Lasker's Rule Will Help You Get Better at Chess [INSTANT Improvement]

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@MarvinHuber_PlanetCoaster]

In example 4, why doesn't Qe8+ work? The king moves up and we checkmate with Qg6#

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

My though was: Qc7 chk, Ka8, Na6 # ? noob, Idk@@MarvinHuber_PlanetCoaster

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Sorry, meant Example 2 !

[@ritvikwaghmare540]

F

[@dr.drunkenstein1050]

9.35, I think just stop the Queen by pon G4 to G5. If he catch our Queen, we can get back with free pon become knight double check.

[@kylebecker9]

For the puzzle the only other possible move is g5, so that must be the solution. Likely black then takes the hanging queen with Qxe6. We can now promote our pawn on f8, but it's tricky because if we pick a queen, then g6 is still check mate. If we promote to a knight we fork the king and queen and can grab the queen after the king moves to g8. Very cool line.

[@Cybiq]

That's what I thought!

[@rishabhkumaryadav192]

One correction: After g5 Qxe6 f8=Q, g6+ is not mate. Instead Qe2+ Qf3 Qxf3# is mate.

[@playmesalsa]

@@rishabhkumaryadav192 Hi. How did the Queen get to the F file if they were on the e-file? After White moves to g5, if Qe2+ then Qxe2 and White is winning with a huge advantage of an extra Queen, but is not checkmate yet. The other line mentioned by others is also winning for White but less advantageous for White since White ends up with an extra Knight, rather than a Queen; Therefore capturing the White Queen is the best option for Black. After White moves to g5 The Black Queen takes on e6, f8=N# (fork), and no matter where the King moves the Black Queen is captured on the next move by the newly underpromoted Knight. Am I missing something? (This is about the last puzzle on minute 9:10) Thanks

[@rishabhkumaryadav192]

@@playmesalsa Hi! The line being talked about goes like this. White plays g5 to block the check. Black queen takes the white queen on e6. They don't play Qe2+ obviously as this blunders the queen. Now white pushes the f7 pawn and makes a queen (I hope this answers your doubt regarding the queen moving from E file to F file, it's a different queen), but then white loses in 2 moves. However, if white makes a knight, they have an extra piece that will later help in defeating the black pawns, making a new queen (or maybe 2), and white wins. Underpromoting to knight doesn't win immediately but white ends up winning. Hope this helps.

[@Barghaest]

@@rishabhkumaryadav192It is absolutely a mate. After g5 Qxe6 the king cannot move because g4 is covered by black queen so g6# is a huge threat. Pushing the f pawn will guarantee checkmate.

[@strenj_4336]

You need to make a playlist of all Golden rules, please

[@leszekryniec7054]

9:36 The move is g5! If Qxe6, then f8=N+! with an underpromotion and a fork. Every other move loses Black the queen or gets him mated. And g6 is no longer a threat because g4 is now a free square and there's a queen controlling g6

[@marcrob100]

Is it a joke question because he had already explained that the 2 queen moves resulted in losing to checkmate in 1 and g5 is the only other legal move.

[@eekwibble]

@@marcrob100 It's about which piece you promote to. Queen is the wrong answer. Black eventually has to go Qxe6, at which point you promote your pawn to Knight and get an instant royal fork.

[@cheafflaff1573]

i found this f8=N+ king can only move to h8 Ng6+ then Ng6+ with a free queen

[@xornxenophon3652]

@@cheafflaff1573 That is not a legal move, as the white king is still in check!

[@KenFullman]

I've just completed a whole load of "White to play and win" type puzzles. The common theme was underpromotion as the only solution. Yet here, because this was from a real game, it didn't occur to me. Seems I'm just not learning 😥

[@ReflectionOcean]

- Apply Lasker's rule to avoid immediate errors (0:13) - Question first-move impulses to find stronger strategies (1:28) - Consider all consequences before executing a tempting move (3:22) - Use patience and analysis to identify the best move (5:18) - Recognize the importance of looking for hidden drawbacks (8:08)

[@rickdynes]

Thank You, for the video!! There is no replacing the expertise of a GM.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Best chess rule to improve your performance 00:24 Example-1 01:24 Emanuel Lasker's Golden Chess Rule 02:28 Example-2 03:59 Example-3 05:39 Example-4 07:01 Applying Lasker's Chess Rule 09:08 Puzzle of the Day 09:20 "When you see a good move, look for a better one" - Lasker

[@tramp6417]

"The well-known chess aphorism "If you see a good move, try to find a better one", sometimes misattributed to Lasker and other writers, can be found in Damiano's book (1512); similar sentiments were expressed by al-Suli regarding shatranj, the Persian precursor to chess." (Wikipedia)

[@beaconite4249]

At 3:26 there is also Qb5, Ka8(forced), Kc7, Ka7, Qb7# or Qa5#. Take your pick.

