Courses

Introduction

Fundamentals

5 Exercises
  1. 1

    Simple pressure on f7

    Course preview

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 Bxf3 6.Qxf3

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an active Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black answers in the center and gives us a clear target for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5 and open the game.

    4. dxc4

      By accepting, Black gives us time to take space.

    5. e4

      We build a big center and prepare to quickly win the pawn back.

    6. e5

      Black strikes back immediately, making the game more tactical.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 without wasting time.

    8. Bg4

      This pin looks logical, but it leaves f7 too exposed.

    9. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back while developing a piece toward the attack.

    10. Bxf3

      Black trades, but mainly removes a useful defender from the king.

    11. Qxf3

      Remember: against ...Bg4, we simply recapture and the pressure on f7 appears naturally.

  2. 2

    Active recapture

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6 6.O-O Be6 7.Nbxd2 Bxc4 8.Nxc4

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an active Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black answers in the center and gives us a clear target for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5 and open the game.

    4. dxc4

      By accepting, Black gives us time to take space.

    5. e4

      We build a big center and prepare to quickly win the pawn back.

    6. e5

      Black strikes back immediately, making the game more tactical.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 without wasting time.

    8. exd4

      Black takes another pawn, but we recover it with initiative.

    9. Bxc4

      The bishop comes out with tempo and our whole game becomes natural.

    10. Nc6

      Black develops a piece without solving the weakness on b7.

    11. O-O

      We get the king to safety before increasing the pressure.

    12. Be6

      This development holds the position, but gives our queen a target.

    13. Nbxd2

      We defend the bishop and prepare active recaptures.

    14. Bxc4

      Black trades our bishop, but frees a strong square for the knight.

    15. Nxc4

      Remember: here, the most important thing is to finish development without losing pressure.

  3. 3

    Model structure

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e6 4.Bxc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e5 Nd5 7.Ne2 O-O 8.O-O

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an active Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black answers in the center and gives us a clear target for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5 and open the game.

    4. dxc4

      By accepting, Black gives us time to take space.

    5. e4

      We build a big center and prepare to quickly win the pawn back.

    6. e6

      Black chooses a solid structure and prepares a calm recapture.

    7. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back without giving up anything in development.

    8. Nf6

      Black attacks e4 and aims for a classical setup.

    9. Nc3

      We defend the center and prepare e5 under good conditions.

    10. Bb4

      This pin is a little annoying, but it pulls Black's bishop away from the king.

    11. e5

      We gain space and chase the knight.

    12. Nd5

      The knight relocates without solving the space problem.

    13. Ne2

      We consolidate e4 and keep our development clean.

    14. O-O

      Black castles, but our center remains more pleasant to play.

    15. O-O

      Remember: in this structure, space and coordination matter more than a forced attack.

  4. 4

    Kingside raid

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e6 4.Bxc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.e5 Nd5 7.Qg4 O-O 8.Bh6 g6 9.Bxf8

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an active Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black answers in the center and gives us a clear target for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5 and open the game.

    4. dxc4

      By accepting, Black gives us time to take space.

    5. e4

      We build a big center and prepare to quickly win the pawn back.

    6. e6

      Black chooses a solid structure and prepares a calm recapture.

    7. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back without giving up anything in development.

    8. Nf6

      Black attacks e4 and aims for a classical setup.

    9. Nc3

      We defend the center and prepare e5 under good conditions.

    10. Be7

      Black wants to castle quickly without challenging our space.

    11. e5

      We gain time on the knight and launch the attacking plan.

    12. Nd5

      The knight relocates, but Black's king remains under pressure.

    13. Qg4

      The queen targets g7 and forces precise replies.

    14. O-O

      Black castles, but the dark-square cover remains fragile.

    15. Bh6

      The bishop enters with force and directly targets the rook.

    16. g6

      This defense holds materially, but it creates lasting weaknesses.

    17. Bxf8

      Remember: when Black castles too quickly, Qg4 followed by Bh6 often gives a simple attack.

  5. 5

    Double recovery

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 bxa4 5.Qxa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an active Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black answers in the center and gives us a clear target for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5 and open the game.

    4. dxc4

      By accepting, Black gives us time to take space.

    5. e4

      We build a big center and prepare to quickly win the pawn back.

    6. b5

      Black wants to keep the pawn, but the structure quickly becomes vulnerable.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack Black's pawn chain.

    8. bxa4

      This move takes a pawn, but gives up the c4-pawn.

    9. Qxa4+

      We recapture with check and gain a useful tempo.

    10. Bd7

      Black blocks the diagonal without keeping the material advantage.

    11. Qxc4

      Remember: against ...bxa4, the key move is Qxa4+ before calmly recapturing on c4.

Queenside

5 Exercises
  1. 1

    a8 rook

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 a6 5.axb5 axb5 6.Rxa8

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare the gambit.

    2. d5

      Black sets up a classical center.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take space and open lines for our pieces.

    6. b5

      Black wants to hold the extra queenside pawn.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack the base of the pawn chain.

    8. a6

      This support looks logical, but it exposes the a8 rook.

