The Chess Moves You’re Programmed to Miss: Break Your Blind Spots!

[@fivescoop]

Answer is RookE2 deflecting the Queen from the defence of the rook and both pieces are hanging if rook is taken the Queen hangs, if Queen is taken the rook hangs before recapturing back the queen. If rook isn't taken then Queen takes pawn leads to mate.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice, thank you!

[@lumosity2500]

13:26 when there is tension, there is alignment. Thats how i looked at it. There was already tension with the g2 pawn, and we created tension with the g7 pawn via Qh6, therefore there is an alignment.

[@brainfellow5140]

Dr. Can, thank you for another great video! Re Homework: This one looks straightforward: Re2 It piles up pressure on f2, with mate to follow, but also exposes white queen to direct attack. If black responds: Rxe2, white picks up black queen for free and should win the game, being up queen versus rook. If black responds: Qxf6 first, white has in-between move Rxe1+ and then picks up the black queen Qxf6, and white is up a full rook and should win easily.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much, excellent answer!

[@scipio84-q8l]

For me the helpful comment in your second example was the remark that the g2 pawn is weak - then everything became clear. The same question (what is weak?) helped me solve the puzzle. One of my favourite videos so far!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Weakness awareness is a huge thing, and I am not only talking about positional chess!

[@SatyaDwivedula]

Excellent video, Can. Thanks for exposing us to these chunks and explaining them in a way that sticks in our minds. The key idea is to think outside the box. It is easy to say, but hard to do. Re2 popped into mind instantly! Qxf3 will be met with Rxe1 first, followed by gxf3. Without your video, I wouldn't have spotted it in a million years.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Satya, thank you so much for your kind thoughts! Excellent answer with ...Re2!

[@jefftaylor1186]

My big blind spot has always been seeing powerful early queen checks on the sides of the board(Qa4+, Qh5+ etc). To this day, I just never want to see them in blitz because I’m programmed to not get crazy with the queen.

[@SteveJ-kz1ee]

Another great video lesson. These really help me see the game differently and improve my chess, thank you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Happy to help!

[@twentyrothmans7308]

Raven says Re2 White cannot defend his R on e1 and his Q simultaneously. This was a really good lesson in constricting > capturing. Thank you!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

The raven is a great player too!

[@tonynorriss379]

Yes, I saw that straight away as well. But, only because I had seen the similar example earlier on. Hopefully I will see a few of those positions in my OTB games at the club now.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Hope it will transfer indeed!

[@VihaGowda-z3m]

Oh god such a great video, it is such a resourceful video. Qa3 example was a brilliant game progression. Can't put my joy in words 🤧🤧

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you enjoyed it! So happy to hear your feedback.

[@VihaGowda-z3m]

@@Dr.CansClinic I love the videos from the channel. They contain a lot of useful information. The way you explain the variations is another level. I really appreciate your efforts to share this knowledge with us. I play chess only for fun. But these videos make us BEASTS. In short, We enjoy your video content Dr. You make us to think before most moves.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@VihaGowda-z3m ❤🙏

[@sincity7890]

no mater how much chess is complex game i find it relaxing to my mind . it's pure , got strict rules , everything is black and white and you can always improve ... love the game , love the channel

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Love this comment!

[@johnh-lk8lw]

Explaining the ideas behind these brilliant moves brings them within reach of the average player. Thank you😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you like them! Thanks.

[@TheNamshubofEnki]

Another great video, thank you. Coincidentally, I had just come across that Qh6 move in the Chess Tactics from Scratch book. Discovering the hitherto invisible move is such a great feeling!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! That is a good book too!

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

I am pondering about getting that chess book too. I know a lot about tactics. But the idea of working on the fundaments of tactics appeals. Great you mention that book!

[@tahashajarian7057]

I really like your channel you mention useful points thanks a lot

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you, thank you!

[@shujaatullah3617]

The important points Dr. Can makes in his lectures, I write down verbatim at the back of my Encyclopaedia of Chess Middlegames.😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Love that!

