21 Positional Chess Concepts

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Stuck at 1000 elo? Not anymore: chessvibescourses.thinkific.com/

[@ogdenjc]

This is awesome. Maybe I can finally beat my ***hole friend who's won the past 50 games in a row that we've played.

[@TK5280.]

@@ogdenjc I feel that lol

[@flippingbalisong3452]

nah im stuck at like 300 ): i guess im an ape....

[@hello_i_exist_uwu]

What’s elo

[@samuraiunites2845]

I'm stuck at 1200

[@urmama54]

i appreciate your straightforward non-egoic teaching style from a 1000 rated player who don't wanna wade through the bs

[@Bjorlin1]

Agreed, this is what everyone should do. Straight to the point.

[@unliving_ball_of_gas]

This channel made me go from 300 to 700 real quick in just 3?/4 months. It's easy to understand and straight to the point. Thumbs up!

[@illwill6205]

@@unliving_ball_of_gas hey, do you started with learning openings or you just randomly develop at first then when we get little better on our own we could learn openings maybe?!

[@TheGreatDanish]

@@illwill6205 start with whats comfortable with you! I got interested in chess because I read a book of openings when I was like in 4th grade, and had to back-fill a lot of basic concepts as I learned. So if you wanna start by learning openings because that's whats cool to you? Go for it. But remember that openings are just the start. There's a whole entire game afterwords and videos like this help. :)

[@michaelmassaro4375]

Egotistical very true

[@prim16]

This really is one of the best chess channels out there for learning. It's like a hidden gem, like for this quality content you would expect half a million subs at least.

[@KironKabir]

i agree, he’s doing what other chess tubers should have done a long time ago. good job nelson

[@Ikyou34]

Yes

[@Mister.Psychology]

There are much better and older channels with only 200K subs. Daniel Naroditsky for example.

[@darrylkassle361]

@@Mister.Psychology you mean better than Nelson’s?

[@kingghidorah5271]

@@Mister.Psychology But Nelson is better at teaching than Daniel. He has the ability to simplify everything so we can understand his points much easier.

[@JM-gz1cp]

As a player who is always trying to improve my positional chess. The concept to block your opponents pawns to prevent development is indeed life changing. Thanks for this video.

[@marcoengland186]

literally blew my mind when he showed it - its genius i cant believe i never thought about it like that

[@gnpar]

11:19 "make a bad move in the hope that your opponent will make an even worse move as a result". Classic positional chess concept 🤣

[@Factsnotfox]

Whenever I am in a chess slump I always spend a few days studying positional chess. It restores my confidence and improves my game.

[@satedampo4823]

For me its usually studying endgame, it's quite relaxing when there's only so little piece on the board.

[@Reedgram]

U are just like me fr

[@snortplug9582]

@@satedampo4823 yeah endgame calculation are one of the most fun things in chess

[@caroljung1310]

That's the exact reason I'm here today lol

[@N-ext_Step]

Me too. I felt depressed studying new openings but I feel relaxed studying tactics and tips. I prefer this informative and to the point better than levy's engaging and loud vids.Though he is very entertaining as commentator.

[@RaymondThePainter]

This channel is one of the biggest helps to me. I’m 1200 and still climbing! Every once in a while, going back to old videos and relearning basic concepts really helps.

[@ShoopDaWhoop621]

Great video! Learned 2 new terms! "Battery" (lining up two pieces) and "Outpost" (a knight who cannot be attacked by pawns)

[@maikoui]

Isnt outpost a square that can not be attacked by pawns?

[@shrochrome]

@@maikoui yeah

[@geoffreygeorge999]

@@maikoui true

[@DeZomer35]

You are a hole in the market by making this kind of video's. No one explains these concepts like you do. Keep uploading good content for the chess community !

[@chesstime_0720]

True

[@Astroqualia]

Same mentality for games that are competitive and have money tournaments - most hoard the knowledge and give out scraps in videos, to keep the market knowledge monopolized in their favor.

[@archimedeis]

It's crazy how much I've learned from this channel in the past 2 months. Thank you for all the amazing content.

[@Eagleplayz2-if]

Yes Ty let me tell you my story for whoever reads this, I’m a kid about 10 and my parents have enrolled me into a chess club and I thought OMG I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT so I found this channel and started watching your videos and I’m way better TY FOR CREATING YOUR CHANNEL I APPRECIATE IT!!!👏👍

[@fastgames_pvp7705]

@@Eagleplayz2-if what's ur elo currently?

