Evaluation of Positions with IM Mat Kolosowski [TCW Academy]

Yes, choosing the right candidate move can make or break your position… true that.

But what’s even more important?

What’s the FIRST step that comes even before looking for candidate moves?

That’s right—evaluation of the current position.

Who stands better – you or your opponent?

Where do your strengths and weaknesses lie? Any threats? Both for you and your opponent?

Is your king safe? Which pieces are most active?

A thousand questions need to be answered before you can start looking for your next move.

The funny thing is…

These are the basic things that your coach tells you about.

How come one player goes on to become a GM in a few years while another one struggles to cross even 1800+?

Because their level of chess understanding is different.

The GM understands these very concepts at a much deeper level—and that’s what this course does for you.

It teaches you the art of accurate evaluation of positions like a grandmaster does… not simply memorizing this and that but going far beyond that.

Starting from king safety to piece activity to much more, IM Kolosowski handholds you through the various aspects of the position, one by one, in an easy-to-understand manner.

Here is what’s inside:

Is this course for you?

Frankly, it depends on your playing level.

If you are already an advanced level player (say, rated above 2100), you probably know your stuff. This course might not be earth-shattering for you, but how about getting an inside look into how an international master—who is probably rated higher than you—thinks during a game.

If you are still a club player, it goes without saying that you will benefit a LOT from this course.

Being able to evaluate positions effectively during a game can affect the likelihood of finding the best move in a position… and also reduce mistakes and blunders.

Here’s what you are going to learn:

• Pawns or without pawns. More spatial control does not always mean more pawn development. It might also be because of a monster fianchetto bishop on a long diagonal, like in the diagram on the right.
• Minor pieces on steroids! Matt teaches you the art of seamless development of pieces on the most active squares where force x time is MAXIMUM. In short, the stronger and faster your pieces are, the better…
• Isolated pawn strategy. When you got an isolated pawn, what should you do? Matt suggests two options, viz. simplify to endgame or exchange the pawn. An isolated pawn is a weakness unless turned into a strength.
• Materialistic-positional tradeoff. Instead of counting material, it’s better to look at the positional opportunities available. Like Petrosian did against Gipslis where his opponent ended up with an isolated pawn and Petrosian with a killer attack.
• Uncastled king, not unsafe always. There is an exception to every rule—and this is one. Just because you tucked your king away does not mean it is safe. Matt demonstrates the concept through one of his own games…