The Most Dominant Chess Strategy: Mastering the Middlegame

One of the most dominant middlegame strategies, which involves complete deprivation of the opponent's counterplay. To demonstrate this strategy, we’ll analyze Vasily Smyslov’s positional masterpiece, where he completely paralyzed his opponent by means of monumental blockade over the entire board. By doing so, he ensured his opponent’s pieces remained passive and ineffective throughout the game, whereas Smyslov’s pieces dominated the whole board. This total domination let Smyslov sacrifice material and finish the game with a spectacular checkmate.
Gligoric vs Smyslov, Kiev 1959
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. h3 b6 13. f4 e6 14. Qe1 Bb7 15. Qf2 Na5 16. Bd3 f5 17. e5 c4 18. Bc2 Nc6 19. g4 Ne7 20. Kh2 Qc6 21. Ng3 b5 22. a4 a6 23. Rb1 Rab8 24. Bd2 bxa4 25. Ra1 Ba8 26. Bxa4 Qc7 27. Ra2 Rb6 28. gxf5 exf5 29. Bc1 Nd5 30. Ne2 a5 31. Bc2 Rb3 32. Bxb3 cxb3 33. Ra4 Bf8 34. Bb2 Ne3 35. Rfa1 Nc4 36. Ng3 Be7 37. Nf1 Qc6 38. Rxc4 Qh1+ 39. Kg3 h5 0-1

Пікірлер: 36

  • @barryfisher4734
    @barryfisher473429 күн бұрын

    Loved the way you analyzed this for an untrained player. I could actually see how tactics flow from the position, from a positional POV. You made it definitely clearer for me.

  • @user-tv8ws3rq1p
    @user-tv8ws3rq1p29 күн бұрын

    Thank you for a great analysis of a beautiful game. Smyslov's blockade was deeper than most others we see, since it eventually required domination of a series of white squares in the centre (c, d & e files), with White frequently threatening to break it down … leading to massive tension for many moves. Yet Smyslov always somehow managed to remain at least a tempo ahead? And Gligoric himself became a master of such positions! I have fond memories of one of his fantastic Kings Indian Defences, where he sacked a couple of pawns (on the e and f files, I think) to open up lines for for his fianchetto bishop to dominate the dark squares.

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    29 күн бұрын

    My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

  • @artemkorchagin652
    @artemkorchagin65229 күн бұрын

    Have just discovered your channel few days ago and to me you are the best among KZread channels I’ve seen at explaining complex games to both, beginners and intermediate players. Thank you for your work!

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    29 күн бұрын

    My pleasure and thank you for your kind words!

  • @ericastier1646
    @ericastier164627 күн бұрын

    Wow i am not an active chess player but was able to follow your explanations from beginning to end which surprised me. What i found from this game is knowing how strong/weak is one's position and the adverary's position is key to deciding moves. I would definitively have moved the wrong pieces and lost the stronghold that kept the white pieces weak. Like don't stop for every barking dogs or you loose your overall progress.

  • @joshuamphande2272
    @joshuamphande227227 күн бұрын

    Astute analysis as usual❤ Absolute squeeze by smyslov, white had no chance

  • @juanpeltzer4275
    @juanpeltzer427525 күн бұрын

    Tan simple la maniobra final de Smyslov, H5, amenazando jaque mate. Cualquiera hubiera desestimado la entrada de la dama negra en H1, por no haber visualizado esa jugada tan elemental. Hace años, cuando Smyslov derrotó a Ribli en el match de candidatos que llevó finalmente a Kasparov a enfrentarse con Karpov, Miguel Najdorf dijo acerca de Smyslov (el vencedor de Ribli) "Juega con concepto y así, hace un ajedrez fácil pero muy profundo.)" Un gran maestro del juego. Todo el tiempo voy al libro de finales de torre que este gran jugador hiciera junto a G. Lôwenfisch; una joya.

  • @fluxrider7027
    @fluxrider702726 күн бұрын

    What a great video. I learned much from the extended analysis of pawn structures, as well as the frequent side trips into how an alternate potential move would result in a poorer (or better) position moving forward. Very educational and informative. The one time that I noticed you not explaining a position this way was at the end, when the black queen moved forward to f6, threatening the white rook as well as a potential attack at h1. At that move you advised that after checking white from h1 and the white king moving to g3, the follow up was unclear for black. I paused the video at that point because it seemed to me that black should have a follow up attack, given how restricted white was. After pausing, I did indeed find black's move h5, threatening h4. When I resumed play on the video, I discovered why you didn't explain that "follow up" attack on the previous move; because after white took the black knight, Smyslov did indeed attack on h1 with a solid follow up of h5. At this point in watching, I was so proud that I had found the right continuation. The only difference was that in my analysis, if white responded to ...h5 with h4, I had the black bishop taking the pawn on h4, protected by the black queen, presenting a skewer attack on the white queen which was gratifying but superfluous since Bxh4 was also checkmate. Thank you for this helpful video. [Edited]: P.S. This video earned my subscription.

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    25 күн бұрын

    Thank you for your kind words and for subscribing.

