Lessons

Play in the Center

Play in the Center

Dominate the center and dominate your games!

Have you ever wondered why the center of the board is so important? Then this course is for you! Join GM Dejan Bojkov as he discusses the strategies of playing with and against strong center pawns. He demonstrates the games of strong Grandmasters like Vladimir Kramnik, Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Pouya Idani as they take over the center and attack. Follow along and learn from the best. Start playing with and against strong centers today!

Here is what you will learn:

  • Learn how to open the center to attack an uncastled king!
  • Learn how to gain space in the center and force the opponent into a passive position!
  • Learn about the pros and cons of a passed and isolated center pawn!

"This is a really nice combination of tactical and positional puzzles in the video. The game is brilliant and instructive on its own, but GM Bojkov really makes the best possible use of it." - Chess.com member AlexjSchindler

"What an excellent and instructive video!" - Chess.com member danno1800

"Thanks!!! I learned a heck of a lot. Hope I can retain it to use in a game." - Chess.com member DougMosteller

Danger in the Center

The center of the chessboard is a busy and dangerous place, especially when two creative attacking players face off. GM Dejan Bojkov shows you a fascinating game where the crossroads of the board became a gauntlet of dangerous tactics and ideas for one unlucky player who chose to keep his king in the middle of the mess.
16 min
5 Challenges

Attacking Through The Center

The center is the most important part of the chessboard, the crossroads through which attacks are often launched and defense comes to the rescue. GM Dejan Bojkov demonstrates how to use this vital area of the board to succeed in your own attacks by analyzing an instructive game. Learn how to control, occupy, and exploit the game’s most critical territory in this lesson.
17 min
5 Challenges

How To Handle Central Passed Pawns

All passed pawns are not created equally. Dejan Bojkov shows you the power of centralized passed pawns, and how to handle them as opposed to outside passed pawns. This idea is not just important in the endgame, but also may dictate entire middlegames as well. You don’t want to miss this important lesson.
18 min
5 Challenges

The Power Of Central Passed Pawns

GM Dejan Bojkov can't emphasize enough the power of central passed pawns, so here's another lesson on this crucial concept. Learn from two of the best players ever, Kramnik and Shirov, in a game when both were aggressive young chess superstars. Kramnik creates a deadly advanced central pawn early, and his technique is brilliant in converting the advantage.
20 min
5 Challenges

Play in the Center

Strategy
4 Lessons
71 Minutes
20 Challenges
Released 5/28/2019
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