Entrenamiento60 Minutos

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 - try the move 5…b5!? and catch your opponent off-guard with the Ulvestad Variation!

The aim of the sideline 4...Bf5 in the KID is crystal-clear: Black doesn't want to see 5.e2-e4 on the next move and is probing for their opponent's intentions.

This “60 Minutes” is aimed at providing the reader with a guide to positional and strategic play in the middlegame.

There are many brilliant combinations in chess that were invented by giants of the past. Now it's your turn to bring them to your own games!

You will see throughout these videos that some outwardly logical follow-ups by Black may indeed lead to an objective white edge.

One of the easy, sharp and semi-rare options is the Popov variation. It starts with 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2, which seems like white is intending to go for an English Attack set-up, but then after 7…Nf6 8.f4 will follow, the Popov variation.

5.Bd2 against the grünfeld offers a solid and exciting repertoire. White delays the immediate e4 and simplifies the resulting variations.

After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 Black is giving up a pawn. By sacrificing the e-pawn, Black gains a lot of time harassing the white knight and seizes the initiative in the centre.

The Kupreichik starts with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd7. It is a flexible move, as it doesn’t tell white much about the set-up black will choose. Most often black goes for a Dragon or a Classical Sicilian set-up.

Looking for some action against the Ruy Lopez? The Delayed Jaenisch, arising from the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 f5, will be your choice from now on!

El Gambito Escocés (1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Ac4!?) es al mismo tiempo un sistema enérgico y un sistema perfectamente sólido para las blancas, que sacrifican un peón para abrir la posición y atacar al rey negro lo antes posible.

The Hungarian variation provides white an attacking plan against the KID. With 5.Nge2 White will play 6.Ng3, close the centre with d5 after …c5/…e5 and start playing on the kingside for an attack.