Have you ever wondered why almost all world champions had the answer 1...d5 in their repertoire when White played 1.d4? That is not easy to explain but the answer, in a nutshell, comes down to the fact that studying 'classical positions' is a must to become a strong chess player.
We are thinking here e.g. of positions with an isolated queen pawn (which we analysed in the last edition) and positions with "hanging pawns". It is incredibly instructive to know how best to approach a position when you have an isolated pawn or when you have to play against it.
The same obviously applies to positions with "hanging pawns" because correctly assessing middle games, in which these typical pawn structures occur, determines in the long run how strong a player becomes. If he can successfully find his way through the labyrinth of these complicated structures and is able to understand the pros and cons of these middle games, he will benefit in totally different openings.
These video lessons provide a brief introduction to the various lines that can arise in the Queen's Gambit Declined, without going into great detail. Club players will first have to make sure to know that the move 2...Nf6 after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 is an ugly mistake, something Nimzowitsch already pointed out back in the 1930s. Do you see how White can gain the advantage after Black's knight move?
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
