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In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov explains the two main chess rules/principles that will help you become a better chess player and reach the 2000 ELO rating quickly!
The main problem with most chess players is that they all know the basic chess rules and strategies like developing pieces, fighting for the center, tactical motifs, and so on. But just knowing these principles alone won't help them become stronger chess players.
You must know some 'additional' principles that the vast majority of chess players don't know. Therefore, these are the SECRET chess principles that will help you become better than 90% of chess players. In fact, this is how grandmasters think to find the best moves in their games.
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► Chapters
00:00 2 Chess Rules To Reach 2000 ELO
00:37 Example-1
01:13 1st Rule
03:36 Example-2
03:53 Meaningful exchange & Unfavourable exchange
07:24 Example-3
08:00 2nd Rule
11:03 Example-4: Piket vs Kasparov
11:44 Extension of the 2nd rule
14:18 Kasparov's brilliant move
15:30 Quiz: Can you find Fischer's move?
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#IgorNation #ChessRules #ChessTips #ChessStrategy #ChessStrategyForBeginners #ChessImprovement
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So @ 15:29-WH Q-C3 I'm a bit new here.
You are apsolutly wright but if you have 5 or 10 min you cant think of not tradind opening the centar not doubling the pawns tactics and defense sumultaniously😂😂😂
Qh6 ?
"Don't challenge Carlsen when he is drunk" noted rule to becoming a GM
got me cracking
me too lol @@uifwastaken
Do not challenge him when he is sleeping either
Also... Don't challange Carlsen when he is sober.
Don't challenge Carlsen.
1. Avoid unnecessary exchanges that may benefit the opponent (timestamp: 0:36). 2. Maintain pressure and look for ways to improve your own position (timestamp: 1:16). 3. Consider offensive moves that create threats and gain tempo, rather than defensive moves (timestamp: 7:38). 4. Execute your own plan and attack whenever possible, only defending when absolutely necessary (timestamp: 11:17).
Thank you so much. You're awesome
Thanks a lot ❤
thank u !!
The real MVP!!!!🫡
5. Dont challenge carlsen when he is drunk (~Sun Tzu, Art of War)
Solution to the excercise: 1. Qh6 Qf8 (to prevent mate on g7) 2. Qxh7+ Kxh7 3. hxg6+ Kxg6 4.Be4#
Black will play 1 … c1=Q+. It does change the solution, but makes it two moves longer
@@Andrey.N LOL 3 more if you kamikaze the rook for a check
Thank you oh wise and mighty one...
@greenmoxy Yup! While I sing "Under Pressure". 😅
What i saw was pawn takes, rook sac and Qh4 Qh8 mate
Hi Igor, a bit of a side note here: the graph in the thumbnail says the exact opposite of what you want to convey. Currently, it says that the person marked 'you' is going to be the exact average person (which is of course not what you intended lol). For the desired result, place the person marked 'you' at the right end of the graph. Don't mind, I'm just into some nerdy stuff I guess😅
Came just for this comment which I knew would be here
Haha I am guessing he meant it as a pyramid, with "you", the player, on top of everyone. But it confused me at first too, because it looks like it could be a bell curve, in which case, like you said, "you" should be way off to the right. It's a bit ambiguous. Another solution could be to make the pyramid shape less curvy and more like a triangle.
I think he means ‘you’ (viewer) ARE the exact average chess player - which is why ‘you’ need to click his video! 😂
It isn't a graph. It's a pile showing you at the top..
Hard to know whether he made a mistake or if he just knows that most people don’t know and so doing it the right way will look wrong to most people. Or it’s wrong because posting stuff that is incorrect drives engagement.
Igor you are an awesome teacher, the way you explain is simple, logic, everything makes total sense. I improved my chess skills massively by watching your videos, thank you!
I agree...best channel here.
Yup I was stuck in 1200s for a long time. Within a month i crossed 1500 with 80%+ accuracy just by following his lectures Very much visible progress
1. Qh6 - Qf8 (Black is Forced) 2. Qxh7+ - Kxh7 (Forced Queen Sac) 3. hxg6+ - Kxg6 (Double Check) (Black avoids Rh8# but...) 4. Be4#
Brilliant
Qh6 - Qf8 is not forced. Pawn to C1 is the best reply which changes the complete tempo of the game
Changes tempo but not the outcome. Just delays mate because Kh2 always escapes check. So Qf8 by black IS forced
I know what you meant by the thumbnail, but from a statistical perspective, what the point on the bell curve indicates is better than 50 percent. Better than 95 percent would be pretty low hight on the right tail of the bell curve.
nerd
The "Igor nation" part always cracks me up 😂 great lesson, thanks 🙏
🙏
I myself have a pretty good rule to help intermediate players improve: don't play bullet. It's not a rule I follow, but it's a good one.
