Fischer vs Kasparov: The Sicilian Najdorf, Amsterdam Variation with 6. f4
Posted on May 28, 2012 by William in All Articles w/ Videos, Chess Openings, Classic Games (Pre 2010), Strategy & Game Review
The Amsterdam Variation with 6. f4 is an interesting option to the main lines of the Sicilian Najdorf, allowing white to deviate from the more thoroughly analyzed variations like 6. Bc4, 6. Bg5, and 6. Be2. The drawback for white is that black is able to easily equalize relatively early in the opening, allowing the Sicilian Najdorf player to first nullify white’s pressure in the center and further to establish concrete counterplay against white’s set-up. […]
Is Online Chess Good For You?
Posted on May 26, 2012 by William in General Chess Articles
Technology has changed a lot of things about chess in the last 20-30 years and the best players have learned to successfully evolve with these changes. Looking at our current World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and the Challenger for the 2012 World Chess Championship, Boris Gelfand, we can clearly see how they have adapted to remain at the pinnacle of chess for the past 2 decades.
Vassily Ivanchuk has also set quite an example, as […]
Live Rapidchess on ICC – Double Fianchetto Game
Posted on May 25, 2012 by William in All Articles w/ Videos, Blitz/Bullet Chess, Strategy & Game Review
Blitz Video #1: WStewart vs rpenquin I decided to open flexibly with Nf3 and c4, and proceeded with a double-fianchetto opening. After 9. …Na6 I tried to seize the initiative with 10. g4!? The position became complicated in the middlegame and I went wrong with 23. e5 – although black did have pressure due to his control of my dark squares (notably f4 and e5). 23. e5 conceded the important d5 square to the black […]
Karpov on Fischer: Volume 1 – The Quest For The Crown!
Posted on May 23, 2012 by GM Ron W Henley in All Articles w/ Videos, Classic Games (Pre 2010), Strategy & Game Review
Introducing the comprehensive 3-Volume DVD set “Karpov on Fischer” – where former World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov and Grandmaster Ron W. Henley analyze and evaluate the legendary Bobby Fischer’s rise to the chess crown in 1972 and his famous 1992 return match with Boris Spassky. In this DVD series, it is just too easy to sense Karpov’s incredibly deep positional understanding as he explains the reasons behind Fischer’s brilliant moves. GM Henley is no slouch […]
Follow William for fresh daily updates: Follow @OnlineChessLessWilliam Stewart is a National Master. He specializes in Online Chess Coaching and maintains a daily updated Chess Blog
Is Fischer really better than Karpov?
Nobody knows, Anonymous, because FIDE failed to meet the players’ conditions for a match in 1974/1975.
Most grandmasters think that Fischer would have beaten Karpov in 1975 and that Karpov would have beaten Fischer in the next cycle. In 1975, Karpov was still improving, while Fischer was probably at his best in 1972.
They were both truly great players.