First time watching one of your videos. I like that you break down the thought process for low level players like myself. There is also none of the over-emphatic comments. Looking forward to more. Thank you.
Hello, I took chess as a hobby a few months ago , self-teaching everything, reading books and watching informative videos. I really appreciate the simplicity in which you explain theories and examples . Subscribed!
Love your delivery. Slow enough for me to follow, and you seem caring & like you're not showing off at the same time, but really teaching, which I haven't found so much on other chess channels. I like your style! Thanks for the great info. I learned a lot.
My answer to the puzzle: Qc2, attacking the trapped Bc8. Qc3 and Qc4 both also attack that square, but I think Qc2 is best because it prevents the counterattack Qa4! which pins the knight to the rook. The hint about thinking prophylactically threw me! I spent quite a while looking for some defensive move before figuring out how to integrate that thinking into an attacking move. Thanks for the great videos! I'm about 1700 in Lichess rapid.
Me too, probably the hidden tactic could be Qc2 b6? and at Nxc8 (also Rxc8 works too because at Qxa7 you have Rc7+ and win the queen) Qb7 you have Ra7 with huge advantage. Good exercise to see the Qa4 counter attack that you should not alow.
What a great lesson. This is the first video of yours that i watch and i really liked it. You're pretty instructive yet simple to understand. I love watching chess as entertainment, which several content creators make, but most of the time i feel like it lacks instructiveness. Now with your chanel i feel like i found, entertaining and instructive. I'm looking forward for more content, thanks!
Thank you from a new subscriber- I am 70 and been playing for just a year - I love your channel- you speak slowly and give us time to see the actual moves - and ask what would we do. Excellent teacher - thank you again 😊
This is a good example of calculation for many reasons. Captures, threats, and checks as shown in the analysis. But the game shows great examples too, Bf8 understands the role the Bishop was playing in the position. What are the negatives of a move? And even the move Kg8, identify what's important? It allowed more active play. There's no clear one route path to decision making, the best we can hope to accomplish is a clear and consistent ideology. In chess and in life's choices. Excellent video Irina great instructions that will help people think through their games! ❤️
Consider creating your own chess channel. Excellent commentary should not be wasted in comment sections unless you really are electing to LOVE someone who never replies to comments/questions.
@@MyOneFiftiethOfADollar I think you're misunderstanding what I mean, love in this case means support. Irina is doing really great work all I've done is write a comment..
Biggest fan. Automatic subscribe. Kinda like the voice. 😊 My first time seeing Irina play was during the US Chess Championship 2015/2016, with Maurice, Yasser, and Jennifer as commentators. I kinda enjoyed the fun you had with Maurice since you are both from New York (if I remember correctly). 🏆 Oh okay, I just checked Wikipedia. If correct, what I hear is probably a faint Slavic accent (mixed with a New York accent). I like Slavic languages so much that I started learning Polish. ❤ Anyway, I don't know if you still have family in Europe Irina, but I hope they are safe. Have a nice Christmas. 🎄
Great videi here Irina, just discovered channel and subbed. This vid is soo useful to me to improve because it is highly interactive, and highly relevant. So not just a vid Telling me to do stuff or not do stuff, or telling me im guaranteed to win in 5moves lol. More please, and good luck in growing the channel. I am plugged in!
Hello Irena, I stumbled across one of your videos on utube and have been a fan every since then. I'm getting better from your teachings. Thank you so much!!!
amazing player, incredible teacher/coach, gorgeous and elegant woman and with a channel that focus so much in C(alculation!)hess?! whats no to love?!?! 😍
Your channel has quickly grown into one where I look forward to (and make sure to watch!) each video you release. 1600 USCF. Love the homework idea as well.
I just started trying to learn chess from TH-cam videos this week and found your channel. I'm not completely new as i already knew how the various pieces moved. I just have not really gotten involved with the strategy of the game. I have subscribed and hope to learn more by following your channel and others on here.
1600 Canadian rated about a decade ago when I was playing long OTB games. Your video speaks to my level. Enough where I understand a bunch/calculate correctly early on , and then there are a few "Ah-Ha!" moments later in the calculation. I can follow your thought process quite easily, and the way you present the logic and reasoning behind each variation doesn't leave me behind (I assume you must teach?). So there's my feedback - I feel comfortable at this level of discussion.
Homework (17:41): at a first look, I thought about trading white's knight + rook with black's bishop + rook, but not before moving white's queen to c4 for three hits on c8. Then for white's rook to take black's bishop on c8, and use the knight to take whatever takes back, and then white's queen can have the final say if black's queen takes last. After that, promote white's b-file pawn. It might work out but who knows what black will be thinking? Thank you for this content 😊
I think the answer is Qc2! Because after Qc4 black might have a resource Qa4 to save it. Your rook is guarding the knight too. So if Rxc8 black can play Qxa7.
@@tobiasjacobs2093 Thank you for your response. I understand what you're saying, and I agree with you: as a first move, white's queen to c2 instead of to c4 - this better threatens the most likely move of black's queen and ensures the plan. Many thanks Tobias 😊
Love this channel. Regarding the puzzle, I would think that Qc2 is the play to defend their queen from getting around the board for a mate with an out posted knight and to threaten the bishop on c8 with another piece?
