The Ponziani is the main aggressive/surprise opening I used as White when I climbed from 1600 USCF to eventually 2130 over about three years. My coach GM Alex Wojtkiewicz (RIP) suggested it as an easy way to trip up class players who likely don’t have time to study this somewhat obscure opening and figure they’ll just play it over the board if they encounter it. Unfortunately for them, the “natural” moves are the wrong ones and they can easily fall into some traps. This opening is also good for online blitz and bullet games for the same reason.
This is a trap in my primary opening, the Veresov. I will show how, after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4, to punish the inaccurate 3…Bb4?! In this video I discuss the possibilities/alternatives to the first 5 moves. The mainline 5.Qg4 Nxc3 is discussed in the next video.
This is a trap in my primary opening, the Veresov. I will show how, after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4, to punish the inaccurate 3…Bb4?! This video is about the tactical – but bad for Black – continuation 5.Qg4 Nxc3. A brief discussion of the related Pin Variation of the Sicilian is also included.
This is an exploration of the Neo-Steinitz Defense to the Ruy Lopez, 3…a6 4.Ba4 d6. In this video we look at White’s attempt to immediately establish himself in the center with 5.d4. Against the Old Steinitz, we saw that White could force Black to give up the center( www.youtube.com ). Does the inclusion of …a6 and Ba4 make a difference? Watch and find out!!1!!
This is a discussion of a trap in the Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense. This is an important trap to know because it shows what happens if Black tries to hold the center in the Steinitz. When Tarrasch beat Marco in 1892, it signaled the beginning of the end for the Old Steinitz Defense. Today the Neo-Steinitz, 3…a6 4.Ba4 d6, is much more popular because it avoids the trap in this video.
A discussion of Lasker’s Trap, which shows up in the Albin Countergambit to the Queen’s Gambit. I had to use WinBoard for this lecture because PGNMentor does not allow me to promote my pawn to a knight.
FACEBOOK: facebook.com TWITTER: twitter.com MYSPACE: myspace.com Opening: Ruy Lopez/Spanish Game This is a LIVE blitz game. Time controls are set at 5 minutes per player. Free Internet Chess Server www.freechess.org http
FACEBOOK: facebook.com TWITTER: twitter.com MYSPACE: myspace.com Opening: Bird’s This is a LIVE blitz game. Time controls are set at 5 minutes per player. Free Internet Chess Server www.freechess.org http
