Strategies Vol.3

The complexity of those positions is best illustrated in a Kasparov-Kramnik game – with both players allowing seemingly “obvious” mistakes. Charbonneau-Anand is another good example – a player of Anand’s stature landing in a terrible position, then missing his good attacking prospects. The game result was one of the biggest upsets of 2006 Chess Olympiad. There are different types of Hedgehog positions - many of them coming from the English opening where the White bishop is fianchettoed. In this video course I consider the “basic Hedgehog” pawn structure; like the one coming from the Kan Sicilian for example. Choosing the right plan at the right time is the key here - the ensuing positions are full of dynamic possibilities. I endeavour to show the most common (and a few less common!) plans for both sides and try to pinpoint typical mistakes and motifs. The basic aim of this video is to improve understanding of these complex positions and to help tournament players score better! • Video running time: 4 hours (English) • Extra: Training - Play key pawn structures against Fritz on various levels Hedgehog - Part 1 Introduction and Fischer vs Andersson Black pushes the g-pawn: Charbonneau vs Anand Regrouping: Kasparov vs Kramnik h-pawn push: Topalov vs Kasimdzhanov White fights the h-pawn push: Radjabov vs Kamsky Aggressive ideas for White White castles kingside and pushes the g-pawn: J. Van Foreest vs Bilguun Kingside pawn roll: Cramling vs Gruenfeld Hedgehog - Part 2 Dark square control: Tal vs Polugaevsky White pushes the a-pawn: Agrest vs Nisipeanu White pushes the a-pawn 2: Firouzja vs Vachier-Lagrave Doubled-pawns: Acs vs Polgar Doubled-pawns 2: Eljanov vs Kudrin White castles queenside Diagonal domination: Romanishin vs Petrosian Diagonal domination 2 Pawn structure change: Carlsen vs Wojtaszek Practice positions Description Position 1 - Black to move Position 1 - White to move Position 2 - Black to move Position 2 - White to move Position 3 - Black to move Position 3 - White to move Position 4 - Black to move Position 4 - White to move Position 5 - Black to move Position 5 - White to move Position 6 - Black to move Position 6 - White to move Ivan Sokolov is a Dutch chess Grandmaster and author of popular chess books. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. For more than two decades he has been on of the elite players and has beaten many of the strongest players in the world.