Excellent! Thanks Igor. You are one of the best chess teachers I have ever seen!
I love you Igor you give me hope that I can one day be a grandmaster. all your videos do, not just this one. keep being amazing
I am loving your videos that really guide us into having the right mindset and thinking skills for chess games. Very easy to follow because of the impressive teaching skills!
I agree...best channel here.
Yes!
When I first began playing at tournaments one rule I followed was keep pieces on. I'd noticed that GM always seemed to have a lot of pieces on the board without really understanding why. Igor's rule makes it clear that exchanging without any reason simply helps your opponent. This becomes obvious when under attack and you grab something opening you up to further attacks. An example from one of my games goes 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.e5 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.Bb5 Qb6 6.a4 e6 7.Nh4? Nh6 8.Nxf5 Nxf5 9.c3 c4! 10.d3 a6 11.Bxc6+ Qxc6 12.g4?? d4! 13.Rg1 Ne3!? 14.Bxe3 dxe3 15.Qe2? here White should have played 15.d4 keeping the position closed but instead I rip open Whites position with 15...cd 16.Qxd3 Rd8 17.Qxe3 Bc5 18.Qg3 Qe4+ and White resigned as I mate.
This is one of your best videos. Excellent stuff mate
I still honestly do not think people understand how great of a teacher Igor is. He makes everything sound so simple and guides you along the path to improvement with great ease.
Coach, I just found your channel about 2 days ago. Just bought your 2000 bundle yesterday. You’re helping me so much to understand my frustrations on playing good chess consistently! Thanks!
Welcome aboard!
I would add that most important is quick and accurate calculation and tactical awareness. Always look for attacking alternative instead of defensive development is perhaps the main lesson for an intermediate 1200+.
Uh, that’s exactly what he said in the video. 🤦♂️
Thanks Igor, you are the best. I really improved my chess skills by not less than 400 elo, since I started following you 6 months ago. Your contents are so special❤
❤
Your videos are so simple and well explained, thanks for the content you are providing. GG❤
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I agree...best channel here.
That's a very good one!! Thanks!
This is probably the best chess channel on yt for improvement. Theres a few others that have more entertainment value but this has more educational value
Incredibly valuable basic lessons even for very experienced players. And it's not just the candidate moves and/or the variations. It also reminds us of the fundamental ideas behind them. My Idea is 1.Qh6 c1=Q+ 2Rxc1 Rxc1+ 3.Kh2 Qf8 4.Qxh7+ Kxh7 5.hg6+ Kxg6 6.Be4 mate
I liked that you put in the forcing moves of c1=Q to add a wrinkle to the Qh6, Qf8 idea. It does remind us that c1 is a threat.
@@pokerchannel6991 Meh, after ...Qh6, White is unable to avoid a forced mate. Yes, he can delay it by throwing away a pawn/queen, heck, after ...Kh2, he can Rh1 Kxh1, and so throw a Rook away as well, ...but why? After Qh6, White should resign.
ya and if 5.hxg6+ Kg1 then simply 6.Rh8#
Black. Black should resign. :)
Igor. I just wanted to let you know when I first washed your video a couple days ago, I knew that it would be very impactful for me. Since then I have played 11 games and lost one. I'm not saying that that trajectory will last, but I feel I am more conscious while playing chess. I used to take pieces off the board thinking that I'm doing myself a favor, but oftentimes I instead simply give them the upper hand. I am not doing that now (or at least thinking more about it before taking a piece of theirs) and it's just so much easier to play the game. Thanks!
One of the best chess videos I've ever seen. Right after watching this, I played against someone about 50 elo higher than me and won flawlessly. Thanks for the advice.
wow, this has raised my game. thanks chap
(1) He did not ask you to trade Queens because he likes you. Two hanging pieces, you must defend both.I prefer Kg2, no pin on my Q. As far as the quiz is concerned, we cannot check him. Qh6 Qf8 Qxh7+ Kxh7 hxg6+ Kxg8 (because Kg8 means Rh8++) Be4++ I hope that's right. happy to be corrected. Edited to add - thank you, Igor. You're a brilliant teacher.
You have a typo above... You mean Kxg6, rather than Kxg8, . . correct.??
@@stevemotocrayz2892 Thank you, Steve, you are right! As you can see, I didn't mean Kg8 :-)
Good stuff... That last position is a very famous game which involves a queen sacrifice if i remember correctly...