Hi Irina, long time fan of your commentary and just happened to stumble across this channel (blessed be the youtube algorithm) Also, Maxime Lagarde was just on a tear during this tournament, 6.5 out of 8.
ok, feedback time-- i've seen a few of your vids here on youtube, and every single one i've seen so far has been outstanding! i have been a regular school teacher (south florida) and a chess coach as well for many decades (i'm 75), and you are an EXCELLENT presenter and teacher of this difficult game... i just subscribed so i won't miss anything from now on...i like ben feingold as well, and there are many other great chess presenters on youtube, but i seem to gravitate toward a handful of you marvelous player/teachers repeatedly, and you are certainly one of those... thank you so much, and i hope i can meet you one day and tell you the same thing in person :)
You definitely do an excellent job of taking difficult positions and breaking them down so anyone can understand them, I really appreciate it. As an intermediate, ~2000, I found the main position just a little too difficult. I got scared and didn't take the pawn, Ng6 was too much. It wasn't so much the ideas, I saw d3 concepts, I just couldn't make them work out, probably because I was trying to play Nxf4 d2 and not realizing I could be patient, down a piece with a king that looks like it did. Will work on that homework, that one's also not simple, the threats to c8 are obvious but it's not so easy to capitalize.
Scared? It's chess. Evaluate and analyse what's happening logically and what's there to be scared of? You mean you couldn't calculate accurately for 4 moves... not scared
@@BMWE-hm7uz No, I mean scared. There's more to chess than calculation, you have to understand the positions you're reaching. If you're NOT scared in that position, then I don't think you actually play chess.
@patrickdaly1088 if I'm not scared of a winning variation that I can calculate thoroughly then I don't play chess? How does that logic work out? A move either works or doesn't. If it works, there's nothing to be scared of unless of course you doubt your own competency and lack confidence and execution and if it doesn't work, then you don't play it and being scared makes no sense either.
@@BMWE-hm7uz "Scared" is a practical thing, which has nothing to do with objectivity. Both objective chess and practical chess are necessary to properly *play* chess, which is why I don't think you, personally, play that much chess. *If* you get it wrong, you're gonna lose. The question is obviously "Can I take that pawn?" and if I missed a concrete variation(I did miss a move), then there's a very good reason why my instincts were screaming "Watch out!" If you're latching onto the word "scared" in a bad way, then try to envision it as a practical guideline; Things could go very wrong very quickly, and that should be the guidepost for the entire set of calculations. I didn't see how to not get rekt, being "scared" means that's what I was looking for, and I'm not exactly awful at chess.
@patrickdaly1088 right practicality has part to do with it. But the first thing is can I just capture that pawn, and survive whatever is going to happen. There isn't really much to decipher from there. If it's a queen sac it's a bit different and needs to be concrete. Simply on the basis of king safety, and material, the activity white gains from it is negligible. But none of that is emotionally based and no move should be based on any emotion, other than bullet where a general pattern might work or i feel this might work. The board is giving you the information. Instantly, you're radar should be going off if undeveloping your Bishop to f8 instead of capturing a free central pawn is an option. Bf8 simply invites an initiative, and gives the psychological aspect of chess to your opponent on a plate. I stand by my point that scared isn't something that is relevant to the position. It doesn't do anything for the facts of what is happening. I mean even irina says that whites rook can't move from the 2nd rank, the queen is kind of hindered, the Knight is the only bit of activity white has in reality. The pin is annoying for black, sure, and it is a critical move but look at it from whites perspective, it looks good, but it isn't really clear how white takes advantage of that pin. The statics in the position still favour black, whites king is weak, and black has the centre. I'm a level 2 national fide coach and little over 2000 fide. I don't know why you would say I don't play chess.
Hi Irina, Thank you so much for this. One of the biggest areas in which I could use help is breaking down how to think and approach a position which is exactly what you did here. I like stopping and calculating as well, so having both options or resources available is great:)
Chess is such a beautiful game. Positions like this are so fun to calculate, but I always get in time trouble in games and I rarely get into complicated positions like this on my level ... people just trade and I suck at the endgame technique.
Qc2 is what I calculated for the assignment. The bishop looks trapped and Qc2 so as to avoid any trick with Qa4. Initially I was looking at Qb5 cause after the trade, d6 pawn will be hard to defend but Qc7 and I couldn't find a follow up. Thanks for the lesson, was happy when I found rook e2 in the first puzzle, almost missed the rook f2+ cause I was calculating a deflection tactics with rook b7 before realizing its bullshit, but didn't see knight e7 in the beginning
First time visitor to your channel. Your commentary on a game position is just wonderful. Loved it .. Thankyou! Subscribed :) Oh .. 980 rated .. Yes i'm rubbish ;)
We have to put the threat to the Bc8, but 1.Qc4 b5 and 1.Qc3 Qa4. Therefore 1.Qc2 must be the answers, winning a piece. 1.Qc2 b5 2.Nxc8 Qb7 3.Qc6 is a possible line
1300, playing for a year now, really working on improving my visualization. I lose track of where I am in my calculation & often reset. I also struggle with losing focus and then writing off possible lines because I fail to calculate correctly, if at all, after a threat. So of course I found the rook e2 move but then immediately gave up after all bark no bite d3! Lesson learned.