[@charc0al_tv]

Lasker's Rule: don't play bad moves?

[@callmewhoever]

Pretty much

[@realismatitsfinest1]

Or rather, think before you act.

[@JohnTyree]

Yes it would be better phrased as "wait several seconds after deciding" or something

[@Sprysage]

It’s a way of thinking to improve any idea one may have in a position. The devil is in the details, as we all know. So, no, it’s not about “don’t play bad moves,” which is useless advice.

[@Martin_Neal]

09:08 Puzzle of the Day Pawn g4 to g5 blocks the check. If black Queen takes that pawn on g5; then white has h takes g5, capturing black's Queen. White has unstoppable checkmate: for example: Qg6+ Kh8; f8=R# 1::0

[@howardking3601]

Helpful! I've already started working Fischer's rule into my game. Like Lasker's rule, one must always keep it in mind, every move, to receive the benefit.

[@Lybrel]

Lasker's rule: If the first move you come up with is the best move, you'll lose the game by running out of time trying to come up with a better move. 👍 10/10

[@alancoe1002]

Ahh, yes, the Tin Rule. The one nobody talks about.

[@vioreldumitrache3880]

Actually , it looks rather like one of Murphy's laws...

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Ha ha! Not if you can adjourn the game.

[@Farren246]

*look for* a better move, but at some point you have to accept that you're not going to find anything better.

[@attilahalmai4590]

Superb video, very nice examples, especially the last one is a gem! Thank You!

[@u.v.s.5583]

Lasker's rule for computer cheaters: If Stockfish finds the first line, look for the second line!

[@Beery1962]

9:09 White plays pawn to g5, if Qxe6, promote to knight, royal fork and white wins the queen. If black plays Qe2 check, Qxe2, then promote to Queen. If black plays g6 check, Qxg6 check, then promote to Q and mate. If black plays pawn hxg5, Qg6 check, then promote to Queen and mate. If black plays Qxg5 check, hxg5, then promote to Queen and white is winning.

[@Simon-cx5fc]

If you promote to a knight, either Black moves Kh7, and unless checked by the knight, he then moves Pg6#, the knight keeps checking the King, forcing a draw by repetition.

[@Average_CoD_Clips]

I know I’m very late but for the last puzzle: Queen g6 check? King h8 followed by saccing queen on h6 and promoting with Check to fork the other pawn.

[@davidlamarca899]

Brilliant lesson with practical example about moves that can be used👏👌👌👌💪

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks!

[@cb3132]

Block Check with Pawng5, Queen takes, promote pawn to Knight check, take Queen.

[@ABadGamble]

If you find multiple good moves try rearranging the move order! I do this a lot on puzzles.

[@PradhyumanSingh-]

9:17 g5 by white if Qxe6, f pawn promotes to knight with a fork,if hxg5 Qg6+,Kh8 f pawn promote to queen mate

[@leszekryniec7054]

After Kh8, you can also go f8=R# if you want to put salt in the wound

[@PradhyumanSingh-]

@@leszekryniec7054 yeah

[@reybarreto7979]

I would like to see golden rules for the middle game because I find the middle game to be the most complicated phase of the game. The end game is a simplified phase because there are less pieces on the board, and the opening is a no brainer if you just follow book moves, but the middle game is when things get muddy and complicated.

[@claudi917]

You would be surprised to see how complicated and abstract an endgame can be

[@Slav4o911]

Openings and end game are pretty much "solved", but midgame is still as complex as we first began to play chess... even for the strongest engines, midgame is enigma, so there is not an easy way to learn about how to play midgame. You can try to be "clever" as much as you want but there is no way you can learn how to play it for certain, like that is for the openings or the endgame.

[@davidmasse2829]

I used this lesson recently to win a game. I saw a move I liked that didn’t work so I changed the move order and the idea worked perfectly.

[@kayasper6081]

Chess is beautiful and you make that obvious for the world. I guess it is not easy to live from chess alone, but boy how magic it is!

