Understand the Hedgehog (9h Running Time) 

Understand the Hedgehog

Introduction and Free Preview

The camp Understand the Hedgehog is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the camp as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of approximately 9 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 99 files!

You will find the following lectures:

Typical Endgames in the Hedgehog - GM Grigor Grigorov

Hedgehog Middlegame - Active Plans for Black - GM Vladimir Georgiev

Hedgehog Middlegame - Active Plans for White - GM Alexander Khalifman

Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian Hedgehog - GM Pavel Eljanov

English Hedgehog - Positional and Tactical Ideas - GM Ioannis Papaioannou

Typical Tactical Ideas in the Hedgehog - GM Petar Arnaudov

Below, we shall take a brief look at the different lectures.

Typical Endgames in the Hedgehog

The serious study of an opening or a pawn structure should always start with the typical endgames. In this lecture, GM Grigorov covers the most important must-know endgames in the Hedgehog.

In the introduction to this article, GM Grigorov writes:

The Hedgehog is a structure that is closely related to the endgame. Therefore, studying the typical endgame ideas and patterns will enable you to play better in the middlegame positions. You will know what each side is aiming for. Generally speaking, Hedgehog endgames tend to be favourable for Black. This is because after multiple exchanges, White's space advantage is no longer an asset. Very often, Black can make use of White's overextended position. Nevertheless, in this lecture, we will examine a couple of cases when the endgame is actually favourable for White.

On the diagram, you can see the classical Hedgehog structure with a pawn on e4. Nevertheless, the white pawn can be on e2 or e3 as well. In this lecture, I examine the following ideas:

1) The advance ...b6-b5

2) The advance ...d6-d5

3) Symmetrical Endgames arising after the exchange of the pawns on d6 and c4

4) Positions with doubled pawns on e6 and e5

5) The advance e4-e5

At the end of the PGN version of the lecture, you can try to solve some instructive exercises. I am sure that after studying the typical endgame positions, you will get a deeper understanding of the Hedgehog structure.

Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.

Hedgehog Middlegame - Active Plans for Black

In this fundamental lecture, GM Vladimir Georgiev covers all the important middlegame ideas and plans that every Black player should know. Besides all the classical games, he also analyzes the recent game Magnus Carlsen - Jeffery Xiong. Being a second of Xiong, GM Georgiev has actively participated in the preparation for this game. In the lecture, he reveals how they came up with the modern setup that allowed Jeffery to win against Magnus.

Below, you can see one of the model games from this lecture.

Hedgehog Middlegame - Active Plans for White 

In this lecture, the former World Champion Alexander Khalifman examines the most important active plans that White has at his disposal in the Hedgehog. The lecture is based on three instructive games played by Khalifman himself. After studying the in-depth analysis, you will get a better understanding of the dynamic potential of this pawn structure.

The following position is taken from the lecture. Try to think on your own.

How should White attack in this position?

Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian Hedgehog

Being a Nimzo/QID player himself, GM Pavel Eljanov is the perfect match when it comes to covering the Hedgehog positions in Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Indian. Besides all the important positional and tactical ideas, Eljanov also provides very useful theoretical knowledge in this lecture. Therefore the material will be useful for both 1.d4 players and Nimzo/QID players.

 English Hedgehog - Positional and Tactical Ideas

GM Ioannis Papaioannou is known for his ability to explain very complex things in a simple and accessible way. This lecture is not an exception. In 90 min, the Greek grandmaster shows all the must-know ideas in the English Hedgehog structure. Studying this lecture is enough to start playing these positions for both colours.

Below, you shall see one of the model games.

Typical Tactical Ideas in the Hedgehog

In this lecture, GM Petar Arnaudov examines the most important attacking and tactical ideas in the Hedgehog structures. Even though he mostly focuses on the English Hedgehog, the examined ideas are relevant for all other versions of the structure as well.

The PGN version of the lecture consists of 11 examples and 10 test positions.

Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.