Just discovered you (thanks to the Backyard Professor!) Chess femmes do not get the attention they --and YOU-- deserve! Congrats on all your victories and for lending us a helping player's hand !!
Hello. Congrats for the channel, its growing. Since you asked for our preferances, I would say that although we all know the significance of calculation in chess, nevertheless its a topic that can be found everywhere. We can also use engines, maybe not the same way as an experienced player but still there are here for all of us. What we cant find everywhere is why an equal position, according to the engines, is not equal for humans, for example. Other interesting topics could be position evaluation, planning, schematical thinking, pattern recognition etc. So, just to give my modest and eccentric opinion, I am interested in everything but calculation, in all the other stuff that makes the difference between the good and the mediocre player. As for the tactics, a puzzle from time to time would be OK. Thanks for listening, keep up with the good stuff
Bro. Everything you suggested is base on calculation. What makes the difference is calculation. The better you get at it, the better your chess becomes in general.
I just now discovered your channel, as I am getting back into chess after many years away from the game. I participated in the Kasparov vs the World game. I was one of those who generally supported your suggestions. I was quite disappointed that the division over your suggestion led to in-fighting and eventual sabotage of the game. There was no need for that. I would have liked to have seen how it would have played out without the sabotage.
These frequent uploads are much appreciated. Thank you! 1700 lichess. I'm quite a poor player especially in the opening. I try to simplify to an endgame because that is where I play strongest.
I would play Qc2 piling on the trapped bishop and taking control of the open c-file as well as the critical a4 square. Black can't adequately defend their bishop, but if White isn't careful and instead plays Qc3 or Qc4, Black can respond with Qa4, pinning the knight to the rook and maintaining the material balance. In terms of an underlying principle, I would suggest that a cornered or wounded animal will tend to lash out at you. When imagining how one might react as Black, it is logical to expect that they will seek counterattacking ideas when there aren't any credible defensive options available to them.
I enjoyed listening to your thoughts and careful thinking processes, plus your calm and civil demeanor was greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to spending more time as your student and a long-time chess enthusiast.😇
Thank You Ms. Krush for the most informative chess teaching I've ever seen, accomplished biy asking the audience questions, providing analysis, and then asking the next question! Salute.
Thank you so much Irina Maam for this beautiful video... We really appreciate you alot... Can you kindly make a video for players rated around 1200-1500, on how they should study chess and improve, Thank you...!
*spoiler* After you analyze and explain the moves so well, at 8:30 when you say that "so the best move actually was bishop F8" I literally fell from my chair. No joking. That's how perfect you are. Thank you :)
Thank you so much for your help. I love your style of teaching, your personality and your smile. I m certainly ing to learn much more from you. Once again, thank U so kuch
My suggestion for your channel are: be more succint, make your videos no longer than 10 minutes at best and add an intro an thumbnail to them. But most importantly, keep that messy hair. I love it. My FIDE rating is 1388(standard) but I haven't played more than twice OTB tournaments, though. My rapid rating online goes from 1550 to 1800. Very instructive video, by the way. Thanks for the effort.
Homework; Black has some interesting resources for counterplay. Qc3 Nxe4 fxe4 f3 gxf3 Qxh3 is very unclear to me, Rf3 is coming, but if I'm playing white, I feel like I've already slipped completely. The c8 bishop and rook are getting free and white's king is a mess. I think the more critical resource is Qa4 though, if white plays Qc4 with the same idea as before but also stopping Nxe4 cause I'll just take with the queen now and stop all that trouble, can now be met by Qa4 and white can't win a piece with either capture on c8. If Nxc8 Qxa8 and the d5 pawn is scary after Nxd6 but I'm pretty sure I can stop it, and if Rxc8 Qxa7 and black didn't lose a piece. So I'm thinking it's Qc2, stopping both ideas. Black moving the B pawn to attack on a7 by discovery doesn't work, I can take with the knight on c8. I'm not afraid of Nh5, and I don't see any other moves that I'm afraid of after Qc2. Nxe4 Qxe4 is always fine I think, maybe I'm not winning the bishop on c8 (MAYBE, I think Nxe4 Qxe4 Qa4), but I'm still winning a piece. e2 knight's defended and I can hide the king on h2 safely if there's no knight. Queen might end up in a more defensive role, but I'm up a piece?
Really quite an instructive video - rather funnily, after some thought on the problem I said to myself "I'd probably (in a game) just play Re2 and try and push the pawn, but realistically d3 there kills the fun" without realizing that exd6 worked, purely because I forgot that e6 dxe2 exd6 Qxf5 existed - for some reason I just thought black had an extra move to play Qf1#. I remember doing one group lesson with you when I had been playing chess for about 5 months about 2 years ago, having never played a tournament game, and now I am rated 1800 USCF - I am very happy you are doing these videos for free now. For the "homework" - Qc2 looks right to stop Qa4 ideas, but I will say that my mind initially went to Qc3 because I saw that there might be some Nxf4 ideas looming in the future, once white's Rxc8 occurs. I evaluated that for a long time before realizing simply that Qa4 was the main thing to avoid, and that Qc2 as a result is the only move along the c-file that wins the whole knight.