  • @Brandon-a-writer
    @Brandon-a-writer26 күн бұрын

    On my son's phone watching this, and since that kid has no respect for his heritage he has not installed Cyrillic, but as I have seen you speak in wonderful English, I just wanted to leave a kind word. I've worked on youtube since 2020, and it can be really helpful for us when someone leaves a comment and a like, so I always do so when I can! I am particularly fond of Nimzsowitsch as a theoretician, are there any chances you can feature some of his games? It would be great if you took formal suggestions, it might be that the wisdom of the community here, if not idiots like me, can offer their suggestions and allow us all to learn from them. Chess has been more popular recently, but to be honest when i first started playing the only chess KZreadr was an English guy named Kingscrusher. Agadmator was rather late, and his videos while fine are entertaining, the reason this channel is more for my taste is the extent of analysis, the depth of showing the ideas and motifs behind active play and defense. Theory cannot be separated from practice! Wonderful, wonderful content man. I hope KZread is kind enough to you that yo are able to do this for years to come! spokoyinay nochi!

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    25 күн бұрын

    Thank you, I really appreciate it! I've made a couple of videos on Nimzowitsch's games, which you can find among my videos, and I'm planning to make some more.

  • @Brandon-a-writer

    @Brandon-a-writer

    24 күн бұрын

    @@chesswisdom Thanks man, I've been going back through all of your videos since I feel a kind of kinship with yourself and your vids. I intend not to be weird or rude, but I was born in 1985 in Shakhty, Rostov Oblast. And sitting here with my younger brother, born in the early 90s here in the States, he claims we 'sound alike'. Haha, really he is just pointing out the way native Russians pronounce certain words. Have you ever been to Rostov? It has been so long for me, it seems almost like a different lifetime! Regardless, I think you have the best chess channel on KZread. thanks for always responding and proshchaniye my friend!

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    24 күн бұрын

    Thank you for your kind words. No, unfortunately I haven't been to Rostov. My native language is Azerbaijani, but I also speak Russian, which might explain some similarities in our pronunciation. Have a nice day!

  • @NissimRA
    @NissimRAАй бұрын

    Have watched all your videos and wait eagerly for each new one 🥰

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks a lot for your kind words.

  • @KeithDonovan-cd3eo

    @KeithDonovan-cd3eo

    29 күн бұрын

    Love Smyslov, the hand

  • @dareyfairy
    @dareyfairy29 күн бұрын

    Very instructive and entertaining lecture. I think chess players should analyze Smyslov's games more since he's less discussed about yet just as strong as other GM's from the past. Glad I found your channel.

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    29 күн бұрын

    Thank you. I'm also glad that the channel found you.

  • @ashoksafaya5397
    @ashoksafaya5397Ай бұрын

    Thanks for the game and the analysis full of lessons, effective vs ineffective piece knight in this case quite prominent positive of the game.

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    Ай бұрын

    My pleasure.

  • @ashoksafaya5397

    @ashoksafaya5397

    29 күн бұрын

    Thanks 🙏

  • @carlos_kay
    @carlos_kay29 күн бұрын

    Man I'm really enjoying your channel!

  • @adeck79
    @adeck796 күн бұрын

    Great video. Do you conduct online lessons? If not you definitely should. 🙂

  • @gamechanger8645
    @gamechanger864527 күн бұрын

    Plzzz post daily videos sir.... ❤

  • @danielauto3767
    @danielauto376729 күн бұрын

    Great channel and great video. I have only one suggestion. Since you recommended another video about Smyslov, may be you should include a link to that video. This is really just a suggestion and either way I think this was a really good video and analysis. I eagerly await your next video😊

  • @thefooooob

    @thefooooob

    29 күн бұрын

    the link is provided at the end of the video heh

  • @monsoon4786
    @monsoon478627 күн бұрын

    Make a videos on mikhail tal games for your channel growth

  • @WHAT-gm1xm
    @WHAT-gm1xm22 күн бұрын

    What is your chess rating

  • @Robert_872
    @Robert_87228 күн бұрын

    I'm 25yr old . Is it possible for me to become a professional chess player? Currently I haven't joined any chess classes. I am learning from free resources available on the internet. I would appreciate your advice. In the end Thank you sir for giving us good content.

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    27 күн бұрын

    My pleasure, sir. I cannot give a definite answer, as I am not a professional player myself. I think it depends on your talent, motivation, love for the game, and readiness to work hard.

  • @mohammadnaufal1027
    @mohammadnaufal102729 күн бұрын

    "how game might continued if white take black pawn on c5 ? ... before finally black c-pawn advance to c4 🙏 ... maybe someone can explain ?

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    29 күн бұрын

    If White plays 15.dxc5 (instead of 15.Qf2) Black can play 15...Na5 attacking the c4 bishop and the central e4 pawn. The white bishop must move (let's say 16.Bb5), after which Black will capture the valuable e4 pawn (16...Bxe4) and after 17.cxb6 axb6 materially the position would be equal, but Black would have positional advantage as he would have advantage in the center (in view of the absence of the important e4 pawn) and White would have two weak isolated pawns.

  • @mohammadnaufal1027

    @mohammadnaufal1027

    28 күн бұрын

    Many thanks for detail explanation 👍

  • @chesswisdom

    @chesswisdom

    28 күн бұрын

    @@mohammadnaufal1027 My pleasure.

  • @austintomkewitz3981
    @austintomkewitz398128 күн бұрын

    Nice over exaggerated crap story bruh thumbs down