[@stephenvyskocil3681]

G5 blocking check, Qe5 takes Qe6, F7 to F8 and promote to Knight to fork, Kh7 to G8 or H8, Ne6 to capture queen should be winning for white

[@maryhanisch9979]

I love your videos. I’m almost ready to purchase your courses. Thank you for sharing your expertise. I recently won a tournament at a high school boys academy. I was the only woman competing. It was a blast and I credit your tutorials for my success. Chess is amazing! Thank you for your excellent instruction!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks. Good luck with your chess learning. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [e-mail]

[@MrCupidd]

In the first example QF7ch KC6 BB5ch KB7 A5 wins the queen because it’s trapped. Black would have to play QxB or PxB. Checking with the bishop first is stronger I agree but they both win

[@alanthirsk374]

Exchange the passed pawn for a knight (check). Black king moves to H8. Knight moves to G6, forking the king and queen. King moves back to H7. Knight takes queen. Black moves G7 pawn to G6 (check). Knight takes G6 pawn.

[@loc7909]

Example 2: I'd play Qd7, let my horse die then move in for the Queen mate. I know we're trying to find the best move but is a move really better if the result is the same? It's an M3 vs. an M2 so I suppose that does have value. I'd do well to remember Ex3.

[@rumputyangbergoyang4978]

Same here lol. I mean, generally in the real play, at endgame, time is something really need to consider especially if you are in far advantage than your opponent, so yeah IMO doesn't get the M2 in order to avoid risking lose of time or stalemate is still great move (don't forget you could still checkmate your opponent in a few move soon)

[@ashmigchess]

Helpful Igor THX!!!

[@sandipraj100]

g5 is the move I believe. If black capture white queen then underpromote the f7 pawn to a knight forking King and Queen. With this extra piece white should be able to win

[@sabahattinsayg9786]

1-pawn g5 2.ıf QxQ,pawn f8 and new Q;if Q or ph6xg5 then h4xg5

[@Skatche]

In example 2, you can just play Qa6+, followed by Kxb8 (only move) Kc6 Kc8 (only move) Qa8#. The key point is you can give up the knight and still easily mate with king and queen. A beginner or even intermediate player is not necessarily going to see the optimal mate, and even if you're in time trouble, it's probably quicker to premove an obvious mate in three than to search for the mate in two.

[@-_deploy_-]

1:16 pawn to a5 and the queen is trapped

[@mariuszr6873]

1. g5 Qxe6 2 f8=N

[@TruthSurge]

The idea of looking for checks first then doing it is kind of superceded by "ok, but is that going anywhere?" If you only checked as soon as possible, you'd lose more games because you don't have the backup needed. I agree it's a good idea to think about as many options as possible.

[@CathCatechesis]

The move that saves is g5: If Qe2+, there's Qxe2 and white is up a queen and winning with no threat of mate If g6+ there's Qxg6+ Kh8 Qg8# If Qxe6 there's f8=N+ Kg8 Nxe6 and white is going to promote the h pawn and win (When I used Stockfish, the engine showe the following variation after Nxe6: Kf7 Nd4 Ke8 Kg6 Ke7 Kxg7 hxg5 hxg5 Kd6 Kf6 Kd5 Ne6 Kc4 g6 Kb3 g7 Kc3 Ke5 Kd3 g8=Q Ke2 Nd4+ Kf4 Ke1 Qa2 Kd1 Qe2+ Kc1 Qc2#)

[@chess_is_a_vibe]

I love this quote and I think of it quite often.

[@ernestogarcillan1977]

1:17 a5 after kb7 trap the Queen

[@daryltravissarinas1560]

Very helpful, this video makes the mindsets of chess players go on a whole new level of critical thinking, thank you for the video!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidbarker5823]

In the beginning position at 1:15, wouldn't moving the a pawn to a5 trap Black's queen? Igor says the computer says black is better here, I don't see it?

[@張謙-n3l]

At 9:15, white has only 3 legal moves: Qxe5, Qf5, and g5, since Qxe5 and Qf5 will lead to g6#, the only choice will be g5. Then black's best attempt will be Qxe6, but this will run into a fork given by f8=N, and then white can take the queen with the knight and then eventually promote another pawn to deliver checkmate

[@HikingUtah]

At 1:18, where you show the lesser move, wouldn't pushing the white pawn to a5 win the queen?

[@Fishy_17]

7:55 It doesn’t just seem that way. It is that way. This is the top engine move.

[@Simon-cx5fc]

White pawn to g5, Qxe6, Pg7+, Kh8,Pf8(becomes Q or R)#. If after Pg5, Black moves Pf6, Qxf6+, Kh8, Qg8#. If Black moves Pxg5, Qxe5 = white is up a Queen and able to promote for a second Queen. If Black moves Qxg5, Pxg5 and the same thing happens.