This video is perfect. Even if I somehow knew these concepts already, you made me understand them. I played some game having this in mind and it really changed my playing to a less automatic one, wiser, more active and aggressive... Thanks!
OMG I just watched this video then played a game of chess. I adopted the principles and ended up playing a completely different style to what I normally play. I won! Thanks for sharing.
This is my first educational KZhead on chess that was detailed, understandable, and helpful. 😊 subscribed
Welcome aboard!
That Kasparov game example was amazing. Hadn't seen that game before. Would have loved to see Kasparov v Magnus when Kasparov was at his peak.
That brings up the Jordan/Lebron debate in basketball. Jordan simply moved the game forward. There just is no Lebron without the social consciousness of Jordan. In this case Kasparov pushed the nerds to make the chess computers and then chess computers made Carlson, but philosophically how do you subtract Kasparov's residual skills that are present in Carlson to balance the match? We tend to be more regularly presented with the horrors of humanity, but the ability to pass these gifts between generations is a good one. Also, ONLY play Magnus with a full case of Heineken next to you. Hand three over whenever he takes a pawn.
Thanks for great content Igor!!
Appreciate all the wonderful comments about chess play and players by Mr. Smirnov... It is an art
Bishop (white) to e4 Sir. I like the way you explained. Thanks.
► Chapters 00:00 2 Chess Rules To Reach 2000 ELO 00:37 Example-1 01:13 1st Rule 03:36 Example-2 03:53 Meaningful exchange & Unfavourable exchange 07:24 Example-3 08:00 2nd Rule 11:03 Example-4: Piket vs Kasparov 11:44 Extension of the 2nd rule 14:18 Kasparov's brilliant move 15:30 Quiz: Can you find Fischer's move?
This is so great. Thanks
@4:35 K-e5 to prevent white queen from taking in the next move, also sets up the knight for a possible attack or pressure on white king
Your explanations are easy to follow and I have improved my game. Thank you. The picture at the start of this video shows a gaussian distribution with someone standing at the top. The best in a gaussian distribution are on the far right. The values in the middle are average players....
You beat me to the gaussian comment, bravo.
I mean you are not wrong but it can simply be interpreted as a mount
I got a solution i dont know if it is right.queen h6.opponent queen f8 to prevent mate.we take on h7(pawn) with check the king is forced to take.then we play pawn takes g6(pawn) with a discovered check with our rook.the king is again forced to take,(if not and he moves to g8 it is mate after rook to h8). therefore he takes our pawn on g6.then we check the king with our bishop to e4 and i think its mate. Correct me if i am wrong ❤
That's really encouraging, because I already follow both of these rules - they just seem logical to me. Not that I'm anywhere near GM level of course - I'm not formally rated, but probably belong somewhere around 1100.
Excellent. Subscribed.
Thank you Igor for another great video!!!
Your the best. My approach to games is giving me wins that I would have lost in the past. I have even won games against the 1800 & 2000 computer which was a not possible in the past.
Master Smirnov, I have returned to this video because this content has elevated my game to new heights, and I wanted to thank you. I was stuck in my rating, and these secrets just changed my brain and the way I approach the game now. I've seen other videos, and they were helpful, but this... this was a breakthrough. Thank you so much!
Glad to hear that!
Very nice video, but I have a question: In the first example, after black does Qxg3 or if white moved Qh2; Qxg2, can't black just move itself to Ne5. The only benefit I'm seeing now is that you get an extra tempo. The original idea of not allowing the knight and bishop to evolve its pieces wouldn't work.
My idea for the puzzle: rook d4: they go rook d8: I go rook d8 taking theirs: queen takes on d8: my bishop takes on d8 and I’m up 10 points.
Thank you for your help in my understanding of the game 😊
Glad to hear that!
3:38 "Two amateur players rated around 1700". I felt that one.
Thanks Great tips
I have watched hundreds of chess videos in my life… this one just hits different. This has unlocked a whole new section of my “chess brain!” Instant Subscribe!!!
in the first position white is up a pawn and black has isolated double pawns, so exchanging queens simplify the position.
Dear Mr Smirnov, thanks so much for your awesome videos you are my fave chess teacher.
Glad you like them!
Qh6 qf8 qxh7+ kxh7 hxg+ If king takes g6 be4 checkmate If king g8 rh8 checkmate
Igor, as I'm sure you know, Levy Rozman just came out with a new book for players from 0 - 1200ish Elo. It is really good. How about you coming out with one for higher level players? You have so much valuable material giving great advice on how to play well.
You can find Igor's here. online.chess-teacher.com/
thank you you're the best teacher
dude I really really really LIKE your VODKA dude
Fantastic. Thanks.