[@solo.gaming.1088]

@@fastgames_pvp7705 your elo?

[@Astroqualia]

Solid video. Best person ive seen so far to learn the intricacies of chess from. A lot of other folks just move and dont really explain, which does nothing for understanding the theory behind why a play is good or bad, which hinders the ability to actually learn.

[@johna3863]

As someone just getting back into chess, this is the most instructive channel out there, bar none:)

[@chesstime_0720]

For sure

[@jacksellers9524]

Thanks for the videos. Enjoy you tone and cadence and the fact you don’t go into tongues with chess quotation. The way you explain is easy to follow. Over last few months I have watch lot of streamers and settled on you and not Levy etc. Really getting a lot out of your elo climb with Peter. Thanks for what you do.

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Appreciate that, Jack!

[@mospc4993]

Hello, Nelson It would be great if you keep doing these types of videos, you are easy to understand, clear, and concise. You seem to be a naturally gifted teacher. I am just exploring your channel right now so I don't know all the videos. Here is a suggestion: making specific videos on some of these principles and general concepts, showing examples on how to get the best out of them, as the attacker, and prevent them (if possible), as the defender. It does not need to be 25 videos for the 25 principles, but just a few, stand-alone videos for the most important principles and concepts. I wish you all the best. You are on the right track to keep growing your channel. Cheers from Colombia! from a faithful subscriber.

[@HappyHalBallard]

Dude your stuff is terrific. From a 60 year old beginner. School just put me in charge of elementary chess club so I need to learn lol

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Thanks!

[@oskarpaulander4027]

As a ~2100 player I kind of know all these (some from theoretical learning, some just intuitevely) but your videos are really good. Good pace, pedagogical. Doesn't hurt to go over the basics every now and then and there is always one or two details I've missed or overlooked so I really enjoy your videos.

[@jeanjasinczuk7543]

Unfortunately, also as a ~2100 player and many years of playing chess, I found that video over simplified. It is missing some game sample for how to fully take advantage of those strategic principles and how the other side can and will try to find counter play in those situation.

[@fccgrnp2968]

@@jeanjasinczuk7543 its not a tutorial for us yw

[@shubhamvibhuti]

2100 elo or lichess???

[@oskarpaulander4027]

@@shubhamvibhuti haven't played for "real" in over a decade. Lichess I'm around 2200

[@reddd-77]

@@oskarpaulander4027 that's like 1700 on CC

[@robertstrong6639]

As a 1900 player, (advanced), I still may forget these simple principles when playing on the clock, a very practical instructional here!

[@dirkpeloquin1425]

One of the best things you showed wasn’t even a main concept, but at 4:15 you showed how the nF3 move is susceptible to a pin; something I often find myself walking into.

[@LegendOfThin]

Such an underrated channel, so so helpful. Keep up with this and you'll no doubt get your time in the spotlight

[@vitoamodio1229]

I'm only half through and I already think this video is gold. Can't wait to put all this concepts in practice. Thank you so much!!!

[@shannonjones8877]

This is fantastic instructional content. For one, i didn't know a lot of these. For two, it actually gives practical examples for what a good knight vs good bishop is. For three, it provides guidance on when to disregard the point system for sacrificing pieces. I appreciate this so much. Thank you.

[@Proflaxis]

I think this is a great video for many beginner to intermediate players. Kudos man. Well done.

[@mynameisyasser]

That box arrow thing was excellent (to work out if a King can catch a pawn in time)

[@ludwiglarsson3352]

I went in to this thinking "I will be happy if I understand a single one of these principles" (I am a big noob with only around 700 rating). But this was actually super beneficial for me. Much simpler concepts than I expected. While there were a bunch of them which I already knew, I learnt several new things which will try to keep in mind.

[@acesound6017]

love that you used the Alekhine defense for the creating pawn weaknesses section Its one of my favorite defenses for that reason even if its not the most practical ever

[@rogerzhang5993]

Every time I watch someone else my ELO goes down but when I watch your videos my ELO goes up. Thank you for making very digestible chess videos that are highly effective.

[@tahahassan3738]

Nelson, although I know these points, your explanations have so nicely consolidated my knowledge. A massive help. Thank you.

[@burcgurel9575]

I’ve been practicing chess for many years, and this channel & videos are on another level. Simple - short - to the point. Thank you!

