1 KEY Chess Concept to Win More Games | Positional Chess Concept

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@venciobiong2486]

Do you have complete repertoire of sicilian (white&black)?

[@shahabuddinmohammed6217]

@@venciobiong2486 GH juijk

[@teodorboyanov7305]

Puzzle of the day: 1. Knight C4 is the winning move that crushes white completely. 2. If his queen takes yours, then rook A1 is simply a check mate.. 3. If his knight takes your knight on c4 then once again Rook A1 wins the game on the spot.. 4. I also believe that no matter what white does, after Knight to C4 .. it's just over.. He cannot stop what is about to come. Simply beautiful :)

[@wedsonsantos3967]

Yep, I also got that position. I don't see any move posible to the white go out of that situation

[@thredligut2288]

What about bishop to c5?

[@gkorp]

​@@user-ip8ij9yw3tthe Knight on c4 covers the void (d2) left by the white Queen moving

[@kov_aks]

@@user-ip8ij9yw3tthe black knight on c4 controls the king's escape square on d2

[@Alejandro94loppas]

if his knight takes your night then queen to A1 is checkmate

[@cwoodside907]

GM Smirnov, you are such a bright light in the chess education realm!! I just recently learned the game (Thanks to Netflix's Queens Gambit, I now tend to obsess over chess and think of it often.) and am now reading multiple chess books, trying to learn new strategies and to further develop as a player. Your videos are helping me tie it all together! Thank you! God bless you!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Hi Colin, I am glad that you are enjoying chess!

[@mindfulmagician7550]

Halfway through and I'm blown away by this idea. Something I never think about. I've also heard many times about "weak squares" due to the loss of a bishop, but this video actually showed how it gets exploited. Looking forward to trying to implement some of these ideas into my next games!

[@bioshadown1788]

Nc4,White Queen take Black Queen and Rook A1 mate

[@firasmiri1576]

That’s the first thing I thought of. But not sure if correct

[@nikk0693]

Rook a1*

[@bioshadown1788]

@@nikk0693 sorry

[@nikk0693]

@@bioshadown1788 why are you apologizing lol it was just a mistake that anyone else could've made

[@ausarge]

@@nikk0693 depends what the tone was like lol

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Important Chess Strategy to Win More Games 00:15 If opponent attacks early in the opening 01:22 Eg-1: How would you play in this position? 01:58 KEY idea to remember in such positions 04:32 Eg-2: Exploiting weak squares 07:24 Eg-3: Fascinating chess puzzle 07:52 Can you find the best move?

[@jackskura923]

Hi GM, So what is the best move for this puzzle? Thanks

[@manishenglishgamingmeg2123]

I found Queen takee knight and then fork..But.. You should LOOk FOR better MOVE!!! Yes! You sac your queen by playing Nc6!!! If he takes your queen..ROOK H8 MATE!

[@manishenglishgamingmeg2123]

It's A1 mate

[@namedperson1436]

Knight C4 looks very deadly. The goal being to control/block D2 and B2 while opening up the lane for the rook. I think every counter is still mate in 2.

[@derektoyne2729]

I think your right I spotted this move...Nc4! straight away. What ever White does it's mate.The threat is Qxb2 mate,on Nxc4 and ...Ra1 is mate.On Qxc3 we again have...Ra1mate. An even on Re1 we Ra1 mate.

[@JeffMoche]

This seemed easy to me as well.

[@TrustingTroller]

You guys are too high elo! It took me about 3mins and 27secs to see that move.

[@prateekbasera4653]

No bro even every counter is mate in 1, the only counter I can think of is white Na4 and after that don't take with Rxa4 cus after that white will play Qxc3 and you can't checkmate white, so after Nc4 and Na4 play Qa1 and that's a checkmate in 1

[@lucasbortoluzzi9369]

@@TrustingTroller it's more a question of doing problems. Elo depends on your opening knowledge and on your positional Plays, not only on your tactics. I saw that instantly while i'm intermidiate elo

[@mattlambert3118]

Nc4. If Qxc3, Ra1#. If Nxc4, Qa1#. If Kb1, Nxd2. If Na4, Qa1#. Anything else, Ra1#. I didn't think it was that complicated at all, but I've been grinding puzzles for a couple hours a day over the past 3 days.

