Igor Smirnov Chess Algorithms

Material -> activity

"Sacrifice"

Tension

"To break or not to break" Calculate forcing moves To take is a mistake

Sequence of development exceptions part 2

+ if it prepares the development of a piece (advanced fianchetto) + sometimes it may prevent the opponent's development Sometimes you may leave your rook or bishop on it's initial square

-> where you are stronger

+ more pieces + more space + greater activity

You get advantage after opponent's mistake

- 1 huge mistake - several small mistakes

Greater activity

- attack - create contact

A game is decided by the mistakes of 1 side

- avoid mistakes

Efficient calculation

- calculate the most forcing moves first - calculate the most powerful opponent's reply first

Chess tactics

- calculation - visualization - combinations

An opening attack

- combining development with attack - do not make attacking moves with developed pieces Do not make several moves with piece during opening

" The least active piece":

- develop knights before bishops - do not make several moves with 1 piece in an opening

The Calculation System

- find all the forcing candidate moves first; - calculate them until the end of the forcing line

Main opening tasks

- focus on them - do not be deflected by other ideas, including an attempt to win a pawn - if your opponent tries to win your pawn, you may then sacrifice the pawn to gain 2 tempi

Calculate it list:

- forcing moves - powerful moves - powerful replies

Efficient calculation

- forcing moves - powerful moves - powerful replies - comparison - elimination - discard sidelines - K, Q, R, B, N, p

Maximum activity

- forward squares - central squares

What if 1 player breaks the rules?

- if 1 player breaks the balance, another player may break the balance as well (in order to punish his opponent) - do not put great effort into planning in the opening stage - play the first 15 moves relatively quickly (30 mins in long game) - focus on main principles

Sequence of development exceptions part 1

- if there's no active square for a piece, sometimes you may postpone its development - keep focus on the development of this piece a3 or h3 in an opening - generally it's bad because we should develop pieces instead

Closed positions

- in closed positions you may delay your development for a bit to gain some stable positional advantages - you need to keep the position closed

Opening principles

- least active piece - maximum activity

If your move seems dubious

- look for refutation

It's fine to

- make normal moves - rely on your intuition

How to evaluate the resulting position

- material - activity

The principle of maximum activity

- move your pieces first of all

If you want to attack

- open lines first

Better development

- open the position

Do not

- overload yourself - think for too long

Practical tips

- perform your usual thinking process only

During opponent's time:

- planning - strategic plan - find best position for your pieces

Centre

- sometimes you may move your "c" or "f" pawns to strengthen your centre - if your strong centre restricts your opponents activity it's fine - grab your opponent's central pawns - keep up the tension between central pawns

Greater activity

- successful attack - look for combos

You should try to make the attacking moves first. If there are no attacking possibilities, you need to use the principles:

- the least active piece; - maximum activity; - neutralizing the opponent's most active pieces

-> opponent's weaknesses

- undefended pawn/ piece - limited mobility

Your thinking should be

- universal - simple - automated

Opening training

- use a different order of moves - play different variations within 1 opening - play similar openings (with similar pawn structure or plans) - play your opening with an opposite colour - play against your opening - play forgotten openings

Understand

- what to calculate - evaluation - comparison

Where should you attack

- where you are stronger - attack opponent's weaknesses

Comparison

- which line is better - elimination

Activity

- who has advanced - attack or position - more active

Knowing all options:

- you can detect the best option

Otherwise:

- you will miss other powerful options

Right method

- your thinking should be universal

The main tactical task of an opening for black is to:

-> exchange white's e4 pawn in openings after 1.e4 -> exchange white's d4 pawn in openings after 1.d4

If there's a choice you must look for candidate moves again

-> you -> opponent

You need

1. A logical system of understanding 2. A system of thinking 3. A system of training

Neutralize preparation

1. Avoid opponent's strong points 2. Use opponent's weaknesses

Opening Tasks

1. Develop Pieces 2. Castle 3. Connect the rooks , move the queen

Openings Lab part 1

1. Do not play openings that seem strange to you, that you can't understand clearly 2. Do not try to recollect an opening line if you don't remember clearly 3. Many players overestimate the importance of an opening

Calculation process

1. Find all of the candidate moves 2. Determine the best ORDER of calculation 3. Calculate the tree variations 4. Evaluate resulting positions and choose the best one 5. Blumenfeld's rule (look away from board, look back and visualize)