[@_bones_jones]

Im rated 1100 ish and always stuck for moves to make in pretty standard games, I'll make it to move 12 or so and struggle to find the right place for my minor pieces. The videos you've uploaded (especially this one!) have made these sticky situations SO much easier to navigate. I've noticed subtle mid-game moves I normally wouldn't realise are game changers! 1200+ here we come! :)

[@DocMatthews0311]

Wow. I have decided to jump back into the game after a decade of just casual games with my Dad & friends. I decided that I would really study the game and started to look at some YT vids. This is the best one I’ve run across in the past 3 months. Definitely subbing . 👍🏽

[@mikebikekite1]

Excellent roundup. Any chance you could do a part II of this with more subtle strategies?

[@Freddiechavira]

Thanks!

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

Thank you!

[@mihaicotet6509]

Great to find you on this channel, Nelson. I got into chess a few years ago and I enjoy your videos, I think you are very good at teaching. We used to play soccer at UTD ages ago, and had no idea back then you're into chess, so it was a nice surprise to find you here. All the best.

[@egnite8942]

Tysm! Keep making these videos, helps me a lot! Just got to 1900 correspondence because of you 💓

[@madisont3123]

your vids are super helpful. something i discovered recently was how useful it is to pin a pawn to a king because it helps to open up both squares very close to the king

[@kruksog]

You're killing it Nelson. Thanks so much for these.

[@caroljung1310]

The box method is really useful in bullet and rushed blitz endgames to determine fast whether a pawn has advanced enough, thanks!

[@mse181]

Number 10 is really helpful. Pawns are sometimes hard to see how I have to move them.

[@hasnain_sikandar]

Thanks

[@ChessVibesOfficial]

No problem, Hasnain! Thank you!

[@7352SoS]

The blockade and attacking backward pawns is definitely something new that I didn't know about, I have heard about everything except that, wow what am I doing be a 1300 that doesn't know about that

[@RMF49]

Another feature of an isolated pawn is that the square in front of the pawn is weak. If it’s a central pawn we can post up a piece aggressively in front of the pawn. The piece can’t be booted by another enemy pawn and it is shielded from frontal attack. This immobilizes the pawn making it even more of a target and prevents it from moving forward to be traded off or sacrificing itself to damage our pawn structure. Immobilizing the pawn in turn somewhat reduces mobility of opponent’s pieces behind the pawn or along its diagonals.

[@LongTail8443]

Good knight is helpful especially when you're going to hit the pillow. I use good knight all the time.

[@nickeastmusic9930]

lol

[@Known_as_The_Ghost]

Name checks out

[@PJ_enjoyer]

Is your knight white in colour? Or whenever it pees does a white thin colour liquid come out. 🌚

[@SidarOk]

As the famous song goes: Let tonite gonna be a good knight

[@BenOnuMuDiyorum]

And I truly prefer a good knight over a bad bishop. That's always safer.

[@Rikcey]

I've been somewhat successful in chess when I was young, and I had to look up that en passant move. I never got taught that one. Like your content!

[@nighthawk984]

Thanks again for the excellent video. I am getting surrounded by the post-it notes having all the knowledge that you have provided in this video and your previous videos.

[@the3xtr3mist]

protecting bishop with a pawn.. 15:45 and on.. is not mentioned but poses another positional thing there; to place your bishop against a knight two squares apart and that knight can't move forward all the squares of that knight are held by that bishop.. very useful in the endgame where the board is clear and open..

[@NisseHult101]

Excellent quality tutorials, and not too long videos either. Looking forward to see more, possibly slightly higher level stuff?! Subbed!

[@VollDerBrummer1]

Thanks man. Playing chess for years and learned something today. Was very easy and smooth to listen to. Your cannel rocks!

[@politotrujillo1722]

This was such an important video you probably know most of this but even after a full year of playing 5-10 chess games a day I came out with at about 5 new concepts for attacking and defending

[@syoudipta]

I'm surely showing this to one more person who will definitely benefit from this video. Thanks for making this great content.

[@srenpetersen8060]

Nelson is a incredible good chess teacher. Very instructive stuff. Im rated 1362 in OTB chess and my chess understanding has gotten better watching his videos. ☺

[@ltisenotem]

You're a legend. I watch one of your videos every few weeks and my elo is increasing because of these concepts you talk about. Awesome info

[@zacharyb295]

Your content is consistently great. My game has improved considerably thanks to you. Congrats on 100k!

[@thembastaff]

this was really helpful thank you so much

[@stiffiron]

Wow! That was a really helpful video! That helps my understanding A LOT! Thank you!

