 and it's a 183 00:09:02.300 --> 00:09:04.100 check mate. 184 00:09:04.900 --> 00:09:07.200 Right and so he cannot do 185 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:10.300 Rf8. So he has to play king takes f8 and then 186 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:10.900 what did we do? 187 00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:13.500 Queen takes e7 check 188 00:09:14.400 --> 00:09:17.600 and then for Kg8 Nf6 189 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:18.200 check. 190 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:21.300 So if you see Qe5 check Rf5 191 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:24.300 check, Qe7 check Nf6 192 00:09:24.300 --> 00:09:24.400 check 193 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:29.200 We didn't do anything else. Right? So if we use forcing 194 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:31.400 moves and particularly in this 195 00:09:31.400 --> 00:09:34.400 order of sequence that is you must see the check 196 00:09:34.400 --> 00:09:37.900 first capture next threats finally 197 00:09:37.900 --> 00:09:40.200 pawn breaks. If none of 198 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.200 this work in our favor, then we should 199 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:44.700 look at quiet moves 200 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:49.500 Understood the concept? So let's go to another example. 201 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:54.800 Let's again think for a few minutes here. 202 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:00.500 Now that you have thought for a few minutes, what should 203 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.100 white do can someone volunteer to give the 204 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:08.000 the answer? Lakshesh? Nb6 205 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:12.200 Be7 Qe7 206 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.400 Qc6 threat 207 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.000 Qh7 check Kh7 208 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:22.000 queen 209 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:24.600 Bg6 check and mate. Bg6 210 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:28.000 check and mate. So from this answer we 211 00:10:27.400 --> 00:10:30.700 saw that it's a capture Nb6 212 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:33.900 Be7 is a capture Qg6 213 00:10:33.900 --> 00:10:36.200 is a threat idea Qh7 check 214 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.600 Kf7 Bg6 check. So the 215 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.900 words that we keep hearing are the same. It's 216 00:10:42.900 --> 00:10:44.800 just coming in different orders. 217 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:48.300 Right check capture threat pawn breaks 218 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:51.600 check capture threat, so the pawn breaks we did not see often 219 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:54.500 in these examples, but they are really important. We'll be 220 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:59.100 covering those examples subsequently in the exercises section. 221 00:11:00.400 --> 00:11:03.600 Got it. So how many of you understood the importance 222 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.500 of forcing moves? 223 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:09.500 Okay, so do you think you will be able to apply them in 224 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:10.300 your games better? 225 00:11:11.400 --> 00:11:14.300 Let's do a quick recap of what we have learnt in 226 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.300 today's session. 227 00:11:25.400 --> 00:11:28.500 In the next episode we are going to learn about gain 228 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.000 of material.

Gain of Material

In chess, material refers to the pieces on the board, and a player's goal is to increase their material advantage over their opponent. This can be achieved by capturing the opponent's pieces or by forcing them to make exchanges that leave the player with a more advantageous position. In this video, we will explore the basics of gain of material, including how to recognize opportunities to capture pieces, how to make advantageous exchanges, and how to use these techniques to build a winning position. We will also look at some common pitfalls to avoid, such as giving up material in the wrong situations, and also discuss how material advantage can impact the outcome of a game.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Gain of Material 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:04.100 Though the ultimate objective of the game is to deliver checkmate that 1 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:06.700 is not always possible. So there 2 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:09.700 is another way to play for a win. How do 3 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:12.700 we do that? by simply gaining material. That's what 4 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:14.300 we are going to see in this episode. 5 00:00:20.700 --> 00:00:23.100 So in the previous episode we saw something which is 6 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:26.800 very very very important. I cannot emphasize the 7 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.600 importance of forcing moves. And this is the basis of 8 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:33.000 Chess. This is the basis of calculation. Okay, so 9 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.500 never forget applying forcing 10 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:38.400 moves and in the subsequent episodes also will be seeing how 11 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:42.000 these forcing moves come back again and again, okay, so 12 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:44.400 I might sound repeated but it's 13 00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:47.100 really really important. Okay. So now in this 14 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:50.800 episode we are going to learn gain of material. 15 00:00:50.800 --> 00:00:53.900 Now in every game we cannot deliver checkmate 16 00:00:53.900 --> 00:00:56.200 to the opponent, right? So sometimes we 17 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.400 have to find other means to win the game and 18 00:00:59.400 --> 00:01:02.300 one popular method we use to 19 00:01:02.300 --> 00:01:05.800 win the game is to gain material. Once we have extra 20 00:01:05.800 --> 00:01:08.200 material over opponent then all 21 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.500 we have to do is exchange more and more pieces 22 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:14.500 go to an end game and win the game. That's the 23 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:17.900 easiest way to win a game when you have extra material, 24 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:20.200 but in this episode we are 25 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:20.300 going to learn 26 00:01:20.600 --> 00:01:23.700 how to gain material. Ok, so 27 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:26.100 let's bring the first position on the board. 28 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:30.500 Advika, can you tell me how white can gain material? 29 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:33.600 Bg6 Hg6 30 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:36.900 Rh8 and he loses a rook. Yeah, 31 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:39.300 very good. So using the concept of 32 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:42.600 pin which will be seeing in detail in subsequent 33 00:01:42.600 --> 00:01:45.400 chapters white gains material. So we 34 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:47.300 just captured Bg6 now. 35 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:51.300 If he does Hg6 the pawn 36 00:01:51.300 --> 00:01:54.500 was under the pin we win the rook we 37 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:57.300 gain material by Rh8. Yes. So 38 00:01:57.300 --> 00:02:00.600 this is a very simple way to understand this concept. 39 00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:03.900 Let's go into some little complex examples 40 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:06.200 now, let's bring the next position on the board. 41 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:08.200 Yes. 42 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:10.100 Pragya 43 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:14.500 can you tell me what should be done here? We need 44 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:17.500 to G8 took into G8 night of six. Check King 45 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:20.900 E7 9ga. Check King E8 night 46 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:23.300 of six check King E7 right into 47 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:26.200 D7 King in 2017 after this white has won 48 00:02:26.200 --> 00:02:28.800 an exchange fantastic. So let's slowly. 49 00:02:29.600 --> 00:02:33.000 go over the position and try to understand what Pragya 50 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:35.300 could work out in her mind. 51 00:02:36.200 --> 00:02:37.300 So in the position 52 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:41.300 She said Qxg8. So this 53 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:44.300 is not an easy move to make because we are simply giving 54 00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:45.500 up the queen for a knight. 55 00:02:46.100 --> 00:02:49.200 And black can simply capture Rg8. So it 56 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:52.400 looks like white gave up the queen for nothing. But the point 57 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.500 is the Ng8 was defending the 58 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:58.800 pawn on f6. So we are basically removing the 59 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.400 defender of the pawn. 60 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:04.500 Let's see what happens after Rg8. We give 61 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:05.400 Nf6 check 62 00:03:06.100 --> 00:03:09.100 and in chess terms it's called fork and we are 63 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:12.700 going to study about fork in subsequent episodes. So 64 00:03:12.700 --> 00:03:15.400 let's see what happens the knight attacks the king the 65 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:18.100 queen and the rook all at the 66 00:03:18.100 --> 00:03:21.900 same time. So that's called a family fork and black is 67 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:24.700 forced to play Ke7 and now 68 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:27.200 we could simply gain material by 69 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:30.300 taking knight into d7 but white found 70 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:33.200 an even better way it was even more 71 00:03:33.200 --> 00:03:36.600 greedy and he does Ng8 check and 72 00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:39.600 the king has no other square than going back 73 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:42.300 to e8. And again, we come back 74 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:45.400 Nf6 Ke7 and only 75 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:48.400 now we do Nd7 check and any capture 76 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:52.300 on d7 white has simply won an exchange winning 77 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:54.700 an exchange it simply means we have 78 00:03:54.700 --> 00:03:57.400 a rook for a minor piece. The minor 79 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:59.200 pieces are bishop and knight. 80 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.200 The major pieces are queen and rook. 81 00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:05.300 So let me repeat again. The major pieces are 82 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:08.600 the queen and rook the minor pieces are the 83 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:11.500 bishop and knight so when we when 84 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:16.000 take a rook for either bishop or night it 85 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:18.700 is known as we have won an exchange. So 86 00:04:18.700 --> 00:04:22.000 by this small combination white won 87 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:25.000 an exchange. He gained material. Okay. 88 00:04:24.200 --> 00:04:27.800 So when you gain material it's easy to win 89 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.100 the game. So now let's go to the 90 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:34.000 next position. Let's think about it for a 91 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:34.100 while. 92 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:38.800 And Shivika, can you have your answer? Rh8 check 93 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.900 Ng8 Bg5 94 00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:44.500 Ke8 rook takes g8 95 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.500 checkmate. This not only gained the piece but 96 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:51.100 also checkmate. Yeah, this is very important and some 97 00:04:50.100 --> 00:04:53.400 small psychology is involved in 98 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:57.600 this answer. So the first move check Ng8 99 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.800 and usually many 100 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:02.200 kids they just want to take 101 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:05.400 Rg8 and win material, which is also good enough. 102 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:08.600 There is a principle in chess when you see a good move look for 103 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.200 a better one. 104 00:05:10.200 --> 00:05:13.300 Okay, so when you see a good move look for a 105 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:16.300 better one, so we already have a good more of Rg8 so 106 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:19.200 we can just ask ourselves. I have a good move can I 107 00:05:19.200 --> 00:05:20.100 do something even better? 108 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:23.800 And if there is nothing even better available, then we 109 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:24.800 just settle for the good move. 110 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:28.600 Okay, but in this case, we have an even 111 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.300 better move Bg5 check forcing him 112 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:34.600 to go to e8 and Rg8 not only gains material, 113 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.000 but it also delivers checkmate. 114 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.400 Okay. So have you understood the concept of gaining material? 115 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:43.100 Yes, this is one very good way to win the 116 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:43.400 game. 117 00:05:44.100 --> 00:05:47.100 Okay, so let's quickly go over what we have 118 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:48.000 learnt in this episode. 119 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:03.400 And in 120 00:06:03.400 --> 00:06:06.100 the next episode we are going to enter into the 121 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:09.200 realm of tactics. Okay tactics is basically 122 00:06:09.200 --> 00:06:12.200 giving sacrifices. Okay, there are themes like 123 00:06:12.200 --> 00:06:16.200 skewers, pin, double attack, discovered 124 00:06:15.200 --> 00:06:19.300 check, fork, background mate, 125 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:21.700 overloading, clearance and 126 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:24.200 so on. Okay, so these things 127 00:06:24.200 --> 00:06:27.500 are really interesting. So we'll begin to cover these topics 128 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.400 in the next episode.

Double Attack & Defence

In chess, a double attack is a situation where a player attacks two or more pieces at once, forcing their opponent to choose which one to defend. This can be a powerful weapon for the attacker, as it creates threats and creates opportunities for material gain. In this video, we will explore the basics of double attack and defense, including how to recognize opportunities for double attacks and how to defend against them.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of the episode on Double Attack and Defence 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.800 In the earlier episode, we have learned how to attack and 1 00:00:03.800 --> 00:00:06.200 how to defend. In this episode we are 2 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:09.100 going to learn what is double attack and how to 3 00:00:09.100 --> 00:00:10.300 defend against it. 4 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:19.400 So let's see few examples of double attack. 5 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:22.100 Now in the position in front of you it is 6 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:25.300 black's turn to play. The black rook on 7 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:26.900 b2 is under attack. 8 00:00:27.700 --> 00:00:30.200 So it obviously has to move otherwise it will be 9 00:00:30.200 --> 00:00:30.600 captured. 10 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:34.300 Can you pause and think and tell me 11 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:39.800 what should black do here to attack two of 12 00:00:39.800 --> 00:00:41.700 white's units at the same time? 13 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:47.100 Yes, black should play Rb3 14 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:50.000 which attacks the knight on d3 and 15 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:52.000 the pawn on b4 at the same 16 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:52.200 time. 17 00:00:53.300 --> 00:00:56.300 As you can see the knight on d3 cannot be 18 00:00:56.300 --> 00:00:59.900 defended, it has to move which means the b4 19 00:00:59.900 --> 00:01:02.000 pawn is lost. Let's go to the 20 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:06.000 next example, in this position it is white's 21 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:09.100 turn to move. The material is completely equal. 22 00:01:08.100 --> 00:01:11.500 It looks like the game is heading for 23 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:14.700 a draw but there are two factors which 24 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:16.800 is working against black's favor. 25 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:20.200 Which is the black king is in a corner, 26 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.400 and the black rook on a4 is hanging. 27 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:28.400 White can use this to play Kb3, 28 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.300 which does a double 29 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:30.600 attack. 30 00:01:31.800 --> 00:01:34.400 Can you tell me what are the two threats that 31 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:36.900 white is doing with Kb3? 32 00:01:38.500 --> 00:01:41.700 Yes The rook on a4 is under 33 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:42.100 attack 34 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:46.600 Not only that white is also threatening a 35 00:01:46.600 --> 00:01:48.600 checkmate with Rc1. 36 00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:52.800 And there is no way black can defend against both 37 00:01:52.800 --> 00:01:55.200 the threats. Let's go to the next 38 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.600 position - black was very happy after playing 39 00:01:58.600 --> 00:01:59.800 Nxe4 40 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.700 winning a pawn but he forgot about one small 41 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:06.200 detail, can you tell me what that is? 42 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:10.500 Yes, he completely missed the move 43 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.500 Qa4 which attacks the king and 44 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:16.900 the knight at the same time and there is no way black 45 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:17.800 can defend both. 46 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:21.100 He must defend against the check. There are 47 00:02:21.100 --> 00:02:25.400 various ways to do it. Probably pawn move to b5, pawn 48 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.200 move to c6. 49 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.000 Nc6 50 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:30.000 Nd7 51 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.100 Bd7 52 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.000 Qd7. What's wrong with any all of this? 53 00:02:37.100 --> 00:02:40.200 He loses the knight on e4. That's double attack for you. 54 00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:44.500 Let's now go to the classroom and see what the 55 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:47.800 kids have learned. We have already seen few examples 56 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.200 in double attack. Now, let's do few more 57 00:02:50.200 --> 00:02:53.500 examples and let us also learn how to defend when there 58 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:56.200 is a double attack. Okay, so I have 59 00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:58.200 kept a position in front of you Shivika. 60 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.100 So, can you tell me how white should play 61 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:01.300 here? 62 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:06.200 Qh5, h6, Nf7, 63 00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:09.100 Qf6, knight takes h6 64 00:03:08.100 --> 00:03:12.200 check, Kh8, Nh7 65 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:15.900 double check, Kg8, Qh8 checkmate. 66 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:17.300 Yeah, very good. So 67 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:20.100 now the move Qh5 is a double 68 00:03:20.100 --> 00:03:23.400 attack. It attacks the pawn on h7 and it 69 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:26.300 also attacks the pawn on f7 so he cannot 70 00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:29.500 defend both the pawns, so he has to give one of 71 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:32.400 the pawns. So black plays h6 the knight 72 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.700 on g5 is under threat instead of going back. We 73 00:03:35.700 --> 00:03:39.000 already know in forcing moves we have to look at check capture threat. 74 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:42.000 Okay, that's a capture Nf7 and Nf7 75 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:44.700 is also threatening to take the queen on d8. 76 00:03:44.700 --> 00:03:47.700 So the queen has to move somewhere. So 77 00:03:47.700 --> 00:03:50.300 he went to f6 and now we 78 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:54.200 have a discovered double check because 79 00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:56.700 Bc4 is giving a check not 80 00:03:56.700 --> 00:03:59.300 only that the Nh6 is also giving it a 81 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:02.400 check. Okay so whenever there is a double check the only way to 82 00:04:02.600 --> 00:04:06.000 survive is by moving the king. So white 83 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:08.500 plays Kh8 and we again give 84 00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:11.600 a discover double check Nf7 now the 85 00:04:11.600 --> 00:04:14.400 knight and the queen are giving check forcing the king to move 86 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.200 to g8 and we finish it off with 87 00:04:17.200 --> 00:04:20.800 Qh8 checkmate. Fantastic now Advika, 88 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.500 we have a position in front of you. How can black 89 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:27.500 exploit double attack here? By Qg5 90 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:31.100 of double attack. You are attacking 91 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:33.500 the king and the queen at the same time, right if 92 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:37.600 he plays Qg5 then hg5 wins 93 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:37.700 a 94 00:04:38.200 --> 00:04:41.100 knight because if he moves it the rook will be gone. 95 00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:44.500 The knight will be under pin. So he is 96 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:47.400 losing material. So by using the concept of double 97 00:04:47.400 --> 00:04:50.700 attack and pin which we'll be seeing in subsequent chapters 98 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:53.200 black gains material. Now let's see 99 00:04:53.200 --> 00:04:56.300 how to defend against a double attack. That's also 100 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:59.200 very important to know Lakshesh - the position in front 101 00:04:59.200 --> 00:05:02.500 of you there is a check for the black king at the 102 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:06.400 same time the knight on e2 is under attack. So what should black do? Black 103 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:10.300 can play Kd3 and Nd4 104 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:13.200 Yeah, so to save the 105 00:05:13.200 --> 00:05:16.800 knight and the king black has to play either Kd3 or 106 00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:20.400 block the check with Nd4 very good 107 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:23.400 now Pragya in your case, the queen is attacking 108 00:05:23.400 --> 00:05:26.200 the rook and the king - how to save the rook in 109 00:05:26.200 --> 00:05:29.100 this position. We can save the rook by playing Rc3 110 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:32.100 Rc3 very good. So now we have answered the 111 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:35.300 check by blocking. Not only that we have 112 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:37.000 saved the rook too. 113 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:40.600 So in this episode we have learned how to 114 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:43.400 defend against double attack and also win 115 00:05:43.400 --> 00:05:46.900 material using double attack concept. So let's quickly go 116 00:05:46.900 --> 00:05:48.800 over what we have seen in this chapter. 117 00:06:10.700 --> 00:06:13.200 In the next episode we are 118 00:06:13.200 --> 00:06:16.500 going to learn about discovered attack discovered check.

