Recommended Response

More Priyomes
" Mastering priyomes is a key to success." – A. Suetin 

Priyome is a Russian term used to represent standard maneuvers in positions with certain structure and/or other defining characteristics. In game annotations, moves with exclamation points [!] suggest priyomes.

"Each would-be master should collect his own 'personal pattern bank' of priyomes. Study them and when the same patterns arise during a game apply the priyomes." – A. Suetin

"It is the most important book knowledge about middlegame techniques. They can be described in words, not moves." – A. Soltis

The Advanced Fianchetto

When Black has played ...a6 and …b5, he should always be watchful for the pawn thrust a2-a4. This move aims to force …bxa4, when the second player will be left with some serious queenside weaknesses. In addition, keep in mind that the a1-rook may become active in the process.

White's turn

Looking at the above diagram, we can observe Black played the queenside expansion 8...b5 too early (8...Bg7 was better). Now, after 9.a4! {bringing more firepower on b5 – creating additional weaknesses} he couldn't continue with ...b4, as the b-pawn would become too weak, 9...b4 10.Nd5 Nd5 11.Nc6 Qc7 12.ed5+ leaving him with a less desirable position.

Therefore, he was forced to trade on a4 9...ba4, Breaking up the pawn formation on the queenside and giving White a target to attack in Black's a-pawn. After 10.Na4, White had a slight but secure advantage as seen in the game Kasparov-Georgiev, Sarajevo 2000. 

A similar queenside structure appeared in the encounter between Ivanchuk-Vachier-Lagrave Wijk aan Zee, 2015.

White's turn

In the game, White played 15.a4! b4 Black should always aim to meet a4 with …b4, otherwise he is too weak on the queenside. 16.Nd5 e6 17.Ne3 Bb7 18.Qd2 Qc7 19.0-0-0 with a very comfortable position. Ivanchuk went on to win the game by move thirty, and his 15th move won the most important theoretical novelty for Chess Informant.

Rook's Pawn Thrust

A pawn move like h2-h4 in response to ...g6 or ...Ng6 is one significant pattern that an aspiring chess student should be acquainted with.

Caro-Kann Defense

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nf6 5.Ng3 (D)

White doesn't normally retreat the centralized knight, but trades on f6 – 5.Nf6 ef6 6.Bc4 Bd6 7.Qe2+ gives White a slight edge based on his better structure.

Black's turn

5...h5 {Initiating the corner pawn attack, in response to white's knight flight to g3.} 6.Bg5 The move 6.h4 is recommended, blocking the h-pawn's further advance. 6...h4 7.Bxf6 White should have withdrawn his knight to e2. 7...hg3! 8.Be5 (D) This was probably the position that White aimed for after 6.Bg5.

Black's turn

But, a powerful sudden move struck the board...

8...Rh2! 9.Rh2 Qa5+ 10.c3 On White's 10.Qd2, Black can win by a different blow from his valiant pawn with 10...gf2+!, etc. 10...Qe5+!! A memorable and unexpected queen manuever, enabling the courageous foot soldier to reach its promised land. After 11.de5 gh2 White had to resign the game because of the dual threat to promote into a new Queen.

Chess Task

Let's have a look at our next position below (D)

After White's 5.a4

White on his last move, advanced his a-pawn two squares forward. He is ready to move it up with a4-a5-a6(or axb6) etc., increasing the a-rook's activity. Similarly, the first player initiates a straightforward plan of chasing the light-squared bishop and/or ruining black's queenside pawns as well.

Q1. What is the best way for Black to meet this idea?