Hidden gem, thank you Igor!!!
White Qh6 Black must protect checkmate with the Qf8, White Qh7 gives him a check, Black Kh7, White Ph5 - Pg6 (give check to Black with rook and pawn) Black Kg6 (only solution) White Bg2 - e4 (checkmate)
15:41 Qh6. it's either #6 or #4, depending on how your opponent plays, but it's a forced mate anyway.
Thank you! I just played a game and I was so much more assertive!
Excellent!
This video help me to go from 600s to 1200s. Incredible. Thanks
Queen to H6, (If pawn doesn’t Promote) Queen to G7 is check mate (if pawn promotes) Rook to C1. If pawn is taken and opponent takes with Rook, take rook with Queen and you’re just completely winning, then you can move back to H6 and continue with your checkmate plan
Thank You thank you
8:31 Yeah I saw that but doesn't that just make the d-pawn overextended and difficult to defend? Black doesn't really lose a tempo if white could have just used that same move to do the thing it was going to have to eventually use a tempo for anyway: develop a piece. Of course RCA understands these positions way better than a 1600 like me does, but I came to the conclusion that Nf3 is best by following a bunch of chess principles that I've picked up over the years. "To take is a mistake" being among them. Problem is, those principles often contradict each other and then I screw up when deciding which ones to apply.
I agree. 5.Nf3 develops a piece that I want to develop anyway (to quote Igor), while defending my d-pawn. 3.Bb5 develops a piece that I want to develop anyway, while attacking a well defended piece (the ...c6-Knight), and if that Bishop gets forced away, or traded off, my d-pawn has one less defender. Now I have to predict whether my pawn is over extended and whether or not it will be easy for me to continue development while at the same time hanging on to my pawn. In this case that might be so, but in other cases?!? At my level (1300 (1600 lichess)), 5.Nf3 is played about 6 times more often than 5.Nf3, while only being slightly less effective (5.Nf3 has a 62% win rate, 5.Bb5 has a 64% win rate). I love this channel's material, but this idea seems a bit too esoteric for people near my rating.
@@milehighslacker4196 Yeah I don't like 5.Bb5 at all, that allows black to force white to trade away a bishop for a knight in what looks to become an open game. Rewatching this a few months later I have to say Igor is giving terrible advice to lower ELO players here. Of course his recommended moves are engine approved, he's a GM and can see 6 moves of tactics and 20 moves in terms of strategy into the future. But for us normies that ain't the case, and his explanations for those moves are overly simplistic and don't do the position justice at all. It's fine to recommend looking out for attacking moves as a pro-active defense, I do think that's something lower ELO players struggle with. I just don't think this was a good position to make that case without addressing all the other considerations that need to be made here.
Hopefully this is correct. Queen H6, Black Queen to F8 to prevent Check mate next move on G7. Queen takes pawn on H7 with check. king takes Queen on H7. pawn takes pawn on G6 with uncovered Check with the rook on H4. King to G8 as only possible square. Rook H8 check mate. Of course after initial Queen move to H6 black could always promote with a check but that would only delay the plan one move Hopefully this makes sense
Just as a preface, I learned chess like 3 days ago so I'm a total newbie. But my question is: in the first setup, why would you not want to move your knight to e2 instead of moving the king?
For quiz answer: 1.Qh6 Qf8 2.Qxh7 Kxh7 3. Be4 Qg7 4.pawn x g6 mate
Igor is an excellent teacher. I appreciate this fine instruction.
1. White Pawn to g6 black takes back with either pawn doesn’t really matter. If the take with there h pawn it’s mate in two, if they take with the f pawn or not at all its mate in three. 2.queen to h6 again it doesn’t matter what black plays. 3. Queen to h7 check. Only move left for black is king to f8. 4. Queen h8 is mate.
Very nice video Sir🙏
Thanks sir Ur videos helped me a lot Lots of love from Bangladesh..
Glad to hear that
Great lesson
Very cool how Kasparov maneuvered to attack
My thoughts on the end puzzle is the first move has to be hxg6. If black doesn't take back with fxg6 and instead plays Qf8, then gxh7 and there's no way to stop the pawn queening with mate. So fxg6 is forced. (taking back the other way with hxg6 hangs Rh8#). 1. hxg6 - fxg6. Then you sack the rook with Rxh7. Again if black doesn't take the rook (Kxh7), and plays Qf8 or Kf8, then Rh8# is unstoppable. 2. Rxh7 - Kxh7 Then it's a simple mate in two: 3. Qh4 - Kg8 4. Qh8# ----------------------------------------- Maybe I missed a defensive resource for black but that's what I would try in any case (I'm around 1500).
