The Perfect Position To Test Your Calculation Skills

[@subishamoodadi4275]

i would really like if you were to continue such series

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I will definitely post more calculation videos like this, but my calculation course on Chessable contains around 330 similar puzzles! And it is on sale right now ☺️

[@eschiedler]

Thanks for finding an excellent example of the challenge of finding and evaluating choices in a position. edit: Congrats on going viral on twitter.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Much appreciated! 🙏 Hope you found it useful.

[@Valentin439]

you are a great teacher

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It is so motivating to hear, thank you ❤️

[@carlitotumibay2675]

Excellent lesson!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you!

[@3Slippers]

What a fantastic little lesson! Beautiful :)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️🙏

[@AgentSmith-w8s]

This was a tough one,but i like where you make the thought process happen before showing it on the board.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback.

[@AgentSmith-w8s]

@@Dr.CansClinic I dont care if your najdorf takes another year i'll wait,just don't make it drawish lol

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It will probably take a year :) We will go for strategic imbalances rather than tactical chaos!@@AgentSmith-w8s

[@fivescoop]

Being an 1800 I thought of Rook E5 on the second calculation after seeing that the Queen can take the rook on the first line. I didn't calculate the other lines because I found that rook E5 leads to unstoppable mate. If a move leads to unstopable mate(a forced sequence leading to mate) there's no need to look at other lines like rook E8 which hangs the advantage.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Congrats, and thanks for the feedback + your rating! Absolutely, once you see a forced mate, you don't need to find anything else.

[@jasonparker6138]

That's strong af. 👏. Is that 1800 fide?

[@timwoods3173]

Thank you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You're welcome 🙏

[@JimothyMcgee]

Came here from pifflestick's video. Great lesson.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I really liked how he made a live video about it, laying down his thoughts on the go.

[@andrejennings1577]

Thank you for a great lesson 🙂

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure! 🙏

[@MsKkk2002]

Thank you for this very instructive video, full of insight on how to read a complex position, riddled with pitfalls (definitely not for beginners!). Keep up the good work.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great feedback, thanks!

[@pakasokoste]

Awesome video I enjoyed it a lot!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏

[@danphillips8530]

Also, thank you for the practice.

[@jasonparker6138]

After 1 second, my first candidate was Bh3. After 5 or 10 seconds, I was CERTAIN Re2 had to be the move. What else can it be? Then I heard you say, "spend 5 or 10 minutes" calculating. I was like "oh, wait a minute..." Dang that wishful thinking, lol. Gets me every time. I'll say more below in a reply.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback, that happens to all of us. The brain likes to conserve energy.

[@jasonparker6138]

After another minute or so, I saw Re2 fails to QxR and then Re1. Which made me aware of the back rank issue. That lead me to reject Re8 because of Re1 followed by Qe2. I only looked at Re6 for a split second and rejected it because it blocked the bishop. No calculation. Then I saw 1...Bb7 2.fxe3 Qh1+ 3 Kf2 Qxh2+ 4 Ke1 Qxc2. Winning material, but still could be messed up. So look for more forcing moves. At this point, it had been about 5-6 minutes and I was considering Re7 and Re5 as the likely correct first moves. I started looking at for ways white could threaten my back rank after Re7. I became fascinated with 1....Re7 2. axb5. It took me a while to recognize that my queen was protecting a8, so Ra8 mate is not really there. But it would still be better if my queen didn't have to take on a8, so I decided that 2...Bb7 3. Ra8+ Bxa8 still allows me to force mate. For some reason I never came back to consider 2. Re1 after 1...Re7. I just assumed things would work out because white isn't mating me next move. So that is a hole in my calculation. I would say I spent 10-15 minutes before I decided Re7 and Re5 were the correct first moves. The position was way more complex than I thought at first. Thanks for the lesson! 🙏👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@jasonparker6138 Thank you so much for this excellent feedback! Good that you looked further even after seeing you could win the queen in that 1...Bb7 line! It is a sort of money-in-the-pocket scenario, and if you cannot find something stronger, you can always go ahead and enter that line.

[@jasonparker6138]

@@Dr.CansClinic That's a great way to think about it. Thank you. Btw, in case it is useful to you, my chesscom rapid rating is ~1600. Lichess rapid is ~1900. Don't have a fide rating.

