Ultimate

Strategy - Game Techniques of the

Super GMs

GM Damin Lemos

In this DVD GM Damin Lemos reveals the secrets of chess highest-level strategies. He does this
through 4 extensively-discussed master games, placing emphasis on the correct plans and ideas
at each moment. This new series is aimed at advanced players who wish to complement their
training with an aspect more difficult than tactics. GM Lemos clearly and simply shows the ideas
that develop in each game while ensuring that the player can easily understand the strategic
concepts that are being taught.


This DVD contains 4 chapters:

Chapter 1: Gelfand-Short Game

Chapter 2: Kotronias-Gligoric Game

Chapter 3: Ogaard-Flesch Game

Chapter 4: Hickl-Adianto Game


Chapter 1: Gelfand-Short Game

1. Here we see a game between Gelfand and Short, two Elite Super GMs who were both
world runners-up.
2. Black opens interestingly with b6-e6.
3. Black wins the bishop pair with Nb4.
4. White achieves a better center and closes the position with d5.
5. Black has a very interesting plan with Qd7, then with queenside castling.
6. White threatens by placing a strong knight in c6 and Black does not hesitate to give up
the bishop pair with Bxd4!
7. Blacks strategy is to break Whites center with e6-f5-Re8; the battle for the center is the
axis of the game.
8. Emphasizing Blacks defensive move Ng8! Avoiding Whites Nf6.
9. Finally Black wins the battle in the center by capturing the pawn on d5.
10. White offers up some pawns looking for the attack but Black defends well and wins
easily.
11. Black has less space and a difficult position but plays a good plan and goes on to win the
game.

Chapter 2: Kotronias-Gligoric Game
1. Another strong GM game between Kotronias and Gligoric with a Spanish Opening.
2. Black plays the Zaitsev Variation of the Spanish Opening with Re8.
3. A good plan for White is the move a4 putting pressure on the pawn on b5. If Black
captures on a4 the pawn in a6 will be weak; if Black advances to b4 the square c4 will
be left for the white knight.
4. Another key strategic moment is Whites d5 move after Blacks c5; the plan is to gain
space and block Blacks bishop on b7.
5. Another great strategic plan is Ra3! trying to move the rook from queenside to either
kingside or the center. This is an important maneuver to remember. We saw it recently
in a game between Carlsen and Anand.
6. Black plays c4 and therefore White exploits the square d4 with their knight, from d4 the

knight attacks b5-c6, then can go to f5 and attack the black king.
7. Another important suggestion is to not rush to capture Blacks weak pawns but rather
make better use of the pieces combined with threatening the pawns with the attacking
concepts seen when Re3 attacks d3 and is able to move to g3.
8. An excellent maneuver Nf5 to force g6 and weaken Black's castling.
9. The key is to exchange the dark-squared bishops; White exploits this to attack the black
king from the black squares with the queen, rook, and knight.
10. Whites pawns remain in a better structure, a knight superior to Black's bishop, as well
as the attack;; Blacks b-pawn is weak.
11. White completes their win by attacking due to the weakness of the black king.
Chapter 3: Ogaard-Flesch Game
1.

White opens with the queen's pawn opening and black responds with the Nimzo-Indian
Defense.

2.

White employs the 4. e3 variation, a very solid choice against the Nimzo-Indian where
white typically avoids early tactical complications.

3.

With 4. ..c5 and 6. ..d5 black immediately creates tension in the center and attempts to
stop white

4.

After the series of exchanges on moves 7-10, white is left with an exposed backward
pawn on c3. However white has compensation with a more mobile pawn center and
chances of attacking black's king.

5.

With 15. ..Bxf3 black trades bishop for knight to create counterplay in the center and
place more pressure on white's pawns.

6.

With 20. ..Rfd8 we can see that black's opening strategy has been successful - he is
ahead in development and retains the better pawn structure due to white's weak
isolated pawn on c4.

7.

21. ..Nf4 marks the beginning of an excellent regrouping maneuver to place black's
knight on a square where it can control key central squares while defending.

8.

With 23. ..Ne6 the purpose behind black's last few moves becomes clear - the knight is
defending g7 while limiting white's dark-squared bishop.

9.

After 24. ..Rd6 and 25. ..Qd7 the position is starting to become critical for white - he
doesn't have any counterplay and black's pieces are dominating the C and D files where
all the play is taking place.

10. When you have an advantage, you have to attack or you will lose it! With 27. ..f5 black
capitalizes on white's lack of coordination and goes straight for white's king!
11. Black finishes the game with a precise series of forcing attacking moves, temporarily
sacrificing a piece to open lines and coordinate his heavy pieces against the white king.

Chapter 4: Hickl-Adianto Game
1. Here we see another strong GM game with an English Opening.
2. White uses an original idea with Qa4 in order to anticipate Blacks plans.
3. Blacks placement is passive and White uses a double fianchetto to bring their bishops
into play.
4. Black rushes to play d5 and White expertly exploits this to cause problems for Blacks
center, forcing them to play e4.
5. White maintains a clear advantage with two strong bishops and Black has a vulnerable
pawn in e3.
6. White brings all their pieces into play while Black struggles with their development and
has less space.
7. White captures the bishop pair leaving their dark-squared bishop in b2, thus dominating
the large diagonal unopposed.
8. The bishops are in superior positions to the knights in open positions, as can be seen in
this match.
9. White wins tactically, while giving up the exchange in f6 and exploiting the queen and
dark-squared bishop battery.

10. Black gives up material and is left with the rook against two defenseless pieces. See how
the bishop in c8 cannot take part in the fight due to the lack of development.