Chess Strategy and Tactics: Tigran Petrosian's Amazing Games

Mastering Chess Prophylaxis, Resilience & Defence: Unearth Tactics & Strategies from Tigran Petrosian's Remarkable Games

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Chess Strategy and Tactics: Tigran Petrosian's Amazing Games

What You Will Learn!

Be able to see how to avoid losing chess games - especially useful if you really hate the pain of losing!
Be able to use counterplay reduction plans and prophylaxis, overprotection and restraint to help ensure you do not lose
Be able to see the dynamic pawn structures like Hanging Pawns in action
Be able to understand more closed and semi-closed positions and their strategies
Be able to play the Torre Attack - a relative of the London system through seeing Petrosian's amazing examples
Be able to appreciate Petrosian's amazing tactical strength and almost cat-light ability to land on his feet from seemingly difficult positions
Be able to see Tigran Petrosian as an exciting attack player - especially with the emphasis of this course on Petrosian's shorter wins :)
Be able to see how one of the hardest players historically is so resourceful and tenacious in defence
Be able to play "simple chess" and welcome queens coming off if no counterplay for opponent
Be able to play the Black side of the winawer with Petrosian's pet move b6 instead of c5
Be able to appreciate a World champion who persisted and was leading Kasparov 2 to zero before health issues and Kasparov later equalised their match record
Be able to play super solid variations of the french defence which can neutralise even Mikhail Tal
Be able to understand more the Nimozvichian concept of "Restrain, Blockade, Destroy"
Be able to understand more the Nimzovichian concept of prophylaxis through mysterious rook moves, blockade, and overprotection
Be able to understand more the concept of positional security in terms of handling threats even before they are conceived by opponent akin to installing alarms
Be able to understand that Petrosian played original and interesting chess and a fair number of chess miniatures
Be able to play the Petrosian variation against the King's indian defence which is also a favourite of Vladimir Kramnik
Be able to value and appreciate the importance of solid openings even at faster time controls. Experience great french defence, caro-kann examples
Be able to appreciate that despite Petrosian's quiet style, at his heart he was a major tactician
Be able to appreciate a defensive use of tactics to create pitfalls and traps for opponents in promising positions
Be able to appreciate some similarities in style and philosophy to Nimzovich who was one of his role models
Be able to play for win like Petrosian without taking inappropriate risks
Be able to appreciate the principle of flexibility - making the move you know is essential first to keep all other options open
Be able to appreciate that often less pieces means less counterplay and less complexity
Be able to appreciate the importance of pawn breaks especially when stakes are high in World championship match games
Be able to appreciate how having fewer pawn islands can be an advantage and be used for example to reduce counterplay and get great knight placements
Be able to appreciate the importance of the "follow up moves" - in terms of plans sometimes being more important than technically more correct moves
Be able to appreciate that a central pawn island of 1 pawn when 3 pawn islands can shield a central knight from frontal pressure
Be able to appreciate more Spassky's comment after losing in the 1966 World Championship match that Petrosian was "first and foremost a stupendous tactician"
Be able to appreciate a more scientific angle on chess with less speculation to find "order and reason" on the chess board at least in a crazy world
Be able to see how to play against and with different pawn structures
Be able to neutralise tactical players more effectively by emulating Petrosian's opening choices and playing style to reduce opponent's counterplay
Be able to see the strength of play behind an eight time candidate World champion and 6 year world champion

Description

Immerse yourself in the strategic brilliance of Tigran Petrosian, often hailed as one of the most sophisticated World Chess Champions. Known for his expertise in exchange sacrifice, prophylaxis, and preventative strategies, Petrosian, aka "Iron Tigran", exhibited unparalleled consistency and resourcefulness, making him notoriously difficult to defeat.

This course delves into the world of Petrosian, highlighting his unique playstyle and extraordinary contributions to chess. Reputed as the 'first defender with a capital D' by Vladimir Kramnik, Petrosian's style has left a deep imprint on generations of players. Despite his affinity for draws, his exciting victories showcase a meticulously calculated and risk-free style, offering a refreshing approach to the game.

We carefully curate the most riveting victories from Petrosian's career, showcasing how the chessboard can be a place of logic and control, rather than luck and chance. Inspired by Nimzovich and Capablanca, Petrosian's style underlines the power of gradual advantage accumulation, reducing unnecessary risks, and maintaining control.

Petrosian's legacy goes beyond his lifetime, with his triumphs celebrated in numerous memorial tournaments worldwide. His extraordinary achievements include his victories in two World Championship matches against Botwinnik and Spassky, four Soviet Championship titles, match wins against notable players like Kasparov, Fischer, Karpov, and an impressive overall performance in Olympiad play.

This course prioritizes Petrosian's shorter wins and essential games to offer you a comprehensive understanding of his depth and positional wisdom. Join us in this journey to uncover the secrets of Petrosian's resilient and strategic play, and learn to imbue your games with a touch of 'Iron Tigran' brilliance.