How to WIN middlegames in chess

In this video I go through the best way to play chess middlegames by explaining the concept of candidate moves. Hope you find this video educational!! :D
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Game 1
12:17 Game 2
19:59 Summary (important)
#annacramling #chess #educational

[@evantm2588]

Its kinda sad that a really well made educational doesn't get the recognition , I hope that you still post this style of content even if it doesn't get as many views because its genuinely useful for the average beginner and intermediate players

[@judsongordy8872]

I often think the same thing. I wish these types of videos were more popular

[@robertakerman3570]

@@judsongordy8872 Or not...(he said diabolically). I'd like to keep it secret, but yah; Anna deserves top recognition.

[@SoulHuN7eR]

The only time chess got a bit of traction recently, was with ludwig making videos with other players. The sad truth it that outside the chess bubble, no one really cares. Another sad truth is that players like Anna, the Botez sisters etc are mostly everyday girls. They may be cute, but they don't have the huge boobs/ass (or thot energy) today's viewers actively search.

[@robertakerman3570]

& then there's "pickle-ball".

[@user-mm5cd4kv2t]

@@SoulHuN7eR you must love Levy's boobs then, that's why you watch him

[@Checkmate_Edits]

Long story short: - Consider what you see as candidate moves (best moves) in positions - Consider simple plans, not necessarily brilliants left and right, (doubled rooks, control of open files, knight outposts or reroutes, batteries..) - Use tactics (pins, forks, skewers...) Good luck mate

[@viktorvondoom9119]

Also, if you pizza when you shohld be doing French fries, you're gonna have a bad time Edit: on a serious note, "Don't waste good pieces (like a queen) on defense against threats from worse pieces"

[@sanekabc]

Thanks, mate.

[@cjoth]

I think you missed the most important one: -Look at the characteristics of the position although you could argue that considering candidate moves involves looking at the position.. but i find myself constantly making inaccuracies (and sometimes mistakes if i rush) if i don't look at the characteristics of the position properly. often time, i think to myself "oh look, i doubled their pawns, now i can go target them!" instead of realizing stuff like "my rook is on the a file, and the king is on the b file, so i should try to break the king's pawn structure. etc...

[@Checkmate_Edits]

@@cjoth Thanks for the addition 👍

[@cominoengenharia]

I wouldn't say this summary conveys the content. That's the kind of vídeo that is totally worth the time spend watching. Since without the examples, the tips summarized look like simple chess clichées.

[@briandwi2504]

More of these please. The middle game is tricky! Thanks!

[@judsongordy8872]

Yeah I wish we got more of these, but unfortunately these videos don’t get the views that the chess hustler videos get with the click baity titles

[@markangus3252]

Rudolf Spielmann - "Play the opening like a book, the middle game like a magician, and the end game like a machine". I really like Ludek Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" in three volumes, also abridged in one volume titled "Modern Chess Strategy". Uses the old descriptive strategy in all the English language editions that I've seen, but it is truly excellent. I think it was Alexander Kotov in his classic "Think Like A Grandmaster" who coined the term "candidate move". Secondhand English language editions of this book are now very expensive. It is very sought after.

[@mikejschin]

Excellent instruction. The most important point covered: candidate moves are suggested by the position. Considering moves just because they look like they might be good will not lead to good choices. Evaluating the characteristics of the position tells you what avenues to consider. That realization got me out of the 1650 OTB rating rut where I was stuck for several years and took me near 1900. I actually started drawing and occasionally beating experts and played competitive games against masters. Anyone reading this comment can do the same if they take Anna's advice in this video. Caution: Evaluating positions correctly is not easy. It takes study and practice, so don't get discouraged if you have a hard time for quite a while. Keep up the effort and it will eventually pay off.

[@aptudo]

If you watch streamed tournaments, you know that this is good advice. The GM commentators explore candidate moves NONSTOP during the middle game. You can tell it's become part of their DNA.

[@sgeskinner]

in English we use the french idiom coup de grâce meaning deathblow. Also you use of reiterate is correct.. One of the very few times we are reminded you are not a native English speaker and English is your third language.

[@mrjwx]

Very helpful Anna! Your content is amazing!!

[@aaahtex902]

**IF YOU WANT TO PLAY HAPPY CHESS, BE SURE TO LISTEN TO ANNA CRAMLING!!!**

[@AV8R_Surge]

I like listening to Anna Rambling... I mean Crambling 😉

[@friedsushii_]

​@@AV8R_Surge Anna*

[@AV8R_Surge]

@@friedsushii_ thanks..i corrected it

[@samhiatt]

She’s the Bob Ross of Chess.

