Amateurs mind #19 - How to play against an isolated pawn - middle and end game strategies

An extremely thorough analysis discussing strategies and plans in a standard Isolated pawn setup, middle end game plans and strategies, and common club level mistakes.

[@R4ndomWords]

Once you explain chess like that, it's amazingly easy to understand. Once you know what plan you play for in a position most moves come naturally. Great work as always!

[@g.h.g.1106]

1850 ELO here; I could absolutely see myself making most of the shown mistakes. Thanks for opening my eyes, hopefully I will remember

[@malacor17]

You keep posting videos right when I should be going to sleep, not going to miss an Amateur’s Mind!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Haha, thanks man, I hope you wont regret watching it. I think it is good material.

[@ishanr8697]

Thank you- I will never tire of this series!

[@slowslav6653]

favotite series

[@tond3244]

One of the most instructive videos I've seen. These are all mistakes that I make at my level, and I didn't even realize I was making them!

[@markkusiipola]

Very good advices! Playing against an IQP: Trade pieces and create a second weakness.

[@screamingliner]

Love it. You prove you can learn from players of all levels.

[@cobeferraro3464]

Good advice, as usual on this channel.

[@gregp.4358]

Thank you for the lesson! The amateur played his f-rook to e8 because he unnecessarily feared the protection of his pawn on f7. 😎 I would have played the same mistake. But I hope not in the future anymore.

[@buddythompson5284]

Ah, should have read the previous comments before posting mine. Sometimes we amateurs can understand the minds of our brethren even more than one who coaches amateurs :).

[@natureechoesmusic]

Excellent video! Thank you so much. You should be charging for stuff like this really.

[@connormonday]

9:37 I suspect he was scared of the battery going to f7 and thought he needed the Rook defending it.

[@ilanaizelman3993]

Never stop! You are one of the best yters by farrrr.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks !

[@plannedmurder]

This was so helpful! I didn’t even know about the IQP concept

[@Static27o]

Yeah I took a lot away from the Isolated pawns ideas. but understanding when moving an F file pawn is right. For instance in this game good for black but bad for white.

[@nilidayn]

Excellent video, I really learn a lot from the Amateurs mind videos! It would be fantastic to have a chess coach like you :D

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@buddythompson5284]

I know why Black played ...Rae8 instead of ...Rfe8, and it makes perfect sense (to him). He sees White's queen and rook taking direct aim at f7 and so he's bound and determined to make sure it's fully protected no matter what. Yes, I know f7 is protected by Black's queen, bishop, and king, and it will likely soon advance to f6 anyway, but nonetheless, White's firepower down the f-file was sufficient to scare Black into keeping his rook firmly on f8 for the time being.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Yes, this is the kind of thinking that makes no sense. We know its bad, we know f7 is not in danger but we still do it. its 100% irrational. Sadly chess is unforgiving in this way (and many other ways too!)

[@Static27o]

we here again.

[@Static27o]

The static pawns 😏

[@ChessCoachAndras]

YOu had to have some kind of legacy in chess, there you go!:)

[@williamdolson-andrew2326]

I can provide some insight as to why your student quite possibly played Rae8 instead of the rook on f8. I believe he/she noticed the x-ray pressure on f7 and felt more comfortable keeping his rook on f8 there to protect f7, I believe.

[@Static27o]

Going to start saying to the beginner class the same thing. I always tell them I'm happy if they play an average move with a plan then the best move with no plan. Now I'll just start saying no moves allowed until you have a plan xD.

[@arimorrison7816]

why must Re8 be played before Nd7? Can't black go straight to Nd7 followed by Ne5?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Yes, that's doable and seems just as good!

[@ibouvousaime]

Which chess books do you think are a must-read for everyone?

[@TuringMachine001]

I'm not sure I follow the logic. We shouldn't pile up on the isolated pawn in the middlegame because the opponent will simply defend it with their pieces. But wouldn't the same problem occur once we simplified into an endgame? Everybody talks about how isolated pawns are bad because, of course, they can't be defended by another pawn, but they can't be attacked by a pawn either, since the isolated pawn would just trade itself. I don't see how one would concretely exploit the supposed weakness.

[@marijan654]

by provoking a second weakness thus ensuring a favorable endgame (principle of 2 weaknesses)