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how to play against isolated pawn
How to Play Against an Isolated Pawn
NM Viktor Neustroev
07.26.2017
NM Viktor Neustroev
The isolated pawn is a very common middlegame theme. Thus, it is very important to know the strategy for playing with and against it. In my previous article I've covered the general ideas of playing with the isolated pawn, if you missed it, you can always review it here. The importance of this topic is related to the fact that isolated pawn positions can arise from a huge number of openings: Queen’s Gambit, Queen’s Indian Defense, Nimzo-Indian Defense, French Defense, Caro-Kann Defense (Panov Attack) and even the Sicilian Defense. In today’s article, I will describe the main plans for successfully playing against the isolated pawn. Let’s get started.
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10 Best Chess Games by Wesley So
Yury Markushin
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Yury Markushin
Wesley So is a Filipino chess prodigy currently represented US. He is number 2 rated chess player in the world behind only Magnus Carlsen. Wesley So set a record by being the youngest player to cross 2600, previously held by Carlsen. So has a very aggressive and tactical style, who likes to sacrifice his queen or any other pieces for starting a devastating attack. At the same time, his play is very solid and reliable. Today we will see some of Wesley So’s best games.
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french defense
Crushing French Defense – The Korchnoi Gambit
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
02.11.2015
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos

 The French is among the most popular defenses against 1.e4 and for a good reason. It is a very solid choice, but at the same time quite aggressive. Black's counterplay on either wing (this depends on the specific variation) offers him an opportunity to unbalance the game and take white into a very sharp and double edged battle right from the very first moves.

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Openings Ideas Middlegame Advice Endgame Strategies
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
01.23.2017
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
Understanding the game of chess is not something exclusive to the world top players. Chess can be understood by all chess fans and enthusiasts who are willing to learn new things about the game every day. In this article, we would like to explain to you how you can improve your level and get closer to the mind of a Grandmaster.
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
An important notion that one comes across when starts studying chess is planning. As in everyday life, you need to know what you are going to do on the chessboard. Not only this, but you should try to find the best idea in accordance to your position.
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Yury Markushin
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"How to improve at chess" is perhaps the most common and important question a chess player of any strength asks. In today's article, we will focus more closely on this very important topic. Together, we will try to understand what are the seven training mistakes that you should avoid at all costs in order to get better at chess.
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
There is nothing we could say now that hasn't been said before about the Sicilian Defense. It is one of the greatest options for black against 1.e4. It has been played by every world champion and was the favorite of the greatest geniuses like Fischer, Tal, Kasparov and many others. Studying the games in the Sicilian Defense is much more than learning the latest opening theory; it is about learning chess in general.
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WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
09.21.2016
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
This article is a continuation to our previous survey on the Torre Attack against the Indian Defenses with 1…Nf6 and 2...g6. Once we have studied the Torre system against the Fianchetto Defenses, it is time to have a look inside the equally popular Nimzo/ Queen’s Indian tandem.
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Typical Pawn Formations: The Staunton Pawn Structure
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
11.09.2015
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
Very often in the English Opening we can find on the board the so-called Arab pawn structure, or the Staunton pawn structure, as I learned it. It is probably one of the most aesthetic pawn formations, with 4 pawns in the in the center accompanied by the knight pawns one square behind. With a little imagination we can think of a castle with two towers on each side.
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