Openings

Reti Opening has been, for a long time, a second or third opening choice for white, being considered a dull and harmless alternative to the more popular 1.d4 or 1.e4. However, things could not be farther from the truth. In fact, its founder, Richard Reti, considered these moves to be inferior, since black could immediately […]

Najdorf Sicilian Opening, named after the Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, is probably one of the most popular openings among chess players. Whether they play it or not, most players have already seen many famous games played in this particular variation. Not only this, but beautiful games still spring every time the Najdorf appears in top-level […]

A-Pawn Advance: When we talk about attacks, most people automatically assume that there will be an attack against the opponent’s king. While these are a lot of fun and can lead to sharp positions with beautiful tactical possibilities, it is not always possible to start one. Some positions require different types of play and starting […]

1.b3: “What should I play today” is one of the most common questions among chess players. Even if you have a clear repertoire, it always happens to find that one opponent who plays exactly the line you feel most uncomfortable with. It would be ideal to be prepared for this kind of situation and have […]

Pawn structures, their studying, and understanding the typical plans in each one of them is one important step to improving your chess level. It will help you find the best plans in the position easier, you will already know where the pieces go, what you should be looking for, what to avoid and what your […]

Catalan and Dominating Weaknesses in it. The concept of weakness is the most basic part of positional chess. Weak squares and weak pawns are ideas that you must juggle throughout the whole game. The choice of a correct plan is most of the time based on correctly identifying targets of attack in the opponent’s position.

Modern Defense: are you ready to learn it? One of the most important steps for a chess player is deciding on a reliable repertoire that will become their trusted weapon in future games. There are so many things to address – where to start, how do I know which opening is best and most suitable […]

Tarrasch Defense is one of the most ambitious replies to white’s 1.d4 and usually arises after the moves 1.d4-d5 2.c4-e6 3.Nc3-c5, although the same set-up can be ultimately achieved from other move orders. Black is fighting for the initiative right from the start by occupying the center, gaining space, and harmoniously developing his pieces. It […]

Catalan has been a rather exclusivist opening for many years, being seen mostly in elite tournaments and very little at the amateur level. In the match between Garry Kasparov and Viktor Korchnoi in the Candidates Semifinal in 1983, five of the eleven games were Catalans.

London System: Ready to learn it? In a time when the opening phase has become extremely important, every chess player must give this phase its due attention. With various good books available, the quantity of information on the internet, and the powerful engines, it is no wonder that it is now very difficult to get […]