Calculation

1. Find candidate move 2. Calculate each line 3. Choose the best one

Calculate only the logical move

1. Forcing moves 2. Follow the basic principles

You need

1. Logical system of understanding 2. A system of thinking

General Principles: Defence

1. Neutralize attackers: - push away - exchange 2. Successful attack: - attackers > defenders 3. Block the 3rd rank for opponent's rook

Aspiration for perfection

1. Nobody knows everything about chess 2. Time restriction (3 min/ 1 move)

Realization of your advantage

1. Protect your weaknesses, keep all your protected pieces connected 2. Activate your pieces, before realizing your plan 3. Exchange pieces , or use it as a threat

If he ignores development:

1. Start attacking 2. Open the position 3. Exchange your opponent's developed pieces

GM Secrets

1. Strong players focus on activity - develop every piece by 15th move 2. Counter blow 3. Keep the tension - to take is a mistake

Opening preparation approach #1-4

1. The same openings 2. Different openings 3. Postpone a battle 4. Neglect

There's contact

1. Think in general 2. Calculate variations thoroughly

How to think in time trouble

1. Think in general 2. Check aggressive replies

No contact

1. Think in general 2. Quickly check variations: - check other options; - check aggressive replies

Calculation requires

1. Understanding 2. Calculation technique 3. Visualization

Maximum activity exceptions

1. When the most forward move does not work 2. Due to specific tactical reason 3. For keeping a harmony between your pieces

Right method

1. You can adopt a system 2. We can understand a logical flow of the process

When should we calculate variations?

2 situations: - there's contact - there's no contact

Openings Lab part 2

4. If a player got a bad position in an opening, he thinks the problem is his opening preparation 5. A player wants to change an opening that doesn't fit his style

Opponent's preparation

A beginner can play first 10 - 20 moves on the level of a top Grandmaster

Combination

A combination is just a particular case of tactics

Endgame Tasks

In the endgame, the pawn structure determines the plan

Middlegame Tasks

In the middlegame, you should compose an attacking plan: - find an object of the attack; - realize how you can attack it with your pieces

How to evaluate material in the imaginary position

Keep track of the material situation during your calculation

Logical system

Main idea Base rule 1 -> specific rule -> specific rule Base rule 2 -> specific rule -> specific rule --> more specific rule Base rule 3 -> specific rule

Understanding

Minimize calculation

Your approach to opening preparation #4

Neglect opening (go into unknown position) - your moves should correspond to your general understanding of chess - play a solid opening and know it very well - be ready to play any opening in any particular game

Instead of calculating the quantity of pawns and pieces

Notice the difference

Opening rules

Opening rules -> training -> skills

Pawn play

Pawn moves can be good if they prepare for the development of your piece Principle of maximum activity works for your pawns as well

Your approach to opening preparation #1

Playing the same openings all the time + you learn it very well - you have to face opponent's preparation

Strategy & tactics

Positional play improves our position; Tactics destroy opponent's position

Your approach to opening preparation #3

Postpone a battle until the middlegame/ endgame - if you play better than opponent, you will obtain an advantage at some point - the opening preparation of your opponent is very good - your general chess understanding is very good

Attack (it's forcing!)

The forcing moves - check - captures - attacking moves

Advanced opening rules

The main principles -> work in 90% of positions Advanced rules (exceptions) -> work in 10% of positions

If you can't determine who has more activity

Then it's equality

Grandmasters don't calculate everything in a game

They analyze the key positions better than the opponent's

Why do chess players blunder?

They miss opponent's move

The best order of calculation

We want to play quickly -> minimize calculation -> optimal thinking

Grandmasters generally make better moves than their opponent

Which increases their chances of winning

Eventual scenarios

You Opponent Material <---> material Activity <---> activity

After realizing which move should be the best according to the general principles

You need to check the concrete variations

After you finalize the 3 opening tasks

You should start an attack

Opening preparation

Your good preparation -> 50% of success Neutralization of opponent's preparation -> 50% of success

Your approach to opening preparation #2

Always play different openings + avoid opponent's preparation - superficial knowledge

Opening preparation

After a study of a new opening -> play some training games -> a few games against a computer -> a couple of Internet blitz games

Strategy

Get greater activity -> Capture opponent's pieces

Do not copy bad moves played by grandmasters

Have a powerful opening repertoire

When to finish calculating a line?

Calculate until the end of the forcing variation

White wants to play for a win

Correct play leads to a draw

How does one win?

Demolish opponent's army -> greater activity - more pieces -> material - better positions -> activity

Quickly check sidelines and

Focus on mainline afterwards

How to find candidate moves?

Gain activity 1. Attack 2. Increase your activity/ decrease opponent's