[@jacobdrollinger4802]

I like her better than Levy, he's a downer!

[@hififlipper]

You're a chess queen. It is very inspiring. Big thank you!

[@Shaun_GTI]

Please keep the educational videos coming! Very instructive and I like chance to figure things out from options you give😊

[@nerd26373]

Thanks for this video. It's helpful and informative. Keep up the good work.

[@susymay7831]

Nice video! ❤ The candidate moves and following analysis are the hardest of the three big tips to implement well.

[@chipcurry]

That was a very good way to teach - give us three candidate moves to choose between. It's not so difficult to do, and what we learn is good strategy from having invested some thought into choice.

[@judsongordy8872]

I LOOOOVE the coming up with a plan videos!!

[@EponaDreams-AmbientDreamscapes]

Wonderful. I learned that I need to play longer games rather than languishing in no mans land with blitz and bullet. I got both of those moves but missed the white bishop power - was focusing on the defending knight. But it makes me see that I can "see" what the pieces are saying to some degree - thanks Anna.

[@elcanaldemanu2921]

This video was really absolutely instructive, thank you so much for the content :D

[@huronchess4810]

I agree with EvanTM. This was very helpful and I encourage you to continue with them! Thank you

[@Aexeek]

Thank you, Anna. I learned more and gained a clearer understanding of the meaning of "candidate moves" and how to choose better ones.

[@jamesnotsmith1465]

An interesting video. Very instructive. I like the way you presented multiple move choices and then explained the pros and cons of each candidate move. You could use the same two games and do the same thing with end game choices.

[@reg4008]

Thank you Anna, I'm learning all the time.👍👍

[@JimMcGrath25]

Anna- thank you for another great, instructive chess video!

[@danwilliams8626]

I love Anna’s excitement and enthusiasm for all things chess. She makes the work fun!

[@mentalglitch9603]

I’m 820 I learned more in this video than in any other instructional that I’ve watched. I’m going to implement everything I’ve learned here in my long road to 900

[@24stakaman]

bullet game?

[@mentalglitch9603]

@@24stakaman rapid. And I’m happy to say that I’ve improved a bit and I’m 870 now!

[@Alexlinnk]

Did you make it to 900?

[@mentalglitch9603]

@@Alexlinnk yes I did! But I still fall below it sometimes again. I’m reading chess for dummies now and trying to figure out how to boost into the mid 900’s. Thank you for asking 😁

[@fortyofforty5257]

@@mentalglitch9603 One of the best books for general chess information, imho. I am over 1200 now and I still got a lot out of the book, just relearning things I'd forgotten or learning principles in a new way. Good luck on your journey.

[@2009Neelam]

it is also very kind of you teaching us about these ideas we can use. i once won in these candidnite moves.

[@loicgrange9238]

Thanks for this video. I guess it will be useful on my journey to get better at Chess. 👍🏻

[@viniciusgomes1984]

Loved this type of video. Making us actually think in the video

[@StrawWeaver]

Really instructive! Thanks for the middle game lesson!

[@stephanbriem1882]

Thank you for this excellent instrution!

[@AV8R_Surge]

@17:36 "el remato final" - the final spike/ strike

[@philcrom6299]

Gave some very nice and new points of thought. Thanks Anna!

[@fubarbrandon1345]

Thanks Anna...great lesson, glad to find your channel.

[@StankyLegs]

This was a fantastic video. I learned a lot here.

[@blindknitter]

You are such a wonderful teacher, thanks for this content.

[@theeightytwentytd]

Not only are you good at implementing the principles you have learned, your presentation is both entertaining and informative. Your self analyses of your own games, in other videos, shows you have the same thoughts as the rest of us about your own positions. You teach the rest of us how to deal instead of giving up - Thank you!

[@exdejesus]

Once again, it's wonderful to see how you would think about games like this!

[@wiley3840]

Hi Anna, I love your videos so much. They have helped me become a better chess player. I love your positional approach to chess (and your Mom's :) ) It is so elegant and brings out the beautiful qualities of chess. Like when you get so excited about a "pretty" move. Thank you for all the hard work you put into your channel. You've helped make chess so popular these days!

[@TheRst2001]

Thanks Anna , this episode is full of golden nuggets of info

[@followCuriosity]

I love you Anna... your explanations are very helpful and you have a great attitude 😍

[@a.k.7840]

I remember studying Silman's method for finding middle game plans, but I never could connect with it because it relied upon conceptualizing a good position and forming a plan to reach that position. The problem I had was deciding what a good position would look like. I mean, ultimately the good position is you check mating your opponent, but a good short term position can be very difficult to decide upon, at least for me it was. For example, in this video Anna gives us the positions to look at. Silman did the same thing in his books. When the time comes to find those few possible positions to choose from, it doesn't seem so easy to me.