Discovered Attack, Check & Double Check

This episode deals with the concepts of discovered attack, check, and double check. In chess, a discovered attack occurs when a piece is moved and reveals an attack on a piece or square that was previously protected. A check is a direct attack on the opponent's king, and a double check is when two pieces attack the opponent's king simultaneously. In this video, we will look at several different examples of discovered attacks, checks, and double checks, and discuss how these techniques can be used to create threats and gain material. We will also explore how to defend against these types of attacks and how to use them to put pressure on your opponent.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Discovered Attack Discovered Check 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.500 In this episode we are going to learn a modified form 1 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.800 of attack and check that is discovered attack 2 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:08.200 and discovered check. 3 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:18.300 In this episode we are going to learn an important topic 4 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:20.900 which is called a discovered attack 5 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:22.600 or a discovered check. 6 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:25.800 Let's see in detail what that really means? 7 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:29.900 Now when we move a piece or a pawn 8 00:00:29.900 --> 00:00:33.100 away from a square and it 9 00:00:32.100 --> 00:00:35.200 leads to a piece which 10 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.400 is lying behind it to open a line of attack, 11 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:41.900 then it is called a discovered attack. Now, let's 12 00:00:41.900 --> 00:00:44.500 see what it means with a 13 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:47.300 simple example. Now, we have a position in front of 14 00:00:47.300 --> 00:00:48.200 Shivika. 15 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.400 So Shivika, can you tell me what should black play 16 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:56.000 here? Black should play Rf2. Rf2 17 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.100 So, what did we do by moving the 18 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:00.600 rook away? Discovered check. 19 00:01:01.900 --> 00:01:04.200 Check to the king. Basically we attack the 20 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:07.800 king and when we attack a king, it's called a check, right? So 21 00:01:07.800 --> 00:01:10.900 by moving the rook away from f6 we 22 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:13.900 attack the king and gave a discovered check. 23 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:16.300 Right and if the attack 24 00:01:16.300 --> 00:01:19.400 comes with the check, it's called a discover check and if 25 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.200 the attack comes without a check, we just 26 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.500 call it a discovered attack. So in Shivika's case, it's 27 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:28.800 a discovered check now. Can you tell me why you specifically 28 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:31.200 went to f2 square not to 29 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:32.100 any other square? 30 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:35.200 It is taking away the square c2 and 31 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:38.200 d2. Yeah. So now the king basically cannot move 32 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:41.500 and what happens if I try to block the check with the 33 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:44.600 rook? He loses material. He loses material. We 34 00:01:44.600 --> 00:01:47.500 have seen gain of material right earlier chapters. 35 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.700 So if Re5 or Rd4 he simply 36 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:54.100 loses material. So let's understand this concept with 37 00:01:53.100 --> 00:01:56.200 few more examples. Pragya 38 00:01:56.200 --> 00:02:00.100 can you tell me what we should do here? Rb7 discover 39 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:02.300 check discovered check. Yeah, 40 00:02:02.300 --> 00:02:05.700 as you can see the queen on g5 the rook 41 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:08.600 on e7 the king on d8, they are 42 00:02:08.600 --> 00:02:09.600 in the same diagonal. 43 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:13.600 It's not a check simply because the rook 44 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:16.500 is blocking the queen's path. So we move the 45 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:19.500 rook away, It opens the line of 46 00:02:19.500 --> 00:02:22.700 the queen and it attacks the king with check 47 00:02:22.700 --> 00:02:25.400 right but it also happens to 48 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.100 lose the queen. 49 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:30.400 So by playing Rb7discovered check white 50 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.400 losses the queen to Hg5. So 51 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.400 what do you have in mind after that? After h into g5 52 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:39.100 Nc6 check Ke8 Re7 checkmate. 53 00:02:38.100 --> 00:02:40.900 Can you make the moves on your board, please? 54 00:02:42.100 --> 00:02:43.200 Rook into b7. 55 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:52.100 I see this is a fantastic coordination of rook 56 00:02:51.100 --> 00:02:54.100 and knight delivering checkmate to 57 00:02:54.100 --> 00:02:57.400 the king in the middle of the board. Right? So if you 58 00:02:57.400 --> 00:02:59.900 see the move Rb7, it's a check. 59 00:03:00.700 --> 00:03:04.200 And after Hg5 Nc6 check and Re7 60 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:07.000 checkmate check check forcing moves. 61 00:03:06.600 --> 00:03:10.100 You see the things we learn keep repeating 62 00:03:09.100 --> 00:03:13.100 again and again. Okay, let's 63 00:03:12.100 --> 00:03:15.500 see couple of more examples before we wind 64 00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:16.100 up this episode. 65 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:17.300 and 66 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.100 Lakshesh the position in front of you 67 00:03:21.700 --> 00:03:23.000 the black king in the center 68 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:27.900 how can we exploit this? ef7 discovered check 69 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:32.000 hmm so e takes f7. Can you show it on the board? 70 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:37.800 It's not only a check by the pawn, but it's 71 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:40.700 also a check by the queen. So 72 00:03:40.700 --> 00:03:43.700 it's a double check and it's also a 73 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:46.400 discovered check because the pawn was 74 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.700 blocking the queen's path and by removing the 75 00:03:49.700 --> 00:03:52.500 blockader we get a 76 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:55.400 check by the queen as well. So where should 77 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:57.800 the king go? Kd7. 78 00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:01.800 the king should go to d7 if it goes to d8 what happens? Qe7 checkmate 79 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:04.300 Qe7 it's a checkmate so 80 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:05.100 he has to 81 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:09.200 go forward if it doesn't want to get checkmated in one 82 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:12.800 move and the point being if Qe7 check 83 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:16.100 now, we can simply go Kc6 84 00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:18.500 and escape. So we need to take the 85 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:21.100 square c6 away from black. How can we 86 00:04:21.100 --> 00:04:21.400 do that? 87 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:23.500 Bb5 check 88 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:26.600 Fantastic. So black has to play c6. 89 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.200 That's the only move and what should white do 90 00:04:29.200 --> 00:04:31.300 here Qe7 checkmate. 91 00:04:32.200 --> 00:04:35.900 And again, if you see the answers ef7 was a check Kd7 92 00:04:35.900 --> 00:04:38.500 Bb5 was a check and Qe7 93 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:42.200 was a check check check. Okay forcing 94 00:04:41.200 --> 00:04:44.200 moves check check and Smyslov said 95 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:46.200 check is the best accelerator. 96 00:04:47.400 --> 00:04:50.700 Okay, so we have to remember these small points. So 97 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:53.700 let's go to one final example. It's a very 98 00:04:53.700 --> 00:04:56.800 simple one. Advika, can you tell me what 99 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:57.700 should white play here? 100 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:01.600 Be6 are discovered check 101 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.300 and a discover attack. Yes. So in 102 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:07.300 Advika's position, it's not a discovered double check 103 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:10.800 but it's a discovered check coming with an attack. So 104 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.300 it opens up the line for the rook 105 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:17.700 and also threatening to win the queen there is 106 00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:20.500 no way black can save the queen and 107 00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:23.600 respond to the check successfully. 108 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:27.700 Right. So this results in gain of material. So 109 00:05:27.700 --> 00:05:30.700 I hope we have learnt the 110 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:33.500 concept of discovered check and 111 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:36.600 discovered attack well. Yes? Okay, so 112 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.300 let's quickly go through what we have learned in this 113 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:40.700 episode. 114 00:06:02.200 --> 00:06:02.200 115 00:06:03.400 --> 00:06:06.700 In the next episode we'll be going to an interesting topic 116 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:07.300 pin.

Discussions with Mental Trainer: Part 1

In chess, just like in life, habits play a crucial role in determining our level of success. From the way we prepare for tournaments to the way we approach each move on the board, our habits can either help or hinder our progress. Similarly, success and failures are inevitable parts of the journey in any field, including chess. In this video, we will have a discussion between a mental trainer and a chess coach, who will share their insights and experiences on these topics. They will talk about the importance of developing good habits and the impact of these habits on our chess performance. They will also discuss how to handle success and failures in chess and how to use these experiences to improve our game.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Discussions with Mental Trainer: Part 1 0 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:09.400 In conversation with Vaibhav Agashe on host of issues like 1 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:11.300 habit, success, failures. 2 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:14.200 So what happens when I ask talk to my 3 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:17.600 students why they play chess the two 4 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:20.000 popular answers one, I want to become a world champion. 5 00:00:24.100 --> 00:00:27.200 So it shows they are very aspirational. They 6 00:00:27.200 --> 00:00:30.200 have a lot of ambitions and the other popular answer is 7 00:00:30.200 --> 00:00:34.100 I love to play chess but somehow along the way these 8 00:00:33.100 --> 00:00:36.200 two probably interfere with each other 9 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.100 probably they are becoming too ambitious and not stop enjoying the 10 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:42.400 game. They're enjoying the game too much and probably not 11 00:00:42.400 --> 00:00:46.100 performing as well as they should be doing and it'll be 12 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:48.600 very interesting to know your viewpoint on this. I 13 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:51.600 think starting point always is a player likes 14 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.700 the game enjoys. It basically attracts 15 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:57.300 and they start playing it just keep getting better 16 00:00:57.300 --> 00:01:00.300 at it somewhere at at some stage 17 00:01:00.300 --> 00:01:01.700 the ambition comes into the picture. 18 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:05.500 And the problem is when the ambition comes too early. 19 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:12.900 First 20 00:01:13.600 --> 00:01:16.500 like the game you start playing at it then start going 21 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:19.700 to a few tournaments. You win a few you go 22 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:22.900 to the next category. So that way it's a natural progression. But 23 00:01:22.900 --> 00:01:25.300 if it is right from the beginning if you start thinking 24 00:01:25.300 --> 00:01:28.600 that I have to become a world champion, then perhaps the 25 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:32.200 players even underestimate the the magnitude 26 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:34.300 of effort which is required. Yeah. I 27 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:37.400 think that's very interesting point. You've made the most important thing. 28 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:40.100 If you have the it's the passion we have for the game 29 00:01:40.100 --> 00:01:43.500 that when we go through tough moments, it's not our ambition 30 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:47.000 that's going to keep us going but probably the amount 31 00:01:46.100 --> 00:01:49.500 of passion we have the for the game and we 32 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:52.300 need to keep reminding the kids that you are doing this because 33 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:55.500 you want to do this you really want to do this and I 34 00:01:55.500 --> 00:01:58.600 think yeah, it's really about a goal setting process and 35 00:01:58.600 --> 00:02:01.700 keeping small goals for them which are achievable because 36 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:04.500 if you try and set too high goals and which you're 37 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:07.300 not really achieving and it takes a 38 00:02:07.300 --> 00:02:10.600 much longer time to achieve those goals, then they are likely 39 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:13.200 to lose the motivation. Whereas a 40 00:02:13.200 --> 00:02:13.300 small goal 41 00:02:13.600 --> 00:02:17.500 you are at this level and really going to the next level in 42 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:19.600 chess. I think it's not really defined in 43 00:02:19.600 --> 00:02:22.200 terms of district level and state level and 44 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:26.300 that progression is not there in chess. It is 45 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:28.500 only in terms of ratings. So rating is 46 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:32.100 a feedback and we have already discussed that part but 47 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:34.400 really in terms of that rather than thinking that 48 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.200 I have to become a Grandmaster or something else. It's a long 49 00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:40.900 term view but I have my goal is to increase so many points or 50 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:43.200 maybe go to a particular level. That's the 51 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:46.700 thinking go to that level again set another goal. Keep 52 00:02:46.700 --> 00:02:48.900 moving upward that should be the idea. 53 00:02:55.700 --> 00:02:59.300 Yeah, I think there is this interesting dilemma one 54 00:02:58.300 --> 00:03:01.200 setting goals in terms 55 00:03:01.200 --> 00:03:04.200 of achievable results in the game. For example 56 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:07.200 to become a grand master a world champion or get the 57 00:03:07.200 --> 00:03:10.300 rating like 2500 2600 and so on and the 58 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:13.800 other way to look at this is probably like I 59 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:16.200 want to learn ABC like right now 60 00:03:16.200 --> 00:03:19.300 I have like in the two years next two years. 61 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:22.200 I want to learn ABC and if you should also probably 62 00:03:22.200 --> 00:03:23.200 set targets. 63 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:26.700 Not only related to actual results, 64 00:03:26.700 --> 00:03:29.200 but also in terms of the things 65 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:32.300 we want to learn probably that's also an important factor. I wouldn't 66 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:35.400 see these as two different ways of goal setting it's 67 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.300 a means to achieve something else. Yeah, so it's not like, okay. I'm 68 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:42.000 not setting a goal in terms of number of points or particular 69 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:44.600 level and I will do something 70 00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:47.200 instead. It's not like this maybe the goal is 71 00:03:47.200 --> 00:03:50.600 result because ultimately if someone is playing competitively there 72 00:03:50.600 --> 00:03:53.300 is no objective is to yes, I want 73 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:56.100 to achieve level of 2300 2200. 74 00:03:56.900 --> 00:03:59.800 So one is a goal which is outcome oriented 75 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.300 like this. And then how will I achieve that goal? 76 00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:05.300 What will it take to you know reach that 77 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:08.500 particular level? So technically these are my goals and 78 00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:11.300 these goals are again defined so that if 79 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:14.400 I achieve these goals I will most probably reach the 80 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.200 level I want to yeah, I think this is the yeah, so it's like 81 00:04:17.200 --> 00:04:20.100 this you want to achieve an outcome and then break it 82 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:23.400 down in terms of the effort which is required to go there and 83 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:26.300 then said goals which are so I call it like a process 84 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:29.700 oriented goals achieve those goals automatically you 85 00:04:29.700 --> 00:04:32.300 basically we need to focus on the process. Yes, and by 86 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.300 focusing on the process and achieving them we ultimately get 87 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:38.300 the result between one processes again 88 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:41.100 not to reduce the pressure or something. It is 89 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:44.200 just doing the right things in order to achieve the 90 00:04:44.200 --> 00:04:47.500 result achieve them keep moving forward as I 91 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:50.700 keep doing that. I will achieve my final target, but it's like 92 00:04:50.700 --> 00:04:53.400 an example of climbing a mountain 93 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.300 you're at the base camp. So if you just keep 94 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:56.600 looking 95 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.800 up and climb it is impossible to climb. You 96 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:03.400 have to set a target that okay at the end of today's trek 97 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:05.800 what is the level that I want to reach and just 98 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:08.300 walk and reach that level be comfortable there 99 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:11.200 next day set another goal keep climbing up. 100 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:14.600 If you just keep looking up how then 101 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.200 the task is much bigger. And if you are not really 102 00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:20.200 watching the road, then you are likely to stumble and fall down. 103 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:31.700 I think the probably the missing link is it's very important apart from 104 00:05:31.700 --> 00:05:34.600 setting the target which is very important. We also 105 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.500 need to identify the achievable things we 106 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:40.300 need to do to achieve the target and start working on 107 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:43.600 them. Right. Lots of things to think about and these conversations 108 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:44.300 are going to continue.

Tactical Theme Part 1: Pin

A Pin is a powerful technique in which a piece is prevented from moving because it would leave the king exposed to attack. Pins are an important part of chess strategy and can be used to restrict the movements of your opponent's pieces and create tactical opportunities. In this video, we will explore the basics of Pin in chess, including how to identify pins and how to use them to your advantage. We will look at several different examples of pins and discuss the different types of pins, including absolute pins, relative pins, and cross pins.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Tactical Theme Part 1: Pin 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.600 In life, we want to do things our own way. In 1 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:06.700 chess we have the concept called pin which prevents 2 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:09.200 opponent's piece from doing what they want 3 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:09.400 to do. 4 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:19.000 In this episode we are going to look at the tactical concept 5 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.200 called pin. What does 6 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:24.500 pin mean? Let's directly go to the position on 7 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:27.800 the screen. Now we can see the bishop 8 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:28.700 on b4. 9 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.800 the knight black bishop on b4 white knight 10 00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:33.600 on c3 11 00:00:34.400 --> 00:00:36.000 the white king on e1 12 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:38.800 right now in this case what happens 13 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:40.300 the knight 14 00:00:41.900 --> 00:00:42.600 cannot move 15 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:46.600 because it will expose the king to a check 16 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:49.500 right? This is basically a pin. 17 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:53.300 Now in a pin there are three pieces involved 18 00:00:52.300 --> 00:00:55.300 the piece which is 19 00:00:55.300 --> 00:00:58.100 doing the pin in this case the bishop on 20 00:00:58.100 --> 00:00:58.900 b4. 21 00:00:59.900 --> 00:01:02.200 and the piece which is under the pin it's called 22 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:05.200 the pin piece, which is the knight on c3 because 23 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.000 it cannot move. 24 00:01:06.800 --> 00:01:08.200 and the back piece 25 00:01:09.300 --> 00:01:12.300 Right here in this case it is the king on e1 26 00:01:12.300 --> 00:01:14.400 now if you look at it closely 27 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.300 the pin piece is usually a lesser material 28 00:01:18.300 --> 00:01:21.000 when compared to the piece, which is the back piece. 29 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:24.800 Okay, so the king is 30 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:27.400 more important than the knight so which 31 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:30.500 makes it that the knight cannot move at all 32 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:32.000 because it lead to a check. 33 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:35.100 So if the back piece happens to be 34 00:01:35.100 --> 00:01:38.100 a king it is called an absolute pin. 35 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:42.700 Okay, if we replace the king with any 36 00:01:42.700 --> 00:01:45.200 other piece, let's say a white queen 37 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:46.400 on e1 38 00:01:47.100 --> 00:01:50.600 and let us keep the same pieces white knight on c3 and 39 00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:54.100 the white black bishop on b4 this case 40 00:01:54.100 --> 00:01:57.500 what happens the knight can move it's not an illegal move 41 00:01:57.500 --> 00:01:59.800 unlike the case when the king is on e1 42 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.600 now the knight can move but what happens if the knight moves he 43 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:04.300 will lose the queen. 44 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:08.100 Right, which is a heavy loss for white. So in this 45 00:02:08.100 --> 00:02:09.800 case, it is a relative pin. 46 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:13.800 So there are three pieces involved the pinning 47 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:14.200 piece, 48 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:16.500 the pinned piece 49 00:02:17.100 --> 00:02:18.100 and the back piece 50 00:02:19.100 --> 00:02:22.700 and usually the back piece is more powerful 51 00:02:22.700 --> 00:02:24.900 than the piece which is under pin. 52 00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:28.000 So making this almost impossible to move. 53 00:02:28.600 --> 00:02:31.900 And if I move the pin piece, usually it 54 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:35.100 leads to loss of material or 55 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:36.600 in some cases even checkmate. 56 00:02:37.900 --> 00:02:39.100 Understood the concept now? 57 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:42.300 Now I have set up few positions in front 58 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:45.200 of you. Now you have to tell me how to 59 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:49.700 make a pin. Okay, let's take it from there. Lakshesh, I 60 00:02:49.700 --> 00:02:50.900 have a simple question for you. 61 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:54.400 Which move by white you can achieve a 62 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.200 pin? How we can achieve 63 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:00.900 the pin from 64 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:02.200 move Bg5. 65 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:03.600 Please make them move on the board. 66 00:03:04.600 --> 00:03:07.700 Yeah, so now we can see the knight is spent 67 00:03:07.700 --> 00:03:10.500 against the queen the pinned piece 68 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:13.300 is knight on f6. The back piece 69 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:16.700 is queen and usually the back piece is a bigger 70 00:03:16.700 --> 00:03:19.100 material than the pinned piece. If the knight 71 00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:22.500 moves it will involve loss of material. Now, let's go 72 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:25.300 to Advika now, can you make a pin from 73 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:28.400 blacks view point? Bb4. Yeah make 74 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:28.900 them move please. 75 00:03:31.600 --> 00:03:34.100 Now Pragya, what is this pin called? Is it a 76 00:03:34.100 --> 00:03:37.200 relative pin or an absolute pin? An absolute pin. Can 77 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:40.600 you tell me why? Only when the king is the back piece 78 00:03:40.600 --> 00:03:43.700 It is called an absolute pin. Yeah, fantastic. So here 79 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:46.500 the back piece is a king which simply means 80 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:49.300 the pinned piece can never move it will become 81 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:52.600 an illegal move. So this is an example of absolute pin. Now 82 00:03:52.600 --> 00:03:55.500 let's go to Pragya's position black to 83 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.500 play. How can black do a pin here? Bg4. 84 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:00.200 Very good, make the move 85 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.300 Again, which is a familiar concept. The pinned piece is 86 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.200 smaller than the back piece. Okay. So the 87 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:10.400 pinned piece cannot move and Shivika you 88 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:13.400 have an interesting position. How can white do a 89 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:16.700 pin? Nc3. Fantastic now 90 00:04:16.700 --> 00:04:19.600 the pawn on d4 is under pin. 91 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:23.300 Right and the pawn on d4 is the 92 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:26.300 pinned pawn. Usually it's a 93 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:29.500 pinned piece but see in this case it is a pinned pawn 94 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:32.300 and the back piece is a queen which is 95 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.600 higher value than the pawn and as 96 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:37.500 usual we move the pawn we lose the queen. 97 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:41.500 Yes, so we have seen few examples. Now, 98 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:44.900 let's move to some complicated examples on the 99 00:04:44.900 --> 00:04:48.000 screen in front of us. Now in this first position. This 100 00:04:47.200 --> 00:04:50.900 is an absolute pin where the 101 00:04:50.900 --> 00:04:53.700 rook on f7 cannot move because the Bb3 102 00:04:53.700 --> 00:04:56.700 is pinning the rook against the King on g8. So 103 00:04:56.700 --> 00:04:59.400 white should play Qb7 104 00:04:59.400 --> 00:05:02.100 and doing a double attack on the rook on 105 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:03.000 f7. 106 00:05:03.700 --> 00:05:05.300 And black has to play 107 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:08.400 Qd7 which is interposing 108 00:05:09.100 --> 00:05:12.400 between the queen and the rook and white has 109 00:05:12.400 --> 00:05:14.000 a fantastic move, which is 110 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:18.500 Re7 which exploits the pin beautifully. Now 111 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:21.500 we have the pin along the diagonal we have 112 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:24.800 the pin along the seventh rank. Okay, It's a 113 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.700 very interesting position. So let's see three more 114 00:05:27.700 --> 00:05:28.200 examples. 115 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:33.200 Now in this case black has just played 116 00:05:33.200 --> 00:05:37.000 bishop takes c3 and the most natural move 117 00:05:36.200 --> 00:05:39.600 seems to be an automatic recapture with 118 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:42.700 bishop takes c3, but then it doesn't lead 119 00:05:42.700 --> 00:05:45.900 to any gain for white but white has 120 00:05:45.900 --> 00:05:49.200 a fantastic move which black completely 121 00:05:48.200 --> 00:05:52.000 overlooked when he took bishop c3 that 122 00:05:51.400 --> 00:05:54.300 is Qd2. Now if you 123 00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:58.000 see this is a cross pin now the bishop 124 00:05:57.200 --> 00:05:59.000 on c3 125 00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:02.200 Is under double pin now if it takes 126 00:06:02.200 --> 00:06:05.600 the queen it becomes an illegal move because it 127 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.200 opens the diagonal Bb2 to 128 00:06:08.200 --> 00:06:11.300 Kh8. So it's not able to take the queen. So let's 129 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:14.600 see what happens if it takes the bishop now 130 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.900 this bishop c3 unfortunately is also 131 00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:20.400 pinned against the queen on a5. 132 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:24.600 So again, we see the pin the piece which is the bishop 133 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:27.300 has lesser value the back piece 134 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:30.800 Qa5 and the back piece Kh8 135 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:33.300 they have a higher value than the pinned piece. 136 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:37.200 Okay, so this is called a crossed pin. 137 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:38.400 Got it? 138 00:06:39.700 --> 00:06:42.200 Now, let's move to the next position in this 139 00:06:42.200 --> 00:06:42.600 example 140 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:47.400 the queen is pin. We have the queen on 141 00:06:47.400 --> 00:06:50.100 d3 supported by the rook on d1 and the king 142 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:50.800 on b1. 143 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.300 The black queen is on f5. So it 144 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:57.700 looks like everything is in place for white 145 00:06:57.700 --> 00:07:00.200 but black came up with a brilliant 146 00:07:00.200 --> 00:07:03.900 move Rd8. Now this queen 147 00:07:04.900 --> 00:07:06.000 even though it's the most 148 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:09.600 valuable piece in the board with nine points 149 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.700 the king has even higher value an infinite value. 150 00:07:12.700 --> 00:07:15.500 So again, we see the back piece is 151 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:18.500 powerful than the pinned piece and what 152 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:21.700 happens if I take queen takes f5, it's simply 153 00:07:21.700 --> 00:07:23.400 Rd1 and it's a checkmate. 154 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:25.000 Right? 155 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.700 So, let's see one final example 156 00:07:28.700 --> 00:07:31.800 under pin. Now in this example, we 157 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:34.700 have the Rc7 Rd7 Kg7 158 00:07:34.700 --> 00:07:37.900 So the white rook on c7 159 00:07:37.900 --> 00:07:40.700 is pinning the black rook on d7 against 160 00:07:40.700 --> 00:07:43.400 the king. So the Kf7 is more powerful 161 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:46.400 than the pinned piece Rd7 and 162 00:07:46.400 --> 00:07:49.700 it's an absolute pin. But the rook on d7 is under 163 00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:52.300 central protection with the queen on e8. The queen e8 164 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:55.400 is defending the rook but white has the queen 165 00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:58.400 on c4, he uses a cross 166 00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:02.000 Ppin by playing Qb5. Now after 167 00:08:01.400 --> 00:08:04.700 queen b5 the rook is not 168 00:08:04.700 --> 00:08:07.200 only pinned against the king. It is 169 00:08:07.200 --> 00:08:10.900 also pinned against his own queen. Okay. So 170 00:08:10.900 --> 00:08:13.500 if he moves the rook, he loses 171 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:13.800 the queen. 172 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:18.500 So in this episode we saw many examples 173 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:21.700 of absolute pin and relative pin. 174 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.700 So before we go to the next episode, let's quickly go 175 00:08:26.700 --> 00:08:28.200 through what we have seen in this episode. 176 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:02.100 In the next episode we are 177 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:05.200 going to see the other tactical theme skewer.