[@joustmaster_69]

puzzle of the day, g5 if pawn captures, Qg6+, Kh8 only move and f8 promote to a queen is checkmate if queen takes queen, f8 pawn promotes to a KNIGHTTTTT!!!! forking the king and queen, now we're a knight up and win the game

[@arnieo1551]

You need to stop check. G4 to G5, if pawn on H6 to G5 promote pawn to a knight and check. Then capture Queen. If Queen captures pawn on G5 recapture the queen with pawn on H4.

[@christianemde6952]

Excuse my notation, not doing that for long yet ;) how about F8 Underpromote to Knight, King H8 only Move, QxE5, Kg8 only Move, Knight G6. If king to f7 force him back to g8 by QE7 / If King H7, waste a move before deliver check on rank 8 and checkmate QH8.

[@kilroy1964]

Cool puzzle! (Solved with clever underpromotion)

[@mrmarkstv6585]

More of these Golden rules!!!

[@ericst-laurent1194]

Thank you for this great chess lesson!Lasker is one of my best players in my life,with Kasparov,Tal,Alekhine,Petrosian,Carlsen is fantastic also sure!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@peterpuleo2904]

Good choices. It seems to me that Lasker does not get the recognition he deserves, even though he was Champion much longer than anyone else.

[@TheStuckOne-fd2sk]

g5, if Qxe6 f8=N+ fork on queen and king. If g4+ Qxg4+ Kh8 Qg8 checkmate. And finally, if Qe2+, Qxe2 g6+ Kg4.

[@georgeritmeester4736]

The last example is fabulous! Such a simple idea, and yet one I might easily overlook.. In the first example, what if Black replies to Bb5+ with ...Nc6

[@mr_mr]

Really good. Thanks

[@djconnel]

lesson learned: always find the !! moves, to improve my chess. More seriously -- the point is clearly not to fixate on "obvious" good moves. I am often guilty of this and then in game review I'm shocked to see the "missed" symbol. So I should broaden my search path.

[@5gearz]

9:39 g5, if Qxe6 then f8=N and g6 is no longer checkmate and you can take the queen while a piece up and you’re winning

[@Ducksaregreat]

I like how the puzzle is the easiest possible one. There are 3 legal moves in the position, and he already went over two.

[@mikekeenan8450]

Solution to puzzle: 1. g5. If 1. ... Qxe6, then 2. f8=N ch wins.

[@silentbullet2023]

excellent lessons.

[@paulvandervelden4087]

Igor........need a video on all the ponziani traps..

[@thebatsbury8053]

'When you see a mate in 1, look for something better"

[@akashmass9752]

Pawn g5, Qxe6, pawn f8 knight promotion, that wins opponents queen. And it's completely winning for white

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

In the second position, I had another winning move, although it took 3 moves instead of 2 to checkmate. 1. Qb5 Ka8 2. Kc7 Ka7 3.Qa5# or Qb7# The puzzle was not that difficult, as there are only three legal moves, and Igor had already shown that two of them fail. g5 is all that is left.

[@aimeeaveys]

Qg6+ makes black's king go to h8, allowing f8=Q# or f8=R#

[@kraftzion]

At 2:35 my solution was qb5, kc7,qb7.

[@abdush3268]

3:33 Shouldn't Qb5 also work? Black King has only one legal move, which is a8, then we can go Kc7 and deliver the checkmate in next turn with Qb7

[@lewisjones284]

That's what I saw initially too. A mate in 2 is better than 3 though

[@SidCalais]

1.g7 Qxe6 2.f8=N+ kg8 3.Nxe6 and white are winning

[@JDJay1]

Cover the white king with a pawn, sacrifice your queen, and then get a knight forking black king/queen, and then now you have a knight and 2 pawns against the king and 2 pawns

[@kevinmalone3210]

Never knew much about Lasker, but to be able to hold the World Chess Championship for 27 yrs is quite a feat.

[@cikonianiggra1415]

soulution of the puzzle: g5. If...Qf3+, Kg6.

[@thedspenguin]

on example 3 I thought of Rxf7. if Rxf7 then b8 promotion. if Nc5 then Rxf8+ Kxf8 b8 promotion.

[@hsuilungmarcdacascos4079]

pawn g5.if he takes the queen we play pawn f8 and make a knight forking the queen and the king

[@Reiner-MariaEichEisenherz]

F8 Knight check Kh8 Ng6+ wins the Queen

[@heavenyeahh1196]

I got g5 and underpromote to knight in like ten seconds.