    9. axb5

      We remove the defender of the b5-pawn.

    10. axb5

      Black recaptures, but the a-file is now open.

    11. Rxa8

      Remember: against ...a6, opening the a-file is often enough to win the rook.

  2. 2

    Rook versus knight

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Nc3 a6 7.Nxb5 axb5 8.Rxa8 Bb7 9.Ra2

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare the gambit.

    2. d5

      Black sets up a classical center.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take space and open lines for our pieces.

    6. b5

      Black wants to hold the extra queenside pawn.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack the base of the pawn chain.

    8. c6

      This support holds b5, but blocks Black's pieces even more.

    9. axb5

      We open the a-file and remove a defender.

    10. cxb5

      Black rebuilds the chain, but the a8 rook remains fragile.

    11. Nc3

      The knight attacks b5 and prepares tactical motifs.

    12. a6

      Black seems to defend, but allows a known pattern.

    13. Nxb5

      The knight jumps in at the right moment because the rook behind lacks support.

    14. axb5

      Black wins the piece back, but immediately loses heavy material.

    15. Rxa8

      We take the rook and Black's compensation remains insufficient.

    16. Bb7

      The bishop arrives too late to trap our rook.

    17. Ra2

      Remember: when ...a6 appears in this structure, the Nxb5 followed by Rxa8 motif often comes back.

  3. 3

    c7 fork

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Nc3 b4 7.Nb5 a6 8.Bf4 Bb7 9.Nc7+

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare the gambit.

    2. d5

      Black sets up a classical center.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take space and open lines for our pieces.

    6. b5

      Black wants to hold the extra queenside pawn.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack the base of the pawn chain.

    8. c6

      This support holds b5, but blocks Black's pieces even more.

    9. axb5

      We open the a-file and remove a defender.

    10. cxb5

      Black rebuilds the chain, but the a8 rook remains fragile.

    11. Nc3

      The knight attacks b5 and prepares tactical motifs.

    12. b4

      Black gains space, but gives up c7.

    13. Nb5

      The knight is already aiming at the fork.

    14. a6

      Black wants to chase it away, but has no time.

    15. Bf4

      We add another piece and prevent any clean defense.

    16. Bb7

      The bishop finally develops, without stopping the key move.

    17. Nc7+

      Remember: when ...b4 weakens c7, you should immediately think of the knight jump.

  4. 4

    Pawn on d6

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Nc3 Bd7 7.d5 a6 8.Nf3 e6 9.d6 Qb6

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare the gambit.

    2. d5

      Black sets up a classical center.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take space and open lines for our pieces.

    6. b5

      Black wants to hold the extra queenside pawn.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack the base of the pawn chain.

    8. c6

      This support holds b5, but blocks Black's pieces even more.

    9. axb5

      We open the a-file and remove a defender.

    10. cxb5

      Black rebuilds the chain, but the a8 rook remains fragile.

    11. Nc3

      The knight attacks b5 and prepares tactical motifs.

    12. Bd7

      This bishop defends, but remains passive.

    13. d5

      We gain space and cut off Black's piece exits.

    14. a6

      Black looks for air on the queenside without solving the center.

    15. Nf3

      We finish development before driving the pawn in.

    16. e6

      Black finally tries to break free, but it comes too late.

    17. d6

      The pawn settles in and durably disrupts all of Black's coordination.

    18. Qb6

      Remember: in these lines, the pawn on d6 is often worth more than an immediate material gain.

  5. 5

    Deflection on b5

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Nc3 Bd7 7.d5 e6 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.Nxb5 Bxb5

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare the gambit.

    2. d5

      Black sets up a classical center.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect d5.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take space and open lines for our pieces.

    6. b5

      Black wants to hold the extra queenside pawn.

    7. a4

      We immediately attack the base of the pawn chain.

    8. c6

      This support holds b5, but blocks Black's pieces even more.

    9. axb5

      We open the a-file and remove a defender.

    10. cxb5

      Black rebuilds the chain, but the a8 rook remains fragile.

    11. Nc3

      The knight attacks b5 and prepares tactical motifs.

    12. Bd7

      This bishop defends, but remains passive.

    13. d5

      We gain space and cut off Black's piece exits.

    14. e6

      Black seeks central liberation, but opens squares.

    15. dxe6

      We take this lever before Black solves the problems.

    16. fxe6

      Black's structure is damaged and the king loses safety.

    17. Nxb5

      The knight sacrifices itself to deflect the bishop and open the attack.

    18. Bxb5

      Remember: the d5, dxe6 then Nxb5 pattern is mainly used to deflect the bishop on b5.

Central pressure

5 Exercises
  1. 1

    Pressure on b7

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6 6.O-O Be6 7.Nbxd2 Nf6 8.Qb3 Bxc4 9.Nxc4

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an ambitious Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black occupies d5 and gives us the right framework for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect Black's center.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take central space immediately.

    6. e5

      Black counters in the center and makes the position more open.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 and keep development smooth.

    8. exd4

      Black takes another pawn, but the king remains in the center.

    9. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back while developing an active piece.

