How to Think About The Initiative in Chess
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- čas přidán 22. 05. 2019
- When you "have the initiative," you're creating threats that lead to other threats. By virtue of this momentum, you can dictate the play and narrow the amount of acceptable replies from your opponent. A well-executed initiative can potentially lead to a win, but you don't always want to to get there violently! In this game I played in 2013, I demonstrate how a single pawn sacrifice in the opening led to a string of small, annoying threats that snowballed to a victory.
[Event "Twin Cities Chess League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.10.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "NM Scott Riester"]
[Black "IM John Bartholomew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2229"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.01"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qh4 Rb8 15. a3 Rd8 16. Nc3 Rd4 17. Qg5 h6 18. Qe3 Bh3 19. Re1 Qb7 20. Qf3 e4 21. Qf4 e3 22. Qf3 exf2+ 23. Qxf2 Re8 24. e4 Rc4 25. Bf4 g5 26. Bxg5 Ng4 27. Qd2 hxg5 28. Qxg5+ Kf8 29. Re2 Qb6+ 30. Kh1 Re5 31. Qh4 Qh6 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Rd1 Rh5 34. Kg1 Ne5 35. Rd6 Be6 36. h4 Qg6 37. Rdd2 Nf3+ 38. Kf2 Nxd2 39. Rxd2 Qf6+ 0-1
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Holy moly. John is out here creating a legacy, lately.
IM Bartholomew is gonna be a historically famous name among chess teachers.
He's on his way to GM John Bartholomew!
gcollins1992 he already is a famous name
@@ophiolatreia93 Yep! Of course! What I meant to say is, people cite other masters like Jeremy Silman and Mark Dvoretsky, along with their works, and some people consider them essential to a chess player's improvement. I was trying to state that I feel John's entire channel will one day be a body of work that will be considered equally as essential for chess improvement, for a new generation of players.
@@stevethach3340 Amazing that he isn't GM yet. I guess its really hard to get that title in chess :P
@@ATX0705 All I know is he has tried to get GM norms before and still isn't GM. Must be super difficult
Nice and straight forward teaching. Very clear. Thank you very much!
thank you so much for this awesome content, John Bartholomew! the last few years have seen me going from a Scholar's Mate fan to a FIDE ~1800 player via your videos and paying attention to what i believe is the most important and underrated part of your videos - going through the post-mortem! even your shortest Climbing the Rating Ladder vids, and the more i progress the other longer play games also, both have given me a LOT of insight into how i should go about analyzing my own games, which is not only the key to improving rating-wise, but to genuinely giving me a more beautiful and richer understanding of chess!
thanks so much for this AWESOME content!
floppsy bunny what a beautiful comment
1800 FIDE wow. I watch John for a month and have only climbed from 800 to 900
Hey John, Yesterday i commented asking for advice on my preparation for a game I had today. As an update, i managed to win 2 of the games, using the Queens Gambit opening, which really put me in a good lead and was only uphill from there. Thank you for the reply and the constant videos which really help everyones ability and understanding of chess, we can see the passion you have for this game and it is very well appreciated.
Thanks once again, from Australia
Oh man I would have paid good money to have seen John go “hog wild” with that knight haha
0:45 my chess in a nutshell. With that said, playing more positional openings are really helping me - the London in particular. Thanks for the video as usual John.
John - I am very grateful for the great knowledge you share in these videos!
The way you explain your thought process and positional analysis is super instructive. I wonder when I'll be able to think like that in my own games. Thanks for the great content.
John, thanks for this video. I’ve been following your channel for a while, and this video ties together several of the concepts you teach in a comprehensible way. I am improving by leaps and bounds because of your channel. Cheers!
Thank you John once again great teaching and insight into one of your games
Thank you John for the daily uploads, they are a part of my day now. I am rooting for your channel to go to 100k subs and beyond 👍👍👍
Great game John. Very instructive.
John, I want to let you know that your videos, especially the using the clock as a weapon series have really impacted my online chess. You've taught me how to calmly analyze my games whether I win or lose. Before I watched you if I would lose I would storm to the next game and be low-key pissed OR if I won I would be like "great, next one." However since watching you I always make sure to probe the question, if I won I ask, "What did I do well? Let's celebrate it!" and If I lose I ask, "where did I go wrong here? Let's learn about it." Being able to identity these moments has empowered me so much. Thank you for all of your work. It is appreciated.
@johnbartholomew
Fresh Video. Thank you John.
Hi John, thanks for this wonderful lesson. You are the best and nicest chess content provider on CZcams.
It's rare that I don't start a game after watching one of your videos. Very instructive and very clear as always. Thanks John!
thanks for your awesome explanation of the position
This type of analysis and instruction is great!