[@userhome3601]

You learned all his 20 years of knowledge. Now y'all can be masters.

[@philburns5656]

Great video! Covers pretty much the knowledge I have. Can you do a follow-up on this? Like 21 more advanced positional concepts or tips?

[@davebrowne8042]

Trying to get back into chess after 30 years. I'm loving these concise videos. You also have what I would call a very good teachers voice. Well done.

[@jcoffy]

I like that you say ‘annoying’ because often I feel like part of my mission is not just to win but to really annoy my opponents plans.

[@hugoaguilar3740]

Trying to get back to chess after 20 years, absolutely the best video. Great job!!! Thanks for sharing

[@MacAnthony209]

I appreciate your channel and the way you explain concepts so they’re easy for me to understand. Thank you.

[@philiproschactor]

Thanks this was a great video. very useful, really interesting 👏

[@chesscannonball7572]

Great lesson! Good examples and clearly explained. Going to share with son and daughter.

[@rockstarjoe5725]

these are the types of videos i like the most by you

[@rahawala]

This is a really wonderful way to teach concepts. In theory I already understood these ideas, but I can't tell you the number of times I've made these mistakes in game. Seeing them explained in such a concise way in succession with examples is so helpful. I need to make it a point to periodically watch this vid. Thank you!

[@jameslonergan4830]

It's like bad data vs. good data. Bad data just sits there. It isn't activated. Good data is activated. It has an objective. For me, the way he explains these concepts activates the bad data (OK, I understand these concepts) into good data (OK, I'm going to utilize these concepts to win).

[@rexjohnson233]

I've learned more actionable concepts in the first ten minutes of this video than I've learned in the past month.

[@saisaketh7243]

Love it.. gems of wisdom. I was struggling against fianchetto. Love to see more videos.

[@tuddgrimley8532]

17:55 This one tops the list for me, White sticking something on d6 and blocking the pawn on d7 has ruined me in a lot of games in the Taimanov Sicilian. It's not a check, capture or attack so it can be easy to overlook. It's such a strong positional concept that it's nearly a tactic

[@alexandrapopovicova8370]

I really appreciate these sort of videos, condense information in short period of time. I always pick up 1 or 2 ideas and try to implement them in my next chess games. Then rewatch and pick another 1 or 2 concepts. Helps me learn. Thank you!

[@jacqueswang3722]

As a 800 player, your videos are a godsend, thanks!

[@triexortism]

ngl this is probably one of the best channels to learn chess, a good explainer, really experienced, and really good examples that can apply.

[@brucewayne2184]

That awkward moment when I know all these but I'm still rated 1000.

[@FredPlanatia]

knowing them is different than applying them in your games. Try longer time controls or even correspondence chess to practice these concepts and train yourself to apply them in games.

[@jozefserf2024]

Tactics first positional second.

[@lwanso]

@@jozefserf2024 “Tactics flow from a superior position.” - Bobby Fischer

[@ltisenotem]

I could be wrong, but the boom of chess has made raised the difficulty of every elo. You have to fight through a lot more opponents to reach the average than you use to, which is the same with other games who adopted "elo" ratings. Today's 1000 elo in Age of Empires was 10 years ago a 1700 elo, for example

[@andresfontalvo17]

@@lwanso which could be understood to mean that if you don't know your tactics you can't take max advantage of your superior position

[@marcpiscaer5567]

Love the lesson - With a crappy ELO of 670 and playing chess for 1 year hopefully this will help. Thanks

[@elliothazelton4489]

Man as a beginner I was feeling overwhelmed but it’s because of channels like this that I’m starting to get the hang of it.

[@animefan7424]

Do you feel overwhelmed because of all the concepts? If so just take it slow, improve on one or two concepts at a time

[@rockstarjoe5725]

just keep playing

[@junaubomber6977]

I love it. Condensed information instead of endless yapping.

[@michelbourgeois988]

I am French Canadian and I didn’t know « en passant » was the expression in english. I really like the way you prononce « ant pass ant » hahaha. Beside that, I love that trick.. I didn’t know that.

[@cloudforest4087]

All of these tips are greatly needed. Thanks for showing.

[@bocz4317]

These educational videos boosts my chess rating, tysm!!

[@karthikshanker9598]

That's a great video. Thank you so much, i appreciate the way you teach - the concepts are crystal clear.