[@hdavi_v3.57]

I'm just beginning my chess journey. I appreciate you posting your knowledge.

[@kjelltoreknudsen2195]

Love it. Idea for more videos are to explain the ideas in the Italian game, Spanish and Queens gambit exepted and declined. One thing is det moves but the idea behind them and wich squares Black and White is fighting for :). Thank you for the great videos you are making :)

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Anna, thank you. I believe this was your best video as far as information goes.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Further, in a way you do remind me of Mary Richards. I doubt you'll read this if you do and you don't know the person Mary Richards, she's very famous, check Wikipedia.

[@elindauer]

Out of those moves I think I like Qc1 the best, maybe looking to jump in to h6. But somehow I wanted N2d4, planning to answer e5 w/ Nxf5, holding c3 or even c4 in reserve if I need it, Qxc4 Ne5 being a possible idea for example. I love the focus on the middlegame nice work!

[@visionbishop9517]

Been playing chess for awhile.Never thought of this.I was taught to find the best move,thinking of 3 possible moves never entered my 🧠.I geel like I just leveled up!!! Thankx Anna!!!

[@Chessmemories]

Wow 😍🔥 this is amazing👍 I love watching your videos. Useful as always😎🔥🔥

[@slgarrett]

I love your videos. You make chess brilliance glamorous!

[@Relief4Headaches]

You're amazing...thank you, Anna.

[@uygarbaksi]

thank you, that's pretty instructive lecture.

[@mantzagar]

Anna, can you PLEASE make a playlist with all your educational videos like this one? (e.g. "The BEST Way To Calculate" "The SECRET To Stop Blundering Your Pieces" etc.) Playlist 'Lessons' is not so complete. You are so sweet and communicative. Your work is great! Keep it up! A fan of yours from Greece (Crete)

[@spghose2437]

The way magnus played is to keep the distribution of minor pieces equal for light square and dark square as some of the greats in this line, specially Boby Fischer and Garry Kasparov did. So he followed the best ploy to attack in the middlegame. He could easily go to C1 to A7, however in this level the opponents will surely prepare attack against him.

[@Dmitriy_D]

Those are some good advises here Anna. Thank you!

[@user-IAGCPA]

Anna always makes her instructional videos FUN and INTERESTING by SLOWLY explaining each move and the options available! Other sights blast through the moves at blazing speed!

[@ga4701]

I hope you will continue more of these type of videos!!

[@OlleJonasson-pr8lu]

I learn a lot rhrough your show Anna. Thanks so much.

[@Oldvelocette]

Great video - thanks for posting -

[@nekodayo4785]

Happy video! Thankyou !

[@emmadiaz6734]

1)I think Qc1 because we are a pawn down and if we exchanged we would be in an ending with a pawn down then it will be difficult. So Qc1 2) I thinks is g5 since it follows; hxg5, hxg5 and the rook have a open column and you can atack that column.

[@iofish__]

Thanks for this lesson!

[@minhdao-nn7ho]

Very informative. Thank you

[@2009Neelam]

For vi_pranav i suggest playing g5 because once you play g5 your opponent will play hxg5. you will now play hxg5 threatning the the Queen and trying to play Qh7.Qh7 makes a checkmate and is kind of forced . Even though he can play Qe3 and then Qh3 at least you are up 2 pawns. and that is why i think g5 is the answer.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

Great video! I'd like to have at least 2 more about middlegames.

[@joshtheegotist]

So I tried the Cow with the black pieces, lost to a much higher rated opponent, but it was my own midgame blunders that lost me the game, and despite losing I definitely was giving my opponent hell. I like this opening, I felt immediately comfortable playing with it and thought the dynamics were fun, I will definitely be looking deeper into the Cow.

[@EponaDreams-AmbientDreamscapes]

There should be a tournament where only the Cow is played for either side.

[@fun_g]

@@EponaDreams-AmbientDreamscapes then we could say that the players will have "beef' with each other 😂

[@BryanLawhorn]

Great content! Thank you!!

[@seyedhamidrezamirpoorian2361]

Great video. Thanks Anna!

[@CaptainKirk01]

I love this chess puzzle challenge concept.

[@Mushketer300]

I love your channel so much!

[@rajendransambandam5955]

great i like the teaching u r great sharing all your thoughts honestly which benefits all chess players

[@TheArigor]

Thank you Anna, i love your content. So positiv and educational. A question to the community: In the 2. game the candidate move i came up with is Nc4. Why is this not a candidate move?

