The Winawer variation of the French Defense will have you wondering why the French Defense is considered boring by so many chess players. The position becomes unbalanced early, and Black is always ready to sacrifice a knight on e5. Although it got named after the Polish player Simon Winawer in English-speaking countries, it is sometimes called the Nimzowitsch Variation in many others. The similarities between the Winawer and Nimzo-Indian Defense are easy to see. Fortunately, for those looking to play the French Defense, knowing the strategic ideas and thematic sacrifices in the Winawer are of ..read more

When we learn chess, we begin by learning the opening so that we know how to start our games. Then we progress to the middlegame and endgame phases. Many chess players seem to stay focused on the opening, but learning how to play all three phases of the game is vital to becoming a strong player. When you first learn to play chess, you can win games in the opening, but as you progress, you will discover that your games last longer. If you learn chess by studying the games of master chess players, you will know how to play all three phases. You can see how they all connect and what strategies y ..read more

When it comes to choosing a defense to 1.d4, many players choose an Indian Defense. The King’s Indian Defense and Nimzo-Indian Defense are two of the most well-known. These are both excellent defenses, and either will serve you well. This is one of those rare opportunities you can choose between two wonderful options. The most critical factor in choosing between them is your playing style. Do you prefer the typical middlegames in the Nimzo Indian Defense over those from the King’s Indian Defense? GM Damian Lemos has taken a deep dive into the King’s Indian Defense. See how you can catch your ..read more

There are many excellent chess openings for White. Here are five of the most dependable chess openings you can play with White. The Timeless Ruy Lopez 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 The Ruy Lopez has been regarded as one of the best chess openings for white for many years. The Ruy Lopez is an excellent chess opening for white because it uses many chess principles. Whether you enjoy a strategic battle or fighting game, the Ruy Lopez can cater to your playing style. In the Closed Ruy Lopez, the Chigorin Defense is a popular choice. Black drives the white bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal and seizes mo ..read more

The former World Chess Champion Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian is known as a conservative, cautious, and highly defensive chess player, but Fischer once said, “He has an incredible tactical view.“ In this video, a free preview of GM Larry Christiansen‘s acclaimed Attacking Chess Bundle, we are shown one of his finest yet little-known attacking games with a beautiful mating combination. Watch to see how Petrosian created a winning position in only 26 moves! Petrosian Sacrifices a Rook to Get an Unstoppable Passed Pawn Petrosian was known for his strong positional play, but b ..read more

Playing with the initiative and improving your attacking play is vital for improving chess players. The Scotch Gambit helps you learn how to take the initiative, keep it, and play attacking chess. If the thought of playing d4 instead of d3 on move 3 causes you to experience a slight panic, then it is time to face these fears with the Scotch Gambit. When you start playing this excellent gambit, a new world will open to you. The Scotch Gambit often transposes to the Two Knights Defense or Giuoco Piano, but it does so on your terms.   IM Irina Bulmaga knows a lot about the typical tactics i ..read more

There is a lot of information available on chess opening basics—far too much information for us to have any hope of remembering it all. No matter how much knowledge you acquire about chess opening basics, none of it matters if you don’t apply it to your games. In every game, you have pieces and pawns. What would happen if you focused on learning to get the most out of them in the opening? To do this, you only need to learn about the development of pawns and pieces. Knowing what to do when your opponent plays a surprise move would also be handy. IM Anna Rudolf shares her advice on what to do i ..read more

As we get better at chess, wins are harder to come by. Your chess attack strategy needs to become stronger to match the more robust defense you encounter. We all know the frustration of pressing all game, making threat after threat but getting nowhere as our opponent somehow manages to survive. The problem is when we play our knight to g5, they know we’re planning a kingside attack, and they defend accordingly. If you want to make your attacking life easier, break their resistance before attacking by suffocating them with positional pressure! Breaking your opponent’s resistance is vital to a ..read more

It pays to have more than one weapon when it comes to playing against the King’s Indian Defense. Here are two ways to play against the King’s Indian Defense. The King’s Indian Defense is a counter-attacking chess opening and one it is best not to take lightly. Played with success by two of the greatest chess players of all time – Kasparov and Fischer – it pays to be wary of the dangers hidden within this defense. Although both ways to face the KID are attacking approaches, one method is a lot more conventional than the other. You won’t need to keep the unconventional attack solely for blitz ..read more

More Chess Traps in the Italian Opening The Italian Opening is one of the oldest chess openings, first mentioned in the 16th century. Is also one of the most played openings at all levels, from most beginners right up to the World Champion. The Italian has different variations, which makes it an ideal weapon. You can play powerful gambits to play for a win in spectacular fashion, or you can navigate the calm waters of the Giuoco Pianissimo – but, even the quiet variations have many tactical tricks that should be known by every chess player. The Giuoco Pianissimo starts aft ..read more