Tactical Theme Part 2: Skewer

A Skewer, sometimes also referred to as reverse pin, is a tactical move in which a piece attacks two pieces at once, forcing the defender to move one of them, leaving the other vulnerable to capture. Skewers are a powerful tool in chess, as they allow you to win material while also putting your opponent's pieces in awkward positions. In this video, we will look at several different examples of skewers and discuss the different types of skewers, including absolute skewers and relative skewers.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Tactical Theme Part 2: Skewer 0 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:03.500 Continuing with our learning on the tactical themes, today 1 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.800 we are going to learn about the tactical theme skewer. 2 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:08.500 Let's move to the classroom now. 3 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.500 In this episode we are going to see an interesting 4 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:19.800 tactical theme called skewer. 5 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:23.600 Let's see what skewer is all about. It is also sometimes 6 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:24.900 called a reverse pin. 7 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:28.800 Under pin we learned that when two 8 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:31.500 pieces are in the same line and they are under attack 9 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:35.400 the piece in the front or the pinned piece cannot move 10 00:00:35.400 --> 00:00:38.400 because the back piece usually 11 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:39.900 is a higher value 12 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.200 and we lose material right and in case 13 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.200 if the back piece is a king, it's an illegal move. So we 14 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.300 cannot move the pinned piece but in skewer it is 15 00:00:49.300 --> 00:00:52.800 the other way. The higher valued piece is in 16 00:00:52.800 --> 00:00:55.200 front and the lesser valued piece is 17 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.800 usually behind the pinned piece. Got it? 18 00:00:58.800 --> 00:01:01.800 Now let's see some simple examples, which 19 00:01:01.800 --> 00:01:04.000 will make it clear what I am saying. 20 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:07.700 Let's bring the first position on the board and see how 21 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:10.500 skewer can be applied to the position. Here we 22 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:13.100 can see the black queen on f7 and the rook on 23 00:01:13.100 --> 00:01:16.300 g8 they are along the same diagonal and we have a white 24 00:01:16.300 --> 00:01:19.200 bishop which can be used to exploit this. 25 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:22.200 By playing Bc4 we attack the 26 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.600 queen and the rook along the same diagonal. Now to 27 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:29.000 save the queen he has to move it and wherever 28 00:01:28.100 --> 00:01:31.400 he goes, we simply capture Bg8 29 00:01:31.400 --> 00:01:34.200 and win an exchange, this is a very simple 30 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:37.100 example for skewer. Let's bring the first 31 00:01:37.100 --> 00:01:40.400 position in this case white just played Qe2 32 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:41.000 33 00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:44.700 simply missing the move Ba6 34 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:48.700 Okay supported by the knight on b8 the 35 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:51.400 rook is already on f1 and he simply went 36 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:54.800 into the same line of attack. So now 37 00:01:54.800 --> 00:01:57.600 the queen on e2 rook of rook on f1, they both 38 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:00.700 are along the same diagonal which black exploited by 39 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.300 playing Ba6. So he has to move the 40 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:06.800 queen to save it and he loses the exchange again to Bf1, 41 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:09.500 right? So this is a relative skewer 42 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.600 where we are able to move the attacked piece, 43 00:02:12.600 --> 00:02:15.400 but we still lose material now. Let's 44 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:18.600 move to absolute skewer and see 45 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:20.000 what it actually means. 46 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:22.900 Now in this position 47 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.200 there is a check white has 48 00:02:26.200 --> 00:02:29.800 just given a check Qh8. The king is obliged to 49 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.600 move there is nothing to block. So he plays Ke7. 50 00:02:32.600 --> 00:02:35.600 We just give Qg7 51 00:02:35.600 --> 00:02:36.800 check and win the queen. 52 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:41.000 So now this is an absolute skewer because the 53 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.000 piece that is under attack is the 54 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:44.100 king. 55 00:02:45.100 --> 00:02:48.700 If it is anything other than the king it will be a relative 56 00:02:48.700 --> 00:02:51.300 skewer but if the king is under attack, 57 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:54.800 then it's an absolute skewer, got 58 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:58.100 it? So, let's see one more example on absolute 59 00:02:57.100 --> 00:03:00.600 skewer. Let's bring the next position again. In this 60 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:03.400 position white was threatening and attack along 61 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:06.500 the h file. So black thought he will run away from 62 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:09.200 the checks by playing Kh7 but he got 63 00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:12.300 into this absolute skewer Rh7 where by the king 64 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:15.200 is in the front and the queen is behind the king is 65 00:03:15.200 --> 00:03:18.700 forced to move because it's an absolute skewer and thereby 66 00:03:18.700 --> 00:03:21.700 losing the queen right? So so 67 00:03:21.700 --> 00:03:24.400 far we have seen a couple of examples on 68 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.300 relative and absolute skewer. Now, I have 69 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.200 set up a few positions in front of you and let me 70 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:33.400 find out if you have understood the concept well. 71 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.700 Shivika, can you tell me how white can 72 00:03:37.700 --> 00:03:41.000 do skewer in your position Be4? 73 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:44.300 Be4 very good what happens the bishop has three points 74 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:47.400 the rooks have five points and you are 75 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:50.000 attacking a five point with a three point, right? You are attacking 76 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:53.700 rook with the bishop and wherever the rook goes is going 77 00:03:53.700 --> 00:03:56.300 to lose the other rook right? So this is a 78 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.800 classic example of skewer and for Pragya, can 79 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.600 you tell me how white can use this concept to 80 00:04:02.600 --> 00:04:03.300 gain material? Ba4? 81 00:04:05.100 --> 00:04:06.100 Can you make it on the board? 82 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.500 Yeah, Ba4. Now again, the attacking 83 00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:12.500 piece is of lesser value and attacked piece 84 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:15.500 is of higher value. And if the attacked piece moves, 85 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:19.100 he loses material. So wherever the rook moves it 86 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:20.600 loses the knight on e8. 87 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:24.300 And moving to Advika, how can white use this 88 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:28.100 skewer to gain material? Qb2? 89 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:29.600 Yeah, can you make it on the board? 90 00:04:30.700 --> 00:04:33.300 So Qb2, this is an absolute skewer because it 91 00:04:33.300 --> 00:04:36.000 comes with a check, right? So he has to 92 00:04:36.200 --> 00:04:39.200 move the king and wherever he does he loses the 93 00:04:39.200 --> 00:04:42.800 queen. Lakshesh, can you tell me how white 94 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.500 can use absolute skewer to gain material? Re1 check 95 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:48.300 Yeah. Okay Re1 check 96 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:51.500 the king has to move and he loses the queen. So we 97 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:54.500 have seen many examples to understand the 98 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:57.500 concept of skewer, right? So this is a very 99 00:04:57.500 --> 00:05:00.300 important tactical theme which we should 100 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:04.000 use in middle game usually to gain material, got it? 101 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:10.600 102 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:21.900 In the next episode we'll 103 00:05:21.900 --> 00:05:24.400 be learning about decoy and deflection.

Tactical Theme Part 3: Decoy & Deflection

Decoy and Deflection are two important tactical motifs in which a player uses one of their pieces to lure or distract an opponent's piece, allowing for a different piece to attack or capture it. These techniques are often used in combination to create strong threats and win material. In this video, we will look at several different examples of Decoys and Deflections and discuss how to create and defend against these tactical motifs. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this video will give you a deeper understanding of the important concepts of Decoy and Deflection in chess and how they can impact the outcome of a game.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Decoy and Deflection 0 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.400 In this episode we are going to learn about the tactical 1 00:00:03.400 --> 00:00:05.600 themes decoy and deflection. 2 00:00:12.100 --> 00:00:15.500 In today's topic we are going to talk about decoy and 3 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:18.400 deflection. This is one of my favorite topics for 4 00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:21.200 two reasons. The first reason the word 5 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:23.500 itself. Sounds like a dacoit, right? 6 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:29.100 So that's what makes it interesting and the second reason I 7 00:00:28.100 --> 00:00:31.700 did not know about this theme probably till I 8 00:00:31.700 --> 00:00:34.600 was on my first national age category title. 9 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:37.600 Okay, so I didn't know that there is a theme called decoy 10 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:40.200 and deflection and only after I won the national 11 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:43.100 title, I read in some books that this topic is 12 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:46.200 very important as well. That does not mean I was 13 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:49.300 not using this theme in my games and that does 14 00:00:49.300 --> 00:00:52.800 not mean this is not important. This is very very important topic 15 00:00:52.800 --> 00:00:55.200 and it's quite interesting too. Let's bring the first 16 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.700 position on the board and understand decoy much 17 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:00.600 better. Now in this position 18 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.400 the queen is on e4 and the king on e8 19 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.100 and white has a knight on f3. The first thing 20 00:01:07.100 --> 00:01:10.300 that should come to our mind is if the black king is 21 00:01:10.300 --> 00:01:13.900 on f7 square I could do a fork with Ng5 22 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:16.700 check and win the queen right but unfortunately 23 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:19.700 the king stands on e8 and there 24 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:22.200 is a black pawn on f7. So what we 25 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.300 immediately come up with the idea we have the bishop in 26 00:01:25.300 --> 00:01:27.900 this diagonal. Can I sacrifice my bishop, 27 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:31.800 lure the king to where I want it and 28 00:01:31.800 --> 00:01:35.400 then give a fork - make sense? Okay, that's 29 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.000 it that is decoy. It is not 30 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:40.200 really difficult. So the concept of decoy what it 31 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:43.900 really means. We want opponent's particular piece usually 32 00:01:43.900 --> 00:01:46.500 the king or the queen to come to a particular 33 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:49.700 square and when it comes to that particular square, we 34 00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:53.100 can give a check and win material, right? So that's 35 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:55.400 what happens in this game. So Bf7 36 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:58.200 Kf7 Ng5 check 37 00:01:58.200 --> 00:01:59.500 and we win the queen. 38 00:02:00.300 --> 00:02:03.500 Okay. So this luring the king or queen is 39 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:06.300 usually done by a sacrifice. We have to give 40 00:02:06.300 --> 00:02:09.600 usually a knight or a bishop or a rook 41 00:02:09.600 --> 00:02:12.300 and then the pieces brought to the 42 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:15.400 square where we want it and then we win material we get 43 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:16.400 more than what we gave. 44 00:02:17.100 --> 00:02:17.600 Got it? 45 00:02:18.200 --> 00:02:21.600 So let's move to the next position now in this 46 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:22.000 position 47 00:02:22.900 --> 00:02:24.800 again, it works in a slightly different way. 48 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:27.800 We have the black king on d8, 49 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:30.600 queen on f6 and the rook on h8. 50 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:34.200 And we have a knight which can give fork and win 51 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:37.400 the rook, but unfortunately the queen on f6 is guarding 52 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:38.800 the square f7. 53 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:42.500 So what we do we give the queen sacrifice Qh8 54 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:43.000 55 00:02:43.600 --> 00:02:46.100 and when the queen goes to h8 we are again 56 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.100 play Nf7 check fork and win the queen 57 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:51.300 so again we see 58 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:55.700 that pattern is same we want opponent's particular 59 00:02:55.700 --> 00:02:57.800 piece in an exact square. 60 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:01.500 And we bring it to that square by a sacrifice. 61 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.600 So in this example, we wanted the queen on h8, so 62 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:08.300 that we can give a fork Nf7, but the queen 63 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:09.100 was on f6. 64 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.300 So we have to lure it away to h8 65 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:13.400 and that is a decoy. 66 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:14.900 Got it? 67 00:03:16.200 --> 00:03:18.300 Let's see one more example with Pragya. 68 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:21.200 Pragya, we have a position set in front of you 69 00:03:22.100 --> 00:03:23.000 think for a couple of minutes 70 00:03:24.600 --> 00:03:25.100 and then tell me 71 00:03:26.300 --> 00:03:29.300 how we can use the concept of decoy to win material? 72 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:31.300 Rb7 if rook into b7 queen into g8, queen into b7 73 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:41.200 so for that Bc8, they cannot take rook into c8 to 74 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:44.700 because it's an illegal move so king into c8 queen into 75 00:03:44.700 --> 00:03:45.600 g8 winning material. 76 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.900 Fantastic, so let's go over it little slowly 77 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:53.000 playing Rb7 check, we 78 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:55.100 are basically trying to lure the rook 79 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:58.800 from b8 to b7 and they 80 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:00.200 will lose the queen queen into g8. 81 00:04:01.200 --> 00:04:03.100 Right, so we are trying to lure the 82 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:06.400 rook to b7 or that's a 83 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:06.600 decoy. 84 00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:10.700 So black doesn't fall for it. He captures with the King. 85 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:13.600 But now again, will you 86 00:04:13.600 --> 00:04:16.400 or decoy the king to c8 because 87 00:04:16.400 --> 00:04:19.700 it's a double check he has to respond by moving the king and 88 00:04:19.700 --> 00:04:22.400 whatever he does. He moves the king to any other 89 00:04:22.400 --> 00:04:25.900 square or captures the bishop basically blocks 90 00:04:25.900 --> 00:04:28.200 the rook's support to the queen and he loses 91 00:04:28.200 --> 00:04:28.600 material. 92 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:32.300 Right. That's how white won this game. 93 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.100 So I think with these examples, we have understood the concept of 94 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.300 decoy very well, right? Yes gets. 95 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:42.700 Very good. So now let's move to the next topic which is deflection. 96 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.500 So what does deflection actually mean? 97 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:48.500 Now we have the first position on the board. 98 00:04:49.700 --> 00:04:51.900 So I'll give you a couple of minutes to think about it. 99 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:55.900 Now in this first position 100 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:59.600 we see the black queen on d4 is 101 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.400 attacked by the queen on a7 102 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:05.600 and the queen Is defended by the knight on f5. 103 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:09.800 Now the knight on f5, it's not only defending the 104 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.300 queen d4, it's also defending the bishop 105 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:12.700 on e7. 106 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:16.400 Okay. So this is a classic example of overload, which we'll 107 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:19.400 be seeing in subsequent chapters, but it 108 00:05:19.400 --> 00:05:20.900 applies as a decoy as well. 109 00:05:21.900 --> 00:05:24.100 So basically the knight on f5 110 00:05:24.700 --> 00:05:27.300 needs to be lured away to a 111 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:27.700 different square 112 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.300 so that the queen will be hanging. 113 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:34.500 Ok, so we do that by playing Re7 114 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:34.600 check. 115 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:38.400 and if it doesn't take he simply becomes a bishop down. 116 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:41.700 So he needs to do Ne7now the 117 00:05:41.700 --> 00:05:44.400 knight has been lured away from the 118 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:47.300 queen, we capture the queen d4 and win 119 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:50.200 material. Got it? So let's see few more 120 00:05:50.200 --> 00:05:53.200 examples. In this position, this is 121 00:05:53.200 --> 00:05:54.200 one of my favorites - 122 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:57.700 we have the king defending the queen. 123 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:01.600 and the Queen on f8 on bishop on g8 now, 124 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.900 how do we use this battery? 125 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.700 To lure the king and queen to unsafe squares 126 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:08.000 so that we can capture material. 127 00:06:09.400 --> 00:06:12.300 The first move is Be6 check now, he has 128 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:16.000 few options. Now if he takes king e6, we 129 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.100 have lured the king away from the 130 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:21.100 queen so he loses to Qe8. That's not 131 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:25.300 possible. So he cannot do Ke6 let's 132 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:28.000 see what happens if he moves the king to c6 133 00:06:27.400 --> 00:06:30.400 that also leaves the queen en prise, he loses 134 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:33.600 to Qe8, so the only way he doesn't lose material 135 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:35.900 is by capturing with Qe6 136 00:06:37.100 --> 00:06:40.100 Okay. So now it looks like black has just won material for nothing. 137 00:06:40.700 --> 00:06:43.200 But we just deflected the queen 138 00:06:43.200 --> 00:06:46.100 to e6 square so we will be able to 139 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:47.600 give Qd8 check. 140 00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:52.200 Okay with the queen on e8 this was not possible. So since 141 00:06:51.200 --> 00:06:54.800 the queen has been deflected to the square e6 142 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.900 Qd8 check is possible now and the 143 00:06:57.900 --> 00:07:00.800 king moves to c6 and 144 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.700 finally we win with a fork d5 check. 145 00:07:05.200 --> 00:07:07.400 Okay. So now the king has been lured 146 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:10.600 to c6 square and the 147 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:13.100 queen to the e6 square and we win it with a 148 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:13.300 fork. 149 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:17.000 Got it? Ok. So let us move to the 150 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:20.500 next example now we have the queen and 151 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:23.400 bishop battery in the diagonal and the black king is 152 00:07:23.400 --> 00:07:26.800 on f8. So we just want to play 153 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:27.600 Queen f7. 154 00:07:28.200 --> 00:07:31.800 Okay, in deflection one thing we need to remember is 155 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:34.400 we are trying to deflect a piece 156 00:07:34.400 --> 00:07:37.600 which is doing an important defensive job, this you 157 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.400 need to remember. Okay. So some piece is 158 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:43.400 doing a very important job of defending an important 159 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:47.700 square or a diagonal or a file whatever so 160 00:07:47.700 --> 00:07:50.300 we have to deflect the 161 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:51.200 defending piece 162 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:55.500 to do something else then whatever It was defending we 163 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:56.400 can exploit it. 164 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:02.100 So the queen on g6 is defending the 165 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:02.800 square on f7. 166 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:06.800 So as long as the queen on g6 is guarding the 167 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:09.100 f7 square we cannot deliver mate. So we 168 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:12.500 have to deflect the queen away from the f7 square 169 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:16.100 and then the mate is possible so that we do by Bh6 170 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:18.700 check Qh6 and 171 00:08:18.700 --> 00:08:19.500 Qf7 mate. 172 00:08:20.200 --> 00:08:24.000 OK let see how you have understood the position. Well Lakshesh, 173 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.700 I have kept a position in front of you. 174 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:29.700 Just think about it for a minute and then tell me how white 175 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:32.800 can win using the deflection theme. Qg4 176 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:33.100 Qg4 177 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:36.300 Kg7 178 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.400 Rf8 179 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:43.100 Rf8 180 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.700 Rf8 check 181 00:08:48.400 --> 00:08:48.800 Kg7 182 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:53.500 h8 is 183 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:56.400 equal to queen checkmate. Yeah, that's 184 00:08:56.400 --> 00:09:00.000 fantastic. Now for the viewers there are many interesting 185 00:08:59.400 --> 00:09:01.500 lessons from this example. 186 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:05.500 The first thing he did is the queen on g7. 187 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:08.400 It's guarding the square f8 and it's not letting us play 188 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:11.500 Rf8 check. So the first thing white should hope for 189 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:14.300 is I would like to play Rf8 check and then 190 00:09:14.300 --> 00:09:17.200 promote my h7 pawn but the queen is defending that 191 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:20.700 square. So what we need to do we have to deflect the 192 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.500 defender somewhere else. 193 00:09:23.300 --> 00:09:24.800 so that we do by 194 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:28.400 exploiting the overloaded nature of the queen by taking 195 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:32.100 Qg4 and when he takes Qg4 Rf8 check 196 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:34.300 after 197 00:09:34.300 --> 00:09:34.600 Rf8 check 198 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.600 the King has to move to g7 199 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:42.500 and now Lakshesh did something very important, 200 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:46.900 which is he wanted to promote the pawn. Now, we 201 00:09:46.900 --> 00:09:49.400 cannot use two hands while moving piece even 202 00:09:49.400 --> 00:09:52.400 while castling. We cannot use or during en passant 203 00:09:52.400 --> 00:09:55.400 So Lakshesh, can you again show the audience how 204 00:09:55.400 --> 00:09:57.700 to promote a pawn so he took a pawn 205 00:09:58.300 --> 00:10:01.500 kept it on h8 the same hand removed the h7 206 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:05.100 pawn, you shouldn't use two hands. Okay, this is important. Thank 207 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:07.700 you Lakshesh now that we have understood the 208 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:10.600 concepts of decoy and deflection let's quickly run 209 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.200 through what we have learned point by point. So it will make 210 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.600 things clearer in our mind. Okay? 211 00:10:28.900 --> 00:10:31.000 In the next episode we are going to 212 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.600 tackle the topic of clearance.

