Chess Tutoring, Chess Coaching, Chess Classes with NM Will Stewart

The Opocensky Variation of the Sicilian Najdorf with 6. Be2 remains one of the most commonly played lines for white against the Najdorf. In Fischer’s time in the 1950s and 1960s, more aggressive variations such as the Fischer-Sozin Attack, the 6. Bg5 Main Line, and the 6. f4 Amsterdam Variation were favored over the quieter Opocensky Variation with 6. Be2. However sufficient sources of counterplay were identified for black against the sharper continuations, and in [...]

Dynamic imbalances are what separates chess from math because equations in chess are always multi-dimensional. In a practical chess game, you must always evaluate a position with respect to material, positional, and temporal considerations. When two players each strive to create maximum tension on the board and refuse to capitulate in any form, imbalances are guaranteed to appear. One player may play aggressively and sacrifice a pawn (material) to gain compensation by seizing the initiative [...]

Everybody knows the importance of infantry. As the oldest branch of combat arms, it is still the backbone of modern armies. The army’s infantry is its most essential component. You don’t win a war unless you have your Infantrymen, “boots on the ground,” standing on and holding your enemies ground. The foot soldier has always ruled the battlefield. Infantry is notable for its reliance on closely organized formations to be employed in battle. As shown [...]

Bobby Fischer vs Pal Benko, Round 10 of the 1963/64 US Championship: Bobby Fischer went 11/11 at the 1963 US Championship, thoroughly establishing his dominance as the best chess player the United States had ever produced. In round 10 of this legendary performance, he faced off against the strong Grandmaster Pal Benko. Fischer opened with e4 and Benko responded with the complicated Pirc Defense – leading to Fischer employing the Austrian Attack to gain a [...]

Paul Morphy was one of the best chess players of his time, thoroughly dominating the mid 19th century with inspired attacks and sacrifices. But what really allowed Morphy to play with a style that was many years ahead of his time was his understanding of the basic principles of opening theory. Morphy’s chess ideology was very straightforward with respect to the first 10-15 moves of the game: Morphy’s overwhelmingly aggressive opening style frequently led to [...]

We already know that the pawns are the main actors in the game of chess. Don’t underestimate these deceptively weak soldiers. Without pawns there would be no game. They give life to pieces and at the same time form the backbone giving strength to the entire position. Remember Bronstein, “Without pawns, how can there be any strategy, any creative, far-reaching plans, any defensive fortifications or mobile pawn ranks for offensive aims!” In the previous post [...]

Endgame technique is an incredibly important concept that is too frequently overlooked by chess players of all levels. Understanding critical concepts in the endgame will not only help you save draws in difficult positions, it will help you squeeze points out of materially balanced games as well. A strong knowledge of fundamental endgame themes will enable you to avoid theoretically unpleasant endgames, or subtly steer your games towards endgames where you know will retain strong [...]