Essential Chess Quotes

All-time Favorites
" Chess is the gymnasium of the mind." – Blaise Pascal 

“ Play the opening like a book, the middle game like a magician, and the endgame like a machine. ”

– Rudolf Spielmann 

“ The most powerful weapon in chess is to have the next move. ”

– David Bronstein 

“ Weak points or holes in the enemy position must be occupied by pieces, not pawns. ” 

– Siegbert Tarrasch

“ If you don’t know what to do, find your worst piece and look for a better square. ” 

– Gerald Schwarz

“ Whosoever sees no other aim in the game than that of giving checkmate to one’s opponent, will never become a good chessplayer. ” 

– Max Euwe

“ All things being equal, the player will prevail who first succeeds in uniting the efforts of both rooks in an important direction. ”

– Eugene Znosko-Borovsky

“ I’d rather have a pawn than a finger.  ”

– Reuben Fine

“ The defensive power of a pinned piece is only imaginary. ”

– Aaron Nimzovich

“ Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s ego. ”

– Bobby Fischer

“ Excellence at chess is one mark of a scheming mind. ”

– Sherlock Holmes 

Inspirational chess quotes and more... @ Chess training without a board

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Top Chess Secrets, Revealed!

The Grandmaster's Secrets (2nd Edition)

This latest edition of the course "The Grandmaster's Secrets" will be a chessplayer's guide on how to think and calculate during the different stages of a chess game. 

On top of that, you'll be steered on what and how exactly you should study chess and apply the knowledge in practice. Gear up on how to prepare for tournaments and individual game.

In a nutshell, you'll learn powerful practical recommendations, the top secrets of professional chess players and more...

Start Preview -> The Grandmaster's Techniques

Take This Course: The Grandmaster's Secrets(2nd)

What will you get from this chess course?

1. The correct thinking method, which will allow you to find the best moves in           any position during practical games. 
2. How to calculate variations quickly and precisely.
3. Stop making blunders.
4. Avoid the typical mistakes in chess development.
5. Everything you need to achieve fast progress and success in chess.
    **Over 20 lectures with practical tasks and 2 hours of content!

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Methods and Motifs

Strategic Priyomes
" Chess is the only game greater than its players." – Tim Rice 

Chess is one classic example of "too much information", but all chess knowledge is not equal. There are critical methods and motifs you need to master in order to play well. The ability to distinguish information you could know, from what you should know and from what you must know is the key!

Indeed, it is a complex game where the strategic battle is carried out through the use of certain tools: strategic and technical. The latter is related to basic tactical tools (like pin, skewer, fork and more) which facilitate the implementation of a plan. While, the former can take many forms from the simple maneuver, more complex positional sacrifice, to a positional response based on a particular arrangement of forces.

The Russians have a term for the strategic tools which depend on pawn structure, coined as "priyome" (preeYOHM). 

White to play

In the above diagram, White’s “best move” is obvious. The position calls for 1.Rd1! (priyome - seizing a file with a rook) followed by 2.Rd7 giving himself a powerful rook on the seventh and a big advantage.

The Fianchetto Setup
Looking at the diagram below, White on his move may want to trade off a kingside defender, Black's dark-squared bishop. 

White to play

Hence, the strategic priyome consists of three or four steps; a bishop move such as Be3 (or Bg5) followed by Qd2 and Bh6xg7.

Let's switch perspective in the next position and imagine you play Black.

Black to play

How could he counter White's simple plan of Qd2 and Bh6xg7 trading an important king's defender?

Answer:

Black can counter White's plan using two strategic methods:

o He may play 1...h6 and answer 2.Qd2 with 2...Kh7 securing his castle.

o He can also anticipate the White's maneuver by 1...Bd7 and after 2.Qd2 will continue 2...Re8 and meet 3.Bh6 with 3...Bh8 avoiding the Bishop exchange. 

The Isolani Structure

This structure is common and characterized by White (or Black) having an isolated pawn on the d-file. The two sides have entirely different goals and plans to achieve.

Isolani structure in the center.

o The side with the isolani has a space advantage and is often better if the pawn can advance and free the pieces behind. Advancing the d-pawn, allows all the pieces to join in and start a direct attack on the king.

o Playing against the isolani, the defender side has a natural plan of exerting pressure on the weak isolated pawn to force opponent's pieces to its defense. Similarly, the defending side must be alert to opponent's tactical possibilities and guard against an advance of the isolated pawn. 