Tactical Theme Part 4: Clearance

Clearance is a tactical motif in which a player creates space for one of their pieces by removing an obstacle, usually a pawn. This allows the piece to be developed more easily and can also create new threats and opportunities for attack. In this video, we will explore the basics of Clearance while looking at several different examples.

WEBVTT - This is transcript for Tactical Theme Part 4: Clearance 0 00:00:00.300 --> 00:00:03.500 In this episode we are going to learn about the tactical theme 1 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.700 clearance. We will explore the concept 2 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:09.000 of clearance in detail in the classroom. 3 00:00:15.200 --> 00:00:18.500 In this episode we are going to learn about another interesting 4 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:21.200 topic, which is clearance. Now before we go 5 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:24.300 to the board and see an example let me explain in 6 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:27.200 a different way what it simply means. Let's say 7 00:00:27.200 --> 00:00:30.500 I have a glass of water right? I have a mug and I 8 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:33.300 want to place the mug here, but there is no place because there is a book. 9 00:00:33.300 --> 00:00:35.700 So what do I do if I want to keep my Mac here? 10 00:00:36.400 --> 00:00:39.300 I clear this and then I can keep my 11 00:00:39.300 --> 00:00:42.800 Mac here. Right? So this place can be used for what I 12 00:00:42.800 --> 00:00:45.600 need. So this is what we are going to learn with the 13 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.400 example in front of you. 14 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:49.000 So in this position 15 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:54.300 what we should first get the idea that should come 16 00:00:54.300 --> 00:00:57.700 to our mind. First is I would like to put Ne6 17 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:00.600 and win the queen by fork, right? 18 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.600 So the queen is on c7 the king on g7. 19 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.200 I would very much like to play Ne6 but my 20 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:09.400 own queen is blocking the way so what do 21 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:12.600 I do instead of just moving the queen away to any square 22 00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:15.900 I can do it by gaining material and 23 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:18.300 how do we do that by just taking Qf5 24 00:01:18.300 --> 00:01:21.800 and whatever way he captures I get Ne6 check 25 00:01:21.800 --> 00:01:22.500 and win the queen. 26 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.700 Got it. So basically what clearance means is we want 27 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:28.800 one of our pieces in a particular square. 28 00:01:29.500 --> 00:01:32.800 But that square is occupied by our own piece 29 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:35.800 or pawn. So we just have to give away 30 00:01:35.800 --> 00:01:38.400 the piece or the pawn so that the 31 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:41.200 square can be used by the piece which we really wanted to 32 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:41.600 be there. 33 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.800 Now, let's see how this theme works in the next example. In 34 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:46.300 this position 35 00:01:47.300 --> 00:01:50.200 we can see that white would very much like 36 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:52.400 to play Qg7 and give a checkmate. 37 00:01:53.100 --> 00:01:56.200 But unfortunately, we have our own rook on the 38 00:01:56.200 --> 00:01:59.300 square g7 what we need to do, just throw the 39 00:01:59.300 --> 00:02:02.400 rook away and instead of throwing it away to any 40 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:05.400 square we can do it by giving a check 41 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:08.100 on h7 and followed by 42 00:02:08.100 --> 00:02:09.100 Qg7 checkmate. 43 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:12.700 Okay, it's not a really difficult theme. 44 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:17.200 We just have to understand and identify which 45 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:19.200 square needs to be where if we get 46 00:02:19.200 --> 00:02:23.000 that clear in our mind. All that is remaining is to remove 47 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:25.100 the piece which is blocking there and then 48 00:02:25.100 --> 00:02:26.300 we get what we want. 49 00:02:28.100 --> 00:02:31.200 In the third example, white would very much want to 50 00:02:31.200 --> 00:02:34.700 play Qh7 deliver checkmate, but our 51 00:02:34.700 --> 00:02:37.400 own bishop is blocking the path. So what 52 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.400 do? We go Bd5? We just 53 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.100 throw the bishop away with a check followed by whatever he 54 00:02:43.100 --> 00:02:47.600 responds. We can play Qh7 deliver checkmate. 55 00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:51.300 Got it? Let us see two more examples quickly and then 56 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:52.000 I will come to you. 57 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:55.600 Now this is black's turn to play. 58 00:02:56.200 --> 00:02:59.300 In this position, what should black think the white king on 59 00:02:59.300 --> 00:02:59.800 h1? 60 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:04.000 The two rooks on the g file for black that 61 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:07.000 should really mean the king is not very comfortable. But 62 00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:09.400 how can white exploit this? Black would 63 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:12.500 very much want to play Qc6 check and it's a 64 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:15.500 mate because the king cannot come to the g5 we have the rook, 65 00:03:15.500 --> 00:03:19.000 but our own rook on g2 is on the 66 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:21.600 way. So what we do, we just give Rg1 67 00:03:21.600 --> 00:03:21.700 check 68 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.500 and then he captures we play Qc6 69 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:26.300 and it will be a mate. 70 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:29.900 Okay. Now this position is for the audience. 71 00:03:32.100 --> 00:03:33.800 Now think for some time. 72 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:42.000 Yeah, let me give the answer now. 73 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:45.300 White would very much want to play Qf6 and 74 00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:48.200 it's a checkmate provided the knight on 75 00:03:48.200 --> 00:03:51.600 d6 is not there because we have the rook on the d file covering the 76 00:03:51.600 --> 00:03:54.100 escape square along the d5, but we 77 00:03:54.100 --> 00:03:57.200 have our own knight on d6. So all we need to do 78 00:03:57.200 --> 00:03:57.500 just 79 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.200 sacrifice the knight with c8 Nc8 check 80 00:04:01.200 --> 00:04:03.200 followed by Qf6 checkmate. 81 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:04.300 Got it? 82 00:04:06.100 --> 00:04:07.500 Advika, can you tell me 83 00:04:08.200 --> 00:04:11.900 how we can use clearance to win for black? Here I 84 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:14.500 want to put my queen on e1 my knight 85 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:17.400 is on the way so I can sacrifice my knight by 86 00:04:17.400 --> 00:04:20.700 Ng3. Yeah. So either way he captures hg3 87 00:04:20.700 --> 00:04:23.400 fg3 will mean Qe1 88 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:26.400 is a checkmate. Now. I have a question for you. Why not play Nd2 89 00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:30.700 check doesn't it also clear the queen's path? But then 90 00:04:29.700 --> 00:04:32.400 the bishop will 91 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:35.000 capture it and the even square would be 92 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:38.100 controlled. Fantastic. So as a chess player we need 93 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:42.100 to learn to pay attention to these small details not 94 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:44.400 every move is same as it appears. 95 00:04:44.400 --> 00:04:48.100 We need to look for this type of minor differences 96 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:50.500 because that can have a big impact 97 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:53.800 on the result. Got it. Okay now Lakshesh, 98 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:56.200 what should white try to 99 00:04:56.200 --> 00:04:57.900 achieve? White 100 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:00.300 should try to achieve 101 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:04.200 his Queen on g6 I will play 102 00:05:04.200 --> 00:05:07.300 Bb7 and clear. Very good. So 103 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:10.100 white should try to achieve Qg6 but the 104 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:13.400 bishop is along the way instead of moving it to any square 105 00:05:13.400 --> 00:05:16.500 with a quiet move you have used a 106 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:19.500 forcing move. Now by attacking the queen so he 107 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:22.500 has to respond to the threat for the queen and whatever he 108 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:25.400 does with the queen we play Qg6 and deliver checkmate. 109 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:28.100 Very good now for Pragya you have a 110 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.900 slightly or probably very difficult position, but 111 00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:33.100 let's see whether you can handle it. 112 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:37.100 I want to play Nh3 and Ng5 check, 113 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:39.800 but my rook is in the way so I have to play Rh4. 114 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:43.100 So here Rh4 is a sacrifice. 115 00:05:43.700 --> 00:05:46.700 She is giving her rook which has five points to 116 00:05:46.700 --> 00:05:49.700 the bishop which has just three points. Okay, but it 117 00:05:49.700 --> 00:05:52.800 makes a lot of sense because after Bh4 118 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:53.300 119 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.200 Qh4 black and white 120 00:05:57.200 --> 00:05:58.100 is already threatening. 121 00:05:58.700 --> 00:06:01.200 Qe7 check and it's 122 00:06:01.200 --> 00:06:04.200 not easy to defend against this threat. We are 123 00:06:04.200 --> 00:06:07.100 also threatening to play Ng5 check 124 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:10.300 now if I try to cover the square e7 with 125 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:13.300 my queen you can simply go. Yes, can you 126 00:06:13.300 --> 00:06:16.500 make it Pragya Ng5 check Kh8 127 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:18.500 Nf7 and it's a fork. 128 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:21.700 She loses the black losses the queen. 129 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:25.100 So fantastic, so if I 130 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:28.200 don't capture what happens, let's say if I play 131 00:06:28.200 --> 00:06:28.900 Qd8. 132 00:06:29.900 --> 00:06:32.300 I'll continue with my plan and play Nh3. 133 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:35.400 Fantastic and then the knight is going to come to g5 134 00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:38.500 anyway, so if I take Bh4, would you 135 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:40.200 exchange the queens or keep the queen on the board? 136 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:46.100 I'll play Ng5. Anyway, wow, fantastic. 137 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.300 So she is ignoring the threat but going for an attack. 138 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.100 Let's say what happens now. Now I'll play 139 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:53.900 an knight into g5. 140 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:58.400 Nf7. Wow, very good. This girl 141 00:06:58.400 --> 00:07:00.100 is really smart Okay, so 142 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:04.900 I think we have understood the concept of clearance with 143 00:07:04.900 --> 00:07:07.200 all these examples means we have 144 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:10.900 to remove the piece which is blocking the 145 00:07:10.900 --> 00:07:12.500 access to that square 146 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:16.200 to another piece. So we just instead of moving it with a 147 00:07:16.200 --> 00:07:19.500 quiet move we have to do it with the tactical move. Okay. 148 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:22.000 So let's quickly recap what we 149 00:07:22.200 --> 00:07:22.500 have learned. 150 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:34.200 The next episode we are going to learn about 151 00:07:34.200 --> 00:07:35.000 fork.

Tactical Theme Part 5: Fork

A Fork is a tactical motif in which a player attacks two or more pieces at the same time, forcing their opponent to choose which piece to defend and losing one in the process. This technique can be a powerful tool for winning material and creating threats. In this video, we will explore the basics of the Fork in chess, including how to identify Fork opportunities and how to use them to your advantage.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Tactical Theme Part 5: Fork 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.400 In this episode we are going to learn about the tactical theme 1 00:00:03.400 --> 00:00:06.200 fork. What fork essentially means is that 2 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:09.500 when a double attack is being done either by a 3 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:12.600 pawn or a knight then we call it as a fork. 4 00:00:12.600 --> 00:00:14.100 More in the classroom. 5 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:23.700 In this episode we are going to learn about an interesting 6 00:00:23.700 --> 00:00:26.300 topic fork. Okay, so we 7 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:29.200 have seen how your fork is, right. So now 8 00:00:29.200 --> 00:00:32.300 that's what we're going to learn on the chess board. So in 9 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:33.700 the first example we have here. 10 00:00:35.800 --> 00:00:38.400 The knight on e5 and the 11 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:41.400 bishop on h5. They both are attacking the pawn on f7. 12 00:00:41.400 --> 00:00:44.600 Right? So now we have two options. I can take Nf7 13 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.600 or simply capture with bishop the 14 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.500 pawn on f7. Bf7 will come with a check that's very 15 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:53.100 enticing but if you look 16 00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:56.500 little closer with the move Nf7, we are 17 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:59.300 not only winning a pawn but we are also attacking the 18 00:00:59.300 --> 00:00:59.800 queen 19 00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:03.100 and the rook on h8 at the same 20 00:01:03.100 --> 00:01:03.300 time. 21 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:06.300 Okay. So basically this is 22 00:01:06.300 --> 00:01:09.900 a double attack, but when you're pawn or a 23 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:12.000 knight attacks two different things. 24 00:01:12.800 --> 00:01:15.900 When a pawn or knight does a double attack we 25 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:19.100 call it a fork. Is it clear? So we 26 00:01:18.100 --> 00:01:21.300 cannot do fork with other pieces It's usually 27 00:01:21.300 --> 00:01:24.300 with the pawn or a knight and if any other 28 00:01:24.300 --> 00:01:27.100 piece does a double attack, we just call it a double attack. 29 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:28.100 Ok. 30 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:32.100 Fine. So let's move to the next example. 31 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:34.300 So here again it's a 32 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:34.400 very 33 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:36.500 simple task 34 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:40.900 we have already seen how we are knight moves and using the 35 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:43.600 concept of fork we can also understand clearly 36 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:46.300 how a knight moves so I would suggest to the 37 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:49.500 viewers try to solve more puzzles using 38 00:01:49.500 --> 00:01:53.000 fork so that way you will understand how a 39 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:56.000 knight clearly moves. So in this position with 40 00:01:55.300 --> 00:01:57.500 the king on f1 and the queen 41 00:01:58.600 --> 00:02:01.800 setting up a nice pattern for fork black 42 00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:05.300 just has to play Ne3 check forking the 43 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:07.400 king and the queen that's an easy 44 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.600 one. Let's move to slightly difficult 45 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:12.400 concept. In this position 46 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:16.200 there is no fork on the board as it is. 47 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:19.400 There is no way black can do a fork right away, 48 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:21.900 but we can also set up a fork. 49 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.300 Okay, so we do the preliminary things required initially 50 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:28.500 and then on the next move the 51 00:02:28.500 --> 00:02:29.700 fork can be done. 52 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.300 So we have the king and the rook 53 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:37.200 so which is inviting the knight to come to e2 to do your 54 00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:40.600 fork, but the knight is on c6 little far 55 00:02:40.600 --> 00:02:43.400 away from the square e2 so what 56 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.100 we need to do if the knight has to come to e2 57 00:02:46.100 --> 00:02:49.300 square first it needs to come to 58 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:52.700 the d4 square. Now luckily for 59 00:02:52.700 --> 00:02:55.800 black the white queen is on b5. 60 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.800 So when we play Nd4 we 61 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:02.200 are not only setting up the fork we are 62 00:03:02.200 --> 00:03:05.100 also attacking the queen. It's basically a double threat we are 63 00:03:05.100 --> 00:03:08.700 giving to the opponent and queen being a bigger piece he 64 00:03:08.700 --> 00:03:11.200 needs to do something about it and wherever he moves 65 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:14.300 the queen we get the fork Ne2 winning material. 66 00:03:15.600 --> 00:03:18.700 Got it? Sometimes the fork doesn't have to appear in the 67 00:03:18.700 --> 00:03:22.000 position in front of us, but we can also Imagine the 68 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.700 possibilities of fork in the future and 69 00:03:24.700 --> 00:03:25.400 set it up. 70 00:03:26.100 --> 00:03:28.400 Okay with some clever moves. Now 71 00:03:30.100 --> 00:03:31.900 I have a question for you Pragya. 72 00:03:32.600 --> 00:03:33.300 In this position 73 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:37.300 there is no fork possibilities as such 74 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:41.900 but can we set up one? I want to play Ne4 75 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:45.100 but my knight the opponent's knight 76 00:03:44.100 --> 00:03:48.000 and c5 is guarding that square. So I 77 00:03:47.200 --> 00:03:50.000 want to play rook into c5 rook into c5 then Ne4. 78 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:53.600 Very good. So as you see we should 79 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:56.800 not only be looking for fork directly, but we 80 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.300 can also set it up. So in this case, she is 81 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:02.400 temporarily giving up an exchange sacrifice and we 82 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:05.200 have seen what an exchange sacrifice means if you give a 83 00:04:05.200 --> 00:04:08.500 rook for a minor piece it's called an exchange sacrifice. So 84 00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:11.700 by giving an exchange sacrifice temporarily 85 00:04:11.700 --> 00:04:14.200 will lure the rook to 86 00:04:14.200 --> 00:04:17.400 come to c5 and remove the knight, which is preventing the 87 00:04:17.400 --> 00:04:20.800 Ne4 fork and then we get Ne4 forking the 88 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:20.900 pieces. 89 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:25.500 Okay, so I think we have understood the concept of fork with 90 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:29.100 these few examples. Let me quickly show a few examples where 91 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:30.500 the pawn does a double attack. 92 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:34.600 In this position we have the white king 93 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.500 on g1 pawn g4 f4. 94 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:41.700 Okay, and black has king g6 and 95 00:04:41.700 --> 00:04:42.400 queen e6 so 96 00:04:43.400 --> 00:04:46.700 white is basically a queen down but not all 97 00:04:46.700 --> 00:04:49.700 is lost because you can simply play f5 check 98 00:04:49.700 --> 00:04:52.700 forking the king and queen and he'll 99 00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:56.200 be forced to give queen into f5 gf5 100 00:04:55.200 --> 00:04:58.400 Kf5 and it's a draw 101 00:04:58.400 --> 00:05:01.200 because there is no mating material. Now let's see 102 00:05:01.200 --> 00:05:04.400 how we can set up a fork with the 103 00:05:04.400 --> 00:05:08.200 help of a pawn and a knight. This is quite interesting. 104 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:10.600 Now, we have the position with Kg1 105 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:12.400 Nf2 106 00:05:13.200 --> 00:05:16.300 a pawn f3 for white for black we have Kg5 107 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:19.500 and Qe5. So 108 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:22.200 what white does he just play f4 check. 109 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:26.400 Okay. Now it's doing a double attack or a fork 110 00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:29.400 to the king and the queen now either way he captures if Qf4 111 00:05:29.400 --> 00:05:31.700 we have Nh3 fork 112 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:36.200 and if it does Kg5, we have Nd3 113 00:05:35.200 --> 00:05:36.600 fork. 114 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:39.200 That's quite interesting, right? 115 00:05:40.400 --> 00:05:41.800 So before we conclude 116 00:05:43.400 --> 00:05:46.600 Advika, I have set up a position for you. Can you 117 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:48.000 tell me what white should do? 118 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:52.000 He should do Ne6. Why is that? 119 00:05:54.400 --> 00:05:57.300 Because it is attacking the rook on f8 and the pawn on c7. Basically it's 120 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:00.100 doing a double attack and when a knight does double attack, it's called 121 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:01.300 a fork fine. 122 00:06:04.700 --> 00:06:05.100 then he will play rook into e6, and then queen into 123 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:09.200 f8 so basically along with fork you are also trying to 124 00:06:09.200 --> 00:06:12.100 deflect the rook on f6. 125 00:06:12.900 --> 00:06:15.300 So that the rook on f8 will become a hanging 126 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:18.300 piece. I think with these examples we have understood the 127 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:21.200 concept of fork, right so fork can 128 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:23.800 be done with a pawn or a knight. Now 129 00:06:24.700 --> 00:06:27.200 let's quickly go through what we have learned. 130 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.500 In the next episode we 131 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:42.200 are going to learn about overload.

