Sokolov Explains: Middlegame Pawn Structures – GM Ivan Sokolov

Name: Pawn Structures in the Middlegame – GM Ivan Sokolov
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Pawn Structures in the Middlegame – GM Ivan Sokolov

Sokolov Explains: Middlegame Pawn Structures - Gm Ivan Sokolov — Sokolov Explains: Middlegame Pawn Structures – GM Ivan Sokolov

This is the legendary Ivan Sokolov’s first ever DVD. It is with great pleasure and honor that we are able to bring Ivan’s vast experience of our beautiful game to video.

Ivan has been part of the world’s chess elite for all of his adult life. In his youth, Ivan was tipped by many as being a future world champion. His career has included victories over Kasparov and a large number of the world’s elite.

The lessons shown in the DVD are given with his unique insight and touch of humor.

Within this DVD the viewer will learn a great deal about Middlegame Pawn structures. Ivan looks at isolated pawns, symmetrical pawns and a vast array of other structures, whilst teaching us some valuable lessons. Ivan does this by first building up the position from its bare roots and then adding material, so each aspect of the position is understood.

About the Author:

Ivan Sokolov is a Dutch chess grandmaster. Sokolov won the Yugoslav Championship in 1988 and the Dutch Championship in 1995 and 1998.

He became a FIDE Master in 1985 and then he also accomplished the International Master title in 1986. In 1987 and 1993 he won the Vidmar Memorial.

In 2000 he won the 1st European Rapid Chess Championship in Neum edging out on tiebreak Alexey Dreev and Zurab Azmaiparashvili.

Is this course for me?

GM Ivan Sokolov’s chess CV takes some beating: he’s a 3-time national champion, European Champion at 3-time controls, former world #12 and has beaten 5 world champions in Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Carlsen, and Smyslov!

Plus, he’s achieved FIDE Senior Trainer status. A student of the game, Ivan Sokolov is renowned as both chess philosopher and chess warrior.

Here are some of the lessons you’ll be able to learn with this course:

The ‘Karpov’ Pawn Structure

In this lesson, Sokolov shows that even GMs have a lot to learn!

He will explain pawn structures based around the position on the right.

This position was reached in Karpov vs Georgiev, 1994. How should White respond to Black’s last move …a5?

Should White:

Capture on a5?
Push on with b5?
Support the White b-pawn with a3?

GM Ivan Sokolov gives us an in-depth explanation as to what is the best approach for White. It is worth noting that this type of pawn structure often occurs from the opening moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5

The Isolated Pawn

How should you play with chess pawn structures with an isolated pawn and how should you play against the isolated pawn?

GM Sokolov will show you that with a very interesting position reached in Beliavsky vs Illescas Cordoba, 1990.

Illescas, who was a world leading expert in this type of isolated queens pawn position, played an excellent move that allowed him to display a big attack.

Pawn Symmetry

Even when things look equal, danger still lurks. Ivan shows us what to watch out for when playing symmetrical positions. One famous example he uses is from a famous game of Kasparov vs Karpov. The position may look harmless but Ivan tells us why Kasparov is virtually winning.

You will learn a lot from this course, especially because of Sokolov’s way to approach the position – looking first at the chess pawn structure – then placing the pieces and building a plan for the rest of the game.

Run-time: 3 hours 45 minute

Additional information

Release date	2014
Presenter	GM Ivan Sokolov
Run-time	3 hours 45 minutes
File-size	470MB
Encoding	Standard H.264, out of box compatibility with all Mac and PC devices including Android and iPhone.

Chapter List

Chapter Outline:

1: Introduction
2: Chapter 1 – part 1 – The Karpov Pawn Structure
3: Building the Position
4: Chapter 1: Part 2 – 1st Model Game: A.Karpov vs K.Georgiev, Tilburg, 1994, 1-0. ‘Keeping light square bishops on the board.
5: Chapter 1: Part 3 – 2nd Model Game: A.Karpov vs U.Boensch, Baden Baden, 1992, 1-0. ‘Exchanging light square bishops.’
6: Chapter 1: Part 4: 3rd Model Game: I, Sokolov vs J.Hector, Jonsson Mem, 2001, 1-0.
7: Chapter 2 – part 1 – The Isolated Pawn
8: Building the Position – Most often occurring from the Tarrasch Defence.
9: Chapter 2 – Part 2 – 4th Model Game: G.Kasparov vs M.Illescas Cordoba, Linares, 1994, 1-0. ‘Perfect play against the Isolated Pawn.’
10: Chapter 2 – Part 3 – 5th Model Game: A.Beliavsky vs M.Illescas Cordoba, Linares, 1990, 0-1. ‘A unique plan for Black.’
11: Chapter 2 – Part 4 – 6th Model Game: V.Ivanchuk vs L.Aronian, Morelia/Linares, 2007, 1-0. ‘Chucky Magic’
12: Chapter 3 – part 1 – Pawn Breaks with the Isolated Pawn
13: Building the Position
14: Chapter 3 – part 2 – 7th Model Game: V.Kramnik vs V.Anand. ‘The d5 Pawn Break’
15: Chapter 3 – part 3 – 8th Model Game: T.Petrosian vs B.Spassky, Moscow, 1971, 1-0. ‘Another look at the d5 Pawn Break.’
16: Chapter 3 – part 4 – 9th Model Game: I.Sokolov vs J.Polgar, Hoogeveen, 2003, 1-0. ‘Sokolov’s Evergreen Game.’
17: Chapter 4 – part 1 – Pawn Symmetry. ‘One side is more equal than the other side…’
18: Building the Position
19: Chapter 4 – part 2 – 10th Model Game: G.Kasparov vs A.Karpov, Seville, 1986, 22nd Game. – Winning in a Symmetric Position – Knight dominating the Bishop.
20: Chapter 4 – part 3 – 11th Model Game: Kramnik vs Leko, Rapid Game. Winning in a Symmetric position, second example – Bishop dominating a Bishop.
21: Chapter 4 – part 4 – 12th Model Game: I.Sokolov vs L.Brunner, Ockham, 1988, 1-0.
22: Conclusion