Mastering Pattern Recognition in the Opening
Pattern recognition is an important tool in modern chess, as it helps you to understand better the characteristics of a position. Particularly when you have been confronted with a surprise opening system played by your opponent, it helps when you can just
The European Hybrid Qualifier for the World Cup is taking place this week. As her trainer, I was very pleased to see that my student Eline Roebers (World Champion Girls U14 last year) had been given a wildcard by the Dutch Federation to get more experience playing against a grandmaster.
In round 1 of the knock-out competition she played against the the experienced Greek GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis. Eline lost the first game of the two-game match with Black but in the second game she had White and introduced a novelty on move 10 in the Scotch Opening.
To be honest, it wasn't a great idea objectively speaking, but one which set massive problems for her opponent. Eline then didn't show any fear and managed to win in great style.
The two blitz-games in the tie-break also ended 1-1 but then Eline won the Armageddon game convincingly and advanced to the second round.
In this week's Fast & Furious show special attention will be paid to White's attacking ideas in the Scotch with 4...Bc5 5.Nb3.
Here's a warm-up: Black has just taken with his rook the bishop on d3. What is his idea and how should White react?
You can move the pieces on the live diagram!
The Scotch Gambit is a brazen yet utterly sound system for White who immediately opens up the position, by sacrificing a central pawn, in an attempt to assassinate the enemy king as quickly as possible.
Special attention will be paid to Intermediate Moves, Quiet Moves, Sacrifices on Empty Squares, Mating Patterns, Ignoring Opponents Threat, Calculation in Defence and Method of Comparison. Plus 50 interactive examples to test your knowledge.
Many more Fast and Furious episodes are available in ChessBase Videos