After 2. Rxh7, Black could use the Rook on a7, no longer impeded by the f7 pawn, to take White's Rook instead of doing it with the King.
@@michaelrobinson2687Ah yes thank you Michael. Thought I'd probably be missing something!
H6 completely locks down the king and later the bishop could come to G7 if needed and white is free to deal with the passed pawn. Or perhaps RxD4 first and then push H6
Could this work: h5xg6, and then queen to h-file in next move, giving check on both g7 and h7, depending on what black does
Igor you’re the best 😊
"To take is a mistake!" I remember that phrase from 4 or 5 years ago. Which GM youtuber used to chat that continently?
00:01 Avoid trading Queens when it helps the opponent to improve their position. 01:52 Not forcing an exchange for no reason is a key rule in chess 03:49 Exchanging on D4 can be a mistake if there is no specific reason for it. 05:44 Taking on B5 is a mistake, violating the classical rule. 07:40 Attacking is the best way to win in chess 09:31 To think like a grandmaster, don't shy away from threats and go for aggressive moves. 11:20 Executing your own plan is crucial for a successful attack. 13:10 Black uses a simple plan to deliver a quick checkmate 15:11 Two main rules to think like a grandmaster
this vid improved my chess immediately
This to take is a mistake has been in my head for a long time. Igor's been saying this for a long time
Great video but your graphic should show the red person on the right! Right now they're exactly in the 50th percentile
On the first example, I understand the point in general, but I don't quite understand why trading Queens isn't beneficial to white. Yes, black improves their position slightly, but white is up a pawn, has decent control of the center, and black has doubled isolated pawns on the f file, so it seems like even trades benefit white in this case.
For the puzzle: Would the following solution work? 1. hxg6 fxg6 (Black must take because otherwise gxf7 would win the queen, and taking with the other pawn hxg6 would be immediately lethal due to Rh8#. Any Queen move would be answered by gxh7+ and subsequent promotion) 2. Qh6 Qf8 (otherwise Qg7# is unstoppable) 3. Qxg6+ hxg6 (forced) 4. Rh8# The idea is to forcibly open the h file for the checkmate while keeping the queen long enough on the diagonal to protect the c1 square.
Instead of 3.QxG6+, what about 3.QxH7++?
after 1...fxg6 2. Qh6 ... then 3. Qg7 is not a threat due to 3... Rxg7
qh7 is the corrent line
This is amazing
10:49 What about ignoring the white pawn and instead moving your queen to maybe d4, b8 or c8 to give the king room to move out of the way? I don't see why you would have to give up your queen in this position.
First option is to attack, last option is to defence..i think you right on that..stockfish going to play like that too..my question is, how to train a tactic..GM above is like always no what to do next and to set a trap, can you suggest a book or software only focus on tactic..bcoz magnus carlsen also in his video always repeat word 'tactic'..
Bro you are the best teacher
The last bit should be titled "How to think like Gary K.. Good luck with that. :-) Gary was and still is amazing.
Solution: White pawn takes G6. This is necessary for moving toward mate because it opens the file for the rook to support the queen. It does not matter which black pawn is chosen to take back, not does it matter if black does not take back at all. Whatever black does, white queen to H6 will lead to mate on the next move. (Black pawn promotion, then rook to check the white king can delay this by two moves, but will not prevent it.
Or alternatively, if black moves queen to F8 following white pawn to g6, then white pawn to H7 will be mate.
@3:54 Q-a5 pinning WqK at c3
On the first example my thinking is take the queen because my king is so exposed compared to black, plus i can gain material by taking the pawn on C6. To me this seems stronger than a tempo but thats why im not a 2000 rated player
No, the pawn on c6 would be protected by the knight which has just moved to e5
How about the Kings Indian after d4 Nf6, c4 g6, Nc3 Bg7, e4 0-0? The move e5 is considered weak, but doesn't it hold to your principles entirely?
Is it important to know the names of the squares ie. E4 , F4 Asking for checkers player friend
Thank you igor ❤
❤
After watching this video I played a game with two brilliant moves for the first time and two back to back bishop sacks completely ignoring my opponent's offence because there was not an immediate danger and wound up checkmating them with two queens on the back rank.
PxP, if Pc1-Q then RxQ if h7xP then Qh6, leading to Qh8# if f7xP then Qh6, leading to QxH7+, KF8; Qh8# if Qf8 then QxH7#
Final puzzle: Qh6-Qf8 Qxh7 - Kxh7 h6xg6+ -Kxg6 Be4 ++ (I know my notation is off, I'm learning :)