An excellent game and analysis Minnesota Fins. Nothing like a slow burning initiative.
Nice instructive video as always!
Nice game. It's good to see your respect for the game, keep up the good work.
Thanks IM! Great stuff
New subscriber here -- this is beautiful stuff. Your explanations are clear and concise, and I love the 'pause and think what you would do' moments. The other vids I've seen are just as compelling. Five stars for your channel from me, mate :)
Thanks for this awesome lesson -- I am definitely an "ante-upping-attacker" and I run out of ammo as much or more than I end up checkmating, so this is especially useful to me.
Thanks John, ive been watching your videos everyday without fail and my chess has been improving. Ive gone from 1150 and moving towards 1400 in rapid and making better decisions overall. Blitz has been around 1200 for ages and thats at 1250, im still flagging too often but have really enjoyed your series of making the clock as a weapon. Keep it up! Your killing it :)
I just started learning chess and this is by FAR my favourite chess channel overall. Literally everything is explained well. Great player, but even better teacher!
I play the Catalan. I was shocked to see another Catalan player sacrifice the Catalan bishop, when there were other options. Generally in the Catalan you do not want to sacrifice that bishop unless you can obtain sufficient compensation for it, like a rook. As you showed, the Catalan system relies upon control of the light squares, losing the light square bishop gave you the option of putting significant pressure. I think that was the losing move right there.
As one of those students of chess that really needs to work on their tactics, these videos are as instructive as they come. You're doing god's work, Bartholomew!
Thank you John
Great Video, excellent instruction, thanks for this
Looks like it will be another good night!
You're so easy to learn from!
I especially like the pause moments where I can consider moves!
I guessed the pawn one correctly!😄
Beautiful pawn sacrifice!
Super happy you’re dusting off that box of score cards in the closet! Very nice game and I agree with your superior coordination. I think that is really always the engine powering all attacks. Tactical plan with so many pieces around the king was the only thing lacking. (maybe as Morphy showed us) attacking “forward” instead of retreating to open the attack was key. It usually calls for a sac and you can’t do it if you don’t see it. Always super hard to find too. Awesome slowly building pressure Karpov style I think. Happy we’re getting your favourite games series!!!
Much thanks for giving the insightful chess lessons.
Well played. Thanks for the video. Good attacking method
You are reaching a mind of mastery in chess. I guess we will see you gaining some serious achievements in your future tournaments! Make it happen!
great content as always! thank you - i learned a lot from your videos. I got top 10 in rapid tournament on lichess. I still need to do a lot of work but again thank you!
Love you john!
Amazing game John, your opponent never got a chance to even start to create threats. Nice attack!
This is a great video!!
Hi John !
First comment for me but I follow your Chanel for like more than 3 years ! I learn a lot of chess technique and improve my english too (i'm french...).
I have start a world trip and I'm struggling to follow your tempo: too much vidéos !! Haha
Want to say, thx you soooo much for all your work, your attitude... And everyting ! I like to read all the comment because your community is very funny and joyfull !
Hope you get your GM norm soon :)
Cya
Great lessons. That opening black pawn sac lead to a lasting initiative. I do give credit to white for putting up good resistance! But just too many knives flying around at him.
Great channel
Thanks John...yes, several attacks and possible mates....like to grab initiative in my own games.
"not the kind of slam dunk I was going for..." love it
Beautiful rook b8!
Good video,I think I've learned some useful information. I think that nonmaster players (me included) look to simplify the position by trading or capturing pieces (and pawns), I shall think about this concept in the future, and maybe I'll improve my rating.
Haha i know Scott. Great guy. Cool to see a match of his
To paraphrase Ghandi, John is the change we want to see in the world.
Thanks John! Just beat an 2000 rated player on lichess with your advice from this video, with a piece and the exchange down + luck ofc ;)
Awesome video. You're extremely clear with your thinking which is the most instructive part of this video so many Thanks. I would like to add I think you may missed the decisive move @ 13:58? You chose the c4 rook to recapture on e4, but I think the e8 rook would have made a huge difference because after, white's Rook takes on e4, then black's Queen takes on e4, Black is immediately threatening Rb2 forcing the queen off the 2nd rank & simultaneously threatening to win the b2 pawn - White has no good defense that I can tell? Bd2 allows Rxb2. Black can then position the queen to take out the Bd2 bishop like Qd5? while simultaneously threatening Rb1 forcing the rooks off the board + check via the 1st rank. Anyways, just thought the c4 rook gave Black LOTS of continued forcing threats.
This is something I have a problem with. Thanks for the video!
*John* : Hey everyone this is John.
*Everyone* : Hi john.
Very nice video, can you make more video's with ''have the initiative"/ the momentum. I feel like my games fall apart when I try this myself
Most impressive. John relentlessly tightens the screws without concern for a mere pawn deficit. Don't need Ming the Merciless with such unerring pursuit of the initiative.