Test Your Skill

How should White continue?

Answer:

1.d5! White plays this standard response while Black can't take with his f6-knight. 1...ed5 Favorably opening a file for White's e1-rook. 2.Bg5 g6? {After 2...Ne4 (best defense) 3.Nxe4 de4 4.Qxe4 g6 5.Rad1 Qc7 6.Qe3 White keeps the strong pressure.} 3.Rxe7 Nxe7 {3...Qxe7 allows the strong 4.Nxd5!} 4.Bxf6 Qd6 5.Be5 Qe6 6.Nb5 Ba6 7.Qd2! (D) with multiple threats of Qh6 and Nc7. 

Black's turn

7...Bxb5 8.Qh6 f6 9.Ng5 wins the Queen and the game.  1-0 

Chess Jewels: Part Three

Simple and Practical

" Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day." – Jim Rohn 

Here's another set of chess challenges for warm-up before an actual game. Each position is to be solved beginning with white's move, then with black's move.

Play to Win for White & Black

Chess Jewels: Part One

Chess Jewels: Part Two

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(Solutions - Mar/2016)

Chess Jewels: Part Three

White to play – 1.Qg8+! Kg8 2.Rc8+ Bf8 3.Bc4+, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Qg4+! 2.Bg4 hg4+ 3.Kh4 g5+ 4.Kh5 Rh2#

White to play – 1.Qh7+! Rh7 2.Rg8#

Black to play  – 1…Qh3+! 2.Rh3 Rg1+ 3.Kh2 R8g2# 

White to play – 1.Qf8+! Qf8 2.Rh7#

Black to play  – 1…Qa3+! 2.Ka3 Ra8#

White to play – 1.Rg8+! Kg8 2.Qf6, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Ba3+! 2.Ka3 Qc3, etc.

White to play – 1.Qf8+! Kf8 2.Re8#

Black to play  – 1…Qc4+! 2.Bc4 Rh2, etc.

White to play – 1.Rh7+! Nh7 2.Qg7#

Black to play  – 1…Ne4+! 2.fe4 Bh4, etc.

Online Chess Learning

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The course contains eight video lessons and three text lessons with interesting examples, tips, and recommendations on various chess topics.
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The Secrets of Strong Chess Players

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During the course, you will learn more about the following key points:

o  To take is a mistake.

o  Offense is the best defense. 

o  Focus on attacking moves. 

o  Keep an eye on attacking responses.

Chess Jewels: Part Two

It's Your Move

" The foundation of chess is the process of 'vision' – the ability to spot where everything under attack, yours and your opponent's, is located."  – G. Levenfish 

Solve the following special positions beginning with white to play and black to play. Spot the good moves, evaluate them quickly and accurately. Then choose the best one, if you are to play on the board. 

Find the winning move for White & Black

Chess Jewels: Part One

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(Solutions - 30/Jan/2016)

Chess Jewels: Part Two

White to play – 1.Qg7+! Ng7 2.fg7+ Kg8 3.Nf6+, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Nd4+! 2.cd4 (2.Qd4 cd4) 2...Qg4, etc.

White to play – 1.Qe6+! Kh8 2.Qe8+ Re8 3.Re8#

Black to play  – 1…Qa2+! 2.Ka2 Ra6+# 

White to play – 1.Qa4+! Qa4 2.Rg8#

Black to play  – 1…Rg1+! 2.Kg1 Qe1#

White to play – 1.Qh5+! Kg8 (1...gh5 2.Rh6#) 2.Rag6+ fg6 3.Qg6+ Kf8 4.Qf6+, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Qc1+! 2.Bc1 Re1#

White to play – 1.Qb7+! Kb7 2.Nc5++ Kc7 3.Rd7, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Qh2+! 2.Kf1 Qh1+ 3.Bh1 Rh1#

White to play – 1.Ng6+! hg6 2.Rh1, etc.

Black to play  – 1…Nc3+! 2.bc3 Rb8, etc.