[@cwgriffin1]

Thanks. Another outstanding video. There are at least a 100 youtube videos on how to get to (name the rating number). The answer is that no matter what level you are looking to achieve the answer is "Learn How to Calculate Better." Your video was a Masterclass on how to improve you calculating skills.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! Really motivating!

[@jamesleach9444]

thank you, brilliant!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You're welcome! 🙏

[@matthiaswolfl9759]

Love it! Dr.Can: the Art of making chess (even more) exciting!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ Such a beautiful game.

[@greatdanelegend7001]

This position is indeed beautiful. I got most of it right except when it was time to move the rook back down the e file. I thought it needed to be Re6 or Re5 with the point being that the rook is defended there, and didn't see the follow-up to Re6. But it makes perfect sense that Re7 works: it doesn't matter if White takes the rook as long as it's not mate, if we have unstoppable mate on the next move

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Lovely feedback. Excellent analysis!

[@Aramalisadventures]

Very interesting example! Thank you for the nice video as always! Greetings from Beirut, Lebanon! I am amazed that you are relating chess to science; as a science channel (personally I am a mechanical engineer and a certified chess coach) I always look ways to try to relate chess to science with experiments, but still could not find ways. I think practically there isn’t any relation between science experiments and chess rather just as concept-wise and thinking process!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback as always! ☺️ Yes, I think you are right. The similarity mostly resides in the conceptual level and the general approach to ideas/hypothesis and falsification. This taking a step back and seeking for counterevidence from the world before playing our "good-looking" moves. This resembles the hypothesis testing and Popper's ideas on the scientific method. Always happy to discuss further! Thanks.

[@jamescahill3175]

Its amazing how easy it was to overlook the back rank mate, great lesson 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts!

[@oleksandrmakarets3508]

I think I picked 3 candidates initially. Bh3, Re1 and Re2. Re1 I rejected instantly because R:e1 is a checkmate threat. Then I tried Bh3 and saw ef and no mate after Qe3 Qf2. Then I tried Re2 and rejected on account of Q:e2 and Re1, queen is lost. Then I went back and noticed Bb7 which should have been on the list. Only move is ef, then Qh1, Q:h2, Q:c2 is forcing. Black is clearly winning so I didn't look further. Re5 and Re7 I haven't even considered.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback! I went through a similar process when I first saw this position actually. As long as you make sure ...Bb7 is winning, you don't need to find ...Re5 or ...Re7 in a practical game I would say, with clock ticking down.

[@lucky166]

Hmm the first thing I saw was bh3 but it failed by simple f2 pawn take rook then queen protects the mate.. and the second one thing I saw was putting rook on e2 attacking the white queen but I instantly show it failed to brilliant queen take e2 rook!! Bishop b7 line was the final correct line I saw!! But I didn't saw mate in three by simply putting the rook down lol.. thanks for the video! I always like your calm voice sir!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback and your kind thoughts ☺️🙏 1...Bb7 is also winning, so congrats in seeing the entire line!

[@BrennenChua]

hmmm Then Re4 should also work? But it doesn't, because of axb5, I suppose. It would have been nice if axb5 was also included in the main Re5 line.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for reminding me of those two important lines I should have covered, this position is too rich! 1...Re4 also works as after 2. axb5 we have ...Re5! anyways, and Black wins as the queen covers a8. 1...Re5 2. axb5 Bb7 should have been mentioned indeed!

[@BrennenChua]

@@Dr.CansClinic hehe, I should've calculated Re4 axb5 at least one ply deeper. I just had the conclusion first (it doesn't work), and didn't bother to falsify (like a scientist, which you always recommend.) :P Need to re-watch all your videos on calculation, and do some exercises.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Love the feedback, please do not hesitate asking questions along the way!@@BrennenChua

[@jaybingham3711]

Re7 is a gangsta troll move. Loose piece lure. And you just know white was totally thrilled earlier upon winning the exchange. Oof!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

...Re7 is stylish indeed! Especially if you figure out its strength over ...Re8!

[@danphillips8530]

Rook e5 was my second choice after my first move back rank mated me. I was ready for my title when I found the mate sequence.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful! The road to the title passes through such rich exercises.