Directly after watching this I played this game. Thanks, John!
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 Nf6 5. Bg5 Bc5 6. Nc3 d6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. h3 Re8 9. Nf3 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. O-O Ne5 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. Qe2 Qf4 14. g3 Qxg3+ 15. Kh1 Qxh3+ 16. Kg1 Rg5+ 17. Qg4 Rxg4#
I just played a few games... Kept this in mind. Won them all. By no means perfect but it's an excellent way to think.
Very instructive channel for a 1300 ape like myself
Very instructive. I had a lesson today where I was trying to explain tempi, initiative and attack, and this example is PERFECT for it. Perhaps I should start my lessons with "Hi, my name is John..." ;-)
Do what many good teachers do: show another teacher’s great lesson ;)
Nice, found the move. Usually I'm too lazy for it.
Thanks
Yeah John
21:38 And it was in this moment, on move 39, NM Scott Riester resigned the game...
I get it now!
John is easily the best chess teacher on the internet!
Watching this video in 2020, old habits die hard.
Would just like to say Morphy didn’t really play wild attacks. He made brilliant quiet moves and many of his games were positional masterpieces with amazing price coordination and developing with tempo making moves preventing the opponents development. What made his games unbelievably beautiful is that he never lost focus of mating the king. Never made nonsense waiting moves or wasted the lives of his pieces!!! His trades had a purpose and he also used the power of his pieces to their absolute potential in virtually all positions. Tactically brilliant games. He wasn’t invincible but man the pressure he put people in almost immediately was immense!!! Not nitpicking John I know Morphy is one of your hero’s as well😁
Can anyone explain why white gave up his light square bishop? It seemed like an odd choice and I was expecting knight takes which would preserve the bishop and keep the light squares protected. The sacrificed pawn doesn't seem as promising if white keeps the bishop on the board. What am I missing?
at 3:56 white doesn't have to take on c4 and maybe a better move is Qa3 pinning the c pawn to the unprotected queen with a very good game for white. so be ready for this response next time.
John, do you have a video series devoted to game analysis?
Hey John - Can you explain how you are able to pull a game from 2013 to illustrate a point you want to make in 2019? Do you reflect back on all the best "attacking" games or do you keep notes with the scoresheet or ???
I keep a record of all my tournament games I've played. I use ChessBase, and I also still have the physical scoresheets in many cases.
John Bartholomew Follow up - So do you annotate "great attack" or what do you search for when putting a video together? Forgive my ignorance of Chessbase if this is obvious but out of so many games played since 2013 how do you find the right one to illustrate a point? Is it a position or point advantage, like "games won on material down"?
@@LKaempen In many cases I'll annotate and organize them by theme in ChessBase, yes. Also, if you play over-the-board tournaments, you spend so much time playing and thinking about these long games that you tend to remember the major takeaways (at least I do).
Hey John I really struggle with creating efficient pawn breaks to create initiative or open a position up. Can u cover this more in depth please?
Maybe some info nuggets here /watch?v=h-JGqEiNs-I
Hey, John, this is guys.
is chess. com premium worth it for the computer analysis and theory? I'm really interested in that kind of stuff but i don't know if it's better to read a book or the computer. Are there free chess programs that do that kind of stuff?
8:29, if the queen gets trapped like that: white queen to e4! Like "okay, i'm gonna lose but i will make you calculate some more lines before i do!"
♥ ♥
Constructive chess 101.
@6:57 should played knight to g4
Love u John Bartholomew, u help my chess alot , for free lol , this used to be valuable info
Back in the old days this info used to cost money
All bullshit aside I really admire your chess brain , more than other other chess streamer including naka , with the exception of carleson , even tho he don't stream much
The problem with experts in any field is that they often can't comprehend how a beginner thinks. That's why experts with teaching ability are so valuable.
That's what Magnus does, the grinder
at 18:20 instead of Re2 why not Qh4 for white
John, what do you think is holding you back from GM?
It seams like your apponent waisted just a little bit of time with each of his choices of early moves, seeding the initiative to you by the end of the opening, ie. his capture ofyour pawn.
The person talking doesn't look like Anna Rudolf, but this game is clearly Attack Like AlphaZero.
As white I think I would have given back the pawn, on b2, and get the bishop out.
chess influencers are lately very handsome huh...
chessable.com is a fantastic site and makes reading chess books fun
Glad you like it!
I feel you could've ended it a bit earlier with some better tactics.
Probably, but time pressure.
@@JohnBartholomewChess Much respect to your game and style man. We all appreciate your clear and always kosher content.
@@colins1358 Thanks - I appreciate your feedback!