[@matthiaskellner9331]

if Kb1, not Ndx2 but Qxb2 #

[@clivethereddevil3178]

Na4, Qa1is not mate

[@npmerrill]

You are a great teacher. You make the game and learning about it understandable and fun. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Wow, thank you!

[@lwandomasoka391]

After I studied the course 'GM's Positional Understanding ', I was able to win the B-section of South African Chess Open 2022 all thanks to him 🔥

[@Christiaan1958]

Thank you, Smirnov is very good in his teachings and insights of the game, everybody can learn a lot about chess from him!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you think so!

[@petercohen3966]

Your lessons are fantastic! I love when a lesson centres around a single middle level idea, and not just beginner stuff everyone knows. At first I thought the solution to the end position was N captures pawn, followed by a queen exchange, capturing a second pawn and then trading down the rooks. But then I saw the Anastasia's mate threat Nc4.

[@lukastux3024]

Please more of this! I love your middlegame content the most of all!

[@jdrodrigues7]

Those who grow their Endgame skills the most are the strongest overall.

[@lukastux3024]

@@jdrodrigues7 it's pretty easy to learn endgames on your own. You can't really learn middlegames the same way..

[@jdrodrigues7]

@@lukastux3024 That is because players don’t focus on Endgame.

[@zondra.genevieve]

I keep falling in love with GMs on KZbin hahaha

[@DerGesellschaftskritiker]

I love youre teaching videos, Igor!

[@tank3185]

GM Igor I honestly enjoy your videos, please keep up the awesome work and thank you for your efforts 💚

[@mcjahon]

The cat from behind speaks for itself

[@emf9]

Need more videos like this.... I'm just trying to learn and am struggling a bit with middle and end game concepts and general plans

[@jeradjones9528]

You are my chess Rabbi . I get the deadly poison pawn sacrifice going with bishop or knight just to expose The opponents king. It's material well spent likely to be taken in A lesser affective effort . Just reflecting on what I've seen You teach here on You Tube it clicked in my mind that exposing the king on that side by a sacrifice is an affective weapon and worth going down in material for if I'm careful Moreover the opponent is always at risk to it so long as they haven't castled and often fall asleep on it deep in middle game So I develop always accommodating that quick strike option forgoing when they castle I have to feel My opponent out by the moves they make To know what approach will do . You helped my offense alot Thanks Man

[@Your_creative_plug]

This is nice, Thanks Igor, you're the best

[@Lockface77]

Wow thats crazy, when I played against some GMs I was allways wondering "how did my position turned bad so fast", now I got the answer xd

[@prateekbasera4653]

Puzzle answer Nc4, and after that no matter what white plays, there is always a way to checkmate in one. Edit:- Well I just found one more interesting thing, after Nc4 if black plays Na4 then don't get greedy and take with Rxa4 cus after that if White's queen takes our queen then there will be no checkmate. So after Nc4 and Na4 play Qa1 and that's a checkmate

[@bazcuda]

"...if White plays Na4..." * (not Black) Very good!

[@jeradjones9528]

I had to look hard to realize that Knight to C4 counter attacking White's Queen is inescapable Check mate in 1 With The Rook coming down in the corner A1 . Because The C4 knight then has the only escape Route covered and Whatever whites Queen does doesn't matter .

[@Daniel-G-P]

Love this video. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@napoleon7700]

Nc4 is the move! If Q:c3 then Ra1#! If N:c4 then Ra1#

[@southernrun9048]

Excellent video and great explanation

[@lwandomasoka391]

GM Igor's content is out of this world 👏👏🤝

[@rikomamadesu]

igor is really on fire with these chess tips... I just got 10 win streaks and I am afraid Im gonna enter a different bracket that is out of my league (currently 1100).

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Wow! Nice keep it up.

[@davidcovington901]

Exactly my problem, the opponent computer "violates" opening principles and attacks me very early. Now I know. Tx.

[@BenjaminIdle]

whenever i truly focus on one of your videos I subsequently play much better games. Even if i dont win the next game I play, I'll always feel better about how i approached each challenge in the match

[@Thundergod213]

Nc4, if bxc4 Ra1# and if qxc3, ra1# because the knight covers D2. There's no escape for the mating attack. A very nice principled idea on bringing in the rook opening the file and take advantage of the king being stuck on c1

[@McLKeith]

N to f5, Q x Q or N x N, R to h8 checkmate. The white King could delay being checkmated for one move by going to g8.

