Master the fundamentals and advanced concepts of chess with 191 interactive lessons
Control d5, sturdy structures
Closed structures and breaks ...c5/…f6
Rapid development and central control
Handling ...Nf6 and central tension
Hypermodern center, kingside play
Practical system vs many replies
Isolated queen’s pawn pros/cons
Solid center, minority attack themes
Offer a pawn to gain central space
Doubling Black’s c-pawns and endgame plans
Pressure on e5 and queenside expansion
Open lines and piece activity
Asymmetry and counterplay
Nf3, d4, recapture with knight
c6 + d5 structures
Follow a plan from opening to endgame
Coordinate pieces; defend by reducing threats
Don’t rush; restrict counterplay
Use piece activity, king safety, structure
Time as a resource
Rooks on files; knights on strong squares
Open lines to activate pieces
When to calculate and when to improve
Simplify with purpose
Target holes; avoid creating them
Avoid counterplay and trade into winning endgame
Build positions the opponent can’t penetrate
The king becomes a fighting piece
The foundation of pawn endings
Bishops vs knights, activity matters
Fortresses and blockade
Calculation & creating distant passers
Key drawing/winning ideas
Cut the king; active rooks draw/win
Side checks, cut-offs, behind passers
Two must-know defensive/offensive set-ups
Tempos to force concessions
Pull a piece/king onto a bad square
Vacate a line/square for a stronger idea
Lure/force a defender away
Move one piece to reveal another
Two checks at once
Attack two targets at once
Classic bishop sacrifice patterns
Immobilize a piece to a higher-value target
Exchange/sac to strip defense
Reverse pin: hit the more valuable piece first
Turn static edges into something concrete
Pick the right direction based on features
A simple checklist for clarity
The simplest universal plan
Choose plans that fit the structure
Plan by structure, not moves
Ask: what does my opponent want?
Don’t overextend; restrict counterplay
London System tactical trap
Albin Countergambit tactical trap
Tactical tricks in the Albin
Alekhine’s Defense tactical trap
Benko Gambit tactical trap
Benko Gambit tactical trap
Modern Benoni (Flick‑Knife) tactical trap
Modern Benoni tactical trap
Old Benoni tactical trap
Modern Benoni tactical trap
Ruy López – Anti‑Berlin tactical trap
Bird’s / Larsen system tactical trap
Bird’s / From’s Gambit tactical trap
Italian/Two Knights sideline tactical trap
Punish greedy play
Blackmar–Diemer Gambit tactical trap
Bogo‑Indian tactical trap
Bogo‑Indian Defense tactical trap
Budapest Gambit tactical trap
Aggressive counter-gambit with tactical tricks
QGD – Cambridge Springs tactical trap
Caro-Kann tactical sequence
Caro‑Kann – Panov‑Botvinnik tactical trap
Center Game tactical trap
Russian Defense (Petrov) tactical trap
Colle System tactical trap
Ruy López – Cozio tactical trap
Danish Gambit tactical trap
Blackmar–Diemer Gambit tactical trap
Dutch Defense tactical trap
Elephant Gambit tactical trap
Punish careless capture in the center
English Opening tactical trap
English Four Knights tactical trap
English Opening tactical trap
Englund Gambit tactical trap
Dubious gambit with surprising tricks
Evans Gambit tactical trap
Budapest variation with tactical tricks
English Opening tactical trap
Ruy López tactical trap
Ruy Lopez exchange variation trap
Four Knights tactical trap
French Defense (Fort Knox) tactical trap
Two Knights Defense tactical trap
Aggressive knight sacrifice on f7
Italian Game tactical trap
Italian Game mating attack
Grob (1.g4) tactical trap
Grünfeld Defense tactical trap
Grünfeld Defense tactical trap
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit tactical blow
Hungarian Defense tactical trap
Italian Game tactical trap
King’s Indian Defense tactical trap
Budapest Gambit tactical blow
King’s Gambit Accepted tactical trap
King’s Gambit (romantic) tactical trap
King’s Indian Defense tactical trap
Queen's Gambit Declined trap winning the exchange
Latvian Gambit tactical trap
Italian Game tactical trap
King’s Gambit tactical trap
London System tactical trap
London System tactical trap
Sicilian Defense tactical sequence
Queen's Gambit Accepted tactical sequence
Sicilian/English – Maróczy tactical trap
Queen's Gambit Declined tactical blow
French Defense aggressive gambit
Modern Defense tactical trap
Bogo-Indian Defense piece trap
Ruy López (Old Steinitz) tactical trap
Ruy Lopez trap winning a piece
King’s Gambit tactical trap
Nimzo-Indian Defense tactical trap
Winning the bishop in the Ruy Lopez
Ruy López (Exchange) tactical trap
Slav Defense tactical trap
Scandinavian Defense tactical blow
Sokolsky/Orangutan tactical trap
Owen’s Defense tactical trap
Owen’s Defense tactical trap
Ruy Lopez beginner trap
Russian Defense tactical trap
Philidor Defense tactical trap
Philidor Defense (Lion) tactical trap
Pirc/Modern tactical trap
Pirc Defense tactical trap
Greedy captures walk into tactics
Polish Defense (1...b5) tactical trap
QGA tactical trap
Queen’s Gambit Declined tactical trap
Queen’s Gambit Declined tactical trap
Queen’s Indian Defense tactical trap
Queen’s Gambit – Chigorin tactical trap
Reti Opening tactical trap
Reti tactical trap
King's Gambit tactical sequence
Queen's Gambit Declined trap winning the exchange
Italian – Russo Gambit (…f5) tactical trap
Ruy López – Bird Defense tactical trap
Scandinavian Defense tactical trap
Scandinavian Defense (3...Qd6) tactical trap
Win vs novices; learn to refute properly
Four Knights tactical trap
Open game tactical blow
Scotch Game tactical trap
Scotch Game tactical trap
Smith-Morra Gambit tactical sequence
Smith-Morra Gambit trap winning the queen
Sicilian Defense tactical trap
Sicilian Closed tactical trap
Sicilian Defense (Najdorf themes) tactical trap
Sicilian – Scheveningen tactical trap
Sicilian Defense tactical trap
Sicilian – Taimanov tactical trap
Slav Defense tactical trap
Sokolsky / Orangutan tactical trap
Russian Defense (Petrov) tactical trap
Dubious but dangerous gambit
Dutch Stonewall tactical trap
Tactical sequence in the Caro-Kann
Tricky ideas; know the refutations
Torre Attack tactical trap
Two Knights Defense tactical trap
Two Knights – Traxler tactical trap
Trompowsky Attack tactical trap
Two Knights – Ulvestad tactical trap
Veresov Attack tactical trap
Vienna Gambit tactical trap
Vienna Game tactical trap
Vienna Game tactical trap
French Defense tactical sequence
Vienna Game tactical sequence
Scandinavian Defense positional trap