The Black Bishop is an obvious weakness. Pile up on him and and you'll have the Last Man Standing. Three Queen moves do this. The only one that stops the Swindle of Qa4 is Qc2, so I'm going with the Opinion Consensus of Qa2.
Great video. Analysing and breaking down positions is very useful. Okay for the homework puzzle. 1st instinct is material is equal but blacks pieces are out of place. Then i noticed blacks bishop is under attack twice and it cant move. Whites queen can be the 3rd attacker and win the bishop. You got Qc4, Qc3, Qc2 to achieve that goal, but whites queen also needs to guard the a4 square actually. Because black can play Qa4 to pin your knight to the rook if white goes for Qc4 or Qc3. So Qc2 is the only play to win the bishop.
What an excellent video! I enjoyed it very much. When I first saw the homework position this were my thoughts: 1. Material is equal 2. White has more space than black 3. There are weak pawns for both sides in the b file 4. The white rook in a8 and the knight in a7 are by far the most active white pieces. Black doesn't really have a piece as active as those 5. At first, I looked for checks, there aren't. Then captures, and taking the bishop right away with either of the pieces leads to equal trade in material but you also lose your active pieces! 6. The other capture I could find was to sac the knight with 1. Nxf4 after 1... exf4 I saw 2. e5 threatening to trap the knight but after 2... dxe5 I saw no continuation. 7. So, what to do next? I noted that the bishop in c8 had two defenders as well as I had two attackers AND it can't run away. But black has no more defenders! So after moving the Queen to the c file I could win the piece. But I had to be careful because Black has 1... Qa4 after there will be some checks for him? So how can I prevent that AND put the Queen in the c file: 1. Qc2!
After reading some comments I saw that 1... Qa4 not only brings Black some checks, it also pins the knight. I honestly didn't see that but I'm glad I still found Qc2 :D
Irina makes an interesting point when she's asking "I wonder what he was calculating that made him not want to take the pawn.". I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with calculation. I think he probably looked at the exact same line but just came up with a different evaluation. I once asked Timur Gareev what separated "mere masters" from the most elite players and he didn't believe it was tactics. He said it's the ability to evaluate positions. It's easy with a computer next to you to say "oh it's fine I"m down a piece but I have compensation". But I"ve been wrong PLENTY of times when I thought I had sufficient compensation.
Great vid! I vary around 1300-1400. For the homework I'm liking Nb5 because I like attacking pawn chain bases, lol; also keeps black bishop locked in and clears some space for white rook.
I always look for your videos. We always learn something from you every time. My rating is around 1200-1300,. so I have so much to learn!! So thank you Irina for all your free lessons and for just being you. The chess world is a better place with you in it.
I enjoyed thinking through this position...my instinct was to take the pawn with the bishop because I just couldn't see why not. But I did miss some things in my calculations I hadn't considered.
It makes sense to take the pawn here as opposed to moving the bishop, because the pawn is invading into black’s territory and the longer it stays there it will be threat. Then other white pieces can coordinate an attack leveraging the advance passer. Because of that I would have chosen to calculate the capture as far as possible.
We appreciate all of your videos and the teachings, thanks for sharing your knowledge
First time watching one of your videos. I like that you break down the thought process for low level players like myself. There is also none of the over-emphatic comments. Looking forward to more. Thank you.
Hello, I took chess as a hobby a few months ago , self-teaching everything, reading books and watching informative videos. I really appreciate the simplicity in which you explain theories and examples . Subscribed!
Self teaching while learning through videos 🤔
Well, I dont have a teacher or a guide, so yes, I am teaching myself? Whats the problem? @@mindelos1706
wtf@@mindelos1706
Yes bro just grab a chessboard and do real self teaching in alpha zero spirit who learn alone. This is real self teaching
I hope your rating is at least 1800, otherwise dont comment.
Love your delivery. Slow enough for me to follow, and you seem caring & like you're not showing off at the same time, but really teaching, which I haven't found so much on other chess channels. I like your style! Thanks for the great info. I learned a lot.
My answer to the puzzle:
Qc2, attacking the trapped Bc8. Qc3 and Qc4 both also attack that square, but I think Qc2 is best because it prevents the counterattack Qa4! which pins the knight to the rook.
The hint about thinking prophylactically threw me! I spent quite a while looking for some defensive move before figuring out how to integrate that thinking into an attacking move.
Thanks for the great videos! I'm about 1700 in Lichess rapid.
That's what I came up with as well
@@jordanmcmorris5248 👍
Me too
Me too, probably the hidden tactic could be Qc2 b6? and at Nxc8 (also Rxc8 works too because at Qxa7 you have Rc7+ and win the queen) Qb7 you have Ra7 with huge advantage. Good exercise to see the Qa4 counter attack that you should not alow.
And thanks for your explanation as well, it helped me understand the whole figure.
What a great lesson. This is the first video of yours that i watch and i really liked it. You're pretty instructive yet simple to understand.
I love watching chess as entertainment, which several content creators make, but most of the time i feel like it lacks instructiveness.
Now with your chanel i feel like i found, entertaining and instructive. I'm looking forward for more content, thanks!
