WEBVTT 00:01.200 --> 00:02.070 Hi there. 00:02.100 --> 00:06.090 In this lecture, we see Alexander Alekhine against Akiba Rubinstein. 00:06.300 --> 00:11.810 This is in the 1923 Coles battlements around one d4 from Alekhine. 00:11.820 --> 00:16.320 We have D5 from Rubinstein c4 e6. 00:17.160 --> 00:19.170 Let's have four eight, six nine. 00:19.200 --> 00:26.220 Siegfried Bishop E7, Bishop g5 Knight Bd7 F3. 00:26.220 --> 00:31.140 Black Consoles Rook C1 C6, Queen C2. 00:31.860 --> 00:36.630 So this is actually a system that Rubinstein is actually known for. 00:36.660 --> 00:39.470 The Rubinstein variation being used against Rubinstein. 00:39.480 --> 00:47.910 Here we see A6 E4 rookie eight and now Bishop D3. 00:49.290 --> 00:53.100 So we have D take C4, Bishop take C4 95. 00:53.460 --> 01:01.250 Now one slight downside emerging is that there's no defense of Knight right now on F6, and without 01:01.250 --> 01:05.910 a defensive knight one should look out for the soft spots like H7 a little bit more than usual. 01:06.030 --> 01:09.100 We have an unusual move here, which is not strictly accurate. 01:09.120 --> 01:16.800 Bishop F4 Bishop takes E7 would be a more accurate move, it seems. 01:16.800 --> 01:20.780 And for example, this position should be a small edge for whites. 01:20.790 --> 01:25.200 The way this is played with Bishop F4 an invoice in 1964. 01:25.440 --> 01:33.630 But notes now there's no knight on F6 and after he takes F4 white potentially you can get a nice grip 01:33.630 --> 01:39.720 on the position Black played energetically here with C5 if Knight's F8 that is a defender of H. 01:39.720 --> 01:40.650 Seven Shaw. 01:40.680 --> 01:45.600 This position, though, seems a little bit on the passive side of the Bishop A2. 01:45.630 --> 01:51.870 This bishop seems like quite a nice attacking piece and White's grip on squares like E5 is very comfortable 01:51.870 --> 01:52.110 here. 01:52.110 --> 01:53.190 Small edge for white. 01:53.220 --> 01:57.220 We see C5 and now D take C5 is played. 01:57.240 --> 02:00.750 This is actually necessary with the Kingston Center. 02:01.290 --> 02:12.330 If the E5 then e tanks d5 and the problem is if Bishop takes D5, there's Bishop D6 check and F4 will 02:12.330 --> 02:15.490 drop and Black has the advantage here. 02:15.510 --> 02:23.160 This is bad for white, clearly not being able to console so D take C5 is played Queen C seven. 02:23.310 --> 02:27.630 That's sneaky looking at F4 and now Alekhine Castle. 02:27.720 --> 02:33.390 If he plays G free, he's asking for trouble on this diagonal. 02:33.390 --> 02:35.850 It looks as though, What am I talking about? 02:35.880 --> 02:37.890 Kings Krishna, What are you talking about? 02:37.920 --> 02:39.510 The thing is, Queen takes C5. 02:39.510 --> 02:44.940 If we look at this position, B5 is energetic and then Bishop b7. 02:45.300 --> 02:48.930 And what does white do if white cancels Bishop takes F3 end of game. 02:49.440 --> 02:55.680 So that that is the kind of disaster that could occur if Bishop D3 attacks. 02:55.830 --> 03:01.560 Black's going to be absolutely fine here with enough play this position, taking out the exchange, 03:01.560 --> 03:05.850 it's going to be great for black, but technically it's equal actually. 03:06.450 --> 03:10.830 Okay, so Alekhine avoided all that. 03:11.280 --> 03:15.240 All of those issues just castling offering a full for the moment. 03:15.810 --> 03:22.680 If Queen takes E5 Knight e4, this position is about even so Queen takes F4. 03:22.680 --> 03:32.010 We have Knight E4 and you might think isn't why I pulled down here after 1965. 03:32.010 --> 03:34.080 Not for long night take five. 03:34.080 --> 03:42.420 Bishop takes Bishop D3 hints H seven that soft spot note there's no defensive knight and hits C5 so 03:42.420 --> 03:52.560 B6 is plaint if we're just going to take out C5 if Bishop E7 that is plausible actually and this position 03:52.560 --> 03:59.760 King F8 should be even so B6 is a slight weakening move, maybe wanting to get this other bishop. 