Lessons

How to Be Materialistic In Chess

IM Kostya Kavutskiy

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Are you afraid to accept sacrifices?

Sacrifices are flashy, but having material wins more games. IM Kostya Kavutskiy demonstrates when it's appropriate to capture material and how to convert it into victory.

Learn to refute unsound sacrifices!
Learn to give some material back to diffuse an initiative.
Work on trusting your own calculations.

Materialism: The Virtues Of Pawn-Grabbing

Often one extra pawn is enough to win the game. IM Kostya Kavutskiy begins his course on materialism by demonstrating when it's worth going out of your way to win a pawn.

15 min

5 Challenges

Materialism: Is it A Poisoned Pawn?

In many openings, one side sacrifices a pawn early on to start a quick attack. IM Kostya Kavutskiy will help you learn which pawns are truly poisonous and which can be a tasty snack.

11 min

5 Challenges

Materialism: Don't Trust Your Opponent

When your opponent sacrifices, it's OK to be cautious, but you should still calculate for yourself. IM Kostya Kavutskiy demonstrates how to find flaws in your opponent's tactics.

17 min

5 Challenges

Materialism: Be Brave

What do you do when your opponent insists on sacrificing? IM Kostya Kavutskiy demonstrates how superstars Boris Spassky and Ulf Andersson accepted material and used it to win their games.

19 min

5 Challenges

Materialism: Giving Back Material

IM Kostya Kavutskiy wraps up his series on material by demonstrating how you can give back some or all of your material advantage to end your opponent's attack.

15 min

5 Challenges