[@EliDollinger]

You presented some very interesting tactics in this video. You are absolutely correct that they are much harder to see than standard tactics. The answer to the homework is Re2.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you Eli! Correct answer! Today you should listen to the podcast episode with Aiden Rayner. We discussed similar themes.

[@lamiales1129]

I've recalled the Fischer's Rf6 against Benko.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Oh yeah! I can see the connection :)

[@VRNocturne]

Moves that are hard for me to see are sacrifices or seemingly moving my pieces into danger. That third position about alignment illustrates that. I probably would have seen queen to h6 because I know I would need to keep the black queen off the h file. But I also would be thinking "but I'm just sending my queen to her death...what do I do then after that?" It's not so much about the point value but it feels like I'm losing options for the future for "no reason". I'm "giving away" something to the enemy and that's hard for me to see a benefit to that. If I played that queen to h6 move, it probably would be in desperation. "I'm going to lose anyway so I'll play this and hope it does something".

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Wonderful examples!!!! I found all the moves..!! Home work position 1… Re2

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! ...Re2! is excellent!

[@maartenschumacher]

In my games I often miss super simple pawn forks. I guess I'm too married to my pawn structure

[@Dr.CansClinic]

In my upcoming blunder-check course, there will be dedicated puzzles on not allowing pawn forks!

[@samcooper8585]

Your commentary makes chess very enjoyable!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So motivating to hear this feedback, thank you!

[@rolandeauten8798]

Hi Doc! Re2 threatens either Qf2! Kh1/Kh2 Qg2# or QxQ. If white Rxe2 then QxQ. If Qxf6 then Rxe1! Kh2 PxQ leaves black with R and Ps V. white just Ps. Either way black can hardly loose 👍🏼!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent!

[@greatdanelegend7001]

Wow, what a beautiful episode. With every example they became a bit easier to spot, even though, when you showed the first example and I couldn't for the life of me find the move, I thought this was going to be one of these episodes that's just above my current pay grade. But I did spot Qh6 and you're right, it's absolutely disgusting. Such a beautiful move. As to the homework, the move is Re2. It threatens the queen and mate in 2 with Qxf2+ followed by Qxg2#. White cannot take the rook because their queen is hanging (the check on e8 following the capture of the queen doesn't do anything). And if Qxf6, at first it looks like we're losing the rook because we have to recapture the queen - or do we? Rxe1 is check, and we can recapture the queen on the following move with an extra rook.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! ...Re2!! is the move indeed!

[@Filipios35376]

Homework: 1... Re2!!. If 2. Qg3, 2. Qf3 to save the mate then 2... Rxe1+ -+. If 2.Kh1 or 2. Kh2, then 2... Qxc3 -+. If 2. Qxf6 then 2... Rxe1+ 3. Kh2 gxf6 -+.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

1...Re2! wins indeed.

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

Love this episode, I have been incorporating mate In one threats and placing pieces en prise into my attack formula and it's paid dividends, I've not thought of doing the same for a defensive measure though, so that was enlightening and that could well be why I couldn't find the first example answer but the next two because of the alignments I found fairly quickly, which I was please about. Homework, ... Re2, is a beautiful move as if Rxe2 we win the Queen, and if Qxf6 Rxe1+, Kh2 gxf6

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much Gary! Excellent answer.

[@lumosity2500]

Btw this book really characterizes your unique channel that blends cognitive science with chess. Very enjoyable, yet instructive content Dr Can!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So happy to hear your words!

[@anthonyjaglal]

A very interesting video 👏🤔 when someone sits on either side of the chess board it seems the mind sees the board in a forward moving mode, when I started chess I never wanted to pull a piece back only with time I started to view the board differently, retreating was a no no ,so with this mental vision when a move is abstract with an unexpected move outside an exchange or moving fully forward it's a suprise,it's like the era of the romantic period of chess there the gang was played in a totally forward vision, where theirs little retreat, followed by sacrifices after sacrifice until position play came about and the view of the board changed in the mind of players,it was so bad in romantic that refusing a sacrifice was frowned upon , enjoyable video 🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent feedback - that surely is one explanation behind not seeing retreating moves!

