What is the main difference between a Grandmaster and an amateur? It is the understanding of positions on a very fundamental level, or what`s called the positional understanding.
Grandmaster Level Positional Understanding
Positional chess is linked to the core understanding of the game and perhaps the hardest part of chess to improve You can work on tactics, endgames and opening theory all you want, but that won’t help you at building your positional understanding. Positional understanding is something that comes with experience and requires special attention for most players.
Is it the opening knowledge, tactical wisdom or endgames skill? No. It is the understanding of positions on a very fundamental level, or what’s called the positional understanding.
Do you know why the Grandmasters win every time against amateurs? Grandmasters win because they understand the position on the board much better at any given time and know, even without any calculations, what’s the next best move should be.
- Rapidly evaluate any kinds of chess positions
- Instantly come up with a winning game plan
- Assess which pieces should be left alone, and which need to be exchanged
- Determine which pieces need to be improved and how that can be done
- Find weaknesses in the opponent’s position and exploit them
The problem that most amateur players face nowadays is the lack of positional understanding Most players work on tactics, openings, and endgames but fail to improve perhaps the most important part of the game: the Middlegame. That’s quite illogical, taking into account that the majority of chess games are decided in this stage.
In this 3-hour video course, GM Oleksienko will teach you the secrets of the grandmaster level position understanding. He will show you exactly how Grandmasters’ thought process works in unclear middle game positions when an important decision needs to be made.
GM Oleksienko will cover some of the most important positional chess ideas including the problem of exchange, exploitation of weaknesses, minor pieces activity, queens exchange, and so on.
- CHAPTER 1 – Improving Your Worst Piece
- CHAPTER 2 – Knight vs. Bishop
- CHAPTER 3 – Aiming for the Weakness
- CHAPTER 4 – The Problem of Queen’s Exchange
- CHAPTER 5 – Advanced Techniques
About the Author:
GM Mikhaylo Oleksienko (FIDE 2643)
is a strong International Grandmaster, winner of many International Chess Tournaments including David Bronstein Memorial, 20th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival, ZMDI Open, etc. GM Oleksiyenko is also a coach of the Netherland Women’s Chess Team and a Certified FIDE Trainer.
