Blitz Repertoire (#2) - Update on the French

Here is an outline of the most important variations based on the number of games in the database. Attached is also a diagram list file which you can appreciate the position in the file.

Fort Knox PDF in the French Defence by Charles Galofre on Scribd

Blitz Repertoire (#1) - Caro Slav Structures

There are a number of bloggers and followers/fans of the game which share their experiences online. I decided to follow along and do so as well

A lot of my practice comes from internet chess. Internet chess while somewhat superficial is a real reliable choice when measuring ones intuitive understanding of chess positions. Many times when playing OTB chess, a players candidate move radar is within the realms of that of a speed chess scope.

I would estimate that depending on your time range which you choose to play in you will have a certain number of allocated times to think. I think that every 3-min game will have 1 to 2 serious thinks. while 5-min games will have a bit more but certainly not more than a few.

These instances are powerful in improving your play and we should choose the activity to improve our play.

I will suggest some ideas and methods to follow shortly which can help you when training on your own.

Firstly, choose an opening repertoire which is practical and leads to middlegame positions which can be of instructive value.

In this case I am preselecting a caro-slav opening repertoire because I think its practical and leads to interesting middlegame positions.

Theoretically the positions are not too dense and the purpose of each of the lines is to really side step theoretically heavy monsters.

here is our suggested repertoire:

as white - 1.d4 the universal london system. which suites well for blitz chess as Boris Grachev teaches us.

as black - versus 1.e4 the fort knox variation of the french ( the famous bishop sortie Bd7-c6 exchanging the bishop on e4 in the most opportune time and then building the wall with c6.

versus 1.d4 we will play the QGA (which from a tournament players point of view is an excellent opening to have in your repertoire however the line we will be selecting are the ones where black attempts to try to keep the pawn on c4 by playing Be6 and holding on to the position.

Essentially we will reach the same type of middlegame pawn structure in our whole repertoire. Ideally we will learn how to play with our pawns there, where to place pieces and so forth, and in the future we will have a better understanding when playing the caro kann defense, and the slav.

Why not play the caro kann now and the slav? because its a little impractical to learn all the theory and do all the work for those openings as I would like to by illustrating the process for you to see here in the blog. trust me on this one, just to get started we would like something faster and more practical as opposed to going crazy.

strong players that play the london system (based on the 1.d4 d5 Bf4 position):

a) Strong grandmasters who used this line as White:
Gata Kamsky Result=9/14 2010-2015 Elo-Ø: 2712 Games: 14
Pavel Eljanov Result=5/11 2008-2010 Elo-Ø: 2721 Games: 11
Alexander Grischuk Result=2.5/4 2014-2015 Elo-Ø: 2802 Games: 4
Baadur Jobava Result=2.5/3 2014 Elo-Ø: 2710 Games: 3
Richard Rapport Result=2/2 2014 Elo-Ø: 2702 Games: 2
Ruslan Ponomariov Result=1/3 2010 Elo-Ø: 2744 Games: 3
Vladimir Kramnik Result=1/2 2007 Elo-Ø: 2785 Games: 2


b) Other notable players:
Slobodan Kovacevic Result=85/113 1984-2014 Elo-Ø: 2382 Games: 113
Vladimir Karlik Result=56/85 1986-2015 Elo-Ø: 2290 Games: 85
Hauke Reddmann Result=40.5/58 1996-2014 Elo-Ø: 2325 Games: 58
Olaf Heinzel Result=38/50 2006-2014 Elo-Ø: 2354 Games: 50
Minh Thang Tran Result=37/57 2010-2015 Elo-Ø: 2069 Games: 57
Nikola Sedlak Result=35/46 2005-2015 Elo-Ø: 2556 Games: 46
Igor Miladinovic Result=26/36 1998-2015 Elo-Ø: 2562 Games: 36
Eric Prie Result=25.5/32 2006-2013 Elo-Ø: 2504 Games: 32


information on players that play the fort knox:

 a) Strong grandmasters who used this line as Black:
Boris Gelfand Result=7/11 2006-2010 Elo-Ø: 2749 Games: 11
Anatoly Karpov Result=4.5/7 1992-2003 Elo-Ø: 2732 Games: 7
Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen Result=4/7 1999-2013 Elo-Ø: 2630 Games: 7
Hikaru Nakamura Result=3.5/5 2005-2009 Elo-Ø: 2672 Games: 5
Baadur Jobava Result=3/4 2014-2015 Elo-Ø: 2703 Games: 4
Alexander Khalifman Result=1.5/4 1990-1992 Elo-Ø: 2628 Games: 4
Yasser Seirawan Result=1/2 2000-2002 Elo-Ø: 2632 Games: 2
Etienne Bacrot Result=1/1 2007 Elo-Ø: 2695 Games: 1
Yue Wang Result=0.5/2 2013 Elo-Ø: 2706 Games: 2
Sergei Movsesian Result=0.5/2 1998-2008 Elo-Ø: 2659 Games: 2


b) Other notable players:
Alexander Rustemov Result=29.5/52 1996-2013 Elo-Ø: 2560 Games: 52
Patrik Lyrberg Result=22/41 1992-2015 Elo-Ø: 2430 Games: 41
Mihajlo Stojanovic Result=21.5/35 2003-2015 Elo-Ø: 2547 Games: 35
Katalin Decsey Result=20/38 1995-2005 Elo-Ø: 2083 Games: 38
Keith C Arkell Result=17/34 1991-2015 Elo-Ø: 2485 Games: 34
Ovidiu Doru Foisor Result=16.5/36 1987-2013 Elo-Ø: 2431 Games: 36
Joerg Wegerle Result=16.5/32 2003-2015 Elo-Ø: 2421 Games: 32
Heikki MJ Westerinen Result=15/35 1998-2015 Elo-Ø: 2381 Games: 35


In my next post, I will share the theory of the openings in a file from which you can assimilate the ideas and take it from there. Follow me and hopefully get started :) which is the most important part.

Adelaide Countergambit 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 f5! (#1)

The Adelaide Countergambit is a variation endorsed by the late GM Tony Miles and heavily analyzed by Matthias Wahls on ChessBase. We recommend it as a "refutation" to the King's Gambit. The position can be reached after the following moves: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 f5! Here is a personal game of mine I played in the Miami Open in 2007 Attached are some sample lines which could be reached should you attempt to play the countergambit yourself. We will be analyzing more of these lines in the forthcoming weeks. Stay tuned!

What chess books were recommended by the FIDE Trainers Commission?

There are specific books for every occasion. There are books for absolute beginners as a part of a training program. Books for evolving players, and so on and so forth. As far as a general recommendation...

The FIDE Trainers Commission (TRG) in accordance with the 80th FIDE Congress (Halkidiki 2009) decisions and with the official endorsement by FIDE and the TRG Council strongly recommends:

Title

1. Attacking Chess (volumes 1 and 2)
2. Grandmaster Preparation (whole series has 4 volumes)
3. Invisible Chess Moves
4. New York 1924
5. From London to Elista
6. Back to Basics: Strategy
7. How to Play Dynamic Chess
8. Isolani Strategy: Strengths and Weaknesses of the Isolated Queen´s Pawn
9. Victor Bologan Selected Games 1985-2004
10. The Combat Simulator
11. Botvinnik-Smyslov: Three World Chess Championship Matches
12. Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953
13. Techniques of Positional Play
14. Magnus Force
15. 100 Endgames You Must Know
16. Dvoretsky´s Analytical Manual
17. Dvoretsky´s Endgame Manual: 3rd (revised and enlarged) editon
18. Tragicomedy in the Endgame: Instructive Mistakes of the Masters
19. School of Chess Excellence - 4 volumes
20. School of Future Champions - 5 volumes
21. Studies for Practical Players
22. Decision-Making at the Chessboard
23. New Ideas In Chess
24. My 60 Memorable Games
25. How to Defend in Chess: Learn from the World Champions
26. Critical Moments in Chess
27. San Luis 2005
28. Chess College (1-3)
29. Modern Chess Planning
30. Practical Endgame Play - Mastering the Basics
31. Chess Analytics
32. Chess Strategy for Clubplayers
33. Lessons with a Grandmaster (I and II)
34. Improve Your Chess: by Learning from the Champions
35. Amateur to IM
36. Mastering Chess Strategy series (3 volumes)
37. Karpov's Strategic Wins (2 volumes; The Making of a Champion & The Prime Years)
38. Anatoly Karpov: My Best Games
39. Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov: Part I 1973-1985; Part II: 1985-1993
40. on Modern Chess (volumes I-IV)
41. on My Great Predecessors (volumes I-V)
42. 1000 Checkmate Combinations
43. Pawn Power in Chess
44. My Best Games (Updated and Revised Anniversary Edition)
45. Elements of Chess Strategy
46. Play Like a Grandmaster
47. Think Like a Grandmaster
48. Carlsen's Assault on the Throne
49. Chess Legends Move by Move (Capablanca, Kramnik, Botvinnik)
50. Bent Larsen´s Best Games of Chess
51. Questions of Modern Chess Theory
52. Secrets of Attacking Chess
53. Secrets of Chess Defence
54. Learn from the Legends
55. Break the Rules
56. Fighting Chess with Magnus Carlsen
57. A Practical guide to Rook Endgames
58. Revolutionize Your Chess
59. Fundamental Chess Endings
60. Secrets of Pawn Endings
61. How to Play Chess Endgames
62. Improve Your Chess Tactics
63. Chess Praxis
64. My System
65. Nunn's Chess Endings (Volumes 1 and 2)
66. Secrets of Practical Chess (new enlarged ed)
67. Understanding Chess Endgames: Key Concepts Explained
68. Understanding Chess Middlegames
69. Judit Polgar Teaches Chess (series)
70. Advanced Chess Tactics
71. Modern Ideas in Chess
72. Chess for Zebras: Thinking Differently about Black and White
73. The Seven Deadly Chess Sins
74. Study Chess with Matthew Sadler
75. Endgame Strategy
76. Fire on Board (volumes 1 and 2)
77. How to Reassess Your Chess - 4th edition
78. Silman's Complete Endgame Course
79. The Amateur's Mind
80. Pump up Your Rating
81. Winning Chess Middlegames
82. Sacrifice and Initiative in Chess
83. Pawn Structure Chess
84. How to Choose a Chess Move
85. rethinking the chess pieces
86. Studying Chess Made Easy
87. Simple Chess (New Algebraic edition)
88. Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces
89. Dynamic Chess Strategy: Extended & Updated Edition
90. Tal-Botvinnik 1960
91. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal
92. Study Chess with Tal
93. Art of Chess Analysis
94. On the Attack
95. Power Chess with Pieces
96. Modern Chess Preparation
97. Profession: Chessplayer
98. Open Files: The Road into the Enemy Position
99. Endgame Tactic´s
100. Learning Chess Workbook: The Step-by-Step Method (series)
101. Perfect your Chess
102. Art of Attack in Chess: 2008 reprint of a Classic
103. Chess Strategy in Action
104. Mastering the Chess Opening (Volumes 1-4)
105. Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
106. Chess for Tigers
107. Sicilian Attacks
108. The Road to Chess Improvement
109. Beyond the Basics (3 Volumes)
110. Mastery (3 volumes)
111. The Fundamental Series (3 Volumes)

Miles,Anthony J - Mariotti,Sergio [B87] Islington-J Islington (7), 1970

(13) Miles,Anthony J - Mariotti,Sergio [B87] Islington-J Islington (7), 1970 [Bxc6] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Qe2 Bb7 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.0–0–0 h6 11.Bxf6 [11.Bh4 Be7? 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6] 11...Qxf6 12.Rhe1 [12.Ndxb5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Qg5+ 14.Kb1 (14.Rd2 Qc5 15.Rhd1 Ba6 16.Bc4) 14...Qc5] 12...Rc8 13.Qd2 [13.Nd5 exd5 (13...Qd8 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qh5+; 13...Qg5+ 14.f4) 14.exd5+ (14.Bxd5) 14...Ne5 a) 14...Be7 15.a4 (15.Nf5 Ne5 16.Nxe7 (16.f4 Qxf5 17.fxe5 0–0) 16...Kxe7 17.g3 Kd8 18.f4 Nc4) 15...b4 16.a5 Nc5; b) 14...Kd8 15.Ne6+ fxe6 16.dxe6; 15.Nxb5 Be7 (15...axb5 16.Qxb5+ Kd8 17.Qxb7) 16.Na7 Ra8 (16...Qf4+ 17.Kb1 Ra8 18.g3) 17.Ba4+; 13.Bd5!! exd5 14.exd5+] 13...Be7 14.f4 Nc5 15.Kb1 0–0 16.f5 Nxb3 17.axb3 Rc5 18.Rf1 e5 19.Nde2 Rfc8 20.b4 Rc4 21.Ng3 Bf8 22.Rf2 Qh4 23.Qe3 Rxb4 24.b3 d5 25.Nxd5 Bc5 26.Qe1 Bxf2 27.Qxb4 Bxd5 28.Rxd5 Bxg3 29.hxg3 Qh1+ 30.Kb2 Qxg2 31.Rd2 Qxg3 32.c4 bxc4 33.bxc4 Qe3 34.Rd7 Qxe4 35.Kc3 Qe1+ 36.Rd2 0–1