Thank you from a new subscriber- I am 70 and been playing for just a year - I love your channel- you speak slowly and give us time to see the actual moves - and ask what would we do. Excellent teacher - thank you again 😊
This is a good example of calculation for many reasons. Captures, threats, and checks as shown in the analysis. But the game shows great examples too, Bf8 understands the role the Bishop was playing in the position. What are the negatives of a move? And even the move Kg8, identify what's important? It allowed more active play. There's no clear one route path to decision making, the best we can hope to accomplish is a clear and consistent ideology. In chess and in life's choices. Excellent video Irina great instructions that will help people think through their games! ❤️
Consider creating your own chess channel. Excellent commentary should not be wasted in comment sections unless you really are electing to LOVE someone who never replies to comments/questions.
@@MyOneFiftiethOfADollar I think you're misunderstanding what I mean, love in this case means support. Irina is doing really great work all I've done is write a comment..
@@MyOneFiftiethOfADollar
Except for yourself, has someone else appointed you to moderate comments?
Both Botez and myself learned from this video. Nice lesson GM Irina! 👍
Biggest fan. Automatic subscribe. Kinda like the voice. 😊
My first time seeing Irina play was during the US Chess Championship 2015/2016, with Maurice, Yasser, and Jennifer as commentators. I kinda enjoyed the fun you had with Maurice since you are both from New York (if I remember correctly). 🏆
Oh okay, I just checked Wikipedia. If correct, what I hear is probably a faint Slavic accent (mixed with a New York accent). I like Slavic languages so much that I started learning Polish. ❤
Anyway, I don't know if you still have family in Europe Irina, but I hope they are safe. Have a nice Christmas. 🎄
Great videi here Irina, just discovered channel and subbed. This vid is soo useful to me to improve because it is highly interactive, and highly relevant. So not just a vid Telling me to do stuff or not do stuff, or telling me im guaranteed to win in 5moves lol. More please, and good luck in growing the channel. I am plugged in!
The only channel that has homework. You're tough Irina! 🙂 I'll keep tuning in.
Thanks for your time and effort, Irina. We really appreciate it.
Hello Irena, I stumbled across one of your videos on utube and have been a fan every since then. I'm getting better from your teachings. Thank you so much!!!
amazing player, incredible teacher/coach, gorgeous and elegant woman and with a channel that focus so much in C(alculation!)hess?! whats no to love?!?! 😍
I always like watching and listening to your videos .... good chess and great looking presenter ... win, win 😊
someone shared this video on Twitter( yes i refuse to call it X), and was shocked Irina has a channel, i subbed so quickly Irina is the best teacher
Your channel has quickly grown into one where I look forward to (and make sure to watch!) each video you release. 1600 USCF. Love the homework idea as well.
1900 Elo-rated player here. Glad to have found your channel as most youtubers seem to be exclusively geared towards lower rating ranges!
13:46 ? but then black just still sacrifices the rook by checking, thereby losing the queen. right?
I just started trying to learn chess from TH-cam videos this week and found your channel. I'm not completely new as i already knew how the various pieces moved. I just have not really gotten involved with the strategy of the game. I have subscribed and hope to learn more by following your channel and others on here.
1600 Canadian rated about a decade ago when I was playing long OTB games. Your video speaks to my level. Enough where I understand a bunch/calculate correctly early on , and then there are a few "Ah-Ha!" moments later in the calculation. I can follow your thought process quite easily, and the way you present the logic and reasoning behind each variation doesn't leave me behind (I assume you must teach?). So there's my feedback - I feel comfortable at this level of discussion.
Very instructive video. Thanks for sharing!
Great lessons, inteligent opinions.
Those are really nice chess pieces in the thumbnail image. What brand are they?
Homework (17:41): at a first look, I thought about trading white's knight + rook with black's bishop + rook, but not before moving white's queen to c4 for three hits on c8. Then for white's rook to take black's bishop on c8, and use the knight to take whatever takes back, and then white's queen can have the final say if black's queen takes last. After that, promote white's b-file pawn. It might work out but who knows what black will be thinking? Thank you for this content 😊
I think the answer is Qc2!
Because after Qc4 black might have a resource Qa4 to save it. Your rook is guarding the knight too. So if Rxc8 black can play Qxa7.
@@tobiasjacobs2093 Thank you for your response. I understand what you're saying, and I agree with you: as a first move, white's queen to c2 instead of to c4 - this better threatens the most likely move of black's queen and ensures the plan. Many thanks Tobias 😊
I'm very excited this channel exists, I have long respected you as a player.
Love this channel.
Regarding the puzzle, I would think that Qc2 is the play to defend their queen from getting around the board for a mate with an out posted knight and to threaten the bishop on c8 with another piece?
You're posting more often now, Irina. I hope you continue to do that :)
Hi Irina, long time fan of your commentary and just happened to stumble across this channel (blessed be the youtube algorithm)
Also, Maxime Lagarde was just on a tear during this tournament, 6.5 out of 8.