    10. Nc6

      The knight comes out without solving the weakness on b7.

    11. O-O

      We get the king to safety before increasing the pressure.

    12. Be6

      This development looks healthy, but it already invites Qb3.

    13. Nbxd2

      We protect the bishop and prepare a more active queen.

    14. Nf6

      Black finishes development, but the weak squares remain.

    15. Qb3

      The queen targets b7 and f7 at the same time, stretching Black's defense.

    16. Bxc4

      Black trades, but does not remove our initiative.

    17. Nxc4

      Remember: when the queen reaches b3, b7 and f7 become the two real breaking points.

  2. 2

    Breakthrough on b7

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6 6.O-O Bg4 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Bxf7+ Qxf7 9.Qxb7 Rd8

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an ambitious Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black occupies d5 and gives us the right framework for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect Black's center.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take central space immediately.

    6. e5

      Black counters in the center and makes the position more open.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 and keep development smooth.

    8. exd4

      Black takes another pawn, but the king remains in the center.

    9. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back while developing an active piece.

    10. Nc6

      The knight comes out without solving the weakness on b7.

    11. O-O

      We get the king to safety before increasing the pressure.

    12. Bg4

      This pin forgets that Black's queen will have to defend everything.

    13. Qb3

      We attack b7 and f7 at the same time, putting Black under pressure.

    14. Qd7

      This move defends f7, but makes Black's queen passive.

    15. Bxf7+

      We force the lines open and drive Black's queen away.

    16. Qxf7

      Black has to accept, but moves away from the real weaknesses.

    17. Qxb7

      We win material just as the whole defense collapses.

    18. Rd8

      Remember: with Qb3 in place, the sacrifice on f7 is often used to loosen b7.

  3. 3

    Mate on e6

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6 6.O-O Bg4 7.Qb3 Bxf3 8.Bxf7+ Ke7 9.Qe6#

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an ambitious Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black occupies d5 and gives us the right framework for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect Black's center.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take central space immediately.

    6. e5

      Black counters in the center and makes the position more open.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 and keep development smooth.

    8. exd4

      Black takes another pawn, but the king remains in the center.

    9. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back while developing an active piece.

    10. Nc6

      The knight comes out without solving the weakness on b7.

    11. O-O

      We get the king to safety before increasing the pressure.

    12. Bg4

      This pin forgets that Black's queen will have to defend everything.

    13. Qb3

      We attack b7 and f7 at the same time, putting Black under pressure.

    14. Bxf3

      Black trades, but opens the mating diagonal.

    15. Bxf7+

      We lure the king onto a square where it lacks escape squares.

    16. Ke7

      The king has only one precarious retreat.

    17. Qe6#

      Remember: when Black's king comes out to e7, the queen on e6 is often the final square.

  4. 4

    Royal fork

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 exd4 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Ne5+ Ke8 8.Qxg4

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an ambitious Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black occupies d5 and gives us the right framework for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect Black's center.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take central space immediately.

    6. e5

      Black counters in the center and makes the position more open.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 and keep development smooth.

    8. Bg4

      This pin ignores Black's lag in development.

    9. Bxc4

      We recover the pawn while activating the bishop on the long diagonal.

    10. exd4

      Black captures in the center, but the king remains in danger.

    11. Bxf7+

      The sacrifice destroys the castled position and forces the king out.

    12. Kxf7

      Black accepts, but becomes exposed in the middle of the board.

    13. Ne5+

      The knight arrives with check and attacks Black's bishop at the same time.

    14. Ke8

      The king retreats, but remains badly placed and uncoordinated.

    15. Qxg4

      Remember: against an exposed king, the Bxf7+ followed by Ne5+ sequence is often the right mechanism.

  5. 5

    Sacrifice on g6 (1)

    1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 c5 6.Ne5 Be6 7.Bxe6 fxe6 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Nxg6 hxg6

    1. d4

      We take the center and prepare an ambitious Queen's Gambit.

    2. d5

      Black occupies d5 and gives us the right framework for c4.

    3. c4

      We offer the pawn to deflect Black's center.

    4. dxc4

      Black accepts and gives us the initiative.

    5. e4

      We take central space immediately.

    6. e5

      Black counters in the center and makes the position more open.

    7. Nf3

      We protect e4 and keep development smooth.

    8. exd4

      Black takes another pawn, but the king remains in the center.

    9. Bxc4

      We win the pawn back while developing an active piece.

    10. c5

      Black gains space, but opens holes around the king.

    11. Ne5

      The knight centralizes and puts f7 at the heart of the position.

    12. Be6

      Black appears to defend, but overloads that bishop.

    13. Bxe6

      We remove the main defender of Black's king.

    14. fxe6

      This recapture damages the structure and opens the dark-square diagonal.

    15. Qh5+

      The check forces an additional concession around the king.

    16. g6

      Black blocks the queen, but durably weakens the entire castled position.

    17. Nxg6

      The knight jumps in at the right moment and Black's position remains in great danger.

    18. hxg6

      Remember: after ...fxe6 and ...g6, the sacrifice on g6 often becomes the strongest move.