[@clintongryke6887]

Excellent video.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you very much!

[@Kenjitsuka]

Great video topic, thanks! Re2 threatening mate in 1, dropping the Queen.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Well done, thanks!

[@mikkelhansen3714]

I saw Qh5 pretty fast in the first position, not to brag. But after some simple calculations it's pretty obvious that it's good, the difficulty lies in spotting such a seemingly random move, that hangs your queen, but if you have some good chunks in your brain, you might have seen something similar before

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You are great player with multiple useful chess chunks!

[@mikkelhansen3714]

Im at 10:28 and Qh6 seems to be holding, after gxh6 then gxf3 wins back the queen and a piece. I don't see other ways of holding

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@emilebastien1210]

Example #3 Qh6 (!!)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@pasadenapsych44]

I thought Qg4 was a blunder, and I took the rook! The idea of forward momentum in the position is an interesting one. I hope one day (not far off, I expect) AI can generate a list of chess puzzles that are chiefly based on the accrual of second-order effects. I suspect they are not that uncommon. This was one of those not very common podcasts where I consider reviewing the whole thing, though at just short of 2 hours not sure if it will happen. A terrific episode. If I get serious about reviving my game, I'll take a break from blitz, play some slow games (otb would be nice) and add in some visualization work.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great feedback, thank you so much! You wrote under the wrong video I assume, but I knew you refer to Aiden's episode :)

[@pasadenapsych44]

@@Dr.CansClinic😂 that explains all the mysterious Re2 comments!

[@mathewsamuel1386]

Seems like Qe1 works as well in the game just before the homework? For the homework, the solution appears to Re2.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Qe1 Qh3!

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

Wow, I saw very soon the hard to see moves, just after seeing a few not working candidate moves. Only the last position (10:19 The Alignment that saves the Day) I didn't see. What about 1.Bf5, would that refute the check mate threat too? It seems like it, as: 1...Qh3+ nor 1...Qh4+ would be trouble as the Bishop could take/interfere Blacks Queen aligning with Whites King. And if 1...Be4, 2.Qf1 or the simple 2.Bh3 would safe the day. And if 1...Bxg2+ 2.Rxg2 (forced), Qh4+ 3.Kg1 No checks left for Black. (Not 3.Bh3 or course as the Bishop would be hanging, nor 3.Rh2 as that would give Black the opportunity to double attack, 3...Qf3+ and taking the Bishop at f5 next move). I really hope I didn't missed something obvious. (I like this calculation/visualization exercise anyway,) HOMEWORK: 1...Rh2!!! Whites Queen is hanging, so if 2.Rxe2 then ...Qxc3. Resulting with Queen versus Rook. The check by the White Rook 3.Re8+ doesn't bring any problems. If 2.Qxf6 then ...Rxe1+ 3.Kh2 gxf6. Resulting with a Rook up position. And this is the most neat variation: 1...Rh2!!! 2.Qa1 Yes, both White Rook and Queen protect each other. But the Whites f2 pawn is hanging anyway. So: 2...Qxf2+ 3.Kh1/Kh2 Qg2# For a second I noticed 1...d5 as a candidate move, but that results in a critical weak White square c4, like Qc4+. No advantage/winning game this way. Black is weak in the White squares anyway, White is a little weak in the Black squares. Right? Another candidate move, taking the Rook 1...Rxe1+ is nothing either as 2.Qxe1; no winning game. Hopefully I did my homework flawless. If not, I will punish myself with extra training puzzles 😉 Great video, great examples, insightful and it brings chess enjoyment oh yeah!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent feedback Mark! Homework is ...Re2!! I guess you meant it :)

[@jpc812]

The first homework I think I got right! ...Re2!! If Rxe2, then ...Qxc3! Free Queen If Qxf6, then 1...Rxe1+ 2. Kh2 ...gxf6 and black is up a whole rook. Folks, you are a great chess teacher if you can get this lesson through to this blundering 1000 elo player. Best chess teacher out there. Period.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So humbled by your kind comment...