Thank you Irina for your dedication and commitment in spreading chess knowledge to the masses. Many thanks
ok, feedback time-- i've seen a few of your vids here on youtube, and every single one i've seen so far has been outstanding! i have been a regular school teacher (south florida) and a chess coach as well for many decades (i'm 75), and you are an EXCELLENT presenter and teacher of this difficult game... i just subscribed so i won't miss anything from now on...i like ben feingold as well, and there are many other great chess presenters on youtube, but i seem to gravitate toward a handful of you marvelous player/teachers repeatedly, and you are certainly one of those... thank you so much, and i hope i can meet you one day and tell you the same thing in person :)
Great thumbnail 👌. Excellent material. Thanks 🙏
A little above very beginner level chess for me. Great work Irena.
You definitely do an excellent job of taking difficult positions and breaking them down so anyone can understand them, I really appreciate it. As an intermediate, ~2000, I found the main position just a little too difficult. I got scared and didn't take the pawn, Ng6 was too much. It wasn't so much the ideas, I saw d3 concepts, I just couldn't make them work out, probably because I was trying to play Nxf4 d2 and not realizing I could be patient, down a piece with a king that looks like it did. Will work on that homework, that one's also not simple, the threats to c8 are obvious but it's not so easy to capitalize.
Scared? It's chess. Evaluate and analyse what's happening logically and what's there to be scared of?
You mean you couldn't calculate accurately for 4 moves... not scared
@@BMWE-hm7uz No, I mean scared. There's more to chess than calculation, you have to understand the positions you're reaching.
If you're NOT scared in that position, then I don't think you actually play chess.
@patrickdaly1088 if I'm not scared of a winning variation that I can calculate thoroughly then I don't play chess? How does that logic work out?
A move either works or doesn't. If it works, there's nothing to be scared of unless of course you doubt your own competency and lack confidence and execution and if it doesn't work, then you don't play it and being scared makes no sense either.
@@BMWE-hm7uz "Scared" is a practical thing, which has nothing to do with objectivity. Both objective chess and practical chess are necessary to properly *play* chess, which is why I don't think you, personally, play that much chess.
*If* you get it wrong, you're gonna lose. The question is obviously "Can I take that pawn?" and if I missed a concrete variation(I did miss a move), then there's a very good reason why my instincts were screaming "Watch out!" If you're latching onto the word "scared" in a bad way, then try to envision it as a practical guideline; Things could go very wrong very quickly, and that should be the guidepost for the entire set of calculations. I didn't see how to not get rekt, being "scared" means that's what I was looking for, and I'm not exactly awful at chess.
@patrickdaly1088 right practicality has part to do with it. But the first thing is can I just capture that pawn, and survive whatever is going to happen. There isn't really much to decipher from there. If it's a queen sac it's a bit different and needs to be concrete. Simply on the basis of king safety, and material, the activity white gains from it is negligible. But none of that is emotionally based and no move should be based on any emotion, other than bullet where a general pattern might work or i feel this might work. The board is giving you the information. Instantly, you're radar should be going off if undeveloping your Bishop to f8 instead of capturing a free central pawn is an option. Bf8 simply invites an initiative, and gives the psychological aspect of chess to your opponent on a plate.
I stand by my point that scared isn't something that is relevant to the position. It doesn't do anything for the facts of what is happening. I mean even irina says that whites rook can't move from the 2nd rank, the queen is kind of hindered, the Knight is the only bit of activity white has in reality. The pin is annoying for black, sure, and it is a critical move but look at it from whites perspective, it looks good, but it isn't really clear how white takes advantage of that pin. The statics in the position still favour black, whites king is weak, and black has the centre.
I'm a level 2 national fide coach and little over 2000 fide. I don't know why you would say I don't play chess.
Hi Irina, Thank you so much for this. One of the biggest areas in which I could use help is breaking down how to think and approach a position which is exactly what you did here. I like stopping and calculating as well, so having both options or resources available is great:)
Chess is such a beautiful game. Positions like this are so fun to calculate, but I always get in time trouble in games and I rarely get into complicated positions like this on my level ... people just trade and I suck at the endgame technique.
Great video! I'm 2100 Lichess, since you asked, and I like your videos because you cover more advanced topics on your channel.
Qc2 is what I calculated for the assignment. The bishop looks trapped and Qc2 so as to avoid any trick with Qa4. Initially I was looking at Qb5 cause after the trade, d6 pawn will be hard to defend but Qc7 and I couldn't find a follow up. Thanks for the lesson, was happy when I found rook e2 in the first puzzle, almost missed the rook f2+ cause I was calculating a deflection tactics with rook b7 before realizing its bullshit, but didn't see knight e7 in the beginning
I Just subscribe you.... Continue your work... Hope you will have a great journey on yt😊
First time visitor to your channel. Your commentary on a game position is just wonderful. Loved it .. Thankyou! Subscribed :) Oh .. 980 rated .. Yes i'm rubbish ;)
Thank you Irina. I appreciate the educational videos.
We have to put the threat to the Bc8, but 1.Qc4 b5 and 1.Qc3 Qa4. Therefore 1.Qc2 must be the answers, winning a piece. 1.Qc2 b5 2.Nxc8 Qb7 3.Qc6 is a possible line
Great puzzle.
Interesting, yet not too complicated for beginners. Thanks
Glad I just found your channel! I really liked your analysis from the US Chess Championship!
Great video!💪
1300, playing for a year now, really working on improving my visualization. I lose track of where I am in my calculation & often reset. I also struggle with losing focus and then writing off possible lines because I fail to calculate correctly, if at all, after a threat. So of course I found the rook e2 move but then immediately gave up after all bark no bite d3! Lesson learned.
