Another huge point about Ne8: white has just played e4, freeing up the DSB on c1. So finally, they are threatening Bg5! Since black doesn't have the DSB, and our knight on a5 is nowhere to be found, there's no way to break this pin easily without going crazy with h6+g5. But that's suicidal since the kingside is white's attacking ground. This potential pin is the main reason why in that position you have to either play h6 or Ne8. h6 is a bit weakening on the kingside, so it shouldn't be our first choice. Moreover, after e4 h6?!, e5 Ne8 is kinda forced anyway. So why waste a tempo with the weakening h6? Just play Ne8 immediately. We can often block the kingside pawn storm with f5 next (if white ever plays f4). This concept is similar to the later lines you were showing where white play f6 to sacrifice a pawn just to set up the pin.
David has some crazy takes on the podcast but goddamn what an engaging, thorough, and detailed teacher he is. I know chess videos are often seen as "learning but not really learning" chess but this one along with the incomprehensible modern chess for beginners has some real teaching moments that have literally changed (improved!) the way I evaluate positions and try to come up with plans. Really incredible stuff
I really like your style David. You are helping me to think about squares and colors. I think it is helping me end up in better positions, and like Fischer once said, "Tactics flow from superior position." Many thanks Mr. Pruess!
I'm so glad you talked about b4!! as a potential improvement over the game's Rh8!. I found that move once while I was reviewing the game and it absolutely blew my mind. Too bad this is chess and not checkers where white would have to play axb4!
First time watching this channel and love the video, especially at the end on the b5-b4 / Rf1 variations. Not sure if you’ve explained before, but what benefit do you see from memorising a game in its entirety? Ive memorised a couple of games in the past and definitely noticed that in very similar positions I have more ideas for possible moves I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. But the flip side is that I sometimes end up playing moves that I saw in the game when they’re not at all appropriate because ‘that’s what the GMs did’. Curious to know your thoughts! Cheers
Yasser Seirawan is fond of saying that studying endgames is like cheating because you're studying for a pop quiz that will eventually come up, and - if you know how to face all of your basic endgames - you'll pass with flying colors. I agree with this sentiment, but I also think it extends to every area of chess: Studying sharp positions is like cheating because you will eventually be forced into a sharp position. And studying pawn structures is like cheating because you will eventually get every sort of pawn structure. Studying openings is literally cheating because you're playing engine moves or GM moves as if they were your own. There's nothing wrong with wanting to develop and castle before letting the position go crazy...I'm that kind of player as well. But you'll take a lot of inferior positions and instant losses to big attacks if you allow your preference for less sharp positions to overtake your need to play the very best move you can find.