[@RobChatburn]

I am a scientist. Great reference to scientific method

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you and hello to the fellow scientist! ☺️

[@ChessTurbalence]

i accidentally set the position on my chess board wrong and placed the D1 rook on C1 and I saw all the the sequences you mentioned but after bb2 fxe3 Qh1 Kf2 Qxh2 the white queen was defended then I reopened the video and immediate realised that the rook is on C1 so the queen is undefended so bb2 was correct 😅

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is funny, thanks for sharing :)

[@CC-ii3ij]

Beautiful!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@vaccaphd]

Bishop b7 without thinking.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great! Do you think once you see ...Bb7, should you still search more to find the stronger ...Re5?

[@michaelmoreno6431]

I confirm weak back rank immediately seen. Then -> 0.1s Bh3. Rejected within 0.5s. then Bb7 and white queen captured within 5-10s max. Then I moved to Re2 and did not consider Queen take rook. DOOOH!!!!

[@irjake]

I had the same thought process and ended up with the same faulty analysis. Even though he said to take several minutes considering the position, I underestimated the complexity. 😅

[@NidusFormicarum]

About the same here, except I didn't even consider 1 ... Re2. Why would I? I want to check mate, not win a stupid queen! Only if I found no immediate mate, would I go back and look for alternates. I immediately saw that it didn't work when suggested in the video, but even if you miss 3 Re1, why would you allow 3 ab? Yes, it is winning for Black, but you have already recognized potenial back rank problems and some work has still to be done to win. So my advice would be to only look for a potential immediate check mate before you consider other alternatives. If you find one, you don't have to waste your time looking at other candidate moves. I also made a mistake so don't worry. :)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I hear. you. ...Re2 was also my candidate when I first saw the position. I guess the orientation phase and the awareness of the backrank issue may help you smell the countertactic for White after 1...Re2.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

What was your solution?

[@Nocturnalcuber]

Indeed a great video. Just a simple question, what do you suggest to someone like me who has seen the entire thing within 10 seconds and found Re5 and Bh3 instantly?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much, and congratulations as you found the ...Re5 line extremely quickly! I would say go for harder puzzles, perhaps "Perfect Your Chess" from Volotikin and Grabinsky. But you should also try to identify your blindspots when it comes to calculation. Is it about poor goal-setting, not generating several candidate moves, or missing the opponent's resources?

[@Nocturnalcuber]

@@Dr.CansClinic You mentioned very accurately, when it comes to identifying about the opponent's resources in a complex position, i 60% of time fail to comprehend.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Then you should check my most recent course on Chessable: www.chessable.com/my-opponents-move-identifying-threats-mistakes-and-misconceptions/course/163950/

[@jasonparker6138]

You are ready for Kotov's Think Like a Grandmaster and Keres' Art of the Middle Game.

[@outposter7281]

Very nice position, but my main line was not covered! It took me a while to dismiss Re2? I did not see 1…Re7!, but 1…Re5 2.axb Bb7! covering a8! I‘m 2050 on lichess blitz, btw!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Ah, thank you so much for mentioning it, I should have covered that line...

[@rosscup_yt]

What about Re4?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That allows axb5 with Ra8 ideas (the queen no longer controls the a8-square).

[@manuelfuentes4509]

Yay! After 30 sec I decided for Bb7 and saw the entire line. Didn't look blurry either. Oh no!!! I didn't see Rd5

[@Dr.CansClinic]

As long as you see one clean winning line, you don't need to search for more in a practical game. So don't be too harsh on yourself! ☺️

[@giacomo5626]

Ok but Re4 is the most beautiful and still mating!!

[@jasonparker6138]

what about axb5?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

...Re4 axb5 and then what? Your rook is blocking your queen's access to a8.

[@frodounderhill7084]

Is this composed or from a game?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It came from an analysis of a position (a student game).

[@gavinjones8543]

Thanks. Video proves that chess positions are like an Onion.. There are layers and layers. Such a beautiful game! 😊😊😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful onion analogy! Thanks.

[@magicvoice0741]

❤❤❤❤❤👏👏👏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️🙏☺️

[@pifflesticks]

I'm looking forward to this!🐐 Edit: Hey Dr.! I made a video of me trying to solve your puzzle on my channel. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for the instructive challenge!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Hope you will like it and find it useful 🙏