[@rolandeauten8798]

Hi Dr.Can! You ask for our blind spots. I have trouble with bishops on their home squares. I often fail to consider their long-range attacking threat! As if I’m too focused on developed pieces to consider unmoved bishops. Why only bishops, I don’t know. Respect, Rolande

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Tomorrow a podcast episode is dropping that touches this question! Stay tuned! :)

[@richardsrensen4219]

wow Re2 !! and the Q is short of sq if Qa1 the Q+f2 with mate or Qf6 and R+e1 - nice problems 😀in this videos so thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful!

[@manuelfuentes4509]

Really invisible moves... going back with the pieces, e.g. Queen

[@xSlashPsychic]

Dr. Can, I love your content. Quick feedback though, the phrase is "take stock", not "take a stock". Unless you are trading stocks, of course.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely, thanks for pointing this out. That was a blind spot for me!

[@nicolaschristophorou8671]

Excellent video like always!! I feel that if I ever found a similar move to play in a game on the net, I wouldn't play it for fear of being reported as a cheater... 😂

[@Dr.CansClinic]

:)😅

[@NidusFormicarum]

I didn't find Qh5. My suggestion was Re5, but I guess that is only good for equality?! Rd2 I saw in a blink of an eye. ...Qh6 I found in less than half a minute. I disagree that no calculation is necessary. I had to check ...Bxg2+ followed by Qxg2 and Qe1+ and make sure Black don't have more resources available. All in all, this took me about minute (half a minute of verified that it works, that is). Re2 I found and confirmed that it works in about a minute. Normally such moves are not as crushing as here even if when they are playable and beneficial.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Agreed.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

In minute 3.28 if white , Qh7 ,Rxh7 Rg8+ I think still wining

[@Dr.CansClinic]

But do they have to take on h7?

[@wT-kd6yi]

Great video. Certainly difficult moves to find for me. To improve your channel a tiny bit I'd like to suggest leaving a bit of space for the subtitles. Your English is perfect btw. It's just for us folks who have some hearing problems. Anyway, thanks for the video!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Did you mean leaving a little bit of space on the bottom of the screen for subtitles? I will consider it.

[@rolandeauten8798]

Hi Dr. Can. I don’t know if the subtitles are perfect English, but I hope you’re aware your pronunciation isn’t - NB That’s no criticism; All is comprehensible, and I love your accent. I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea from viewers who don’t hear you well (bless them). Respect 👍🏼

[@wT-kd6yi]

@@rolandeauten8798 Yes i meant that his English is perfectly comprehensible and not the reason for my question to leave some space for subtitles.

[@wT-kd6yi]

@@Dr.CansClinic Yes that's what i meant. Thanks for the consideration. Looking forward to your next lesson.

[@HemalRuparelia1]

At 10:59 - why does the bishop need to move to E4? Doesn’t Qh6 just mate the white king? Ps - thank you for the phenomenal instructional videos!

[@HemalRuparelia1]

Because of the check duh. Saw it the moment I posted of course.

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

@@HemalRuparelia1 I had exactly the same thought. But after 10 seconds I did notice the check again. Great moment of more strong inbedding the insights anyway! 💪

[@briandwi2504]

Some shocking moves there! Enjoyed that. Might be an idea to hide the first comment in future as the homework solution is there and it's a bit of a spoiler. Thanks for another excellent lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! I did not know that I could hide the first comment. Living in my cave...

[@tahashajarian7057]

the move is rock to e2

[@Dr.CansClinic]

rook e2 is excellent!