[@willsmith6405]

In the original position (before Qc3) Black can play Nxc2. If White plays Qxc2, he loses the Queen after ...Ra1! Kd2 Bb4! Kd3 Ra3!

[@shohruhmusidov9339]

I love these tricks, thank you😊😊😊

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😊

[@indynebeker4866]

Well done once again

[@vladislavshevchenko634]

1)...Kc4, 2) if kxc4, there're 2 checkmates) if qxc3, Ra1#

[@Gundu5646]

Amazing videos this help children improve chess

[@jamesethan3749]

U should still show solutions in the end of ur vids. Would make them better

[@utodanka]

NC4! is the move which black can play in the situation at 8:19

[@mfonking1059]

Thank you so much

[@luutzennijdam7213]

Agressive openers learn: the counter attack!

[@michaelsaad684]

Thank You Again: this video was very helpful.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad to hear that!

[@GeminisArising888]

Just seeing your videos...been watching and learning from Amans Building habits series (currently on #16),Erics Hippo speed run (what do u think of the hipposystem...i find it a beautiful opening...it can either crush u or crush your opponents), Gothams building habits,Alex Banzeas Caro Kann and Vienna game. Which is your favourite openings for white and black? What do u think of the caro-kann???

[@Arachisage]

In pirc defense, white usually aligns the dark bishop with the queen before trading off blacks fianchetto bishop. What should I do then ?

[@williamd2999]

8:03 I think it’s just nc4 bcuz if qxc3 rh1#

[@silencionomus]

I like Bb4 to support that queen and cover the king’s only escape square (C3) in the case of Ra1.

[@purushottamsilwal8611]

1.Nc4 Qxc3 2.Ra1# if 1.Nxc4 Ra1 or Qa1 is checkmate

[@cikonianiggra1415]

8:O1: so not Q:b2 but Nc4 like say some of the commentators, to which I am grateful. Maybe good would be to say to your video what I have remembered in childhood: The best defence is an attack.

[@kieranbell6852]

NC4 setting up an unstoppable check mate with RA1 or, Qb2 check mate if he moves his king.

[@sandeepverygoodvedeo8693]

Thanks Sir

[@jdrodrigues7]

This is Josh Waitzskin’s 20y/o+ idea the GMs laugh at back then. I learned this about 16yrs ago in Chessmaster 9000 for PC. from Josh.

[@n0xure]

Yes, I also did that course! He calls it "the space left behind" I believe he got that idea from studying Taoism.

[@BurhanAijaz]

Ans to the puzzle is Nc4 any move and Ra1# except Kb1 , in that case Qxb2#

[@shreyasmukund6950]

Knight c4 If knight takes knight c4, then queen A1 mate If queen takes Qc3, then rookA A1 mate

[@Alvin-nv5sd]

i think it is Nc4🤯

[@jeradjones9528]

The rooks for the endgame is of the original strategy of the inventor of the game itself going back over 1000 years I believe .

[@michaelodonnell7276]

2...Nc4. How about 1...NXc2 (instead of 1...Qc3) 2Q X c2 Ra1+ 3Kd2 Bb4+. 4.Kd3 Ra3+?...

[@sonipolakian4256]

Nice video ✋

[@JabarFarahi]

Q takes g7 Knight check.

[@chessbulletschannel5889]

Nice strategy

[@pupo-deducationalservice8132]

1. ... Nc4 2. Qxc3 Ra1#

[@umahichihurumnanya2531]

Knight C4 is Savage 😎

[@psyxh_stxrm]

Yep its Nc4 and if queen takea Ra1#. But if he doesnt take, well you js win a bishop and continue the attack.

[@slshree1103]

8:01 The solution is Qxb2 Kxb2 Nc4+(fork) and after the king moves Nxd2

[@sumanjawa1916]

Nc4 sure is interesting but did anyone think of Qb3 could be a winning move in fact its real savage

[@joyjeetbose8872]

Love u bro❤️

[@AntonioNotFound-BOOM]

Answer to puzzle... Nc4 , Q×c3 Ra8#

[@authorjamieljones]

QxB2 takes Knight king retakesNC4 fork would win Queen back then you could set up with a bishop and rook mate …NC4 crushes I’m sure there’s other Moves mine is just a exchange which isn’t best

[@aquatix1234]

Nc4 was calculating that move before the Queen move

[@neviswarren]

Excellent examples. Thank you.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jarnonijhof7822]

8:00, Nc4?

