Revolutionary Positional Chess Principles/Concepts. Stoltz vs Boleslavsky

In chess, positional principles and concepts are crucial to evaluating positions, making plans and executing them. However, sticking to these principles too strictly can turn a player into a dogmatist and limit his flexibility and creativity. We’ll explore how creativity beyond traditional principles can elevate your game. We’ll examine a game played by a great theoretician Isaac Boleslavsky. In this game, Boleslavsky voluntarily creates a backward pawn and a weak square in his position, thus violating a very important positional principle. However, in return he gets a tremendous counterplay and his monster bishops simply tear the enemy position apart. As a result, The Boleslavsky variation revolutionized chess theory and became a common line in the Sicilian defense.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bc4 Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Na5 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. g4 Nxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Kh1 b5 17. b4 Qc4 18. Qxc4 Rxc4 19. Re1 Bc8 20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 Bb7 22. Kh2 Rxb4 23. b3 Rc8 24. Re3 Rd4 25. Rg1 Kf8 26. Bxf6 Bxf6 27. Rg4 b4 28. Na4 Rxc2 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Re1 Rxf2+ 31. Rg2 Rf3 32. Rc2 d3 33. Rc7 Be5+ 34. Kg1 d2 35. Rd1 Bd4+ 36. Kh2 Rf2+ 37. Kg3 Bxe4 38. Rc4 Rf3+ 39. Kh2 Be5+ 40. Kg1 d5 41. Rc8+ Ke7 42. Rxd2 Bf4 43. Rb2 Be3+ 44. Kh2 Rf1 45. Kg3 Rg1+ 46. Kh2 Rg6 0-1

[@PatrickPray]

Highly educational. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this is the most underrated chess channel on KZbin. This channel will have 100k subscribers sooner or later.

[@chesswisdom]

Thanks a lot for your kind words.

[@YingTou1]

Concur.

[@davidschneide5422]

Agreed.

[@CheckmateSurvivor]

Please check out Gaugamela Chess. You gonna like it. The setup is as following: krnnqbbr/pppppppp/pppp4/8/8/4PPPP/PPPPPPPP/RBBQNNRK/

[@davidschneide5422]

I've studied chess theory, principles, strategies, and tactics...but when the clock starts, all I remember are the rules.

[@amosdraak3536]

An interesting opening idea. I recall Lasker played an early e5 in his ninth game with Schlechter (1910 WCC), and did quite well. Capablanca mentioned how it’s not easy to get the backward pawn and essentially that it is a practically good move. @ 9:32 when White avoided continuing to fight for d5, it’s possible he considered his influence over the square binding enough to label the center as “closed,” and to allow him to play on the wing. However the “lifeline of the Sicilian,” the c file, gave enough play to Black to activate his pieces, and all the way through the rest of the game, the d pawn managed to survive. So his battle for the d5 square was a great success. Good day

[@dr.deepakgore1079]

Very nice game positional game with best analytical commentary 🎉❤

[@YingTou1]

Yes.

[@ayukochaayuknso3645]

Just discovered your channel last week and I'm already hooked. Highly educative and helpful. Thanks alot Chess Wisdom

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@ashoksafaya5397]

Highly educative analysis, thanks with due respect.

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you too.

[@chazuke]

Thank you. This game is very complicated. Enough interesting variations for a 2h analysis. Great video.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@Hopeful584]

I recently subscribed to this channel...I like your intros😊 though am not an active chess player but I enjoy the wars. The games reflect the character of the players. Thanks very much.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@mcronrn]

Excellent 👏👏

[@crama1963]

Excellent

[@northshores7319]

Soviet games from 46' to70' were full of innovations in the Sicilian which is why Fischer tried to avoid it his Match with Spassky. There were so many to notch players who spent massive amounts of time looking for new moves that the results were just like having a Deep Blue to use. Chess creativity was an area full of men eager to get to the bottom of positions so unlike today where the computer does the work for you. Thanks for the good show.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@adriannudelman4519]

Absolutamente agree Mr. North. Its True.

[@edsanjenis9416]

Boleslavsky was not the first with e5 concept, it was the genius Paulsen and later Nimzovitch; let give credit to the old masters

[@kingberzerk]

e4xd5 Qa5+ and Q×d5 in the line with the immediate Nd5 variation - couldn't resist.

[@chesswisdom]

Yes, the engine shows that Qa5+ is the best move, however, White plays Qd2, defending the d5 pawn. Eventually Black still wins a pawn (the c4 pawn - 13....Qa5+ 14.Qd2 Nb4 15.0-0 Qc5 16.c4 Qxc4 17.b3 Qb5 18.a4 Qb6), I just didn't show that long variation, and talked about the standard idea instead.

[@kingberzerk]

@@chesswisdom Completely reasonable.

[@ashoksafaya5397]

Sir, watching again as Nakamura has played the same e5 in the opening round of 2024 candidates and also to remind myself where I have already watched, thanks once again.

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you too, sir.

[@ashoksafaya5397]

Thanks Sir.

[@WHAT-gm1xm]

Can you put images and players name front of which colour piece with playing

[@YingTou1]

Honored to be the first to thank you.

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you too.

[@YingTou1]

@@chesswisdom Your videos are a paragon of clarity and lucidity. (Like being twelve again and having this great math or physics teacher.)

[@gaopinghu7332]

Do you mind if I ask you what your elo is?

[@chesswisdom]

Sure. I don't have an official rating. My blitz rating on chess.com is around 2250.

[@gaopinghu7332]

@@chesswisdom Wow. That's a lot.

[@je9625]

Nice video but too long. Reduces engagement. Keep below 15 minutes.

[@f3dor0vsergey]

I do not agree.

[@jimmyfuckthechainofcommand4332]

I'm sure his engagement will get better and that is not a bad thing, but that's not the goal of his videos from what I can see. For an educational analysis videos, 20-30 minutes is great and sometimes even more time may be needed. He shouldn't sacrifice that just to get more viewers. Some things need time.

[@user-tv8ws3rq1p]

What is it with the increasing and widespread craving for the quick fix?

[@BREAKocean]

This is proper old school analysis not everything has to be short