

Most players know how to attack. What separates strong players from the rest is knowing when. In this course, GM Sipke Ernst, a grandmaster from the Netherlands and experienced coach, addresses the mistake he sees most often in his own students: attacking with the right idea, at the wrong moment.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: Example Game: Ernst - Mediema
You'll learn to read the signals that indicate an attack is justified, such as a shortage of defenders around the enemy king, a lead in development, or open lines and weaknesses near the king's position. Just as important, you'll study examples of attacks that failed, and why. The course also covers when to increase pressure gradually instead of forcing complications, when a prophylactic move does more for your attack than another aggressive one, and how central control determines whether a flank attack succeeds or backfires. A final chapter draws on GM Sipke Ernst's own games to show how strong grandmasters generate attacking chances even from inferior positions.
What you'll get:
• A practical framework for recognizing when to attack, and when to hold back
• Instructive examples of both successful and flawed attacking play
• Chapters on pressure vs. calculation, prophylaxis, flank attacks, and attacking from worse positions
• Real games from GM Sipke Ernst's own practice
Learn to attack when it counts, not just when you want to.