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Thankyou

[@mattolivier1835]

Thanks nerd. Nice video as usual.

[@BobChess]

I have realise the best defense is the best offense , also in the last puzzle Nc4 is the best. White is getting mated

[@X00000370]

Black plays N a3 -> c4 and White resigns. This move threatens NXQ and R -> a1 Checkmate, and Q X Nb2 Checkmate and if the white Queen takes Black Queen then R on a8 -> a1 is again Checkmate.

[@rolandeauten8798]

After Nc4 white has no escape from Ra1# other than Kb1, which fails Qb2#

[@Dinesh-jt1tb]

Sohh Great...

[@jayjayjayjay2738]

Black knight moves from a3 to take white pawn at b5

[@ashimchhetri8669]

After Nc4 white is simply going to resign coz after this move there is mate in 1 no matter what white plays

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Q×g7 Kxg7 Ng5+ forking the King and Queen

[@stag6161]

Ahh! I thought I stopped looking after Qxb2 I should've known better, after 0-0-0 anytime your opponent puts something on d2 d7 mate opportunities often arise out of that, especially with an open a file

[@Anew1310]

Nc4 is winning, as white Qd4 has helped blacks Knight to jump up to that lovely c4 square.

[@ivandelgadillotoruno3855]

I like it exellent

[@donovancaldwell3872]

The Bots I play are not this stupid! After the Black Queen checks the d4night and b2pond the white Cnight just has to move to a4 to check the Black Queen and protect the b2pond. Then the Black Queen has to retreat. :(

[@PhoenixCrown]

In the last game, looks like you want to attack the queen with your knight. He can either take your queen for free or attack your knight, but either way you checkmate with your rook. Let's see...

[@amandeepsaha]

Nice

[@jonathandawson3091]

I think the correct solution is ... Nc4 Qxc4 Ra1#

[@Premking110]

Kc4, Qxc3,Ra1

[@juantrias5496]

I think you should do the logical moves.

[@allegro3785]

1..końC4 , 2...hetman lub wieża A1

[@CouchLobster]

It took me about 30 seconds, you just work back from the end square naturally in a circle around the Queen there aren't that many legal moves that seem productive. I guess when there's calculation, there's also innovation cos I can't calculate for shit 😂

[@luxushauseragency]

Qxb2+, Kxb2 Nc4+, then gobble the Queen.

[@johnyoung4814]

Yeah I first thought that with a nice-looking triple fork snapshot but king gets away with the "lack of forced moves." Meaning you sac your Queen to the King and still sac the knight after it is gobbling his Queen. Flawed. So best to go with the Nc4 move first and follow up with the rook a1 checkmate. Or if his knight moves to a4 to block the rook, then follow up with queen to a1 checkmate. It is either Rook or Queen to a1 Checkmate on the 2nd move.

[@FrankToasty]

wait I got to this line so many times now lmao

[@tiagomourato]

Qxb2 Kxb2; Nc4+ forking the queen and king

[@AK-pq3cw]

7:36 Nxc2 seems much stronger than Qc3.

[@MaTriXBeatsLP]

If that is played and queen takes, you essentially lose a night and a queen as black and only lose a queen and a pawn as white

[@n0xure]

@@MaTriXBeatsLP Yes, but you don't have to trade queens; you have this king chase: Ra1+ Kd2; Bb4+ Ke2; Qg4+ Kf2.. doesn't seem winning, but it's a sacrifice worth exploring if it wasn't for the mate in 3 that would win the game straight away - unfortunately it's bishop+queen vs bishop+quee - you don't have enough squares; & that knight is going to come back in the game eventually - you can still somewhat save face by doing Rxd1- Qxd1; Qxc4 - you get two pawns and rook for a knight and a rook and white's king is exposed.

[@TendoG4m3]

Nc4 is #m-2 or m-1.... nice

[@tidaveiphone]

Qxb2+,Kxb2 Then Nc4+ and win the queen.

[@andream2854]

need the engine to resolve the final position.... i'm still a beginner

[@williamsheetz5813]

Knight C4 followed by Rook A1

[@paulmacariola10]

N c4 coach thretinning Ra8 check mate it is correct coach!❤

[@docna1653]

Nc4 the Rook A1 checkmate