Some attacking positions have more than one way to win. Back in 1943, Smyslov won a nice game vs. Kotov. Later, in analysis this possibility arose in this position. Smyslov,as befitting a future world champion, found the ...Read More

The Albin Counter Gambit to the Queen’s Gambit usually signals a wild and wooly fight. This game is no exception. Both players start out well. Then their move choices get interesting and even critical: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3....Read More

Today is a real lesson game. There are two big lessons courtesy of the Evans Gambit. The first one is the devastating effect of a Ba3 move that stops Black from castling. The second one is the use of using center pawns to ...Read More

The Scandinavian Defense is often misplayed by amateurs. This game is one example: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Bf4 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 (Moving the bishop back to f5 or h5 just gets g4 as a reply. For example...Read More

This game is a fine lesson in why players castle before they attack. Black thought he would cower White with his g5 pawn attack on the kingside. If you were White, how would you show Black why it wasn’t such a good idea....Read More

One careless move in the opening can sometimes lead to disaster. This game is an object lesson on what not to do. From Sczepaniak-Michel, Berlin 1939—It starts out 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c5 4.Nc3?? cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nf3 ...Read More