Tactical Theme Part 6: Overloading

Overloading is a tactical motif in which a piece is tasked with defending multiple important squares or pieces at the same time. This can lead to the piece being unable to adequately defend all of the squares or pieces it is responsible for, making it vulnerable to attack. An "overworked" pieces is an overloaded one. In this episode we discuss the concept in detail and the ways in which overload may be exploited.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Tactical Theme Part 6: Overloading 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.000 If a person is trying to do too many things at the same 1 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:06.100 time, we call him overworked. If your piece does the same 2 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:09.200 in chess, we call it an overloaded piece and that's 3 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:10.200 what we are going to learn today. 4 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:20.900 Today we are going to learn a concept called overloading. What 5 00:00:20.900 --> 00:00:21.300 does it mean? 6 00:00:22.700 --> 00:00:25.100 Pragya, do you like to eat an ice cream? 7 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:28.500 Yes! Okay. Now if I give you three ice creams what 8 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:28.800 happens? We'll catch a cold. 9 00:00:29.900 --> 00:00:33.300 You'll get a cold your stomach 10 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:36.000 will be little overloaded. Right? There 11 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:38.900 is enough space for one but probably not for three, right? 12 00:00:38.900 --> 00:00:41.300 So the same way in chess what 13 00:00:41.300 --> 00:00:44.800 happens sometimes some piece for 14 00:00:44.800 --> 00:00:48.200 the opponent side it will be doing two or 15 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:51.000 three different jobs. Okay. So 16 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.500 now such piece we call them as overloaded piece. 17 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:57.400 If one piece is doing more than one 18 00:00:57.400 --> 00:01:00.600 job, then we call that piece as an overloaded piece 19 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:03.700 so we can exploit it by usually giving 20 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:06.400 a sacrifice. Okay, let's say 21 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:10.000 if a piece is defending two different things A and B. We attack 22 00:01:09.600 --> 00:01:12.500 A or we capture A and then 23 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:15.900 when he captures back, B will be left undefended. Okay. 24 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:18.500 So, let's see how it is done from 25 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:19.500 the first example. 26 00:01:20.600 --> 00:01:23.800 Now here the knight on c6 and 27 00:01:23.800 --> 00:01:26.200 the pawn on e6 they both are 28 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:28.000 defended by the pawn d7. 29 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:31.600 Okay. So the pawn on d7 is overloaded pawn. 30 00:01:31.600 --> 00:01:34.600 So not only a piece has to be overloaded even 31 00:01:34.600 --> 00:01:37.300 a pawn can be overloaded. So it is defending both 32 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:40.700 e6 and c6 and we have the queen and all 33 00:01:40.700 --> 00:01:43.600 we have to do is deflect by playing knight 34 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:46.300 takes e6 using the fact that a pawn on d7 is 35 00:01:46.300 --> 00:01:50.000 overloaded and when it takes de6 we have Qc6 36 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:50.800 we have won a pawn. 37 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:54.500 Okay, so let's move to the next example. 38 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:58.200 Here we see we exploit two different 39 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:02.000 concepts one the queen on g3 is defending 40 00:02:01.300 --> 00:02:04.700 the pawn on g2 from getting checkmated with 41 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:07.500 queen into g2. So the queen is defending the 42 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.900 g2 as well as the rook is threatening Re1 43 00:02:10.900 --> 00:02:11.500 checkmate. 44 00:02:12.200 --> 00:02:14.800 Okay, and there is a backrank mate 45 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.300 setup is there which we will be 46 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:21.700 seeing in detail in the next episode. So black 47 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:24.300 can exploit this fact that the queen 48 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.500 is preventing both the back rank mate on Re1 49 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:30.800 and also defending the mate on g2. So 50 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:33.800 all we have to do is sacrifice Qg2 51 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:36.200 and after Qg2 Re1 52 00:02:36.200 --> 00:02:37.000 is a checkmate. 53 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.800 Okay. So this is basically the concept of overload a 54 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:44.600 piece is doing too many things at the same time and it's 55 00:02:44.600 --> 00:02:47.700 not able to handle it and we usually exploit 56 00:02:47.700 --> 00:02:50.100 it with a sacrifice. Got it? 57 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:50.900 Now let's see 58 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:53.300 two more examples. 59 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:56.100 Now, this is a very interesting one. 60 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.500 The black queen is defended by the black bishop 61 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:01.000 on g7. 62 00:03:02.600 --> 00:03:05.500 And it's also defending the pawn on h6. 63 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:08.500 Okay. Now this one is not very obvious. 64 00:03:09.700 --> 00:03:12.300 So what we do we play Rh6 65 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:12.500 check 66 00:03:13.700 --> 00:03:16.500 Now if he captures with the bishop, which 67 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:18.900 is overloaded then he loses the queen. 68 00:03:20.200 --> 00:03:23.300 but what happens if it takes Kh6 69 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:24.400 now this is also 70 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:28.400 deflection that is happening here. We just 71 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:31.400 play Qh4 checkmate. So you see in every 72 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.400 tactical theme not only one theme is in 73 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:36.400 play, but it's usually a combination of 74 00:03:37.100 --> 00:03:41.000 two themes usually okay. So here we 75 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.600 use Rh6 both as 76 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:46.300 overloading concept and also as 77 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:47.600 a deflection 78 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.000 OK we want the king to come to h6 so we can deliver 79 00:03:51.700 --> 00:03:54.300 Qh4 checkmate. In the final example 80 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:58.700 this one is little little difficult 81 00:03:58.700 --> 00:04:01.500 So you need to spend probably a couple of minutes and 82 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.200 the point is not very easily visible. 83 00:04:06.200 --> 00:04:07.600 Let's see the queen. 84 00:04:09.300 --> 00:04:11.400 It's attacking our queen on a4. 85 00:04:12.100 --> 00:04:14.700 And it's also blocking the check to e8. 86 00:04:15.700 --> 00:04:18.600 Now what white does is simply 87 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:20.800 sacrifice the queen by playing Rd5 88 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:25.600 and what happens when the queen captures a4 89 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.300 and then we play Re1 check and it's a 90 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:29.400 mate 91 00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:30.700 okay 92 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:34.300 so if Be3 Re3 it will be a mate 93 00:04:35.200 --> 00:04:37.800 so I think with these examples we have understood 94 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.600 the concept of overloading. I have set 95 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.700 up three positions in front of you 96 00:04:43.400 --> 00:04:47.100 think about it carefully and give me the answers. Advika you 97 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:49.000 first, which is the overloaded piece here? 98 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:52.000 Queen. What is it a defending? 99 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.100 A bishop and a pawn. Yeah, so 100 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:58.800 now we can see the queen is defending the pawn on c6 and also the 101 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.200 bishop on e7, now It's very important to 102 00:05:01.200 --> 00:05:04.300 remember if you want to exploit a overloaded piece 103 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:07.400 you should be in a position where you are attacking 104 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:11.500 the pieces or the pawns which the overloaded piece is defending 105 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:14.600 so here the queen is an overloaded piece. It is 106 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.200 defending two different things c6 and 107 00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:20.300 the bishop and we have both under attack. 108 00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:23.200 Okay, so what do we do now? 109 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:27.100 Queen into c6 so we 110 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:29.000 exploit the overload by deflecting the queen. Then he'll play Qc6. 111 00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:33.400 Deflection in play, overload and finally 112 00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:35.100 a fork. 113 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:39.100 Right. So you see in every tactical theme many different 114 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:41.800 tactical themes will be working in combination. 115 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:45.500 So we need to know all of them carefully and apply 116 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:45.700 it 117 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:47.100 intelligently. 118 00:05:47.900 --> 00:05:49.600 Now, let's go to Pragya's position. 119 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:53.000 Which is the overloaded piece here? The rook on d8. The rook on d8. 120 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:56.600 What is it defending now? it is defending the rook on f8 and the pawn on d7. 121 00:05:56.700 --> 00:05:59.400 Very good. 122 00:05:59.400 --> 00:06:00.500 So, how can we exploit this? We can exploit it by playing Rd7. 123 00:06:03.900 --> 00:06:06.700 Now it's very important to note that both the 124 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:09.300 pawn on d7 and the rook on 125 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:12.800 f8, which the rook is defending they are already under attack. Ok. 126 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.300 So now we use the deflection now if it takes 127 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:17.100 Rd7, it is Qf8 mate. If they don't take Qh7 will call. 128 00:06:19.200 --> 00:06:22.400 Yeah, if he doesn't take then Qh7 mate cannot 129 00:06:22.400 --> 00:06:25.800 be prevented. Very good. Now Lakhshesh, 130 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:27.500 you have a slightly difficult one. 131 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:32.100 So which is the overloaded piece here for black? Rook on 132 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:33.300 c8 is the overload piece. 133 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:37.600 Rook on c8 is the overloaded piece. Okay, what can white play here 134 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.300 show the move? 135 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:39.400 He should 136 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:42.300 play Rg8. Very good. Now if 137 00:06:42.300 --> 00:06:45.400 I take Rg8 what happens you simply capture 138 00:06:45.400 --> 00:06:49.100 the queen fine, so I cannot do that. Now the 139 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:52.300 rook is overloaded. So now I capture with 140 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.400 the king. Now it's a deflection. We 141 00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:57.700 have brought the king to the place where we want. Yes, 142 00:06:57.700 --> 00:07:00.300 I will play Qg3 check. Very good. 143 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:03.300 If I go Kh8, it's Qg7 one more mate. So I 144 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:06.500 need to run away. I will play Qg7 145 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:10.800 check. I play Ke8. Qg8 mate. Okay, and it's 146 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.300 a checkmate, right? So in a combination if 147 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:16.400 you see most of the things are ideally set up and it 148 00:07:16.400 --> 00:07:19.400 just happens by magic now, there is no rook. He 149 00:07:19.400 --> 00:07:22.600 could simply have gone Kd7 right? But when we 150 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:25.300 play the correct move usually the things 151 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.200 are already in right place. Okay, so we have to use 152 00:07:28.200 --> 00:07:30.500 this opportunity to get what we want. 153 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:34.100 Okay, I think with these examples we have 154 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:37.400 understood the concept of overloading very well, 155 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:40.400 right. So let's quickly recap what 156 00:07:40.400 --> 00:07:40.900 we have learned. 157 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:11.500 Now in the next episode we are going to learn about 158 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:13.100 back rank, mate.

Tactical Theme Part 7: Back Rank Mate

Back Rank Mate is a common mating pattern in chess where the enemy king is trapped against the player's own back rank and is unable to escape a checkmate. Usually, this happens when the squares in front of the king are blocked by their own pieces. In this episode, we explore the various ways in which back rank mate is delivered.

WEBVTT - This is transcript for Tactical Theme Part 7: Back Rank Mate 0 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.900 Now we are going to learn about the tactical theme back rank mate 1 00:00:03.900 --> 00:00:07.000 the safety of the king is very important and 2 00:00:06.300 --> 00:00:09.400 when the major pieces abandoned the background 3 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:11.600 then this tactical theme works. 4 00:00:17.900 --> 00:00:20.300 In this episode we are going to learn about the 5 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:23.300 concept of back rank mate. Okay. So let me 6 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:26.800 quickly show you what the back rank means for white. 7 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.700 This is the back rank or the first rank is 8 00:00:29.700 --> 00:00:32.700 the back rank. Okay, and for black the 9 00:00:32.700 --> 00:00:35.200 first rank is usually the eighth rank 10 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.400 when we look from here. Okay. So for him, the base rank 11 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:41.200 is the back rank and for white the bass rank is the back 12 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:44.200 rank. Okay. So now we got that right? Let's see 13 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:47.200 how we can exploit this now in the 14 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:50.200 middle game when the major pieces that is the rook 15 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.400 and the queen they're called the major pieces if they 16 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:56.400 can be induced to move away from the back rank, 17 00:00:56.400 --> 00:00:59.500 then we can give a check with one 18 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:02.500 of our major pieces the queen or the rook and then 19 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:06.600 it'll be a checkmate provided he cannot block our 20 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:08.400 capture the piece which 21 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.700 is giving the check now, let's see how it works in practice now 22 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.600 in the first position in Lakshesh board 23 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:17.800 we can see that the black's back rank 24 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:21.100 Is empty almost and there 25 00:01:21.100 --> 00:01:24.900 are no major pieces. The two rooks have gone to 26 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:27.800 the seventh rank, but it's the queen which is 27 00:01:27.800 --> 00:01:29.000 guarding the back rank. 28 00:01:29.600 --> 00:01:32.900 And we already have the rook on e1 which 29 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:35.700 is ready to come to the square e8. 30 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:38.700 So innovates also overloaded piece 31 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:41.700 in action. Lakshesh can you show me how white 32 00:01:41.700 --> 00:01:43.600 can exploit this he? 33 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:51.300 And explore Qf7 check now if I move Kh8 queen 34 00:01:51.300 --> 00:01:55.300 Affair, it's simply a mate. So he has to play cool 35 00:01:54.300 --> 00:01:57.700 capture Qf7 now. 36 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:00.100 It's a pin. We see the Ba2 is spinning 37 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:03.900 the queen when and so we will continue advantage 38 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:06.600 of just by Blink Rocky a 39 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:08.400 check on me. Yes so he can 40 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:12.100 take advantage of it by playing Re8 check. Now 41 00:02:12.100 --> 00:02:15.600 this is a back rank weakness because the two 42 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:18.400 rooks have gone far away using the 43 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:21.600 pin. So you see again different tactical elements 44 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:24.400 are playing in combination with each other. It is 45 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.300 not just the back rank. It is also overload. The queen 46 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:30.300 is overloaded to e8 square on f7. So we play 47 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:33.400 Qf7 and when the queen comes to h7 it becomes a pin 48 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.700 and then we play Re8. It becomes a back rank. You see 49 00:02:36.700 --> 00:02:39.700 how different themes are interplaying in 50 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:43.100 same position. Let's move to Advika's 51 00:02:42.100 --> 00:02:45.600 position. It doesn't look like a background 52 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:48.600 weakness is set up here because the pawn on f3 but 53 00:02:48.600 --> 00:02:51.400 we need to remember the knight on g4 is guarding the 54 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.900 square f2. So the king cannot escape, okay, 55 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:57.800 but the rook on e1 though, 56 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:00.300 it is twice under attack. It is also defended 57 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:03.300 twice by the rook on a1 and the bishop on g3. 58 00:03:03.300 --> 00:03:04.900 So how we can exploit this? 59 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:08.400 By playing Queen into h2. Okay. So 60 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:11.800 now here the Bg3 is the overloaded 61 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:12.100 piece 62 00:03:13.100 --> 00:03:16.400 and he has to take Bh2 and 63 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:16.500 then 64 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:20.800 then look into e1 look into e1 65 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:23.600 and then talk into e1 is a 66 00:03:23.600 --> 00:03:26.400 mate. So you didn't look like there is a back rank mate setup, but 67 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.400 it was because of the knight on g4 which was 68 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:32.200 taken away the square on f2 and the queen 69 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:35.400 is far away from the back rank. So whenever our 70 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.400 major pieces are not guarding the back 71 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.400 rank we have to be extremely careful because he 72 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:44.500 can give some deflection sacrifice and then 73 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:47.700 exploit the back rank weakness. Okay, so now 74 00:03:47.700 --> 00:03:48.600 let's see. 75 00:03:49.600 --> 00:03:52.500 The theme of back rank playing in slightly different 76 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:56.500 and also sometimes complicated situations. Now 77 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:57.200 in the position 78 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:01.700 on the board it doesn't look like black has 79 00:04:01.700 --> 00:04:02.500 a back rank weakness. 80 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:07.600 There is no pawn on g7. There is an escape square 81 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:10.400 and there is a white queen on 82 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:13.300 f6. So it doesn't look like who is going to deliver the mid because 83 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.300 if Qh8 there is simply Ke7 84 00:04:16.300 --> 00:04:19.600 but you can set up a background mate 85 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:23.000 my first playing knight takes f5 and 86 00:04:22.200 --> 00:04:25.700 here we are already threatening Queen hash 87 00:04:25.700 --> 00:04:28.700 checkmate and there is no way to stop Queen headshot 88 00:04:28.700 --> 00:04:31.300 met. So the only way to do that is by playing 89 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:34.600 Bf5. And now what happens by 90 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.600 deflecting the bishop to go to f5 the 91 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:39.300 Re1 is opened. 92 00:04:39.900 --> 00:04:42.300 OK the file for the rook 93 00:04:42.300 --> 00:04:45.700 is cleared now, it's the clearance in play and 94 00:04:45.700 --> 00:04:48.400 then we play Qh8 and it's 95 00:04:48.400 --> 00:04:48.800 a checkmate. 96 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:52.700 Beautiful, isn't it. Now? Let's go to 97 00:04:52.700 --> 00:04:55.800 the next example in comparison to the other portions 98 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:57.000 we have done. This is quite easy. 99 00:04:58.400 --> 00:04:59.600 Let's pause and think 100 00:05:00.400 --> 00:05:03.900 Yeah, so the rook on e1 is guarding 101 00:05:03.900 --> 00:05:06.700 the f1 square now, we have the black rooks 102 00:05:06.700 --> 00:05:09.300 doubled along the file. The Re1 103 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:12.100 is guarding this. Okay, but the Re1 104 00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:15.800 is also overloaded and defending the bishop on e3 and 105 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:18.400 black can easily exploit it by playing Qe2 106 00:05:18.400 --> 00:05:21.200 now with Qe2 what we are doing we are 107 00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:24.300 attacking the bishop the rook also we 108 00:05:24.300 --> 00:05:27.300 are threatening rook of fun mate and there's no way he can avoid the 109 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:30.400 mate without losing big material. Let's move 110 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:31.800 to the third position. 111 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:36.600 and this is quite interesting one of the famous games 112 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:37.100 played by 113 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:40.300 former world champion Fisher one of my 114 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:44.500 favorite players and in this position he is 115 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:47.500 exploiting various themes but ultimately the main 116 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:48.600 concept is the back rank 117 00:05:50.400 --> 00:05:53.700 let's think about this position. So the black's back 118 00:05:53.700 --> 00:05:54.900 rank is weak. 119 00:05:55.400 --> 00:05:58.500 But he has the rook on f8 guarding it. 120 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:01.700 Okay, so we have to deflect it first. So 121 00:06:01.700 --> 00:06:04.600 by playing rook takes f7 122 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:07.700 now if it takes Rf7 it's Ra8 and 123 00:06:07.700 --> 00:06:10.600 checkmate so he cannot do that. But he 124 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.400 has an interesting move Rc1 by 125 00:06:13.400 --> 00:06:16.400 playing Rf7 our own back rank has 126 00:06:16.400 --> 00:06:17.000 become weak. 127 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:20.400 Okay, so that is what black is trying 128 00:06:20.400 --> 00:06:21.800 to exploit here. 129 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:25.100 And now the most logical move that comes 130 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:29.200 to our mind is I can simply come back Rf1. 131 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:34.000 I am responding to the check at the same time I am 132 00:06:33.100 --> 00:06:36.400 giving a check to him and it looks like white is 133 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:39.500 fine. But after Kh8 I'm 134 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:42.400 not able to take Rf8 mate because my 135 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:43.900 one rook is under pin. 136 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.700 So what I need to do here is after Rf7 137 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:50.300 Rc1 check I have 138 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.700 to play a clever move Qf1 not Rf1. 139 00:06:53.700 --> 00:06:56.300 The point is I am 140 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:58.400 attacking the rook on f8 twice. 141 00:06:59.200 --> 00:07:02.800 I am also attacking the c1, I'm also going to play remove 142 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.900 the rook with the discovered check so he'll 143 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:08.200 be forced if he takes rook into f1 144 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:11.200 The rook comes back Rf1 and 145 00:07:11.200 --> 00:07:14.600 it's a discovered check and after Kh8 it 146 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:17.200 is simply Rf8 back rank mate. 147 00:07:18.400 --> 00:07:21.800 Okay, so this one was slightly difficult and complex 148 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.600 but when you solve more and more 149 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:27.700 simple positions, you should slowly graduate towards 150 00:07:27.700 --> 00:07:28.900 slightly tougher ones. 151 00:07:29.400 --> 00:07:32.400 Ok and this is how we make progress in our 152 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:33.600 playing strength. Let's 153 00:07:34.400 --> 00:07:37.600 go to one final example on the 154 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:38.600 concept of back rank. 155 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.400 Now in this position, we already have the queen 156 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:43.000 in place. 157 00:07:44.200 --> 00:07:48.100 We are ready to give the back rank mate but unfortunately there 158 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:49.000 is a rook on f8. 159 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:53.000 Okay. So what we do we play Ne7 160 00:07:52.400 --> 00:07:55.600 check. It's a deflection and also 161 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:57.500 opening the c file. 162 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:01.900 So after Ne7 check knight takes e7 163 00:08:01.900 --> 00:08:04.900 the d file is clear now, so 164 00:08:04.900 --> 00:08:06.500 we play Qf8 165 00:08:08.400 --> 00:08:11.400 King into f8 Rd8. So there 166 00:08:11.400 --> 00:08:14.900 are many themes in play here. One we clear 167 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:16.400 the d file by playing Ne7 168 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:20.400 and we also decoyed the knight on 169 00:08:20.400 --> 00:08:24.300 c6 to come to e7 taking away the square 170 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:26.400 e7 from the king and finally we 171 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:28.200 give a queen sacrifice and deliver checkmate. 172 00:08:29.200 --> 00:08:29.300 Okay. 173 00:08:30.200 --> 00:08:34.100 In the next episode we are going to learn about thematic sacrifices.

