1600

1 game annotated at this level. Daniel Naroditsky playing as SenseiDanya.

Themes

Each number is a game; it opens the move where he explains the idea. Open a theme to read what it is about.

General

  1. The method of comparison, in both directions

    A move is right or wrong for a reason. Compare it with a position where it was the other way round, and the reason shows.

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  2. Ask what he is actually threatening

    Before defending, ask whether the threat is real and what exactly it threatens. Often the answer is less than it looks.

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  3. Be obsessed with undefended pieces

    Make it a habit to notice every undefended piece, yours and his, and to count the defenders of every piece that is under attack.

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  4. Make one move do two jobs

    When a task can be done in a way that also does something else, do it that way. Do not tie a piece to one job if another can do it and keep working.

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Pawn structure

  1. Doubled pawns are judged by what they do, not how they look

    Judge doubled pawns by their jobs: what they control, what they shelter, and what the trade that made them gave you.

    0111

Piece play

  1. A square can be a route rather than a destination

    A square can be worth going to for where it leads next, not for what the piece does there.

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Strategy

  1. A piece up, convert by improving

    A piece ahead, finish developing rather than hunting for more material, and look for the trade that turns the advantage into a win.

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  2. The king can be tucked away without castling

    The king can sometimes be made safe by walking it a square or two, keeping the rook where castling would have taken it away.

    1120

Tactics

  1. Remove the defender

    Before taking, ask what is holding the target together, and take that first.

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Games

  1. 11 vs Tubertz (1608) 21 ideas B13 Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation, 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.c3 Nc6 · 0-1