[@frankandersen2614]

In the beginning white wins after Qxf7+ Kc6 Bb5 Kb7 a5 wins the queen

[@utkukucuker1539]

g5, if black takes the queen promote the f pawn to knight with a fork on black king and queen

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

💡 Register to GM Igor Smirnov's FREE Masterclass "The Best Way to Improve at Chess INSTANTLY" - chess-teacher.com/masterclass 💲 Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission - chess-teacher.com/partnership/

[@TravelingMooseMedia]

Example 3 is why endgame theory is important. I instantly saw the exchange sac because I know 7 and 5 pawns , and 6 and 6 pawns beat a rook. No calculation needed

[@discerenecessa9062]

1:18 isn't a5 trapping the queen? Why is black supposed to be better, what am I missing?

[@Relief4Headaches]

9:20 White P to g5, when Black takes pawn or Queen, White p to f8 to be promoted ...just a novice guess...lol

[@timbogan9094]

Please cite an original source for the Lasker rule, a book or article by Lasker himself that states this rule. Thank you.

[@Siderite]

I love these rules videos! Just don't go into obvious ones.

[@erdemo6776]

pawn goes for knight so capture the king with double attack

[@Real46]

5:43 Q to c4: checkmate

[@TruthSurge]

2:34 I'd save my brain meats and just slide the queen down and let the black king have the knight then squish mate with queen and king.

[@nurjahankhatun3000]

Puzzle of the day = Qg6 and then promote the other pawn to queen and its checkmate

[@rallicat69]

2:28 dont we wanna loose the knight so we have less risk of stalemate? i would go Qa6+ because that forces the black king to take the knight and then we can just mate with king and queen.

[@ABadGamble]

Mate in 2 is more accurate but yeah especially in blitz or low time, why overthink it, I would just give away the knight so I can safely premove checkmate.

[@pavanSoft]

at 1:21 a5 ....... Queen Traps........

[@chessassassin2813]

In the first game example, the queen is trapped after pawn to a5.

[@lukastux3024]

"When you see a blunder, look for a better move" :D

[@prithvib8662]

Is there a queen trap on a5 in the beginning?

[@ChristianSoschner]

That’s the best advice: always look for a better move. Don’t react emotionally, take your time to think it through and respond. A rule for life.

[@JeremyPhillips-zn5zd]

I would say Queen B5 is the best move in the second scenario unless I'm missing something...

[@jbudz7705]

g5:Qxe6 then f=N+ fork

[@bullabubble8821]

for puzzle of the day the only other move is g5, which wins for white if Qxe6 then f8=N+ Kh8 (or Kh7) Nxe6. i dont see an immediate mate after this but ur up a knight so ur definitely winning all other moves i see lead to mate, for example if Qc5 to stop the promotion then Qe4+ Kh8 then Qe8+ Kh7 Qg8# (black can block Qe4+ with g6+ or Qf5 but those also lead to mate)

[@AlayanT]

The only reason black is surviving in the first example is that black can go with Bxh2+ against a5 threatening a queen trap. White can't take because of hxg5+ taking a bishop with check, and if white moves Kf1 black has opened an escape square for the queen on d6. However! If white plays Kh1, black saving the queen with Qd6 leads to a6+ Nbxa6 Bxa6+ Kb8, an equalish position where White holds most of the initiative (if black goes Kb6 in answer to a6+, White is in a better but very murky position). The only move leading black to keep his advantage against Kh1 is the very unnatural Qxb5 Nxb5 hxg5, trading the queen for two pieces and protecting the h2 bishop with the rook. The position after a5 is fraught with danger for black.

[@bencewsafy4813]

Why is a5 not a move on the very first example?

[@tzodearf2596]

Promote the pawn to a knight with check, then capture the queen because black can't mate with the king on h8.

[@ramargouya7484]

Hello Igor I've been watching your videos for some time now; I find them very useful. I especially enjoy the videos on the openings b3 (for Whites) and b6 (for Blacks). Anyway I just wanted to thank you for your time. I just reached 1300 today in rapid!

[@gm2407]

So for me, 'look for a better move' doesn't express what I need to think about. I see a move, where does it fall in order of operations? Does it need a set up? Is there another threat I can make, is there a threat I am exposed to? All these together have to be remembered and the 'look for a better move' does not trigger this for me. It gets me lost looking for single move with no depth.