Discussions with Mental Trainer: Part 2

In this episode we delve into the important topics of practice, focus, and minimizing errors in the game of chess. These are critical elements in achieving success in the game, and it's crucial to understand how they all come together to improve your performance. In this video, a mental trainer and a chess coach discuss the best ways to practice and focus, and how to minimize errors during a game. They also explore the different approaches to these topics and how to apply them to your own chess journey.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Discussions with Mental Trainer: Part 2 0 00:00:05.800 --> 00:00:08.400 When we all begin this journey to become a chess player 1 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.400 we start with lot of enthusiasm lot of 2 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:14.100 hopes, but somewhere down the line 3 00:00:14.100 --> 00:00:17.200 we start getting doubts whether we will really be able 4 00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:20.300 to achieve the things we aspire for and 5 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:27.500 probably the failures that we face along the 6 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:30.700 way plays the negative 7 00:00:30.700 --> 00:00:33.300 part. If you don't learn the right mistakes from 8 00:00:33.300 --> 00:00:34.800 them your views on that. Yeah. 9 00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:38.700 I think in this case the players need to be taught 10 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:41.400 practice is nothing but repetition. 11 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.800 So you may know the moves and really in 12 00:00:45.800 --> 00:00:49.100 fact if I have to define lets say what is the talent so 13 00:00:48.100 --> 00:00:52.500 to say or the chess ability is the 14 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:54.500 ability of the mind to identify 15 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:57.500 patterns. It's like a combination of 16 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:00.200 pieces it becomes a pattern and then what is 17 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.600 the best move I can make in this so this pattern 18 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.700 recognition ability the visual thinking ability it 19 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:09.300 needs a lot of training and you get better 20 00:01:09.300 --> 00:01:12.800 at it with lot of practice players when 21 00:01:12.800 --> 00:01:15.200 they really practice over a period of 22 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.600 time and sometimes they are not getting results that time they 23 00:01:18.600 --> 00:01:22.000 start to doubt their ability. So at 24 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.300 that time, I think it's very necessary to explain it to 25 00:01:24.300 --> 00:01:27.300 them that it's a skill and the skill can 26 00:01:27.300 --> 00:01:30.300 be developed through practice and practice is nothing 27 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:34.100 but repetition. Fine. So I have a question here. Generally, 28 00:01:33.100 --> 00:01:36.300 it is accepted world over that 29 00:01:36.300 --> 00:01:39.300 practice makes perfect practice makes one 30 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:41.900 perfect, but I when I 31 00:01:42.100 --> 00:01:45.000 think about this I have some other views on 32 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:48.100 this doesn't practice makes perfect in what we 33 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:51.300 are doing. So for example, if I'm learning something the wrong 34 00:01:51.300 --> 00:01:54.900 way and if I repeatedly keep doing that won't I 35 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:57.700 perfect it how to do it incorrectly because 36 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:00.600 I have seen many kids like when they make calculation mistakes, 37 00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:03.300 they keep making mistakes in calculation. They don't 38 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:07.000 come out of it because probably they are becoming very 39 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:09.500 good at it by doing it repeatedly, so 40 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.500 probably practice instead of making us perfect, maybe they're 41 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:15.300 they just make it permanent. I think 42 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:18.800 the right word here is deliberate practice. 43 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.500 So deliberate practice means you do 44 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:24.300 something and there's a immediate feedback on it. And of 45 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.500 course the individual player has to do it. I'm trying 46 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:30.600 to practice something what did I practice was it 47 00:02:30.600 --> 00:02:33.900 correct or not? So self analysis that 48 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:36.600 is what is called the deliberate practice. So it's not like I'm 49 00:02:36.600 --> 00:02:39.200 blindly repeating the things which are told to me again and 50 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:41.400 again, but I'm trying to apply my own thinking 51 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:45.400 and practicing and whenever there is some kind of a problem or 52 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:48.500 there is some you know, maybe new line to be developed something 53 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:51.300 to be understood am I really understanding it 54 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:55.400 or not? So it's a bit of a self-awareness and correction. 55 00:03:03.600 --> 00:03:06.300 Sometimes it doesn't happen our way 56 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:09.500 and in either cases we have to draw some conclusions 57 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:13.500 analyze what went wrong and our conversely what 58 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.200 we did right and whatever we did right we keep 59 00:03:16.200 --> 00:03:19.800 reinforcing working on it and getting better and wherever 60 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:22.600 mistakes we committed instead of 61 00:03:22.600 --> 00:03:25.500 cursing ourselves for committing those mistakes 62 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:28.600 probably it will be better to draw some 63 00:03:28.600 --> 00:03:32.200 conclusions from those mistakes like what is the type of mistakes and 64 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:35.000 getting to the root of it? For example in chess 65 00:03:34.100 --> 00:03:37.800 many of the mistakes players make someone make 66 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:40.600 some mistake in calculation. Someone does not 67 00:03:40.600 --> 00:03:43.100 concentrate well, probably that is the reason why 68 00:03:43.100 --> 00:03:46.300 they made the calculation mistakes and if we approach it purely 69 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:49.500 from the chess view point that I made a calculation mistake, then we 70 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:52.300 are really not going into the root cause which triggered this 71 00:03:52.300 --> 00:03:55.300 mistake right? So once we identify the mistake probably we 72 00:03:55.300 --> 00:03:55.600 need to 73 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:59.700 objectively try to find out what caused 74 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:03.100 this mistake because this trigger can occur in 75 00:04:02.100 --> 00:04:05.600 subsequent experiences as well. So once 76 00:04:05.600 --> 00:04:08.700 we identify the root cause which triggered this mistake and 77 00:04:08.700 --> 00:04:11.400 if we teach our mind to react in 78 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.300 a different way, like for example, if I lose a concentration instead of 79 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:18.100 trying to play a move when I'm not focusing instead 80 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:20.700 if I can just be aware that I'm not concentrating well 81 00:04:20.700 --> 00:04:23.500 and then cool off get my concentration back 82 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:26.400 and then start the thinking process and then I do 83 00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:29.500 the calculation probably I have a better chance to avoid this 84 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:33.200 mistakes. So being self aware, it's 85 00:04:32.200 --> 00:04:35.400 probably a very important very important part. 86 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:37.200 Yes. Can young children do this? 87 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:40.700 I think how does the self-awareness develop, 88 00:04:40.700 --> 00:04:43.800 it it develops through questioning and 89 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:46.800 drawing their attention to the right areas. So many 90 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:49.400 times it's necessary that as the children grow up, 91 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:52.500 we have to rather than telling them what to do you have 92 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:55.500 to ask them questions in such a manner that they start 93 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:58.800 to think. Yeah. Sorry to interrupt I think kids the 94 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.500 most common quality with the kids is 95 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:04.300 like they come up with so many questions. Yeah, isn't it? 96 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:07.200 That's the nature of the mind. Yes. It 97 00:05:07.200 --> 00:05:10.100 makes the kids to ask so many questions because they want to 98 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:13.800 learn so much but somehow probably instead of 99 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.400 trying to answer them we probably should encourage them 100 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:19.600 to ask more questions and get try 101 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.500 to form their own opinion and it is more about thinking 102 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:26.100 and observing if they observe really how they're 103 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:28.200 playing if they start observing and 104 00:05:28.200 --> 00:05:31.100 analyzing themselves then the self awareness is always better. 105 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:34.400 Yeah, so probably we should encourage kids to 106 00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:37.400 ask more questions. Yes and rather than looking for 107 00:05:37.400 --> 00:05:37.700 solutions 108 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:40.900 from external sources maybe by contemplation 109 00:05:40.900 --> 00:05:43.500 by analyzing stuff drawing their 110 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.400 own conclusions. Yes, and then trying it out in their 111 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:49.900 games experimenting and then based on the outcome analyse 112 00:05:49.900 --> 00:05:53.300 the outcome objectively again draw conclusions. 113 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:55.800 Probably that is the process of learning that eventually 114 00:05:55.800 --> 00:05:58.400 we absolute accumulate get the skill which 115 00:05:58.400 --> 00:05:59.200 we are striving for. 116 00:06:06.200 --> 00:06:09.400 One important aspect of competition is 117 00:06:09.400 --> 00:06:12.400 your ability to stay relaxed and focused during 118 00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:15.600 a match. So it's again a skill. They can 119 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.600 learn to get better at it because if a player 120 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.400 is tense in a match then your ability to 121 00:06:21.400 --> 00:06:24.400 calculate again goes down. So you're not able to calculate 122 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:27.400 properly the you know, the situation and 123 00:06:27.400 --> 00:06:30.500 not able to come at the move. So where does this tension start? What 124 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:31.200 is the starting point? 125 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:35.200 Where is it all begin? See the starting point really is 126 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:38.100 it I would say mental and 127 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:41.200 physical both when there is a competition there is 128 00:06:41.200 --> 00:06:45.400 a match a very important event then body becomes, you 129 00:06:44.400 --> 00:06:47.300 know alert and sometimes the 130 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.300 fight of flight, you know, that mechanism comes into 131 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.800 picture. So the body just gets too alert too 132 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:56.500 active and there is no physical activity in 133 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:57.200 this particular game. 134 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:02.100 In other games like tennis badminton player may 135 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:04.600 be jittery at the beginning but all the adrenaline which 136 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.900 is pumping in the body it will get release as 137 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:10.500 you start playing and running around. So after few 138 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.300 points, the adrenaline is actually getting used 139 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:17.100 for the physical activity whereas in chess it all just accumulates 140 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:20.000 many times players are not aware If you observe them 141 00:07:19.200 --> 00:07:22.500 how they are sitting in a match that shows 142 00:07:22.500 --> 00:07:25.300 how tense they are feeling from inside because they might 143 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.400 be hunched up the muscles are all tied the face is tight 144 00:07:28.400 --> 00:07:31.900 and many times they don't even breathe properly. So 145 00:07:31.900 --> 00:07:34.300 breathing is so irregular that 146 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:37.600 it sets that entire panic reaction. So we 147 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.300 have to make them aware of the physical aspects of it. It's 148 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:43.800 not just about sitting straight or about posture but a bad 149 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.500 posture at times affects the breathing of the players. So 150 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:49.600 it's very necessary that they are breathing normally and 151 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:52.100 if the breathing is normal then they have 152 00:07:52.100 --> 00:07:56.000 a chance to really feel normal. Okay. So is it possible that by 153 00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:57.600 our by controlling our breath? 154 00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:01.000 Or anything to do by breathing can 155 00:08:00.200 --> 00:08:04.200 we get back our concentration or our 156 00:08:03.200 --> 00:08:06.300 normal way of thinking when we are under a 157 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:09.400 tense situation, is it possible? It's absolutely possible. In fact 158 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:12.700 breathing is one of the most effective techniques I 159 00:08:12.700 --> 00:08:15.400 have seen to, you know, get the mind back on track 160 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:18.400 because breathing is a bridge between mind and 161 00:08:18.400 --> 00:08:21.600 body. If you don't pay attention to the breathing it is automatic 162 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.600 it just you know happens automatically but isn't 163 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:27.800 it all mumbo jumbo or it really works? No, 164 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:32.300 no, it absolutely works. And in fact, there is there 165 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:33.500 are bio feedback equipments 166 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:37.000 using which we can see the breathing patterns and 167 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:39.600 the breathing directly influences 168 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.600 the heart rate patterns. So whenever you inhale 169 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.300 the heart rate goes up whenever you exhale the heart 170 00:08:45.300 --> 00:08:48.900 rate goes down. So if a player is breathing irregularly, then 171 00:08:48.900 --> 00:08:51.700 the heart rate also becomes completely irregular and 172 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:54.300 that sets off that reaction in which you are not 173 00:08:54.300 --> 00:08:57.000 able to think correctly. Whereas if the breathing is 174 00:08:57.900 --> 00:09:00.700 normal regular rhythmic then 175 00:09:00.700 --> 00:09:03.300 the heart rate also immediately it's like 176 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:06.300 becomes in sync with the breathing and you can actually see it 177 00:09:06.300 --> 00:09:09.600 on monitors and with equipments and you can train the players 178 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:12.600 to breathe correctly and correctly means just normally as 179 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:15.200 I said in a max situation when a player 180 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:15.600 is tense. 181 00:09:16.800 --> 00:09:20.100 There is a tendency to hold the breath unconsciously it 182 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:22.300 just happens. So they're just 183 00:09:22.300 --> 00:09:25.300 holding the breath that's why you would feel see that okay 184 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:28.600 players are you know looking tense as soon as the breathing is normalized 185 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.300 there is a relief and you start 186 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:34.200 to feel a little bit better. And that's the time when they 187 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:36.200 even the self talk becomes more effective. 188 00:09:48.300 --> 00:09:51.200 So many interesting things we have learned today. I have many more 189 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.000 questions, but you need to tune in to the next episode to catch them.

Thematic Sacrifices Part 1: Bh7

In this video we will be exploring the exciting concept of thematic sacrifice of Bh7 in the game of chess. This move is considered to be one of the most powerful and effective sacrifices in the game and has been used by many grandmasters to gain an advantage over their opponents. In this video, we will be discussing the various situations in which Bh7 can be used, how it can be used to attack your opponent's pieces, and the benefits it can provide to your game. GM R B Ramesh will provide you with clear explanations and examples, so you can better understand how to incorporate Bh7 into your own play.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Thematic Sacrifices Part 1: Bh7 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.200 Now that we have covered the tactical themes we will now move 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:06.600 on to the thematic sacrifices which occur often 2 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:07.700 in the game of chess. 3 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.700 This has been divided into four different episodes and 4 00:00:11.700 --> 00:00:14.700 in the first episode we'll be learning about the thematic 5 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:16.100 sacrifice Bh7. 6 00:00:23.200 --> 00:00:27.000 In today's episode we are going to see something very very interesting 7 00:00:26.400 --> 00:00:29.300 something that is very close to my heart 8 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:31.200 that is about sacrifices. 9 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:33.900 All of you know about sacrifices, right? 10 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.500 So we are going to learn about sacrifices on 11 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:41.200 the squares. I mentioned for example on h7 12 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:44.300 on the square h6 on the 13 00:00:44.300 --> 00:00:47.300 square f7 on the square e6 and so 14 00:00:47.300 --> 00:00:50.800 on. Okay, so in sacrifices, what should 15 00:00:50.800 --> 00:00:51.500 be the aim? 16 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:55.400 Okay. So ultimately the aim could be gain of 17 00:00:55.400 --> 00:00:58.500 material. We give something and we take it back with interest 18 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:01.300 or it could be an attack on 19 00:01:01.300 --> 00:01:04.400 the king itself. Okay, so simply to attack 20 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.100 the king because the objective of the game is to give 21 00:01:07.100 --> 00:01:11.100 checkmate so we don't have to wait till the end game promote 22 00:01:10.100 --> 00:01:13.100 a pawn make a queen and then give 23 00:01:13.100 --> 00:01:16.200 a checkmate we can also do that with a direct attack 24 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:19.300 in the middle game against the opponent king that is also possible. 25 00:01:19.300 --> 00:01:22.800 Now we have learned what a sacrifice is. It's usually 26 00:01:22.800 --> 00:01:25.300 giving up a piece most of 27 00:01:25.300 --> 00:01:28.100 the instances we either give a bishop or a knight 28 00:01:28.100 --> 00:01:31.500 and in some rare instances we even sacrifice the rook 29 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:34.300 or an exchange or in very very 30 00:01:34.300 --> 00:01:37.600 rare cases we can even sacrifice Queens. Okay. So as 31 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:40.400 we go along we will be learning more of 32 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:43.300 this when we get into the intermediate level, but at 33 00:01:43.300 --> 00:01:46.400 the beginner level we'll just be seeing some typical sacrifices that 34 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:49.900 happen in the modern games. Okay. Let's start 35 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:52.300 with the first position now in 36 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.600 the position in front of me. I have a typical 37 00:01:55.600 --> 00:01:58.500 setup where the black king has castled 38 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:01.600 on the king side and they have pawns h7 g7 39 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:03.800 f7. Okay now 40 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:08.900 we are going to see many positions from the white's perspective 41 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:10.800 so we don't get confused. 42 00:02:11.600 --> 00:02:14.400 Where the black has castled typically on the kings side 43 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.300 in most of the games the black usually castles on 44 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:20.600 the king side. Okay. So the king 45 00:02:20.600 --> 00:02:24.000 is on g8 the pawns usually h7 46 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:26.600 g7 f7 in their initial positions, 47 00:02:26.600 --> 00:02:29.300 okay in such positions in some 48 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:29.900 cases 49 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:34.500 white can sacrifice on the square h7 50 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:37.300 in some situations you can sacrifice on 51 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:40.500 the square g7 and in some situations you 52 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:43.800 can sacrifice on the square f7. Okay. 53 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:46.300 So if the pawns are on h7 g7 54 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:49.300 f7 from white's perspective we should 55 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:52.500 always be looking at giving a sacrifice on any 56 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:54.100 of these three squares. 57 00:02:54.700 --> 00:02:57.400 In some instances the black pawn 58 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.700 could be on h6. So the structure could be like f7 59 00:03:00.700 --> 00:03:03.100 g7 and h6 in this case 60 00:03:03.100 --> 00:03:06.900 we also have to consider sacrificing on the h6 61 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:07.300 square. 62 00:03:08.200 --> 00:03:11.700 And when the king is in the center, let's say the king is on e8 63 00:03:11.700 --> 00:03:14.600 and we have a typical pawn structure h7 64 00:03:14.600 --> 00:03:17.600 g7 f7 with a black pawn on e6 as 65 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:20.500 well in this instances we should also consider 66 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:23.300 sacrificing on the square e6. 67 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:26.600 Ok, so we use sacrifices because 68 00:03:26.600 --> 00:03:29.400 the pawns they act as a shield for the 69 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:30.000 black king. 70 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:34.900 The king feels safer when there are pawns in front 71 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:35.800 of it, okay? 72 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:40.500 I usually tell my students to keep 73 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:42.400 at least one piece in 74 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.500 front of your king. This is really important 75 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:48.100 if you want to keep your king safe, and this should 76 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:51.700 be one of our main objective all the time. So remember 77 00:03:51.700 --> 00:03:53.700 the king would feel safer. 78 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.000 If it has three pawns in front of 79 00:03:57.300 --> 00:03:58.400 it and not only that 80 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.500 one minor piece at least. Ok, so the 81 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:05.700 minor piece should be either on f6 or 82 00:04:05.700 --> 00:04:08.600 g6. Ok? The minor pieces 83 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:11.400 are the bishop and the knight. So in a 84 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:12.900 castled environment, what do we need? 85 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:14.400 three pawns 86 00:04:15.100 --> 00:04:19.100 and one minor piece, usually in such cases the 87 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:21.800 king would feel very safe. Now we 88 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:25.300 will be seeing many examples where the king 89 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:27.600 is supported by the three pawns, 90 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.000 but in some instances the minor piece is not there. 91 00:04:30.700 --> 00:04:33.200 OK and in such situations what happens 92 00:04:33.200 --> 00:04:36.700 we usually give us sacrifice with a piece to destroy 93 00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:39.100 the pawn structure to open up the king expose the king 94 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:42.800 and then launch an attack with the other pieces. So that 95 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.300 is what we are going to do. Now first we are going to learn about 96 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:48.600 the sacrifice theme called the greek sacrifice. Now 97 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:52.600 I have a position in front of me it is a very simplest form 98 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.200 of using that sacrifice. Let's see how it is 99 00:04:55.200 --> 00:04:55.500 done. 100 00:04:56.200 --> 00:04:57.100 Now in this position 101 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:01.400 white plays Bh7 check 102 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:05.600 now it looks like white has given the piece for nothing just 103 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:06.800 gain of one pawn. 104 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:09.500 And then after Kh7 what happens? 105 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:12.800 White can play Ng5 check. 106 00:05:14.200 --> 00:05:17.400 Okay. Now the king is forced to move because it's under 107 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:17.800 a check 108 00:05:18.700 --> 00:05:19.700 and you capture 109 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:23.300 the g4 with your queen now what 110 00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:26.700 has happened for the two bishops they are 111 00:05:26.700 --> 00:05:30.100 equal but I've got an extra pawn I won 112 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:32.400 the h7 pawn right? So 113 00:05:32.400 --> 00:05:34.300 this is called a combination. 114 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.700 Okay, a tactical combination where we give some 115 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:39.200 material 116 00:05:40.200 --> 00:05:43.500 temporarily and then get it back quickly. Okay. So 117 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:46.800 initially you have to learn how to do this give a 118 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.600 material and get it back immediately. In the 119 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:52.900 intermediate state you have to learn to give material you 120 00:05:52.900 --> 00:05:55.400 don't get the result back immediately. It can 121 00:05:55.400 --> 00:05:58.900 be like medium term or a long term thing. Now, 122 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:01.500 let's go to the next example. In the 123 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:04.300 position in front of you, Rosh, you have 124 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:06.600 a very interesting position of greek sacrifice. 125 00:06:07.700 --> 00:06:10.400 Can you tell me how white can win here? We should 126 00:06:10.400 --> 00:06:13.800 cross Bh7 Kh7 Ng5 Kg8 Qh5 127 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:18.600 Yeah, very good. So can you make the moves on the board? Bh7 128 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:21.900 check Kh7 Ng5 129 00:06:21.900 --> 00:06:22.200 check 130 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:23.700 Kg8 131 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:27.500 Qh5 so white is threatening 132 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:30.700 to give Qh7 checkmate. There's no way none 133 00:06:30.700 --> 00:06:34.200 of the other minor pieces or the major pieces can defend 134 00:06:33.200 --> 00:06:36.100 the square h7 so Qh7 135 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:40.100 mate is coming. So this is the typical form of a Greek 136 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:42.700 sacrifice. Now, let's see the same idea 137 00:06:42.700 --> 00:06:45.200 of giving sacrifice on the square h7 138 00:06:45.200 --> 00:06:48.400 under different circumstances. So we will 139 00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:52.300 get more patterns registered in our mind. Shivika, can 140 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:54.500 you show me how we can exploit the sacrifice on 141 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:55.000 h7? 142 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.700 Bxh7 143 00:06:58.700 --> 00:06:59.300 Kxh7 144 00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:03.300 Qd3 check Kg8 and 145 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.300 Qxc3 146 00:07:05.900 --> 00:07:08.600 So what did we gain by this simple combination 147 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:11.400 of sacrificing on h7. We gained a pawn 148 00:07:11.400 --> 00:07:14.400 we gained a pawn so not necessarily that every 149 00:07:14.400 --> 00:07:17.800 sacrifice we give should lead to an mate. Okay, 150 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.200 that is not possible all the time. So even if it 151 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:23.400 gains some material or even a 152 00:07:23.400 --> 00:07:26.700 strong attack against the opponent king all this will be seeing in 153 00:07:26.700 --> 00:07:29.100 subsequent chapters. Now, let's move to some 154 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.900 complex sacrifice on h7. Now 155 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:35.900 the position in front of Pragya it's 156 00:07:35.900 --> 00:07:38.700 a classic setup for a double bishop sacrifice. Now 157 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:41.100 so far we have seen what happens when we 158 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:44.200 give one bishop sacrifice on h7 now we are 159 00:07:44.200 --> 00:07:47.300 going to combine that with another bishop sacrifice. It's 160 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:50.200 a beautiful sacrifice. Let's see how it's done Pragya, can 161 00:07:50.200 --> 00:07:51.400 you show me how it is done? Bxh7 162 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:53.800 Very good. Kxh7 163 00:07:54.400 --> 00:07:57.800 Qh5 check 164 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:00.500 yes more pieces coming into the attack. It's always 165 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:00.800 good. Kg8 166 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:03.900 Bxg7 167 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:06.200 Kxg7 168 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:08.300 Rg3 169 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:13.300 and when the king comes to f6 you can do Qg5 checkmate, 170 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:15.800 right? Now in the position in 171 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:16.700 front of Pragya, 172 00:08:17.200 --> 00:08:21.000 the first important thing we have to notice is all the 173 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:24.200 major pieces the queen knight they're 174 00:08:23.200 --> 00:08:26.200 all away from the king, right? The 175 00:08:26.200 --> 00:08:27.500 king is kind of exposed. 176 00:08:28.700 --> 00:08:31.300 And there are only three pawns left to 177 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:34.500 defend the king. So this what I was saying initially if you 178 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:36.900 just have three pawns it is just not enough. 179 00:08:38.300 --> 00:08:41.400 Ok especially when the queens are on the board. There are other minor pieces 180 00:08:41.400 --> 00:08:44.300 and major pieces around if you just have three pawns in 181 00:08:44.300 --> 00:08:47.100 front of your king it leaves your king to your frontal attack. 182 00:08:47.800 --> 00:08:50.400 The attack will come from the front and usually 183 00:08:50.400 --> 00:08:53.400 it is done with the pieces, if there was a minor piece 184 00:08:53.400 --> 00:08:56.100 let's say on f6 or g6 if there was a black 185 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:59.200 bishop on g6 for example, none of this attack would have 186 00:08:59.200 --> 00:08:59.800 been possible. 187 00:09:00.800 --> 00:09:03.100 Right. So very important thing to 188 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:06.600 remember try to have three pawns in front of your king and 189 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:10.200 a minor piece in front ideally on the 190 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:13.500 squares g6 or f6 so this was a classic example 191 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:16.200 of double bishop sacrifice. So 192 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.400 all these sacrifices they were set up 193 00:09:18.900 --> 00:09:21.400 by the first move Bh7 so we 194 00:09:21.400 --> 00:09:24.400 saw a few examples where the sacrifice on 195 00:09:24.400 --> 00:09:27.400 h7 works. Now that we have learned about the 196 00:09:27.400 --> 00:09:30.200 thematic sacrifice Bh7, let's move on 197 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.100 to the thematic sacrifice Nf7.

