5 Rules for Playing Closed Positions | Chess Middlegame Strategy

[@wooju08]

As a fellow french player, this video was extremely helpful! I hope you keep up the great content❤

[@Whatever-qr1li]

Thanks for another great video! You are the only streamer that I have found who actually presents chess concepts in a manner that beginners can apply in their games. Other streamers are knowledgeable and entertaining, but they pile on too much additional and distracting information that beginners, like myself, are not able too use yet. We aren’t looking for the 6 consecutive moves that might give us a slightly better position. Our opponents, after all, are also beginners …

[@jasonparker6138]

I agree with this comment completely. I just subscribed after watching the video.

[@iankemp1131]

Nice video and explanation. In closed positions you have time to work against structural weaknesses because they won't go away. To me White's big weakness is the backward b pawn. He can't play b4 because then he loses a pawn to Bxc4. Pawn moves are committal (point 1) so I'm hesitant to play a5; the pawn could be a target and I might want that square for a Knight. My instinct is to play Rb6 intending Rab8 and ramping up the pressure on the b pawn while keeping good piece activity. White might want to play Bc1-a3 to attack the c5 pawn, but then we have Na5 available. If the b pawn goes, the c pawn probably will as well, and then we have two connected passed pawns. Sometimes "a threat is stronger than its execution"; the passed d-pawn is always there as a threat that White will have to keep an eye on. Incidentally I don't necessarily agree with the idea that Knights are more valuable than Bishops in closed positions. True for "bad" Bishops, but your other "good" Bishop is valuable, including as a defensive piece; without it, you have no way to stop outposts and invasions on the opposite coloured squares to your pawn chain. And if someone can make a break and the position opens up, the Bishops may suddenly become more useful.

[@sarrystylesofficial]

My day immediately gets better when I see a new video from you. I love playing closed positions so this is very helpful.

[@Anonymityfan]

I would play Rb6 or a5 first to target the b pawn. Great video.

[@LumixLeo]

Great video, I’ve been struggling with my middle game but you’re helping me understand what I should look out for and how to progress in many situations

[@tearsoftelos]

In this position I would most likely play Rxb3. I think looks like you would get just enough compensation and piece activitie to make the position equal. But it would be a lot more fun to play for me.

[@justinc0336]

Wow I missed that. The more I look at, the more it looks correct though. It’s somewhat ironic that she said to not look for a winning tactic and yet somehow one is actually here.

[@asdf14051]

am i stupid? what am i missing?

[@justinc0336]

@@asdf14051 bishop will take the pawn and hit the queen and rook.

[@richterscales]

1…Rxb3 2. Rxb3 Bxc4 3. Rd3 Bxd3 4. Qxd3 c4 5. Qf1 (5. Qe2 d3 picks up a piece) c3 6. Bc1 and I think I’d rather have black’s passed pawns for a bishop. My plan B is probably 1…a5 to immobilize the b3 pawn before piling onto it.

[@jasonparker6138]

@@richterscales I like your plan, too... a5 and then double rooks on b file. But I totally missed the tactical option Rxb3, which looks very promising. I am thinking instead of 5.Qf1 maybe 5.Qa3 so that after c3 white has the option of returning the bishop for black's two dangerous connected passed pawns. So it ends up being a big trade.

[@michaelallport5816]

You are my chess soulmate.

[@johnspivack]

fix and attack the backward pawn. start with a5. then double rooks on the open file.

[@jasonparker6138]

agree.

[@LumixLeo]

I would play bishop to h4. If the trade is accepted I would win a knight for a bishop in a closed position. If the rook slides away, I could have a fork or win a pawn while also having an opportunity to get my knight to an outpost on the c file

[@cho4d]

queen d8 was what i was thinking of starting with then knight a5 coming

[@raymoore3067]

Your very good very natural at chess. Why did no one teach you this game at 6 or 7yo. Can you imagine.

[@timt8027]

When a pawn has an oposing pawn in front of it: this is not considered a backwards pawn.

[@amjadalampool]

a5

[@matthewcerreta7522]

How do u kmow which style u prefer..

[@user-pq8cq9cv1h]

…a5

[@Barrosvbp]

Love it. Are going to do speedrun?

[@JOHNTUCHESS]

Nice video .thanks y

[@An.Ordinary.Person]

I am the first viewer of the video ! great content Kamryn

[@antonmarmuta6032]

as black I would play a4

[@donkeykong1234]

of all the nerdy chess terminology i hate this one lol - prophiliation H

[@pearsonfamily9340]

Do you have an insta or fanhouse you can link up please