Just discovered you (thanks to the Backyard Professor!) Chess femmes do not get the attention they --and YOU-- deserve! Congrats on all your victories and for lending us a helping player's hand !!
Hello. Congrats for the channel, its growing. Since you asked for our preferances, I would say that although we all know the significance of calculation in chess, nevertheless its a topic that can be found everywhere. We can also use engines, maybe not the same way as an experienced player but still there are here for all of us. What we cant find everywhere is why an equal position, according to the engines, is not equal for humans, for example. Other interesting topics could be position evaluation, planning, schematical thinking, pattern recognition etc. So, just to give my modest and eccentric opinion, I am interested in everything but calculation, in all the other stuff that makes the difference between the good and the mediocre player. As for the tactics, a puzzle from time to time would be OK. Thanks for listening, keep up with the good stuff
Bro. Everything you suggested is base on calculation. What makes the difference is calculation. The better you get at it, the better your chess becomes in general.
I just now discovered your channel, as I am getting back into chess after many years away from the game. I participated in the Kasparov vs the World game. I was one of those who generally supported your suggestions. I was quite disappointed that the division over your suggestion led to in-fighting and eventual sabotage of the game. There was no need for that. I would have liked to have seen how it would have played out without the sabotage.
Good Explication and Analisis Irina, Thanks.
Very Very instructive. Thanks a lot. Thought process of a GM is explained lucidly. Thanks
Very useful. Gratings from Bulgaria.
These frequent uploads are much appreciated. Thank you! 1700 lichess. I'm quite a poor player especially in the opening. I try to simplify to an endgame because that is where I play strongest.
I would play Qc2 piling on the trapped bishop and taking control of the open c-file as well as the critical a4 square. Black can't adequately defend their bishop, but if White isn't careful and instead plays Qc3 or Qc4, Black can respond with Qa4, pinning the knight to the rook and maintaining the material balance. In terms of an underlying principle, I would suggest that a cornered or wounded animal will tend to lash out at you. When imagining how one might react as Black, it is logical to expect that they will seek counterattacking ideas when there aren't any credible defensive options available to them.
Thanks for your content. Calculation is a concentration effort that takes practice.
I enjoyed listening to your thoughts and careful thinking processes, plus your calm and civil demeanor was greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to spending more time as your student and a long-time chess enthusiast.😇
Calculation is the only skill we need to master but not the Kotov’s way!
Thank You Ms. Krush for the most informative chess teaching I've ever seen, accomplished biy asking the audience questions, providing analysis, and then asking the next question! Salute.
I am 1200 and this is the exact types of videos I need to improve! I immediately subbed what an amazing video and understandable explanation
Thank you. I really appreciate your videos
Thank you so much Irina Maam for this beautiful video... We really appreciate you alot... Can you kindly make a video for players rated around 1200-1500, on how they should study chess and improve, Thank you...!
*spoiler* After you analyze and explain the moves so well, at 8:30 when you say that "so the best move actually was bishop F8" I literally fell from my chair. No joking. That's how perfect you are. Thank you :)
Thank you so much for your help. I love your style of teaching, your personality and your smile. I m certainly ing to learn much more from you. Once again, thank U so kuch
Really good video! Would be great if you could put the FEN for your homework question in the comment!
My suggestion for your channel are: be more succint, make your videos no longer than 10 minutes at best and add an intro an thumbnail to them. But most importantly, keep that messy hair. I love it. My FIDE rating is 1388(standard) but I haven't played more than twice OTB tournaments, though. My rapid rating online goes from 1550 to 1800. Very instructive video, by the way. Thanks for the effort.
Homework;
Black has some interesting resources for counterplay. Qc3 Nxe4 fxe4 f3 gxf3 Qxh3 is very unclear to me, Rf3 is coming, but if I'm playing white, I feel like I've already slipped completely. The c8 bishop and rook are getting free and white's king is a mess.
I think the more critical resource is Qa4 though, if white plays Qc4 with the same idea as before but also stopping Nxe4 cause I'll just take with the queen now and stop all that trouble, can now be met by Qa4 and white can't win a piece with either capture on c8. If Nxc8 Qxa8 and the d5 pawn is scary after Nxd6 but I'm pretty sure I can stop it, and if Rxc8 Qxa7 and black didn't lose a piece.
So I'm thinking it's Qc2, stopping both ideas. Black moving the B pawn to attack on a7 by discovery doesn't work, I can take with the knight on c8. I'm not afraid of Nh5, and I don't see any other moves that I'm afraid of after Qc2. Nxe4 Qxe4 is always fine I think, maybe I'm not winning the bishop on c8 (MAYBE, I think Nxe4 Qxe4 Qa4), but I'm still winning a piece. e2 knight's defended and I can hide the king on h2 safely if there's no knight. Queen might end up in a more defensive role, but I'm up a piece?