Thematic sacrifice - Part 2: Nf7

In this video, we will be exploring the concept of thematic sacrifice of Nf7. This sacrifice, also known as the Knight sacrifice, is a powerful tactic that can lead to a quick win or significant advantage for the player who executes it correctly. By the end of this video, you will have a good understanding of when and how to use this tactic in your own games.

WEBVTT - This is transcript of Thematic Sacrifice Part 2: Nf7 0 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.600 Now we will learn about the thematic sacrifice Nf7. 1 00:00:10.300 --> 00:00:14.100 In this episode we are going to learn about the thematic sacrifice 2 00:00:13.100 --> 00:00:15.400 Nf7. 3 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:19.200 Let's start with an example on the board and see how it 4 00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:19.400 works. 5 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:23.500 So in this position the king looks very safe 6 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:26.600 castled not only that he has three 7 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:30.200 pawns in the front along with a bishop on f6 8 00:00:29.200 --> 00:00:32.500 guarding the king but unfortunately 9 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:35.500 for him even in this situation the sacrifice 10 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.000 works against him. Let's see how? After Nf7 11 00:00:38.300 --> 00:00:41.600 he has two options. He can 12 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.700 do Rf7 or he can capture with that 13 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:47.100 king. Let's see what happens if he captures with the king. 14 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:50.300 So Kf7, we have Qe6 check 15 00:00:50.300 --> 00:00:53.200 when he goes to g6, he loses the knight on 16 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.800 d5. Not only that white would have got two extra pawns 17 00:00:56.800 --> 00:00:58.500 and an exposed king. 18 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:02.200 Right, so he cannot obviously do that. Let's see what 19 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:05.000 happens if he plays Rf7. 20 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:08.600 Okay, in this case, we are again capturing 21 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:11.900 Qe6 but this time it's coming without a 22 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:15.300 check and it looks like white has not got anything. You 23 00:01:14.300 --> 00:01:17.300 just give a knight for two pawns 24 00:01:17.300 --> 00:01:20.700 and that's it. But if we look closely the knight 25 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:23.700 on d5 it has lost its defender 26 00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:26.400 the pawn on e6 f7 right 27 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.100 now if he moves the knight it becomes a skewer 28 00:01:29.100 --> 00:01:33.000 the f7 rook will be hanging so 29 00:01:32.600 --> 00:01:35.600 he cannot obviously move the knight. He 30 00:01:35.600 --> 00:01:38.300 will lose the rook on f7 and if he does not move 31 00:01:38.300 --> 00:01:41.300 the knight, he is simply going to lose it. There is 32 00:01:41.300 --> 00:01:44.100 no way any other piece could defend the knight. 33 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:47.400 So in the game he took Bd4 34 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:50.200 and after the capture on d5 he is going 35 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:53.200 to lose at least an exchange on f7 and with that 36 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:53.900 the game. 37 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:56.600 Okay, so we see 38 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:00.000 how Nf7 works even when the 39 00:02:00.300 --> 00:02:03.300 king is castled. Okay. So let's quickly go to 40 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:06.600 some positions where Nf7 works when the 41 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:09.300 king is in the center not castled. Rosh 42 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:12.100 now you have a position where the opponent's king 43 00:02:12.100 --> 00:02:16.000 is still in the center, but I see you are two 44 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:17.600 pawns down looks like 45 00:02:18.700 --> 00:02:21.100 you are going to have trouble is it so? 46 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:25.200 What can white do here knight goes f7? 47 00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:28.300 Mm-hmm. If I play Qf7 what happens 48 00:02:28.300 --> 00:02:31.300 then Rxe6 rook takes 49 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:33.700 e6 and what happens? Can you make them on the board, please? 50 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:40.200 Nxf7 Qxf7 Re6 51 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:44.900 Yeah, and you see the king is exposed 52 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:46.900 now in the center and we 53 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.300 are going to bring the next rook 54 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:52.600 Into the attack and if we play Be7 55 00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:55.000 you can play rook to e1. 56 00:02:55.700 --> 00:02:56.800 Bf6 57 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:01.000 he's at least a piece down not that not 58 00:03:00.200 --> 00:03:03.100 only that he is going to lose even more. 59 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:06.200 Right, so Shivika 60 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:10.300 does Nf7 work in your position? Yes, it 61 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:11.200 does. Okay, tell me how 62 00:03:12.300 --> 00:03:13.700 Nxf7 63 00:03:15.100 --> 00:03:16.900 Bxf7 64 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:20.800 then Qxe7. 65 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.500 So you won a pawn right by playing Nf7. 66 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:27.100 Yeah, if you place Re8 67 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:31.200 then Qxd8 and luckily Re1 68 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:34.300 checkmate is not there because the rook 69 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:37.600 is pinned along the rank. Okay lucky you let's go 70 00:03:37.600 --> 00:03:38.300 to Pragya. 71 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:42.200 Black has just taken queen d4. So can you tell me 72 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.600 Nf7 will work here or not. Yes. It does. 73 00:03:46.600 --> 00:03:47.900 Yeah. Okay. Can you show me how? 74 00:03:49.600 --> 00:03:50.400 Nxf7. 75 00:03:51.700 --> 00:03:55.000 If they take Kxf7, okay, Bg6 76 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:57.700 queen Is lost. Wow. So basically she 77 00:03:57.700 --> 00:04:00.400 had set up a clearance check so she can 78 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.000 win the queen and that's how it's done. 79 00:04:03.100 --> 00:04:06.500 In the next episode we are going to learn about sacrifices of 80 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:07.800 knight on e6.

Thematic Sacrifices Part 3: Ne6

This video introduces the concept of thematic sacrifice of Ne6. Chess is a game of strategy and tactics, and understanding the different sacrifices in chess can greatly improve your play. In this video, we will be specifically focusing on the thematic sacrifice of the knight on square Ne6. This sacrifice can be a powerful weapon in the right hands, and we'll explore when and how it can be used effectively.

Thematic Sacrifices Part 4: Bh6

The thematic sacrifice of the bishop on square Bh6 is a powerful weapon that can be used to attack your opponent's king, disrupt their pawn structure, or open up lines for other pieces. In this video, we explore the concept of the thematic sacrifice of Bh6, examining its benefits and drawbacks, and when it is best used. We will also look at some of the key positions in which this sacrifice can be made, and how it can be used to gain an advantage over your opponent.

Attacking an Uncastled King

In chess, the king is the most important piece on the board, and attacking your opponent's king is one of the key ways to win the game. An uncastled king, meaning a king that has not yet moved to a safe square, is especially vulnerable and can be attacked with a variety of tactics and strategies. In this video, we will explore the concept of attacking an uncastled king. We'll discuss how to use your pieces to put pressure on your opponent's king, and how to coordinate your pieces for maximum effect.

Attacking a Castled King

In chess, the king is the most important piece on the board, and protecting the king is a top priority for both sides. A castled king, meaning a king that has moved to a safe square along the edge of the board, is considered to be more secure than an uncastled king. However, a castled king is not immune to attack, and it is important to know how to effectively attack a castled king in order to win the game. In this episode, we will explore the concept of attacking a castled king. We'll discuss the different ways to breach the defenses of a castled king, including breaking down pawn structures, exploiting weaknesses in the king's position, and using tactical sacrifices.

Discussions with Mental Trainer: Part 3

In the world of chess, mental focus and physical fitness are just as important as technical skill. The combination of these two elements can help you play at your best, both physically and mentally. In this video, our mental trainer and chess coach will delve into the importance of physical fitness and healthy habits for chess players. They will discuss how physical fitness can improve focus and endurance, and how habits such as healthy eating and adequate sleep can affect performance at the chessboard. This discussion will provide valuable insights for chess players of all levels, and help you understand how to optimize both your physical and mental health to reach your full potential in the game of chess.

Opening Principle: Part 1

In the world of chess, the opening is the first phase of the game and can have a profound impact on the outcome of the match. Establishing a strong opening strategy is crucial for success, as it sets the stage for the rest of the game. In this video, we will explore the key principles of effective opening play. We will examine the importance of development, control of the center, and king safety, and how these principles can be applied to your own games. We will also look at common traps and pitfalls to avoid in the opening, and how to use openings to your advantage.

Opening Principle: Part 2

The opening is one of the most important phases of the game of chess, and sets the stage for the middle game and endgame. Understanding and following basic opening principles can greatly improve your chances of success and help you gain an advantage over your opponent. In this video, we will explore the basic principles of opening play in chess. We'll discuss the importance of controlling the center of the board, developing your pieces, and creating a harmonious pawn structure.

Basic Endgames

The endgame is the final phase of a chess game, and understanding how to play the endgame well can be the key to winning many games. While endgames can be complex and difficult to master, there are a few basic endgames that all chess players should be familiar with. In this video, we will explore some of the most important basic endgames in chess. We'll also look at common endgame pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Forcing Moves: Part 1

In chess, forcing moves are powerful moves that restrict the options of your opponent, and can help you gain an advantage over them. These moves can take the form of checks, captures, threats, and pawn breaks, and are essential tools for any chess player to master. In this video, we will explore the concept of forcing moves and how to use them effectively in your games. We'll discuss the different types of forcing moves - checks, captures, threats, and pawn breaks, and how to identify and exploit these opportunities on the board.

Forcing Moves: Part 2

In the game of chess, forcing moves are moves that force your opponent to respond in a certain way, giving you the advantage. Understanding and applying forcing moves can be a powerful tool in your chess arsenal. In this video, we'll explore four types of forcing moves in chess: check, capture, threat, and pawn breaks. We'll also discuss how each of these moves can be used to create tactical opportunities, disrupt your opponent's plans, and gain a strategic advantage. By understanding the principles of forcing moves, you can turn passive positions into active ones, and gain the upper hand in your games.

Prophylaxis: Part 1

Prophylaxis is a strategic technique that involves preventing your opponent from carrying out their plans by anticipating and neutralizing their threats. This concept is crucial to understanding the game of chess and can greatly improve your ability to think ahead and stay one step ahead of your opponent. In this episode, we will explore the principles of prophylaxis and how to apply it in your games. By understanding the concept of prophylaxis, you can effectively control the pace of the game and keep your opponent on the defensive.

Prophylaxis: Part 2

In the game of chess, prophylaxis is a powerful technique used to prevent your opponent from carrying out their plans, and to limit their options. By anticipating your opponent's moves and taking measures to stop them, you can gain a strategic advantage and steer the game in your favor. In this video, GM Ramesh explores the principles of prophylaxis in detail through multiple examples and concepts with WIM Michelle Catherina. He discusses how to identify your opponent's potential plans, how to prevent them from carrying out their intended moves and help you gain the upper hand.

Pawn Sacrifice: Part 1

In the game of chess, pawn sacrifices are a powerful tactical tool used to gain an advantage over your opponent. By voluntarily giving up a pawn, you can create tactical opportunities and open up lines for your pieces to attack your opponent's king. In this video, we'll explore the principles of pawn sacrifices in chess and show you how to use them effectively. We'll discuss when it's appropriate to sacrifice a pawn, and how to calculate the potential benefits and drawbacks of each sacrifice. We'll also look at examples of pawn sacrifices in action, and how they can help you turn the tide of the game in your favor.

Pawn Sacrifice: Part 2

In the game of chess, a pawn sacrifice is a deliberate act of giving up a pawn with the goal of gaining a more advantageous position. Pawn sacrifices can be a powerful tool in your chess arsenal and can be used to create tactical opportunities, disrupt your opponent's plans, and gain a strategic advantage. In this video, we'll explore the principles of pawn sacrifices in chess and show you how to use them effectively. We'll discuss when it is appropriate to make a pawn sacrifice, and how to evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks. We'll also look at examples of successful pawn sacrifices in real games, and how they helped the sacrificing player to gain the upper hand.

The Drawback

Drawbacks are negative aspects or limitations of a particular move or strategy, and understanding these drawbacks is crucial to making informed decisions in a game of chess. By anticipating and considering the drawbacks of a move, you can avoid falling into traps and losing ground in your games. In this video, we'll explore the concept of drawbacks in chess and show you how to identify and avoid them.

Pawn Majority: Part 1

Pawn majority is a term used to describe having more pawns on one side of the board compared to the other. This can be a powerful advantage, as it allows you to control more territory, restrict your opponent's pawn moves, and create opportunities for your own pawns to advance. To illustrate this concept, GM Ramesh analyzes a game played between two of the greatest chess players of all time: Mikhail Tal and Mikhail Botvinnik.

Pawn Majority: Part 2

Pawn majority is an important strategic concept in chess, referring to having more pawns on one side of the board than the opponent. A pawn majority can lead to a variety of advantages, including increased control of space, the ability to create a passed pawn, and the potential to create a strong pawn chain. In this video, GM Ramesh discusses the advantages of using pawn majority on time in his interaction with WIM Rakshit Ravi, the former world under 10 champion.

Prophylaxis: Part 3

Prophylaxis is a strategic concept that involves preventing the opponent from making a useful move, and is an important part of many successful chess games. By using prophylaxis, you can control the pace of the game, limit your opponent's options, and create more opportunities for yourself. In this video, we'll look at examples of prophylaxis in action, and how it can lead to a strategic advantage and improved play.

Bishop & Pawn Ending: Part 1

Bishop and pawn endings are a common type of endgame scenario, and understanding the subtleties of these positions is essential to becoming a strong chess player. These endings require careful planning, precise calculation, and a deep understanding of pawn structure and piece placement. In this video, we'll explore the principles of bishop and pawn endings and show you how to effectively play these types of positions. We'll discuss key concepts such as the importance of pawn structure, the value of the bishop in these endings, and how to create and exploit weaknesses in your opponent's position.

Bishop & Pawn Ending: Part 2

Bishop and pawn endings are a common type of endgame in chess, and often require precise technique and strategic understanding to win. In these endings, the player with the bishop must use their superior mobility and control of the diagonals to overcome their opponent's pawn advantage. In this video, we'll discuss the different types of bishop and pawn endings, and learn how to navigate the various tactical and positional challenges that arise.

Double Bishop vs Bishop & Knight

Double bishops, or two bishops of different colors, are a powerful weapon in chess, and can be difficult to deal with for an opponent who has only one bishop or a bishop and knight. In these positions, the player with the double bishops must use their bishops' coordination and control of the diagonals to outmaneuver the opponent. In this video, we'll explore the principles of playing with double bishops versus a bishop and knight in chess and show you how to play these positions to your advantage. We'll discuss the key strategic and tactical considerations in these positions, and show you how to use the double bishops' strengths to create threats and win material. We'll also look at examples of double bishops versus a bishop and knight in action, and how to navigate the various tactical and positional challenges that arise.