[@athulprakash4447]

Homework: Re2! f2, e1 and c3 are all now attacked. All the typical responses for white such as Qxf6, Rxe2 are not working. I'm not seeing any interesting lines that white can play. Missing anything to calculate?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

...Re2! is excellent!

[@YashpalSinghKatharria]

Wow.. 😲

[@bruh-ph2tp]

Is it re2 in theHomework position if rxd2 then qxc3 if qxf6 rxd1+ with gxf6

[@bruh-ph2tp]

Also a threat of mate

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@RajeevanKuganathan]

Re2

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes!

[@robwilliams3592]

Enjoyable video... Book looks very promising... General comment about puzzle books: Don't like the format where you have to turn to a different page to review the solutions and comments in so many puzzle books. The puzzles should be on the left page and the solutions on the right page. Saves a lot of time not flipping back and forth. I have the dicipline to cover up the solutions while solving. Sometimes when your a little tired or viewing advanced puzzles and want to enjoy the solutions the left/right format allows you to review without wasting so much time flipping back and forth beteween puzzle and solution pages. In fact on some of the more challenging puzzles just being shown the solution while viewing and visualizing the puzzle, solution can be very beneficial (for me) and maybe others. What a waste of time flipping between puzzle and solution pages... Just my thoughts. Will enjoy reading the book.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your honest feedback - agreed!

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

Well, I disagree politely 😀🙏 How you approach these puzzles, the set up, makes a huge difference. I don't like books with the solutions in sight. My brain is very motivated to find the solution as fast as possible. It's hard not to glimpse. Covering up the solution with a piece of paper first wouldn't work for me either. One glimpse and I already got the hint. (It's the same when someone ask me a question by the way. The intonation and the way the question is structured gives me already a hint of what's going on in the mind of the other most of the time hahaha!) That's the first reason why I like the solutions on the next page or at the end of the book. I use a simple bookmark to start with. And to prevent flipping back and forth after every puzzle, I do more than one puzzle. 4 to 6 puzzles would be the best number for me, as it trains focus, concentration (30 to 90 minutes for these number of puzzle is ideal for me currently). I write down the solution on a piece of paper for every puzzle and all the smart and less smart counter play moves plus how to refute that; part of the solution too. It's not about finding the right answer only, it is about seeing the trying strong counter play too and how to care of that This puzzle approach makes a great intense chess workout, I promise. After one session I can feel that I spend a lot of energy. I need to eat haha! I did several chapters of the the physical book 'Improve Your Chess Tactics: 700 Practical Lessons & Exercises' by Yakov Isaevich Neishtadt' as described above. It helped me a lot to improve visualization, calculation and mind stamina. I will do a few more chapters next year, for sure. What you say about visualization however, that's really great! Yeah, than the solution nearby is neat.

[@robwilliams3592]

@@MarkPersoonlijk you'll notice in the parenthesis it was indicated "for me"... Every one learns a little different...

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

@@robwilliams3592 Yeah, I agree completely. It's great you talked about the subject of where the solutions would be ideally be printed. Thank you for that. I searched for a long time to find a good puzzle book and finding a way to do effective training. Oh, and I forgot to tell, that book Improve your chess tactics, the answers are in the end of the book including a position diagram. Important as indeed else you need to flip back and forth to see the board.

[@robwilliams3592]

@@MarkPersoonlijk Maybe i'll check that book out... Got too many books right now and need to be more disciplined with a learning structure... Anyway doing the Fundamentals Chess Caculation Skills on Chessable and sticking to the timelines has produced a few nice games recently... First half a nice refresher, second half challenging... Consistant structure the key i believe. Good Gaming... TTYL

[@manuelfuentes4509]

...Re2!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@monalimukherjee7060]

Rook e2 . Qxf6 Rxe1 Kh2 hxf6 , we are a rook up. If queen moves, we pick up the free rook.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Nice!

[@anthonyjaglal]

Game

[@fabdelcovillo]

Re2

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes!