Psychology of defense in chess

As I said earlier, defense is a very important chess skill. At least in about 50% of a chess game, we need to defend. Many players struggle to get out of hard positions, and crumble under pressure. If you study this course carefully, you will be able to defend correctly against all level of players.

Even someone like YOU, an RCA student, has admitted this truth in the comments section of our previous article:
Let me emphasize the statement with a practical example – the third game between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin in the recent World Chess Championship match.

Carlsen – Karjakin

Black to play

Carlsen is a pawn up, and he played 66.Ng4+, trying to win the Black’s e7-bishop. White has a clear advantage, but Black can generate counter-play with the h-pawn, and his King may run to the queenside. If Black King or Rook manages to capture the White’s b3-pawn, then the game will end in a draw.

Can you find a way for Black to save the game? Can you think like Karjakin – the ‘minister of defense’? 

The game continued as follows: 66…Kf7 67.Re6 Rxh3 68.Ne5+ Kg7 69.Rxe7+ Kf6 70.Nc6 Kxf5

White to play

Karjakin gave up his bishop and got an outside passed pawn for compensation. As said above, Black’s main goal is to capture the b3-pawn and draw the game with a great satisfaction. However, White still has chances to win the game. Yes, Carlsen missed a golden opportunity to win the game here. Can you find it? 

Yes, the World Champion missed the winning move 71.Re1! We can clearly understand that sometimes, the PERFECT DEFENSE is what all we need to stay alive in the game, escape with a draw from tough positions.

Note: you can see the complete analysis of Game-3 here.

Karjakin’s defense would have definitely impacted Carlsen’s psychology and winning confidence, as the latter failed to find the winning move. Thus, we can see that even though our defense does not directly save us from the game, the process is ‘indirect’ – breaking our opponent’s confidence to win. 

You can learn everything about the psychology of defense, active defense and counterattack, simplification in chess, how to consolidate and save lost position, and lots more from our course “Defending Champion”.

<<Get the course now>>

Don’t forget to use the coupon “defend35” and save about USD $42 (35% discount!)

P.S. If you’ve bought the course already and started studying it, please write your first impressions in the comments below. It will be very interesting for me, as well as for all the other students, to hear your feedback. Thanks in advance! 

What can you learn from our chess course "Defending Champion"?

In my previous article, I wrote that we’ll be launching a new chess course called “Defending Champion” soon. The authors of this course are FM Marko Makaj (our guest coach) and myself (Igor Smirnov). Also, we gave a little preview (video lesson) for the course, if you missed it, you can find it here.

Today I’d like to share with you a few more details of the course and how it will help you master the art of defense!  First, you can find the cover image of the course below:

Who can study the course?

The course is suitable for beginners and intermediate level players, but it will be helpful for advanced level players, too. Even if your ELO is 1900+ (or even 2000+), this course will help you improve your defending skills and you’ll learn some new things. Therefore, anyone can study this course.

Why “defense” is important?

Defense is a very important chess skill. At least in about 50% of a chess game, we need to defend. In some games, we play with Black pieces and White makes the first move, and for that reason, White has the opportunity to start the attack/initiative.

In some other occasions, one will make a mistake and he or she is forced to defend. Thus, defense is as important as attack. After all, that’s how Sergey Karjakin manged to survive some of the early games of the recent World Championship against Magnus Carlsen. 

What can you learn from the course?

If you carefully study the course, then you will be able to defend correctly against all level of players. You will learn a lot of new ideas and at the end of the course, you’re provided with the right way of thinking. We’ll give you a complete system which you can apply, for sure, after the study of the course.

Course contents

• No. of video lessons – 15
• No. of practical parts – 9
• Course duration – 305 minutes
• There are almost 100 analyzed games in the practical part

P.S. Stay tuned, guys, for we’ll release the course soon! 

20 interesting and funny photos that summarize the World Chess Championship 2016

Before going to the photos, let me remind you that today is the LAST chance for you to grab our comprehensive and middlegame courses with a huge 40% discount. We’ve provided this special offer in honour of the World Championship match. Use coupon “40off” now – find more details here.
We’ve had some great entertainment over the past twenty days with some amazing games from two great chess players, Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin, in the World Championship match. The former successfully retained his title after the tense tie-break games. If you missed the tie-break games, you can find them here.

Now sit back and relax, as we’ll see this 20-day journey summarized by 20 interesting, cool and funny photos. 

#1 – The players after drawing colours (photo: Albert Silver)

 #2 – A disappointed Carlsen extending his hand to Karjakin after missing a win in Game-3

#3 – Carlsen stretched out on the couch, while Karjakin is locked in thought, during Game-4

#4 – Fabiano Caruana’s tweet, acknowledging Karjakin’s defensive skills

#5 – Karjakin looks like he has won a free mountain bike, while Carlsen looks like his crush won’t text him back. 

#6 – The first decisive game of the WC match, Game-8

#7 – Carlsen feeling the pressure during Game-8: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown….”

#8 – That’s probably how Magnus Carlsen’s fans would have reacted to Game-8

#9 – Especially fans from India, who woke to this surprising turn of events

#10 – The tweets by Nakamura, Howell, Giri and Short say it all!

#11 – A frustrated Magnus Carlsen has left and did not attend the press conference

#12 – A photo edit by a chess fan, Bobby Fiske, before Game-9, saying: “The World Champion is fighting for his chess life!”

#13 – The second decisive game of the WC match, Game-10, where Carlsen levelled the score

#14 – Chess is brutal! The first crack in Karjakin’s World Championship dream

#15 – A happy Carlsen, and sad Karjakin, after Game-10

#16 – Magnus Carlsen’s cool pose during Game-11

#17 – Fabiano Caruana was surprised that Carlsen did not even try to capitalize on his White game (Game-12) but went directly for the tie-breaks

#18 – The winning moment – 50.Qh6+ is the way to wrap up the best possible (Carlsen’s) birthday gift!

Suggestion: you may like to see our special “Carlsen’s Birthday” article “Carlsen’s immortal chess game”

#19 – The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to Magnus Carlsen – click on the image to watch the video clip.

#20 – Magnus Carlsen with the trophy – enjoying his best birthday! 

Did you enjoy these photos? Would you like to see more such ‘chess memes’ and funny photos?  Then “Like” the RCA Facebook page now!

Carlsen-Karjakin tiebreaks: Magnus is the World Champion!

Before going to the tie-break games, let me remind you of the massive 40% discount we’re providing you with on our comprehensive and middlegame courses, in honour of the World Championship Match. Use coupon “40off” while purchasing. Find more details here.
Magnus Carlsen has won the World Chess Championship, once again! He defended his title against Sergey Karjakin in a dramatic tie-break full of tension, with the final score of 3-1.

He’s done it, again!  (photo: Anastasia Karlovich)

Carlsen retained his title successfully, dominated in the rapid and made a beautiful combination in the last game. However, confidence in his total domination against the other players is seriously damaged by Karjakin. Carlsen, who played quite ‘badly’ this World Championship, had made many mistakes and lost many opportunities, failing to convert winning positions into win.

Once again, he’s had problems with creating serious and principle opening repertoire, with White. The eighth game cost too much to his self-confidence. In the rest of the match, he tried to be extra-careful and not take too many risks. In this series of games, one little mistake can be crucial and it could be the last one of the match. This could be the reason for his quick draw in the twelfth game in classical rounds.

Karjakin gave his best as anybody could imagine in his wildest dreams. He had a good opening preparation, kept his nerves, and achieved some cool draws in difficult situations, with his amazing defending skills. He had a real chance to win the World Championship match, because he was a full point ahead after winning the eighth game. In the tenth game, he had a forcing drawish continuation, but unfortunately for him, he didn’t manage to find it. After that, there was no turning back and Magnus won a marvelous game!

Karjakin’s confession at the end

Karjakin proved that attack wins the game, but defense saves crucial games. Remote chess Academy is creating a new chess course related to this topic. This course will be ready soon and you should definitely not miss it, because you can learn all of the TOP-secret techniques. Thus, who knows, you may be the next challenger against Magnus Carlsen! 

(14) Magnus Carlsen – Sergey Karjakin [C50]
Carlsen – Karjakin World Championship (Tiebreak-2), 30.11.2016

White to play

This is the first interesting moment of the tie-break match. It was the second rapid game, where Carlsen was playing White. He has done everything right and he has the winning combination. Black’s rook is attacking the bishop on b4 and White decides to move it; but he missed a very nice counter-blow, the move Be6! After this move, White can achieve the winning picture.

73.Be6+! Kh8 74.Bf8 Rc7 75.Bf7

Black to play

Black cannot prevent the checkmate on g7. 75…Rb7 76.Bxg7#

(15) Sergey Karjakin – Magnus Carlsen [C78]
Carlsen – Karjakin World Championship (Tiebreak-3), 30.11.2016

22….a5!

White to play

This is a very interesting moment. Carlsen, who has more active pieces, makes a fantastic breakthrough on the queenside in order to control the d4-square. White would like to exchange the c3-pawn or remove it from its position.

23.axb5 axb4 24.Bd2 bxc3 25.Bxc3 Ne3 26.Rfc1 Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Qe8 28.Bc4 Kh8 29.Nxf6 Bxf6 30.Ra3 e4!?

White to play

This is an amazing fighting move. Black’s intention is to control that open a-file. He sacrifices the pawn in order to control and dominate the dark squares.

31.dxe4 Bxc3 32.Rxc3 Qe5 33.Rc1 Ra8 34.h3 h6 35.Kh2 Qd4 36.Qe1 Qb2 37.Bf1 Ra2

White to play

Black has a fantastic position. All Black pieces are very active and they are attacking the vulnerable g2-pawn. However, White could survive here by hitting the queen with the move Rb1.

Unfortunately, Karjakin captures the pawn on c7 and this was the final mistake of the game. We could say that this was his biggest mistake in the entire match. Carlsen finished him off with the move Ra1. The Queen on e1 and the Bishop on f1 is attacked, so White can’t do anything, but to resign.

38.Rxc7 [38.Rb1 Qd4] 38…Ra1 0-1

(16) Magnus Carlsen – Sergey Karjakin [B54]
Carlsen – Karjakin World Championship (Tiebreak-4), 30.11.2016

White to play

This is the position of the final game. Magnus manages to find a beautiful combination in order to win the game. Can you find the best moves for White? 
49.Rc8+ Kh7 50.Qh6+ 1-0

With this glorious queen sacrifice, Magnus Carlsen has won the World Chess Championship for the third time.

You can download the PGN of all the tie-break games here.

I hope you enjoyed the games as I did.  I hope the games motivate you to play more games, and for that reason, I wish you good luck with your games!

P.S. What was your favourite game(s) from this World Championship Match? Did you learn anything new or valuable?  Feel free to write your thoughts in the comments below. 

<<Find more and grab the offer now>>