[@jacobrickayzen2744]

Love the video and advice

[@snufkin4568]

At 6:50 [anna] completely missed dark square bishop takes the horse on h4, the old “remove the defender tactic” if you take back its check mate, it creates the same issue moving your horse would make in the first place.

[@Besgigobro]

this is so helpful

[@stephanbriem1882]

I'd suggest knight to h4. Exchanging queen allows the opponent to bring his bishop to the e5 square which is good for him. Knight to h4 forces the opponent to eather exchange queens on the d1 square which is good for the development of the white rook or to go to d7 or b5. Queen to c1 is also possible.

[@tbbwolfy8584]

there is a 4th move that is even better than those 3. first good exchange queens arent bad. 2nd no go there is a bishop ready to take the knight and its game over. 3rd maybe ok but still doesnt really do nothing do to the bishop. 4th move i would do would be... pesent at C2 to C3. you will have an attack or protect. either way you might open for pushing his queen out of the threatening spot

[@SorenIsANerd]

In the first game, Nf4 looks interesting, too. Puts pressure on the black queen and helps defend the bishop on g2. I'll probably regret posting this when I watch the rest of the video and realize why it's a bad move. lol. Of the ones you suggest, I was thinking of Qc1, with an eye towards going to h6. [a little later] OMG! I got one right! :D

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

I caught all those options in the first board before you listed them, but on the second board, I missed the winner. Looking at the situation before hearing the options, I went with O-O, but once you suggested g5, I saw that was the move to make.

[@sammyjones3500]

That is helpful Anna. I setup my well defended 'hedgehog' opening then wait for the attack. Don't know best way to proceed.

[@silverchairsg]

I'd like to see Anna (or any chess expert) play Chinese chess. There's a river in the middle, cannons, and two advisors/guards and a general stuck inside a palace in place of the king and queen. The elephants (bishops) and soldiers (pawns) move differently too.

[@alancoe1002]

I may have to make my own pieces for Chinese Chess, as the characters writing on the disks baffle me. The game itself will no doubt baffle me more.

[@cronoscraiss330]

g5 in the second position. trying to open up the h-file eventually.. or at least the g-file with a tempo, and attack on that file.

[@stephanbriem1882]

I think pawn to g5 is the best move. The white queen has to move. If the white queen is exchange white loses the pawn on f6. So if the white queen moves the pawn on h4 can be taken, opening up the g-file for the black rook. Casteling short or long would be to passive in my opinion.

[@robertrichard2322]

17:43 I believe the expression you are looking for is "the final nail in the coffin"

[@frederickbradberry4717]

nice video! thanks!

[@claredawssings]

Me ha encantado esta clase de Ajedrez muchas gracias

[@deviongants3724]

Pretty good I learned something thanks

[@InVersionStudio]

All questions solved . Thanks❤

[@dr.chrisketo7193]

Wunderbar! Danke!

[@thomasvontom]

What i like about anna is this. 1) a great talented player. 2) makes great content for many levels of the game. 3) their is a childish genuine enthusiasm for the game. Its infectious.

[@hexacomb4946]

More videos like this pls

[@LostSoulAscension]

0:57 she's like, 'as if that would ever happen." 😂😂😂

[@nicolasheinemusic]

So - before solution. I would go for Queen C1, cause i could then slide over later to H6 and do some work there maybe. Knight H4 looses on the spot, cause it will be taken by the bishop and mate is threatened. A Trade of queens may not be a good solution, cause white is a pawn down. That's my thoughts.

[@theclashers1055]

I belive knight H4 and bishop takes loses a queen

[@Square-Peg]

Yes "reiterate" is the correct word. And in English the phrase you were looking for is, to finish the game by finding - "the killing blow". :)

[@bagames7473]

that is what I call a good quality video content !!!

[@cosasverdes]

The mascara agrees with the camera. It might be a pain, but making it regular will help the algo! TY for the amazing free content per usual.

[@seansartor]

Excellent presentation 🤩💥

[@mikedee1771]

Just two games but very instructive on general ideas.

[@shannonjones8877]

Somehow my first instinct ended up being the right move both times. Now i just need to be able to do that in actual games.

[@tmithoth8956]

"It's always good to reiterate that" was perfect english 👌 ☺

[@TechyBen]

The subtexts of this video are amazing.

[@Sixsoul]

Anna says the word 'moves' exactly like my cat meows 😹

[@quagapp]

I found both candidate moves, the second because if 0-0 h5 was possible....or sometimes Nf5 (second game)....