HOW TO TRAIN LIKE A GRANDMASTER

How to train like a Grandmaster [Kotov Book]

How Grandmasters play the opening:

WHITE:
Because of the right to move first, White has the advantage.

1) The method of quiet maintenance of the advantage of the first move

2) The method of swift strike
3) The method of the “coiled spring”

1.- The method of quiet maintenance of de advantage

Is used in cases when a player does not have to win at all costs and tries to avoid sharp lines.
It is uses also when the opponent is a combinative player and is attracted to sharp play so this method
keeps him in check.

Characteristics of quiet play:

Pawn exchanges
Formation of rigid pawn structures
Peaceful in the center and somewhat peaceful in the flanks
Smoothness of the pawn chains
Limited availability of open lines
Absence of a direct clash is evident
Musical equivalent: This is not Rock and Roll nor Reaggeton or the twist but a waltz,
A classic Beethoven masterpiece, symphony or tune

Examples of this play:

Carlsbad variation of QGD
Slav Defence
The Caro-Kann

2.- The method of swift strike

6. g4 in the Sicilian
Early strikes in the Carlbad variation of QGD and The Caro-Kann
Various intuitive sacrifices in the Sicilian and other Knight sacrifices in some
 other openings. Sacrifices such a knight sacrifice at d5, f5 (with a black pawn at
e6.
3.- The method of the “coiled spring”

Sometimes a Grandmaster decides to avoid the deeply-studied book lines by using what appears a
coiled spring.
Thes just make one pawn advance to the centre and fianchetto the bishops and allow the opponent
To occupy the centre. This slowness is apparent since just one incautious pawn advance by Black and
White´s pieces will uncoil with great force and inflict damage on the enemy.

BLACK
The advantage of the first move by Whte forces Black to adopt three different approaches:

1) Play for equality

2) The method of carrying out an independent plan
3) The coiled spring method

1.- Play for equality

Black proceeds quietly manouevring just as calmly trying to keep it level.

Black does not have to go for a win in every game, often being satisfied with a draw.

QGD with Capablanca´s simplifying manoeuvre

QGD Lasker´s Defence
Queens Indian Defence

These opening lines are also used for psychological reasons.

If our opponent is a confirmed supporter of combinational attacks and likes to go for dubious sacrifices
it pays to give him the opportunity to attack formations so sound that he will stub his toe against them.

2.- The method of carrying out an independent plan

This method whas first adopted by Chigorin, developed by the hypermoderns and is still practiced
nowdays. Black does not pay attention to the advantage of the first move by White and does not strive
to equalise.

His objective is to carry out his own plan of active play by his pieces and force his opponent to adopt
measures to repulse the threats so generated.

Black gets out of being under constraint, acts independently and can partly ignore what his opponent is
doing. Such independence is highly valued in modern chess.
Modern theory notes two types of independent plan:

1) The counter attack plan against pawn centre as in the Grunfeld Defence and the Alekhine
Defence as well as the Nimzo-Indian defence and so on.

2) Work independently on the flank as in the Sicilian Defence, especially when Black goes …a6 and
…b5, and in the Modern Benoni Defence where the same moves involve a pawn sacrifice by
Black in the Benko Gambit and the Benoni.

3.- The coiled spring method

This method can build up potential energy for Black. It can be successful, but the risks involved have to
be clearly borne in mind because due to the voluntary passivity Black could finish up in a cramped
position with no remedy for the cramp.

This method is most frequently used by the players of the older generation. Also this method is often
caused by their lack of familiarity with the very latest word in theory.

One should mention the Pirc Defence as well as the King Indian Defence involving the wing play …a6,
…c6, …Rook ab8 and …b5