3 min
Using Your Knights
Knights are best in the center, where they can control up to eight squares. Knights work well with queens and also do a good job blocking pawns.
2 min
Using Your Bishops
Bishops are most useful when controlling long, unblocked diagonals. Bishops are particularly useful when you have both of them, so they can control both light and dark squares.
2 min
Using Your Pawns
Pawns have four primary uses. 1. Pawns can control key squares, such as the center. If your pawns control the center the opponent won't be able to put pieces on good squares. 2. Pawns are also helpful protecting your...
24 min
Name Your Pawns: Harry The h-Pawn
Harry the h-pawn is a wonderful attacker and a favorite of both Simon Williams and the engine AlphaZero! Learn when to advance Harry and when it's best to leave him at home.
23 min
Name Your Pawns: Garry The g-Pawn
Not Garry Kasparov, Garry the g-pawn! Simon Williams loves to use Garry to attack the opposing king and gain space on the kingside. Learn how he does it and the g-pawn advances that are all the rage at the top level t...
20 min
Name Your Pawns: Freddie the f-Pawn
Freddie the f-pawn is often a key attacker! Check out how Simon Williams, the Ginger GM, uses Freddie to control the center and expose the enemy king!
16 min
Name Your Pawns: Eddie the e-Pawn
Eddie the e-pawn loves to race down the board and cramp the opponent. Learn from Simon Williams how to cause your opponent problems with Eddie in any opening!
19 min
Name Your Pawns: Derek The d-Pawn
Welcome to the center! The d-pawn is maybe the most valuable pawn on the board! Join GM Simon Williams as he demonstrates how to advance your d-pawn and dominate in the center.
18 min
Name Your Pawns: Charlie The c-Pawn
In open games, the c-pawn often hides behind a knight, but in closed positions, you're probably going to need your c-pawn to fight for the center. GM Simon Williams demonstrates how the c-pawn can destroy your opponen...
16 min
Name Your Pawns: Barry The b-Pawn
GM Simon Williams loves to give away Barry the b-pawn! You can play the Evans Gambit, a wing gambit or even a positional sacrifice in the Sicilian. Learn how Barry can sacrifice himself to help you start a winning att...
16 min
Name Your Pawns: Arry The a-Pawn
Not Harry, Arry! Arry the a-pawn is an often overlooked piece on the edge of the board. However, even on the side he can help control the center. Learn from Simon Williams how to use your a-pawns to help your pieces a...
18 min
The Sicilian Nimzowitsch: The Surprising ...f5!
Before covering the crucial main line, IM Tuan Minh Le takes a look at some sidelines that you're likely to face. White can make the game like an Alapin Sicilian with an early c3, or try an early d4. In either case, B...
14 min
The Sicilian Nimzowitsch Defense: When Your Opponent Backs Down
When you surprise your opponent with the Sicilian Nimzowitsch, there's a good chance that he or she will simply defend the e4-pawn with Nc3. IM Tuan Minh Le demonstrates that there's nothing to fear from this modest m...
10 min
The Sicilian Nimzowitsch: A Brilliant Blitz Weapon
How did International Master Tuan Minh Le score wins against Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, and other top Grandmasters? He surprised them in the opening with the sharp Sicilian Nimzowitsch Variation! 2...Nf6 will shock...
15 min
The Sicilian Nimzowitsch: A Sharp Double Gambit!
Time for the main lines! IM Tuan Minh Le finishes off his Sicilian series with a look at White's sharpest tries against the Sicilian Nimzowitsch. Black can sacrifice two pawns for a powerful initiative, that can even...
11 min
How To Use Your Pieces Tactically: Attacking Balance
We've attacked with knights, bishops, rooks, and queens. Now try using them all together! GM Dejan Bojkov demonstrates how to coordinate your forces and launch a decisive attack.
11 min
How To Use Your Pieces Tactically: The Queen
Queens are the strongest attacking piece, so it's important to use them correctly. GM Dejan Bojkov will demonstrate how to attack with your queen and avoid getting it trapped behind enemy lines.
12 min
How To Use Your Pieces Tactically: The Rook
How can White you use your rooks to win games? GM Dejan Bojkov demonstrates how to attack with rooks and win more games!
10 min
How To Use Your Pieces Tactically: The Bishop
How can you make the best use of your bishops? They work well in a team and need open diagonals. GM Dejan Bojkov will show you how to break open the enemy king, and win many games with spectacular bishops!
10 min
How To Use Your Pieces Tactically: The Knight
No other piece moves like the knight, which gives it an amazing attacking potential. Watch as GM Dejan Bojkov demonstrates how to make the most of your knights to find killer forks and other winning tactics!
3 min
Checkmate in 2 Moves
It's helpful to look at all of the checks for each side and see if there are checkmates or other tactics available on the next move.
3 min
King Safety
Never forget to protect your most important piece, the king. A material advantage doesn't matter if there's checkmate. Be careful to defend potential checkmating squares near your king and to give your king escape rou...
3 min
Weak Targets: f2 and f7
The f2 and f7 pawns are only defended by the king in the starting position, so it can be subject to attack. If you can attack your opponent's f-pawn with two pieces when it's only defended by a king you can frequently...
3 min
Back Rank Checkmates
Castling is a good idea, but if the king is on the back rank without other pieces to defend it, it may be vulnerable to a back rank checkmate from a rook or queen. It's often a good idea to advance one pawn in front o...
4 min
Don't Just Check
Attacking the king is great - but it's not always the right move. Be patient. Make sure that a check accomplishes a goal, like helping to mate or preventing your opponent from castling. If your opponent has a useful m...