Chess and mathematics. Subbed! Thanks for sharing. 🙏🏻
Thanks youtube for recommending this gem of a chess channel
I am a very old beginner (USCF
Really quite an instructive video - rather funnily, after some thought on the problem I said to myself "I'd probably (in a game) just play Re2 and try and push the pawn, but realistically d3 there kills the fun" without realizing that exd6 worked, purely because I forgot that e6 dxe2 exd6 Qxf5 existed - for some reason I just thought black had an extra move to play Qf1#. I remember doing one group lesson with you when I had been playing chess for about 5 months about 2 years ago, having never played a tournament game, and now I am rated 1800 USCF - I am very happy you are doing these videos for free now.
For the "homework" - Qc2 looks right to stop Qa4 ideas, but I will say that my mind initially went to Qc3 because I saw that there might be some Nxf4 ideas looming in the future, once white's Rxc8 occurs. I evaluated that for a long time before realizing simply that Qa4 was the main thing to avoid, and that Qc2 as a result is the only move along the c-file that wins the whole knight.
Thanks for your time! Videos are great!
qc2 in the final example as that rules out qa4... otherwise if qc3 then qa4 happens which is awkward.
The Black Bishop is an obvious weakness. Pile up on him and and you'll have the Last Man Standing. Three Queen moves do this. The only one that stops the Swindle of Qa4 is Qc2, so I'm going with the Opinion Consensus of Qa2.
The thumbnail game is getting better 👍
Very nice video.
I played with you and "the world" against Kasparov way back when ...you did great handling that and it was a lot of fun!
This is the type of chess videos that youtube is missing. Keep sharing those
Great stuff, great delivery! A 1554 fide elo fan 😉
Great video. Analysing and breaking down positions is very useful. Okay for the homework puzzle. 1st instinct is material is equal but blacks pieces are out of place. Then i noticed blacks bishop is under attack twice and it cant move. Whites queen can be the 3rd attacker and win the bishop. You got Qc4, Qc3, Qc2 to achieve that goal, but whites queen also needs to guard the a4 square actually. Because black can play Qa4 to pin your knight to the rook if white goes for Qc4 or Qc3. So Qc2 is the only play to win the bishop.
I did like to say thank you cuz ur videos are insightful. I think QC4 is just the right move for white to win the game.
What an excellent video! I enjoyed it very much. When I first saw the homework position this were my thoughts:
1. Material is equal
2. White has more space than black
3. There are weak pawns for both sides in the b file
4. The white rook in a8 and the knight in a7 are by far the most active white pieces. Black doesn't really have a piece as active as those
5. At first, I looked for checks, there aren't. Then captures, and taking the bishop right away with either of the pieces leads to equal trade in material but you also lose your active pieces!
6. The other capture I could find was to sac the knight with 1. Nxf4 after 1... exf4 I saw 2. e5 threatening to trap the knight but after 2... dxe5 I saw no continuation.
7. So, what to do next? I noted that the bishop in c8 had two defenders as well as I had two attackers AND it can't run away. But black has no more defenders! So after moving the Queen to the c file I could win the piece. But I had to be careful because Black has 1... Qa4 after there will be some checks for him? So how can I prevent that AND put the Queen in the c file: 1. Qc2!
After reading some comments I saw that 1... Qa4 not only brings Black some checks, it also pins the knight. I honestly didn't see that but I'm glad I still found Qc2 :D
Great video, really got the brain working! 1200. Diolch from Wales 🏴😁
Irina makes an interesting point when she's asking "I wonder what he was calculating that made him not want to take the pawn.". I don't think it has ANYTHING to do with calculation. I think he probably looked at the exact same line but just came up with a different evaluation. I once asked Timur Gareev what separated "mere masters" from the most elite players and he didn't believe it was tactics. He said it's the ability to evaluate positions. It's easy with a computer next to you to say "oh it's fine I"m down a piece but I have compensation". But I"ve been wrong PLENTY of times when I thought I had sufficient compensation.
Thanks again for the great content.
I counted 8 separate details. Wow! ❤
Irina is like the wine that get better through the years.
Her beauty is improving, it s getting better and better
Great vid! I vary around 1300-1400. For the homework I'm liking Nb5 because I like attacking pawn chain bases, lol; also keeps black bishop locked in and clears some space for white rook.
Love your videos, thank you so much; however, it would be perfect if you put the notation for the homework position.
Irina You are the best.!
thanks for the video, excellent
I always look for your videos. We always learn something from you every time. My rating is around 1200-1300,. so I have so much to learn!! So thank you Irina for all your free lessons and for just being you. The chess world is a better place with you in it.
Thank you for this broadcast.....boom!!!
great lesson
Hi, First time visitor (am around 1000 elo). Enjoyed the position in this video...promoting pawns can be deadly with a rook behind them!
better than great 950 3 min blitz player mostly I have a patience problem in a game but an watch and learn hours of chess clips like all of yours!
I enjoyed thinking through this position...my instinct was to take the pawn with the bishop because I just couldn't see why not. But I did miss some things in my calculations I hadn't considered.
Very instructive, thanks a lot!
It makes sense to take the pawn here as opposed to moving the bishop, because the pawn is invading into black’s territory and the longer it stays there it will be threat. Then other white pieces can coordinate an attack leveraging the advance passer.
Because of that I would have chosen to calculate the capture as far as possible.
I found this video very instructive and interesting. I'm 2150 USCF. I think Qc2 as well in the hw.
What is your chess id tell me
Amazing video!