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

In Lev Alburt’s seminal Test and Improve your Chess he offers an interesting recommendation. The GM, once one of the world’s best players, says we should be willing to invest a few hours into analyzing any given position. This develops the fabled GM memory which is said to hold ten times more patterns than the brain of an average NM. Putting thirty-two pieces into some semblance of order takes quite a lot of work indeed. [...]

In part one of the series we talked about the basic position of Ruy Lopez’s Open Variation. We examined a not-so-trying sideline in 6. Re1. Today we tackle what I think is a very interesting, and also very theoretical, variation known as the Riga. It was favored by Latvian players and Tal himself played it in a famous game against Lasker. Here is the position in the main line of the Open Spanish after white’s [...]

I‘ve favored the Open Spanish since I started playing a few years ago and it’s never given me a boring struggle. I understand that people often find quality play in the Scotch Game or Italian Game, but in my opinion you just can’t beat the tense theoretical struggle after 3. Bb5. This exploration will feature several parts: 1. Introduction to the Open Lopez: Sidelines and Re1 2. The Riga Variation 3. Riga Variation sidelines 4. [...]

Karpov puts on an absolute clinic in this game, demonstrating the power of prophylaxis and deep positional maneuvering in the Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game). Unzicker opts for the Chigorin Defense, although with the awkward knight retreat 13. …Nd8?! black’s pieces become very difficult to coordinate. Karpov methodically fixes the queenside with 14. a4 and 16. b4! – depriving black of any counterplay on that side of the board and allowing white [...]

After losing game 1 of round 4 of the 2011 FIDE World Chess Cup against fellow Russian and old friend Vladimir Potkin, Alexander Grischuk had to win to stay alive in the tournament and have a chance to win the $120,000 first prize. Grischuk defeats Potkin and moves on… Grischuk opened with e4 and Potkin chose the solid French Defense. Grischuk continued with an aggressive line intended to open and complicate the game as quickly [...]

Ejoy another chess video! (Cut me some slack on the game, I started with a 15 minute delay trying to get the video working …) By Chess Coach Will Stewart (USCF 2256, FIDE 2234). Follow William on Facebook and Twitter Interface used: http://www.chessclub.com

Round 9 of the 5th Kings Chess Tournament was quite exciting with many interesting wins. Round 8 wasn’t too exciting as every game was drawn.  Round 9 was a different story,. Karjakin destroys Ivanchuk Karjakin destroyed Ivanchuk’s Pirc Defense to catch up to Carlsen at 6/9 points.  I appreciate Ivanchuk’s creativity, especially in the opening, but he simply played too slowly in this game.  He has been having a tough tournament, uncharacteristically displaying many inconsistencies [...]