Ahhhh the first game you showcased in this one, Mr. Seirawan...I remember it well. You had used it in your book 'Winning Chess Brilliances' and analyzed it quite well there. I especially loved how you 'tricked' the reader into thinking the pawn move cxd7 was not a good move due to chess principles such as not just throwing in a check for a check and leading to develop your opponent's army. In this case it was the better move out of the other lines you presented in the book and just goes to show that principles are merely guidelines and should never be taken as gospel truth. I have to say that game is one of my favorites of yours that I have seen and taught me a few things about how to look for piece and exchange sacrifices, since those are not easy for chess players to come up with. Also, I compliment you on your analytical style and presentation. Very good-natured, very well presented, and the same goes for your books. I recommend them to those who want to take up chess and learn things because your style is so easy to pick up and understand. :) Love watching your presentations quite a bit because of that.
What amazing games and analysis! That second game was wild, but what a brilliant and cold active defence by Timman! Glad that Seirawan do not have problems in showing losses :)
that was fun!!!!! great analysis from the self effacing and humble and supremely talented Yasser .....i leaned alot more than just chess on this one....thank you for posting : )
At the 35:30 mark, there was a question from one of the people in the audience about you giving up the rook. The rook was trapped anyway, so it was pointless to move it. Rd7 Ne5, forks the queen and rook. Any other rook move just loses the rook outright.
In the second game, rather than pawn a5 what about knight a5 threatening knight b3 (c pawn pinned and Q cant defend a3), then...Bxa3, pxB, Qxp...followed by knight to a4 checking the white queen...this line seems compelling, but I have not looked at it over a board
Also, at the 31:32 mark, white had QxN QxQ, Nf7ch Kg8, NxQ (winning the knight and white should have a fairly easy end game win). Your method gets rid of the rooks too though, after Rd8ch, so it's an even easier end game win.
At 21:10, why is Qd5 not a thought? My idea is: 1. Qd5 Nxd5 2. Bxe7 Nxe7 3. Nxe5. I think black would resign here. (My rating is quite low, about 1200, so please, don't hate me if I am wrong here. :/
Aram Hassan Interesting idea, I think black just plays d6 after Qd5? c7 is nothing because of Bb7 and now that the bishop on e5 isn't hanging there isn't a direct combination i can see..
@Aram Hassan "That is an interesting idea!" However, black will instead get a slight ending advantage after 12.Qd5, Bxb2+! 13.Kxb2, Nxd5 14.Bxe7, Nxe7 (15.cxd7+, Bxd7 16.e4, f6 and so on).
That deserved a close look. I believe you are right (although Ng5 with the double threat seems stronger). But I checked out the engine and i doesn't agree with us. (ignore the move numbers) 16.Qd2 c3 17.Qd3 Qa4 18.Bxd6 Nxd6 19.Qxd6 Qb3 20.Qb4 cxb2+ 21.Kd2 Rd8+ 22.Nd4 Qa2 23.Ke1 h6 24.a4 and then an equal (albeit a very engine-like) position.
@Bahadir Simsek Yes, 12.Qb5 looks intriguing at first sight, because of 12...dxc6? 13.Qxc6+ and 14.Qxa8. However, black saves himself with either 12...Bc7 (13.e4, d6) or 12...a6 13.Qd3, Bc7 (14.e4, d6).
Rather than cxd7, please consider RD5, which does not allow...dxc6, as RxB, which wins the black Queen. R at d5 cannot be captured by knight as it is pinned by the bishop...So, Rook holds the center...
@John Robbins Yes, 12.Rd5 looks interesting at first sight. However, black can also save himself with 12...Bc7 and now if 13.cxd7+ black can easily take with his Bishop 13...Bxd7 while black darksquare bishop is nomore under attack by whites Knight on f3.
Nb4 looks good at 44:49, after Bd2, white has back rank issues and black is threatening both Na2+, winning the queen, and to take on c2. It seems unlikely that it's a good move since both Yasser and Jan missed, but I can't see why it should be bad...
@Jeff Green Yes, your analysis is correct. The natural move 20.Qd2 will be responded just as you say with the pawn sacrifice 20...c3! Then if 21.Qxc3 black can get out of immediate trouble with 21...Qe7 (or even continue with something like 21...h6). Or if 21.bxc3? black will actually have the advantage and the initiative after simply 21...Bxa3+ 22.Kc2, Qa4+. However, the move you suggest 20.Qd2 is still playable and after the first variation (20...c3, 21.Qxc3) white is still better and will probably win in the long run. But 22.Ng5! (and so on) is a killer.
i do not know if i had the guts to play this myself, but looking from outside at 39:34 why mr. seirawan did not take the pawn a3 instead of the knight? i know he is already down material but i think it is a strong move
@@sauryasircar5326 Black going cxb3 hangs his own queen also b3 is not correct. White needs to block with the knight immediately. also the commenter is correct that Yasser taking a3 instead of the knight would have been a better move.
After Qg6 why not try Be6 with the idea of Bf5 which attacks the queen and creates the pin on c2 again and the knight on D4 protects the bishop and also attacks the c2 square which just looks like it is winning for black or at least a draw.
+Kevin Santo I thought so too, but if white tried Be6, I think black can trade bishops on B4, leaving a discovery of white rook takes knight on D4, which ruins the bishop on e6 and f5. Or am I missing something?
BigBrauner after black plays Be6 and white plays Bxb4 black plays Bf5 attacking queen and pawn on c2 with the knight on d4 and its just to much to deal with. He has mate or a perpetual if he wants
Carles Camps after rook takes Knight,black queen takes your night. if you go for queen g8 check, he doesnt have to take your queen with his rook he could simply take it with his king and you would have to lose. But there is a similar option,I guess there is a possibility to take black knight with white rook,after black queen takes my rook i will play Nf7 check.He have to take my knight or else he would lose(Nf7+,Kg8,Nh6+ double check,Kh8, Qg8+ Rxg8,Nf7#) so after rook takes knight ,queen takes rook,Nf6+ only logical move would be Rxh7,Qxh6 then black gotta do something to prevent check mate and support pond on f5? but i think it makes white lose its chances. yasser's move is better.
@Sean Lightbown Yes, 12.Rd5 looks interesting at first sight. However, black saves himself with 12...Bc7 and now if 13.cxd7+ black can take with his Bishop 13...Bxd7 while black darksquare bishop is nomore under attack by whites Knight on f3.
at 21min move rook up next to bishop, horse cant take cause its pinned to queen, and now theeatening to take the dark squared bishop with rook and pinning queen to king
If I listen to a lot of Yasser Seirawan's commentary in one go, I get annoyed by his bumbling style and the gentle humour and patience doesn't compensate for it. By the end of the first game here the commentary feels like nails on a blackboard. And although I can see after a while why Jan Timman resigned, the editing rushes on instead of allowing the explanation why.
He resigned because the threat is Rd8 and checking the king and attacking the queen. If queen moves Rd8 is mate. If Q*R then N*Q and white has an easy end game win with the knight and pawn up.
Well it is an intermediate class. Although the tactic of why he resigned is quite easy to spot in a second. Maybe u should start with the videos for beginners who are just learning the game, and a different speaker.
