Carro Kann Blitz

Using a rook, knight, and queen (or bishop) to attack a king.

Bishop Pair Despair

Having both bishops is nothing without targets.

Mate in 3 Challenge (White to move)

Can you solve it?

Give your answer as a comment.

Find the "Help mate in 2" and the "Mate in 3"

This is from an 1888 "Illustrated London News". Enjoy!

Solution
Help Mate in 2:
1.Qd3 f6 2.Qd5#

Mate in 3:
1 Qh1 ...
1...Ke6 2.Qh8 f6 3. Qe8#
1...Ke6 2 Qh8 Kd7 3.Qc8#
1...Kf6 2.Qh4+ Kg6 3.Qh6#
1...Kf6 2.Qh4+ Ke6 3.Qe7#
1...Kf6 2.Qh4+ Ke5 3.Qe7#
1...f6 2.Bd5 Kxf5 3.Qh5#

Sicilian Nxc6

This game shows an example of how Black's central control can be increased if white decides to capture with his/her d4 knight on c6.

It is important to take from this game that Black is often trying to get in the move d5. This move when timed well can give Black equality in the opening and at times an initiative.

Enjoy!

Fischer Vs Benko

Anand Vs. Kasparov

An interesting Gruenfeld in which Anand plays Qb3 and Kasparov plays Na6 followed by an early c5. This was a very different way to handle this opening and is instuctive for Gruenfeld players.

King's Indian Defense

This video reminds us that White is usually looking for queenside play in the KID and that playing with a Queen alone will not have you mating your opponents.

Fortuna (1599) - Brereton (1367)

Justin Brereton is a very strong player and has beaten me since this game was played. I just wanted to share this game as it has an interesting mating net at the end. Enjoy!

Resign Down a Queen in Blitz?

Be careful never to give up on a position too soon!

Neat bishops of opposite color endgame

This is a rare game in which white has a light square bishop and black has a black square bishop, but black with 2 extra pawns is able to force a technical win.

David Kriewall(1631) Vs. Jacob Fortuna(1805)

Chess can be a cruel game. You can one minute be playing toward what appears to be an easy win and then find yourself at the mercy of your opponent after 1 quick move.

How to approach playing an attacking player

Gary Pratt is one of the most aggressive and strong attacking players I know. In this game I was fortunate that I had a mate threat (Qd4 threating Qxg7#) which allowed me to stop Gary's combination that was started with the sacrifice Ng3+.

My 2008 Draw against a Master with the black pieces!

This was a very exciting game for me as it was my 1st tie with a master.  Seth was rated 2261 and I was rated 1844 when we played this game.

Queen Pawn Trap

This is a very short lesson on a queen pawn game in which black gains a knight for a pawn by encouraging white to take on d5.

Legal's Mate

This is a seven move checkmate with a queen sacrifice by white, which if accepted allows white a beautiful mate in 2 with the minor pieces. The black player of this variation doesn't follow the principle that you should devleop knights before bishops. It is of interest to note that had black played either Nc6 or Nf6, this mate would not be possible as the knight on either of these squares would control the e5 or d5 squares.

test

Sicilian Trap

This is the first of a series of lectures I'll be giving on chess. Please give me feed back on what you think of this video. You may also submit your games and I will analyze them and post a video with my comments for you.