Key Concepts of Chess - Pawn Structures Vol.1 and 2
In this two-part course the emphasis will be on typical pawn-structures.
In the previous episode we discussed structures that are typical for Ruy Lopez positions. The tension that arises when a white pawn is on d4 and Black has pawns on c5 and e5 (as in the Chigorin variation) usually gives White three options: 1) White closes the position by moving his pawn d5 2) White releases the tension by exchanging on e5 or c5 3) White maintains the tension and continues manoeuvring.
Since Black always has to take into account these types of positions, Black often tries to clarify the situation in the center to know where he stands.
The Estonian Grandmaster Paul Keres liked to play this position with Black and was a great expert of this structure, and when he prepared for the Candidates Tournament in Curacao 1962 he devised a method to increase the pressure on d4 as much as possible. He played 11...Nd7 instead of the usual 11...Qc7, with the idea to follow up with ...Bf6 and possibly ...Qb6.
Keres had some success with his new system but in his game against Bobby Fischer - who liked to play the main lines of the Ruy Lopez with White - things went badly wrong for Keres.
In the diagram position below, it is White to move. How did Fischer force Black to give up material or to allow a winning attack?
Master Class Vol.1: Bobby Fischer
No other World Champion was more infamous both inside and outside the chess world than Bobby Fischer. On this DVD, a team of experts shows you the winning techniques and strategies employed by the 11th World Champion.
Grandmaster Dorian Rogozenco delves into Fischer’s openings, and retraces the development of his repertoire. What variations did Fischer play, and what sources did he use to arm himself against the best Soviet players? Mihail Marin explains Fischer’s particular style and his special strategic talent in annotated games against Spassky, Taimanov and other greats. Karsten Müller is not just a leading international endgame expert, but also a true Fischer connoisseur.
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
