Masterclass - Improve Your Defence
Introduction and Free Preview
The masterclass dedicated to the defence is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the masterclass as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of approximately 5 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 77 files!
You will find the following lectures:
Defensive Strategies in the Endgame - GM Petar Arnaudov
Prophylactic Thinking and Elimination in Difficult Positions - GM Grigor Grigorov
Active or Passive Defence - Modern Tendencies - GM Davorin Kuljasevic
Practical Application - GM Petar Arnaudov and GM Grigor Grigorov
In this article, we will briefly present some interesting moments taken from the lectures.
Defensive Strategies in the Endgame - GM Petar Arnaudov
In this lecture, GM Petar Arnaudov deals with the most important defensive strategies in the endgame. He presents 6 must-know defensive concepts:
1. Activation of the pieces
2. Activation of the king
3. Building a Fortress
4. Sacrifice material to simplify in a theoretical draw
5. Transposing to theoretically lost positions but with practical chances
6. Simplification by means of pawn exchanges
The PGN version of the lecture includes 12 extensively annotated model games.
You shall take the chance to think over one of the discussed positions.
How should Black defend in this position?
Prophylactic Thinking and Elimination in Difficult Positions - GM Grigor Grigorov
In this lecture, GM Grigor Grigorov examines two of the most important defensive strategies - prophylactic thinking and elimination.
In the introduction to the PGN version of the lecture, he states:
These two approaches (prophylactic thinking and elimination) often work together. In order to find the best defence by using the elimination method, you need to understand why the alternative defences wouldn't work. Therefore, you should put yourself in the shoes of your opponent by applying prophylactic thinking. In the first part of the lecture, however, we are going to examine the prophylactic thinking in a broader way. At this height, our task will be to feel and prevent danger before it happens. In order to achieve that, one needs to constantly track the dynamic and static tendencies in the position. In general, whenever you see that some positive evolution of the position of your opponent is possible (his next few moves are clear), you should be on alert. If you cannot create your own play, the prevention (prophylaxis) remains the best strategy.
The article consists of 16 model games and 15 test positions. Bellow, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
Active or Passive Defence - Modern Tendencies - GM Davorin Kuljasevic
Very often, in a difficult position, we should decide whether to opt for passive or active defence. In many cases, there is no 100% correct choice and everything depends on psychological and practical factors.
Nevertheless, after studying this lecture by GM Kuljasevic, you might be convinced that more often than not the active defence should be preferred. Even though the choice of the correct defensive strategy remains complex, GM Kuljasevic provides important guidelines which will make your task easier.
The lecture consists of 12 extensively annotated model games. Here is one of them:
Practical Application - GM Petar Arnaudov and GM Grigor Grigorov
In this session, GM Grigorov and GM Arnaudov discuss 5 training positions which are designed to test your understanding of the key defensive concepts. When watching this lecture, you just need to pause the video on each of the test positions and think on your own. Later, you can compare your analysis with the explanations.
You can try to solve one of the positions.
How should Black defend?