03:59.970 --> 04:03.540 It looks nice to get the other bishop, but there's a cost to it. 04:03.540 --> 04:09.180 B6 We have Bishop takes H7 King and shines here. 04:09.510 --> 04:12.960 If King f8, the cost of B6 is revealed. 04:12.960 --> 04:21.240 Bishop E4 and the problem is, say Geoffrey, now White has a five and this starts to look a little 04:21.240 --> 04:34.740 bit painful, especially here b4 if Bishop d6 b5 and things are getting tricky. 04:34.740 --> 04:41.490 For example here 1964 Queen 60 for Rook 51 and then taking up B6. 04:41.490 --> 04:44.670 Things are getting very tricky here in these variations. 04:44.670 --> 04:51.240 If we look at this again, if Rook D7 Queen c5 check, Rook takes, D7 Bishop takes and the bishop could 04:51.240 --> 04:59.840 drop back and this is very pleasant for white so ock King h8 though is played Bishop E4. 04:59.970 --> 05:01.110 All rock seven. 05:02.640 --> 05:03.930 So why Rock seven? 05:03.930 --> 05:05.430 That looks a bit awkward, right? 05:05.730 --> 05:08.650 If Rock B aids, can you see what. 05:08.670 --> 05:11.310 White plays here for ten points. 05:13.870 --> 05:14.440 Yeah. 05:14.590 --> 05:15.580 Before. 05:18.460 --> 05:25.930 Before Black has any chance to do anything before if Bishop detects this position is unpleasant. 05:27.320 --> 05:38.570 There are unpleasant ideas here like Queen C6 hitting d6 and if Bishop f i g fray this position as Queen 05:38.570 --> 05:39.100 C7. 05:39.110 --> 05:39.740 Ouch. 05:40.100 --> 05:41.570 Black's losing material. 05:42.920 --> 05:48.560 And if we look at this again, if Bishop f8 nudges the Queen away from E4 first so that this queen is 05:48.560 --> 05:50.420 free to come in to see seven ouch. 05:50.720 --> 05:51.830 Just winning material. 05:51.830 --> 05:56.290 So that explains Rook seven The little bit b4 is played anyway though. 05:56.300 --> 05:57.830 So what's the point here? 05:59.000 --> 06:02.780 If Bishop takes b4, can you see what White plays in this position? 06:02.780 --> 06:04.550 If I give you 5 seconds pause video. 06:09.490 --> 06:14.710 We have an escape square taken, so we should be excited by this queen. 06:14.740 --> 06:15.520 Thanks, Kate. 06:15.550 --> 06:16.810 Yeah, This is crunching. 06:16.840 --> 06:18.130 This is going to be checkmate. 06:19.570 --> 06:21.150 So Bishop faints. 06:22.090 --> 06:25.480 Now Queen C six is played. 06:28.560 --> 06:29.280 In this position. 06:29.280 --> 06:32.670 Also, Geoffrey is worth considering for Queen C6 disposition. 06:32.710 --> 06:37.560 B5 is nice for White Oak, but Queen C6 immediately. 06:38.580 --> 06:44.680 This move order looks very similar anyway, except the Queen hasn't gone to F6. 06:44.720 --> 06:46.440 Okay, so what happens here now? 06:48.390 --> 06:51.120 If Queen f6 in this position, I would just take you out. 06:51.120 --> 06:57.030 B6 So Queen Bey protects B6 G5. 06:57.060 --> 06:58.590 This is very, very dangerous. 06:58.590 --> 07:04.320 So you can see without the defensive knight on F6, things are happening on soft swat squares. 07:05.010 --> 07:10.560 We have Rook 88 and now there's a wonderful conception, really resourceful. 07:10.710 --> 07:18.240 And when I say resourceful, I literally mean that this this move actually creates a new powerful resource 07:18.240 --> 07:21.140 which is intimately connected to the first move. 07:21.150 --> 07:21.810 It's a stunner. 07:21.810 --> 07:24.270 It's an iconic move in this position. 07:24.270 --> 07:29.970 So we have a position without the defensive on F6 and that amplifies the soft spots. 07:29.970 --> 07:40.380 But this is a magnificent amplification resource of H seven as a weakness, and it's just absolute. 07:41.080 --> 07:42.100 Genius. 07:42.370 --> 07:43.450 It does exploit. 07:43.450 --> 07:45.690 The queen is kind of far away from the king as well. 07:45.700 --> 07:46.910 There are other factors here. 07:46.930 --> 07:50.680 These pieces are kind of in bed, you know, basically. 07:51.130 --> 07:59.020 So I wonder for 500 points, what would you play here and why and why does it literally create resources? 