Thanks to everyone who joined my recent webinar! We had a great time discussing some sharp ideas, practical tips, and common tournament rules. Here’s a quick summary of the most interesting questions from the Q&A, in case you missed it—or just want a refresher!
Q: What are the benefits of commanding the middle?
A: Controlling the center improves your piece mobility and gives you more control of the board. It also helps you fight off attacks on the sides, since your pieces can jump in to help faster.
Q: How can bishops attack from afar?
A: Bishops love long diagonals! Use them with other pieces like rooks or knights to build strong, coordinated attacks from a distance.
Q: How do you defend against a pawn storm on the opposite side’s castling?
A: It depends. If it’s too late and the pawns are already crashing in, you might need a last-ditch defense. But if you’re early enough, look for counterplay—there’s usually something!
Q: Should we launch a kingside attack if it weakens our own king?
A: If it weakens your king, be very careful—only do it if you’re confident it’ll work fast. But if it weakens their king? Go for it—unless you’re in more danger than they are.
Q: Is the move → notate → hit the clock rule correct?
A: No, that’s not the correct sequence in USCF tournaments. Move first, then hit your clock, then notate. It saves some time.
Q: What’s a good opening strategy for Black?
A: Your goal should be to equalize or possibly get an advantage early. If you fall behind too much in the opening, it gets harder to catch up later.
Q: Can I play Jobava London with a 781 rating?
A: Totally fine—as long as you know the main ideas and moves. It’s a fun and aggressive opening!
Q: Do you prefer kingside or queenside castling?
A: Depends on the position. Kingside is usually safer and more common, but queenside can be strong in attacking lines.
Q: What’s the best way to learn endgames?
A: I like using Chessable (especially during sales like the July 4th one!) and watching YouTube for specific positions like Philidor or Lucena.
Q: When should we avoid castling?
A: If your pawn structure is weak or you’re already in the endgame, think twice. Sometimes it’s better to walk your king into the center instead.
Q: How do you learn the Sicilian Defense?
A: Again, Chessable has great resources, and there are tons of helpful YouTube videos covering a wide array of different lines and variations.
Hope this helps you in your next tournament or practice game! Keep asking questions and playing with curiosity. See you at the next session! ♟️