[@th3m4dj4ck]

This video just confirms what I already felt: Bishops are the most annoying piece

[@matheustran8009]

Idk, personally I find knights more annoying

[@nixfossberg5215]

@@matheustran8009 true

[@waynecwk]

This channel is so underrated! You deserve much more recognition for sure! Thanks for the useful content! 👍

[@divzthepro9937]

These are really good

[@fminc]

That b5 Sicilian setup for the blockade and the minority attack are GOLD for a 1000 like me. Excellent concepts all around, EACH one of them.

[@NamazuOG]

My man looks like 23 and then said he played Chess for 30 Jears :0

[@lepaux]

By far the best chess instructional channel, thanks Nelson Lopez you rock like a true chess rockstar! Not only a great guy and player but a fantastic teacher!

[@anuproy1062]

Thank you so much! You are my favourite now! I love chess, but never could learn it formally. Learning from you at 42!!

[@nickthestampede2160]

Your vids rock. But one problem i find while watching these types of videos , is opponent seems to rarely make the move used in the video examples

[@yousseflahbabi3842]

Love number 20. First time I hear about that. Thank you for sharing !

[@zanti4132]

In practice, the idea of trading off your opponent's fianchettoed bishop by Be3, Qd2, and Bh6 (concept #13) usually doesn't amount to much - at least that's my experience. There are reasons for this: (a) More often than not, your bishop is just as good as your opponent's bishop. Just don't trade off your own dark-squared bishop for a knight, and the effectiveness of your bishop vs your opponent's bishop should be about equal. (b) You might think trading off the fianchettoed bishop weakens the dark squares around the opposing king. Unfortunately, the trade involves giving up your own dark-squared bishop, i.e. your best piece for exploiting those dark square weaknesses. (c) Opponents who really love this fianchettoed bishop will find ways to keep it. For example, when they see you play Be3 and Qd2, they will just move their rook off f8, and when you play Bh6, they will play Bh8. Other players will play Bh8 even when their rook is still on f8, giving up the exchange with the idea that, when your dark-squared bishop is gone, their fianchettoed bishop is that much stronger. You'll have the advantage if you make it to a rook vs bishop endgame, but "before the endgame the gods have placed the middle game." I think a better way to keep a fianchettoed bishop under control is to create some interference on the diagonal. For example, put pawns on c3 and d4. Or, if a Black pawn is blockaded on e5, let it stay there - the bishop is obstructed by its own pawn.

[@tdekoekkoek]

good points, but it really depends. Bh6 when combined with opposite side castling and h4-h5 attack can be lethal.

[@zanti4132]

@@tdekoekkoek Yes, like practically everything else in chess, the real answer is "it depends" - it depends on the position. By the way, I think we've met - did you play in New England tournaments in the 1970s?

[@raymonds.9021]

@@tdekoekkoek Seriously curious if you know this commenter from a 1970s chess tournament

[@tdekoekkoek]

@@zanti4132 no not in the 70s. I played in the Boston area in the 2000s

[@tdekoekkoek]

@@raymonds.9021 in the 70s I was playing in Africa

[@chesscube8671]

You deserve 10M subs

[@OregonMikeH]

Hay YA Nelson, it's been a pleasure recommending your Ch. to Members of my Chess Club. I enjoy sharing your fine work with Social Media Friends around the world. I'm Always out here with a huge Thumps Up with great appreciation for your Content, Style, and exceptional Host Demeanor. Blessings your way Always, from Oregon Mike H

[@hmeso]

Fantastic video, thank you so much! I like how you explain things in very easy short way, continue like that, love ur channel!

[@babu6984]

Please make more like this straight forward teaching

[@MrTsetso]

Thanks, man! Very usefull, though I already knew most of those tactics it was useful to see them again explained so well!

[@KanjiMadeEasy]

Nice....all beginners need this, along with combination puzzles

[@dragonman1265]

This is a really nice, straightforward, non bs chess channel. Big fan

[@vitaliykirimov7336]

Спасибо . Очень понравился ваш стиль обучения .

[@ardnfast]

I'm part of the way through this video, and although I have an understanding of these ideas so far, you really bring them out and solidify them well. Thanks 👍

[@williambettis2961]

Thanks for the great lessons. I'm enjoying them and getting a lot out of them.

[@lizs4060]

As someone whose been playing for years but struggling to improve this is a huge help!

[@keypey8256]

I learned 60% of those by just playing. I spent a lot of time and still couldnt quite catch the rest. This video is saving me a lot of time. Thank you