07:59.110 --> 08:03.070 What sort of move creates new resources? 08:03.070 --> 08:04.540 Not in the initial position. 08:05.470 --> 08:07.600 We're constrained by illegal moves. 08:07.600 --> 08:09.130 You know, with Queen can't go there. 08:09.160 --> 08:14.100 The queen can't go here, the rook can't go there. 08:14.110 --> 08:20.580 We're always constrained by, you know, our own illegal moves created by our own pieces occupying squares. 08:20.590 --> 08:22.060 That's a little clue for you. 08:22.090 --> 08:23.920 There's a crunching move here. 08:23.950 --> 08:25.690 I'm about I'm going to show it now. 08:26.320 --> 08:27.400 It's Bishop G6. 08:27.400 --> 08:39.760 It vacates E4 so the queen can potentially bounce like this to look at H seven, you might think Bishop 08:39.760 --> 08:41.350 G six What's going on here? 08:41.350 --> 08:45.070 Bishop G six Queen e5 was played f f tanks, G six. 08:45.970 --> 08:46.780 It's amazing. 08:46.780 --> 08:50.830 But the quantum of Queen E four is French thing. 08:51.940 --> 08:56.680 Amazing two For example, Queen 42h71 is black two. 08:56.680 --> 08:57.730 Bishop C five. 08:58.630 --> 09:09.400 Queen Saint's G six then is strong and Queen 6e6 check say king AFAIK 97 is mate seven mate that if 09:09.400 --> 09:13.150 King H eight Queen H check King G eight. 09:13.240 --> 09:14.050 Queen H seven. 09:14.350 --> 09:15.880 And now for the Art of Checkmate. 09:15.880 --> 09:16.960 What would we do here? 09:16.960 --> 09:21.250 Sometimes in preference to a check, we want to cover escape squares. 09:21.520 --> 09:23.470 So what are we playing in this position? 09:26.150 --> 09:27.020 With ten points. 09:27.020 --> 09:28.100 What would you play? 09:29.180 --> 09:29.420 Yeah. 09:29.420 --> 09:34.250 You want to make each check more effective to be kind of mating rook. 09:34.280 --> 09:36.170 C one covers the scheme squares. 09:36.500 --> 09:42.860 So now that's kind of been promoted to a checkmate fret if Queenie five Yeah, we just it's just delaying 09:43.160 --> 09:44.020 the checkmate. 09:44.030 --> 09:48.020 So that's a beautiful variation where Queenie four is amazing. 09:49.700 --> 09:50.870 Queen E4 is amazing. 09:50.870 --> 09:52.220 So if Bishop is seven. 09:52.220 --> 09:54.950 Yeah, this just, this is just amazing. 09:54.950 --> 09:55.700 Like this? 09:56.720 --> 09:57.080 Yeah. 09:57.080 --> 09:59.930 So the bishop's like, trying to, you know. 10:00.740 --> 10:02.260 Potentially has the resource. 10:02.260 --> 10:09.730 You know, it's it's in the way here so that's that explains this computer like Bishop C five Troy if 10:09.730 --> 10:12.220 King G ain't in this position. 10:14.990 --> 10:16.460 We can, actually. 10:17.910 --> 10:21.120 Play here, Queen C-4, as an example. 10:23.200 --> 10:24.100 And. 10:26.160 --> 10:28.440 I mean, if it was also super dangerous. 10:28.620 --> 10:33.360 But if Bishop B seven, Queen H four, Bishop six before. 10:35.010 --> 10:39.750 And in this position we can actually force. 10:41.870 --> 10:48.740 A concession here, which is kind of magnificent, actually, in its own right. 10:49.730 --> 10:51.230 What would you play here for? 10:51.230 --> 10:51.970 300 points? 10:51.980 --> 10:53.480 This is very tricky stuff. 10:54.590 --> 10:55.650 Very tricky. 10:55.670 --> 10:57.330 What would you play in this variation? 10:57.350 --> 10:58.970 If you want to carry on the attack. 11:01.190 --> 11:02.630 If you want to be a king hunter. 11:05.270 --> 11:05.750 Yeah. 11:07.070 --> 11:08.120 Queen H five. 11:09.530 --> 11:12.860 It might be tempting to chase the king, but where are we chasing the king to? 11:13.100 --> 11:14.750 Are we chasing the king to safety? 11:15.380 --> 11:17.830 And then they might even have looked after. 11:18.200 --> 11:19.310 What are we doing here? 11:19.580 --> 11:26.150 It's not necessarily that good, although, I mean, it is promising, but more accurate is Queen H 11:26.150 --> 11:26.900 five. 11:28.070 --> 11:29.840 So here. 11:30.800 --> 11:33.710 This is causing a lot of pain. 11:33.740 --> 11:39.740 If KING if a bishop takes a seven because there's no easy way actually to defend seven here. 11:40.400 --> 11:42.290 So let's imagine this position. 