Workshop - Improve Your Positional Play - Part 1
Introduction and Free Preview
The first workshop dedicated to the positional play is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the workshop as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of approximately 7 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 79 files!
You will find the following lectures:
Thinking in Priorities - Dynamic and Static Factors - GM Dejan Bojkov
The Exchange Operations Through the Eyes of Modern Grandmasters - GM Grigor Grigorov
Transformations of the Pawn Structure - GM Boris Avrukh
The Art of Manoeuvring - Classical and Modern Positional Patterns - GM Petar Arnaudov
In this article, we will briefly present some interesting moments taken from the lectures.
Thinking in Priorities - Dynamic and Static Factors - GM Dejan Bojkov
In this fundamental lecture, GM Dejan Bojkov talks about one of the most important positional decisions - play dynamically or statically. In each example, GM Bojkov tries to identify the most important positional factor. In this way, he is trying to develop your ability to prioritize your tasks when playing.
At the same time, GM Bojkov avoids suggesting complex evaluation methodologies. The reason is that he wants to keep his approach as practical as possible.
Below, you can take a look at one of the training examples.
The Exchange Operations Through the Eyes of Modern Grandmasters - GM Grigor Grigorov
Making the right exchanges is a skill that every good positional player should master. In the introduction to his lecture, GM Grigorov states:
"Exchanges are one of the most important elements of the positional play. In every game, we are forced to evaluate possible exchange operations. I would like to start the current lecture with a disclaimer. Since this topic is extremely broad, it is impossible to provide extensive coverage in one lecture. Therefore, I have decided to focus on some aspects that I find important. In this lecture, I examine the following aspects:
1) exchange in order to weaken a square or complex of squares
2) exchange leading to a favourable version of opposite-coloured bishops
3) exchange in order to obtain queen + knight tandem
4) exchange leading to pawn structure transformations"
The lecture includes 14 model games and 10 test positions.
Below, you can take a look at one of the model games.
Transformations of the Pawn Structure - GM Boris Avrukh
The structural transformations are one of the most complicated positional topics. Whenever you need to take a decision related to a structural change, you should know that this is a critical moment and you need to waste a good amount of time.
In the introduction to his lecture, GM Avrukh claims that there is always an opportunity in the game to change the pawn structure. According to him, there are 3 or 4 moments in the game when we can do this. That's why we need to study different pawn structures and to be well aware of the possible plans and ideas.
We would like to challenge you with one of the training positions that Avrukh shows during the lecture.
Which is the structure Black should go for?
The Art of Manoeuvring - Classical and Modern Positional Patterns - GM Petar Arnaudov
Manoeuvring is another angular stone of the positional play. Explained in simple words, manoeuvring is the art of improving our pieces. In the introduction to the current lecture, GM Arnaudov identifies 4 major goals of the manoeuvres:
1) Improve the place of the pieces
2) Put pressure on a weakness
3) Bring more forces into the attack
4) Exploit weak squares
The lecture includes 18 model games and 7 test positions.
Below, you can take a look at one of the examples.