I played the minority attack because Pachman wrote an entire chapter on it and I didn't know anything about chess unless it was in Vukovic's 'The Art of Attack' or Pachman's 'Modern Chess Strategy' LOL Thanks again for the Chessable stream today. I have been struggling with how to use it myself. - CEBchess
Excellent commentary on the minority attack. It come after I was coming to the same conclusion. The Botvinnik Nge2 and f3 plan scores better according to the databases. I don't think the minority is bad so much as not so good. It seems to boil down to a foot race that the Botvinnik plan disallows and forces black to counter the centre instead of attacking on the king side. My thinking has been informed by the renewal of interest in the Caro-Kann exchange with a reversed Carlsbad and also Alpha Zero's efforts on the black side of a QGD facing a minority attack. I wouldn't say the minority attack is so much wrong but over revered. Michael Stean's "Simple Chess" - an excellent book - has also helped increase a perhaps unnecessary reverence to this plan. I think it's a case of respecting the MA as a weapon, but also appreciating as suggested by the video, other strategies for white who has the first move, deserve attention first.
Like always a great video by Jesse Sometimes I think Jesse undervalues the idea of pawn structure and weaknesses. It would be interesting if he could give a review of Keith arkells book arkell endings. Keith chess philosophy is the stark opposite of Jesse's He plays mainly to gain a superior pawn structure. Offen employing the minority attack. Keith is especially interesting because he has reached new height in his fifties. Becoming European senior champ and first at the online British champs, ahead of Adams. Finally he in many ways specialize in what Jesse want to achieve with th his chess, ie. to outplay people in long endgames.
The QGDEV is popular, partly because of Roman D's influential videos. Perhaps Dojo should go into how Black can build a King-side attack. If you already have, I'd be grateful if you add the link above. In this video you correctly praise the ambition to attack and the general piece placement (similar to attacking a French). but the dreaded Stockfish, a powerful defender, is not impressed. Ideally, is there a fluent build-up that passes both the human test and the engine test...
Nothing wring with it, but because Black has so many lines to choose from, it might be more practical to play 4.cxd5 which cuts out a lot of options for Black.
First, great players played the Minority Attack, but perhaps we lessers can't handle the nuances. Besides, Black has found recipes on the QS in addition to attacking on the KS. We all go through the phase of hoping to find a resilient, coherent, and powerful set-up with built-in plans. (QGDEV, Reversed Dutch Stonewall, the Colle etc.) Second, about decisions with pawns taking proper attention from the placement of the pieces, isn't Jesse's beloved French defence an example where the B on c8 was not consulted in the decision?
Look at Jesse telling us frederico wants to play a role and then saying Barry cant play because pawns arent people. Justice for Barry! In all seriousness great insights as usual.
I played the minority attack because Pachman wrote an entire chapter on it and I didn't know anything about chess unless it was in Vukovic's 'The Art of Attack' or Pachman's 'Modern Chess Strategy' LOL Thanks again for the Chessable stream today. I have been struggling with how to use it myself. - CEBchess
Great video. Deep ideas clearly conveyed.
Do you mean the Pillsbury attack?
Kraai getting old!
I was about to write the same comment.
The title of this video triggered me. probably the most click-baity title to date. Fair play.
Excellent commentary on the minority attack. It come after I was coming to the same conclusion. The Botvinnik Nge2 and f3 plan scores better according to the databases. I don't think the minority is bad so much as not so good. It seems to boil down to a foot race that the Botvinnik plan disallows and forces black to counter the centre instead of attacking on the king side.
My thinking has been informed by the renewal of interest in the Caro-Kann exchange with a reversed Carlsbad and also Alpha Zero's efforts on the black side of a QGD facing a minority attack. I wouldn't say the minority attack is so much wrong but over revered. Michael Stean's "Simple Chess" - an excellent book - has also helped increase a perhaps unnecessary reverence to this plan. I think it's a case of respecting the MA as a weapon, but also appreciating as suggested by the video, other strategies for white who has the first move, deserve attention first.
Like always a great video by Jesse
Sometimes I think Jesse undervalues the idea of pawn structure and weaknesses.
It would be interesting if he could give a review of Keith arkells book arkell endings.
Keith chess philosophy is the stark opposite of Jesse's
He plays mainly to gain a superior pawn structure. Offen employing the minority attack.
Keith is especially interesting because he has reached new height in his fifties. Becoming European senior champ and first at the online British champs, ahead of Adams.
Finally he in many ways specialize in what Jesse want to achieve with th his chess, ie. to outplay people in long endgames.
Would you say that the attack simply did not have enough steam because of black's off piece placement with bf5 and the subsequent exchanges?
The QGDEV is popular, partly because of Roman D's influential videos. Perhaps Dojo should go into how Black can build a King-side attack. If you already have, I'd be grateful if you add the link above. In this video you correctly praise the ambition to attack and the general piece placement (similar to attacking a French). but the dreaded Stockfish, a powerful defender, is not impressed. Ideally, is there a fluent build-up that passes both the human test and the engine test...
Why don't we have any qgd videos where white waits for black to take on c4? Is there something wrong with this line, is it not played anymore?
Nothing wring with it, but because Black has so many lines to choose from, it might be more practical to play 4.cxd5 which cuts out a lot of options for Black.
First, great players played the Minority Attack, but perhaps we lessers can't handle the nuances. Besides, Black has found recipes on the QS in addition to attacking on the KS. We all go through the phase of hoping to find a resilient, coherent, and powerful set-up with built-in plans. (QGDEV, Reversed Dutch Stonewall, the Colle etc.)
Second, about decisions with pawns taking proper attention from the placement of the pieces, isn't Jesse's beloved French defence an example where the B on c8 was not consulted in the decision?
Look at Jesse telling us frederico wants to play a role and then saying Barry cant play because pawns arent people.
Justice for Barry!
In all seriousness great insights as usual.
Thanks for your terrific insight. I think players play the minority attack because it is simple.
also overhyped to the point where I used to think it was objectively losing for black
Alright take my click
Those who refuse to evolve perish. This is what an aging dinosaur holding onto his beliefs looks like.