11:42.290 --> 11:43.870 Bishop takes E6. 11:44.420 --> 11:45.980 Bishop C one, Queen h H. 11:46.130 --> 11:47.090 King E seven. 11:47.420 --> 11:52.130 We're hunting the king here, bringing it out of shelter. 11:52.670 --> 11:55.760 And this position is just diabolical. 11:56.060 --> 11:59.360 So, yes, there are some interesting tricks and ideas here. 11:59.390 --> 12:06.110 So Queen E5 anyway was played and now Alekhine just cashes out. 12:06.120 --> 12:07.120 He just wins In exchange. 12:07.130 --> 12:08.570 Knight takes f7 shank. 12:10.310 --> 12:13.820 So with that fork of Queen and King Black, is the exchange down now? 12:14.150 --> 12:19.700 Queen F5 after you won not minding the simplification combination now. 12:19.940 --> 12:21.110 So Rook takes the one. 12:21.410 --> 12:22.520 Rook takes the one. 12:23.120 --> 12:24.220 Queen takes up seven. 12:24.230 --> 12:25.310 Queen size eight. 12:26.000 --> 12:27.020 King H seven. 12:28.340 --> 12:31.970 We have now Queen six A6 Queen F3. 12:31.970 --> 12:32.690 But now. 12:32.690 --> 12:33.000 Yeah. 12:33.050 --> 12:35.120 Cashing out I mean simplifying rather. 12:35.150 --> 12:42.080 Queen D3 check and the game If Queen takes the free rook tanks D3 if Black takes this pawn as rookie 12:42.080 --> 12:44.650 free E6 is difficult to protect. 12:44.660 --> 12:45.860 So that's going to be dropping. 12:45.860 --> 12:47.870 That's just an easy win for white from here. 12:49.370 --> 12:59.930 So I resent in this game it is an iconic game and it does feature a move Bishop F4 which engines do 12:59.930 --> 13:00.420 not like. 13:00.440 --> 13:06.710 I have to say this, but we are in this course taking on the role of king hunters. 13:06.860 --> 13:09.510 Your king hunting hat has to be on. 13:09.530 --> 13:18.350 What we need is that extra sensitivity to soft spots, the towel mindset, the mindset of soft spots. 13:18.350 --> 13:24.550 And we should know where we're getting rid of a potentially defensive piece. 13:24.740 --> 13:25.640 A knight on F6. 13:25.640 --> 13:27.920 There's only like one key defensive knight now. 13:28.250 --> 13:35.060 So here in this situation that Knight's been indulging in this operation, which leaves a situation 13:35.060 --> 13:39.480 where H7 is a soft spot now which is taken out. 13:39.530 --> 13:42.140 But the impact here is very, very beautiful. 13:42.140 --> 13:49.970 It's very, very instructive how a very, very powerful resource is made use of here. 13:50.000 --> 13:53.090 This is one to think about deeply. 13:54.080 --> 13:57.650 Take some time to think about this concept here. 13:58.220 --> 14:07.150 It's Crates and Express Roots for the Queen by vacating E4 and also clearance on this rank. 14:07.160 --> 14:13.550 Even if Queen force don't use sometimes queen C4 so we can bounce bouncy roads of attack as well. 14:13.610 --> 14:18.530 Think about access routes to H seven bouncy roads of attack to the king. 14:18.530 --> 14:21.860 But Bishop six literally for me creates resources. 14:22.020 --> 14:30.200 Unlike the square vacating resource crater aspect of Bishop G6 so that F4 can be used as a pivot if 14:30.200 --> 14:30.830 needed. 14:31.460 --> 14:37.100 And yeah, it just if we look at the variations, they're all very, very favorable for white hair. 14:37.190 --> 14:40.280 So white winning exchange basically spells the end of the game there. 14:41.120 --> 14:43.580 It's a really beautiful conception. 14:44.390 --> 14:51.890 And once bear in mind, but the prelude to it, there's a subtle prelude, often in eloquent games here. 14:51.890 --> 14:56.000 You know, the subtle prelude was making sure pieces are over here. 14:56.030 --> 15:00.290 There isn't a defend enough defence, enough defensive pieces around the king. 15:00.470 --> 15:01.490 So wonderful stuff. 15:01.490 --> 15:03.590 I hope you're inspired by this as much as me. 15:04.220 --> 15:04.970 That's so much.