Improving Pieces: Part 1

Improving pieces is a fundamental aspect of chess strategy, and involves making the most of each piece's strengths and mobility. By improving pieces, a player can increase their control of the board, create new threats, and gain a positional advantage over their opponent. In this video, we'll explore the principles of improving pieces in chess and show you how to make the most of each piece's potential. We'll discuss the key considerations for improving pieces, such as centralization, mobility, and protection, and show you how to use these concepts to gain an advantage in your games.

Improving Pieces: Part 2

Improving pieces is a fundamental aspect of chess strategy and refers to the process of making your pieces more active and effective on the board. By improving your pieces, you can gain a stronger position, control more squares, and create threats against your opponent's pieces and king. In this video, we'll explore the principles of improving pieces in chess and show you how to make the most of your pieces in every game. We'll discuss the different ways to improve your pieces, such as exchanging bad pieces for good ones, bringing pieces out to optimal squares, and freeing up blocked pieces. We'll also look at examples of improving pieces in action, and how to use this strategy to gain an advantage in the middlegame and endgame.

Knight & Pawn Endings: Part 1

Knight and pawn endings are a common occurrence in chess and refer to endgame positions where each side has only a knight and pawns. These endings require a different type of thinking and strategy compared to other endgames, as the knight's unique jumping ability can make it difficult for the opponent to control key squares and protect their pawns. In this video, GM R B Ramesh explains the concepts to WGM Divya Deshmukh through an illustrative game played between Nimzowitsch and Tarrasch in 1925.

Knight & Pawn Endings: Part 2

As the name suggests, in this type of endgame scenario only knights and pawns remain on the board, and it requires a unique approach to achieve victory. In knight and pawn endings, the knight is often the dominant piece due to its unique movement patterns. It can jump over other pieces and reach squares that other pieces cannot, making it a formidable tool for capturing enemy pawns and controlling important squares on the board. On the other hand, pawns are often seen as weak pieces, but in knight and pawn endings, they can play a critical role in deciding the outcome of the game. In this video, GM R B Ramesh explains the concepts to WGM Divya Deshmukh through an illustrative game played by Tony Miles against Gert Ligterink in 1978.

Attacking the King: Part 1

Attacking the king is a crucial concept in the game of chess and is the ultimate goal of the game. A player wins the game by putting the opponent's king in a position known as checkmate, where the king is under attack and cannot escape capture. Understanding how to effectively attack the king is a critical skill for any chess player, and it requires a deep understanding of the pieces, their movements, and the principles of attacking. In this video, GM R B Ramesh discusses the key rules on how to identify when to mount an attack.

Attacking the King: Part 2

Attacking the king is a critical concept in the game of chess, as the ultimate goal of the game is to checkmate your opponent's king. A successful attack on the king requires a combination of tactics, strategy, and piece coordination. The player must create a web of threats that the opponent cannot escape from, ultimately leading to the capture of the king. There are several approaches to attacking the king in chess, and each requires a different set of skills and knowledge. For example, the player can create a direct attack by bringing pieces directly to the king's square. Another approach is to create a more indirect attack, by putting pressure on the squares around the king and limiting its mobility.

Preparing for Tournament

In this interaction with World Under 12 Champion WGM Divya Dehmukh, GM R B Ramesh discusses her general approach to the game of chess and how to prepare for tournaments.

Rook & Pawn Endings: Part 1

Rook and pawn endings in chess are a common type of endgame scenario that require careful calculation and precise execution to achieve victory. In this type of ending, the player has only a rook and one or more pawns remaining on the board, and the goal is to use these pieces to their maximum potential in order to either promote a pawn to a queen or capture the opponent's king. One of the key challenges in rook and pawn endings is the coordination of the rook and pawns. The rook must be positioned in a way that it can control key squares and support the advance of the pawns, while the pawns must be protected and moved in a way that maximizes their potential. Understanding the nuances of pawn structure and rook mobility, as well as the various tactics for achieving checkmate, is essential for success in rook and pawn endings.

King & Pawn Ending: Part 1

King and pawn endings in chess are often a test of precise calculation and understanding of endgame principles. Two important concepts in king and pawn endings are mined squares and key squares. Mined squares are squares that are protected by the player's pawns and can be used to advance the player's passed pawn or to create a fortress for their king. Key squares, on the other hand, are squares that the player must control in order to achieve victory in the endgame. In king and pawn endings, it is crucial to understand how to use these concepts to achieve a winning position. The player must be able to accurately calculate the opposition and to understand how to create a passed pawn by using mined squares to advance their pawns. Additionally, the player must understand how to control key squares, as this allows them to restrict the opponent's king and to create a winning position. Understanding these concepts and how to effectively use them in your own games is essential for achieving success in king and pawn endings in chess.

Rook & Pawn Endings: Part 2

The rook and pawn ending is a type of endgame scenario in the game of chess, where only rooks and pawns remain on the board. It is a complex and challenging stage of the game, as the rook is a powerful piece but also vulnerable to opposition from pawns. In a rook and pawn ending, the player must understand how to use the rook to control the board, while also protecting their own pawns and attacking their opponent's pawns. The key to success in a rook and pawn ending is to understand the power of the pawns and how to effectively use them to support the rook. The pawns can be used to create passed pawns, which can advance toward the opponent's side of the board and create a significant threat. The rook can then be used to support and defend these pawns, while also putting pressure on the opponent's king. In this episode, GM Ramesh discusses the key concepts through an illustrative example of a game played between Flohr vs Vidmar in 1936.

Accelerators: Part 1

Accelerators are a type of move or sequence of forcing moves that can be used to gain a tactical or strategic advantage. These moves are often used to increase the mobility of pieces, create new threats, or put pressure on the opponent. Understanding how to use accelerators and how to identify them in your own games can greatly enhance your overall chess performance.

Active Defence: Part 1

Active defence refers to a type of defensive play that is proactive and aggressive, rather than passive and reactive. In active defence, the player takes the initiative and makes moves that threaten the opponent's pieces or restrict their mobility. By doing so, the player is able to control the tempo of the game and maintain a strong position, even in difficult defensive scenarios. One of the key benefits of active defence is that it allows the player to maintain control of the game and to create counter-play. Instead of simply trying to survive and defend against the opponent's threats, the player is able to take the initiative and create new threats of their own. This can put the opponent on the defensive and create opportunities for the player to simplify the position or create a winning scenario.

Discussions with Mental Trainer & A Chess Champ : Part 1

Chess is a challenging game that requires both mental and tactical skills. However, even the most skilled and experienced players can experience insecurities, doubts, and fears that impact their performance. In this video, we bring together a mental trainer, a competitive chess player, and a chess coach to discuss these common issues and to offer insights and advice for overcoming them. The conversation will help you manage pre-game nerves, teach how to cope with losses and setbacks, and how to stay motivated and confident during the course of a tournament. By drawing on the collective experiences of these experts, we hope to provide valuable insights and guidance for players of all skill levels who are looking to overcome their insecurities to reach their full potential on the chessboard.

Calculation Studies: Common Mistakes

Calculation is a crucial component of successful chess play, as it allows the player to accurately assess their options and to make informed decisions. However, even the most skilled and experienced players can make mistakes during calculation, which can lead to missed opportunities or even costly blunders. In this video, we will explore some of the most common mistakes made during calculation and offer strategies for avoiding them.

Initiatives

Initiative refers to the ability to control the tempo of the game and dictate the flow of play. The player with the initiative is able to make moves that put their opponent on the defensive and restrict their options. This puts the player in a position of strength, as they are able to dictate the terms of the game and create threats and opportunities for themselves. In chess, having the initiative is often the key to success. By controlling the tempo of the game, the player is able to create threats and opportunities that their opponent must respond to, rather than simply reacting to their opponent's moves.

Learning from Classics

In chess, the isolated queen pawn (IQP) is a pawn structure that occurs when a pawn on the d file stands alone and is not supported by a pawn on an adjacent file. This structure can create unique challenges and opportunities for both sides, as the IQP can be a liability or an asset, depending on the situation. GM R B Ramesh teaches how to play against Isolated Queen Pawn through an illustrative game played between former world champion Botvinnik vs Zagoriansky in 1943.

Understanding the Weak Squares: Part 1

Understanding weak squares is crucial for creating effective strategies, securing key positions, and ultimately securing the win. A weak square is defined as a square on the chessboard that is vulnerable to attack and cannot be effectively defended by the pieces controlling it. These squares can be found on both sides of the board and can arise due to a variety of factors, including poor piece placement, overextension of pawns, and lack of support from other pieces. Weak squares can have a significant impact on the outcome of a game, and it is therefore essential to be able to identify them and take advantage of them to achieve a tactical advantage.

Understanding the Weak Squares: Part 2

Understanding weak squares can be a crucial aspect in winning a chess game as they can be exploited by the opponent. A weak square refers to a square on the chessboard that is difficult for a player to defend, due to lack of pieces covering it or due to the presence of pieces that cannot effectively control the square. In this video, we will be exploring different types of weak squares, how to identify them and how to use them to your advantage in a game of chess. You will also learn how to prevent your own pieces from being placed on weak squares, thereby making it harder for your opponent to gain an advantage. With the help of real-life examples, we will demonstrate how weak squares can be used to create tactical opportunities.

Centralisation

Centralization refers to the process of bringing your pieces to the center of the board, which can be a powerful tool for controlling the game and setting up tactical opportunities. Centralized pieces are more active and have more mobility, which makes them more effective in creating threats and controlling key squares on the board. In this video, we will be exploring the benefits of centralization and how it can be achieved in a game of chess.

King Activity

King activity refers to the extent to which the king is involved in the game and how actively it is participating in the game. A king that is active and involved in the game can be a powerful tool for creating threats, controlling key squares and ultimately winning the game. In this video, we will be exploring the importance of king activity in a game of chess and how it can be used to your advantage. You will learn about the different ways in which a king can be active, including castling, centralization and the use of the king in a pawn structure.

Discussions with Mental Trainer & A Chess Champ : Part 2

In this episode, we bring together a mental trainer, a competitive chess player, and a chess coach to discuss the topic of fear. Fear is a common challenge faced by chess players at all levels, and it can have a significant impact on a player's performance. Whether it's fear of making a mistake, fear of losing, or fear of your opponent, this feeling can be a major roadblock for chess players looking to improve their game. In this discussion, we will explore the various forms of fear and how they can affect a player's performance. Our mental trainer will share techniques for managing and overcoming fears.

The Pawn Breaks: Part 1

A pawn break refers to the creation of a new pawn structure on the chessboard, usually by advancing a pawn in a critical area of the board. Pawn breaks are a powerful tool for creating tactical and strategic opportunities in a game of chess, as they can create new lines for pieces to attack and control key squares. With the help of real-life examples, we demonstrate how pawn breaks can be used to create tactical opportunities, disrupt your opponent's pawn structure, and ultimately gain an advantage in the game.

The Pawn Breaks: Part 2

A pawn break refers to the process of creating a new pawn structure by advancing pawns in a particular direction on the chessboard. This can often lead to significant changes in the pawn structure, opening up new lines for pieces, creating new tactical opportunities and even leading to the creation of passed pawns. In this video, we will be exploring the different types of pawn breaks, the benefits they offer and how to use them to your advantage.

Building an Opening Repertoire

In this episode, GM Ramesh interacts with former world under 10 champion, WIM Rakshit Ravi on her choice of opening repertoire.

Art of Maintaining Tension

Tension refers to the balance between opposing forces on the chessboard, and it is a crucial factor in creating and maintaining control of the game. By maintaining tension, a player can keep the opponent from easily making moves and can create opportunities for their own pieces to become more active. In this video, we will be exploring the different types of tension that can exist in a game of chess and how to maintain them to your advantage. You will learn how to identify areas of tension on the board and how to use them to control the flow of the game and create tactical opportunities.

Simple Tactics

In this episode GM R B Ramesh gives a few tactical positions to former world under 10 champion, WIM Rakhita Ravi and discusses her thinking behind the solutions proposed.

The Intermediate Moves

Intermediate moves refer to moves that are not necessarily the best move, but are used to set up a more advantageous position for future moves. These moves can be a powerful tool for creating tactical opportunities, improving piece coordination, and setting up threats that can be difficult for the opponent to defend against. In this video, you will learn how to identify potential intermediate moves and how to use them to improve the coordination of your pieces and create tactical opportunities.

Discussions with Mental Trainer & A Chess Champ : Part 3

In this video we bring together a mental trainer, a competitive chess player, and a chess coach to discuss the topic of concentration in the game of chess. Concentration is a critical aspect of chess and is crucial for players looking to make accurate moves, find the best combination and maintain their focus for the entire game. Maintaining focus for several hours can be a challenge, and players often struggle with distractions during the game. In this discussion, we will explore the various challenges faced by players in maintaining concentration during a game of chess. Our mental trainer will share techniques for improving concentration, while the competitive chess player will provide insight into their own experiences and how they have dealt with distractions during games.

Attacking the King: Part 3

Attacking the king is an essential part of the game and is the ultimate goal of each player. It is a complex and challenging process that requires a deep understanding of the tactical and strategic elements of the game. Successfully attacking the king requires a combination of strong piece coordination, effective use of pawn structure, and an understanding of the opponent's weaknesses. In this episode, we will be exploring the different techniques used to attack the king in the game of chess. You will learn how to identify potential weaknesses in the opponent's position and how to use them to launch a successful attack. GM Ramesh teaches how to use different tactical elements with the help of an illustrative game.

Attacking the King: Part 4

Attacking the king is one of the most important goals in a game of chess, and a player who can successfully launch an attack can often win the game. There are many different ways to attack the king, from tactical sacrifices and combinations to more strategic approaches that gradually restrict the king's mobility. In this video, GM Ramesh makes use of an example game that he played in 2001 against Rahul Shetty to explain the key concepts.

Preparing for the game at home (before and after)

Participating in a chess tournament can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be incredibly stressful, especially if the player has not adequately prepared. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, it is essential to have a plan in place to ensure that you are ready to perform at your best on the day of the tournament. In this video, GM Ramesh interacts with WIM Rakshit Ravi to discuss how she prepares at home and highlights some best practices.

Handling Pawns

Pawns are often thought of as the weakest pieces on the chessboard, but they play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the game. Properly handling pawns can create space, restrict the opponent's pieces, and create tactical opportunities for your pieces. On the other hand, poor pawn play can lead to a disadvantage in space and mobility, making it difficult to achieve your goals in the game. With the help of real-life examples, we demonstrate how handling pawns effectively can be a powerful tool for improving your chess and winning more games.

Solving Studies

Solving chess studies is an important aspect of improving your chess skills, but it can also be time-consuming and overwhelming. To make the most of your study time, it is essential to have a plan in place that allows you to learn efficiently and effectively. In this video, you will learn the importance of selecting the right studies to work on, how to set goals, and how to track your progress. We will also look at how to avoid common pitfalls and develop a critical eye for patterns and tactics.

The Exchange Sacrifice: Part 1

An exchange sacrifice is a tactical maneuver that involves sacrificing material, usually a rook for a minor piece, with the goal of achieving a more advantageous position. This type of sacrifice is often used to simplify the position, open lines for the attacker's pieces, or restrict the defender's pieces. In this video, we will be exploring the various techniques for executing and defending against exchange sacrifices in a game of chess. You will learn how to evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of an exchange sacrifice, how to create a tactical plan, and how to execute the sacrifice effectively.

The Exchange Sacrifice: Part 2

Exchange sacrifices are one of the most powerful tactical weapons in chess, allowing a player to trade a valuable piece for a less valuable one, often with the goal of creating tactical opportunities or restricting the opponent's pieces. Exchange sacrifices can be a difficult concept to master, but with proper understanding and practice, they can be a powerful tool for improving your chess and winning more games. In this video, we will be exploring the various techniques for making exchange sacrifices in a game of chess. You will learn how to identify when an exchange sacrifice is appropriate, how to calculate the potential benefits and drawbacks, and how to follow up with a winning plan. We will also look at how to defend against exchange sacrifices, how to use exchange sacrifices to create tactical opportunities, and how to use them to restrict the opponent's pieces.

Discussions with Mental Trainer & A Celebrated Chess Coach: Part 1

Bad form can be a major obstacle to success in chess, leading to poor decisions, tactical mistakes, and a lack of focus. To perform at your best, it is essential to be aware of when you are in a bad form and to have strategies in place to overcome it. In this video, the mental trainer and the chess coach share their insights and experiences on the topic of bad form. They discuss how to build resilience and mental toughness and share practical tips and techniques for staying focused and motivated, even in the face of setbacks and losses.

Maneuvering

In chess, maneuvering refers to the process of moving your pieces to better positions on the board in order to gain a strategic advantage. It is an important aspect of chess strategy, allowing you to control the flow of the game and to build a strong position that is difficult for your opponent to attack. In this video, we will be exploring the various techniques for maneuvering in a game of chess. You will learn how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your position, how to identify good squares for your pieces, and how to create opportunities for your pieces to work together.

Bishop vs Knight: Part 1

In chess, the endgame refers to the stage of the game when there are only a few pieces left on the board, making each move more critical and requiring precise calculations to secure a win. One common endgame scenario is a bishop versus knight endgame, where a bishop is pitted against the knight. In this episode, we will be exploring the key concepts and strategies for the bishop versus knight endgame. You will learn how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each piece, how to use the bishop's long-range attacking power and the knight's flexibility to your advantage, and how to create winning opportunities.

Bishop vs Knight: Part 2

In the endgame, having a bishop or a knight can be a major advantage or disadvantage, depending on the position of the pawns and the coordination of the pieces. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these pieces is crucial for success in the endgame, as well as for making the right decisions in the middlegame. In this video, we will be exploring the various concepts and techniques for playing bishop versus knight endgames. You will learn how to evaluate the relative strength of bishops and knights and how to coordinate your pieces to create a winning position.

Queen & Pawn Endings: Part 1

The queen and pawn endgame is a particularly interesting endgame scenario where the players are left with only their queen and one or more pawns. Understanding the concepts and strategies involved in the queen and pawn endgame is essential for any chess player looking to improve their game. In this video, we will explore the key ideas behind the queen and pawn endgame and show you how to use these concepts to gain an advantage over your opponent. We will look at various pawn structures, such as passed pawns, and how to use your queen to control the board and keep your opponent's pieces at bay.

Queen & Pawn Endings: Part 2

Queen and pawn endgames can often be very complicated and require careful calculation. However, with the right strategy and understanding of key concepts, a player can turn the game in their favor. The queen is one of the most powerful pieces in chess and, when paired with a pawn, can create a formidable combination. In this video, we will explore different scenarios that may arise in a queen and pawn endgame and learn how to navigate them to secure a win.

Exchanging Pieces: Part 1

Chess is a strategic game that requires players to think ahead and plan their moves. One of the most important concepts in chess is exchanging pieces, which involves capturing and removing an opponent's piece from the board. This strategy can greatly impact the outcome of the game and is a key aspect of successful play. In this video, we will explore the various types of piece exchanges, and how to make the most of them to gain an advantage over your opponent.

Exchanging Pieces: Part 2

Piece exchanges in chess can take many forms, from simple trades of pawns to complex maneuvers involving several pieces. These exchanges can often change the dynamics of the board, altering the balance of power between the two players. Understanding when and how to make exchanges is an important skill in chess and can be the key to victory. In this video, we will be exploring the different types of piece exchanges that occur in a game of chess and how they can impact the outcome of the game.

Playing on Colors: Part 1

In chess, playing on colors refers to the advantages and disadvantages that can arise from the placement of pieces on certain squares on the board. The color of the square can have a significant impact on the way a piece moves and the options available to it. Understanding how to play on colors is an important aspect of chess strategy, and can give you an advantage over your opponent if used effectively. In this video, we will be exploring the concept of playing on colors in detail. We will look at the various ways in which the color of the square can affect a piece, from the mobility of the bishop to the vulnerability of the knight. We will also be discussing how to use the color of the squares to your advantage, and how to create and exploit color-related weaknesses in your opponent's position.

Playing on Colors: Part 2

By controlling the squares of a particular color, a player can restrict the movement of their opponent's pieces and create opportunities for their own. In this video, we will delve into the concept of playing on colors and explore how players can use this strategy to gain an edge over their opponent. We will look at different examples of how controlling the squares of a particular color can be used to block the opponent's pieces, create threats, and control the center of the board.

Discussions with Mental Trainer & A Celebrated Chess Coach: Part 2

In today's competitive world of chess, having a strong work ethic is crucial to success. It takes more than just natural talent to become a top-performing chess player, and this is where our guests come in. Our mental trainer and famous chess coach bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, having worked with many successful chess players over the years. They understand the importance of mental and psychological preparation, and share their insights on how to cultivate a winning work ethic.

Which Rook?

The decision of which rook to place on which open file in a game of chess can greatly impact the outcome of the game. The correct placement of the rooks can lead to improved control of key squares, increased mobility, and a strong base for the rest of the pieces. In this video, we delve into the concepts behind deciding which rook should go to which open file in a chess game.