Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here are two interesting examples of a counter check in chess.
The first is a funny moment from the game between Magnus Carlsen and Ernesto Inarkiev at the World Blitz Championship (2017), where Inarkiev gave a check to Carlsen, when his King was already in check.
The second, is from the game between Iossif Dorfman and Vitaly Tseshkovsky at the 46th USSR Championship (1978).
Learn 3 Simple Rules To Reach 2000+ ELO Rating Faster
FREE Masterclass ► igorsmirnov.com
#IgorNation #Shorts #ChessTrap #ChessTraps #ChessTrapsForBeginners #Chess #ChessShort #ChessShorts #ChessShortClips #ChessShortVideos #ChessSacrifice #RookSacrifice #QueenSacrifice #ChessTactic #ChessTactics #ChessTacticsToRemember #ChessCombination #ChessCombinations #ChessTrick #ChessTricksAndTraps #Checkmate #Checkmates #CheckmateTricks #CheckmateTraps #BestChessGame #BestChessGames #BestChess #ChessBrilliance #ChessBrilliancy #ChessBrilliant #ChessBrilliantMove #ChessBrilliantMoves #BrilliantMove #BrilliantMoves
Here are two interesting examples of a counter check in chess.
The first is a funny moment from the game between Magnus Carlsen and Ernesto Inarkiev at the World Blitz Championship (2017), where Inarkiev gave a check to Carlsen, when his King was already in check.
The second, is from the game between Iossif Dorfman and Vitaly Tseshkovsky at the 46th USSR Championship (1978).
Learn 3 Simple Rules To Reach 2000+ ELO Rating Faster
FREE Masterclass ► igorsmirnov.com
#IgorNation #Shorts #ChessTrap #ChessTraps #ChessTrapsForBeginners #Chess #ChessShort #ChessShorts #ChessShortClips #ChessShortVideos #ChessSacrifice #RookSacrifice #QueenSacrifice #ChessTactic #ChessTactics #ChessTacticsToRemember #ChessCombination #ChessCombinations #ChessTrick #ChessTricksAndTraps #Checkmate #Checkmates #CheckmateTricks #CheckmateTraps #BestChessGame #BestChessGames #BestChess #ChessBrilliance #ChessBrilliancy #ChessBrilliant #ChessBrilliantMove #ChessBrilliantMoves #BrilliantMove #BrilliantMoves
![Capablanca’s Simple Plan When You Don’t Know What to Do [Middlegame Strategy]
✅ Just released: My BRAND-NEW FREE Masterclass, created after coaching thousands of students ► https://chess-teacher.net/masterclassyt/
⌛ *GM Smirnov has spent years mastering chess—so you don’t have to.*
*Learn from his courses* ► https://online.chess-teacher.com/shopyd
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🎬 About this video lesson:
When there are no obvious tactics, strong players still know how to improve their position.
In this video, GM Igor Smirnov explains Capablanca’s simple middlegame plan from his 1914 game against Benito Higinio Villegas.
You’ll learn:
* What to do when you don’t have a clear plan
* How to improve your worst-placed pieces
* How Capablanca restricted his opponent
* Simple strategic ideas to create winning chances
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📺 Recommended Videos:
✅ Capablancas SIMPLEST Chess Positional Strategy To Win Easily - https://youtu.be/ALkHE9e-Un8
✅ Capablancas chess games & strategies [FULL PLAYLIST] - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9plvGjsxRk9X-netIqBLSqrzTtIM4Fq1&si=cfF0UW3bwIzXJYAu
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📚 Games & Other Resources:
Find the chess games of Capablanca shown in the video in this blog-post - https://chess-teacher.com/capablanca-middlegame-strategy/
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Capablancas Middlegame Strategy & Planning (4 Golden Rules)
00:26 How Capablanca deals with Bg4 pin on his Knight
01:07 Middlegame stage: What to do?
01:21 Rule-1
03:41 Rule-2
05:54 Rule-3 (simple plans)
08:15 Capablanca messed up?
11:00 Rule-4
11:17 Capas another game, SAME RULE
13:23 Final blow (can you find the winning moves?)
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ℹ️ About GM Igor Smirnov
Igor Smirnov is a Chess Grandmaster, leading online educator, and the founder of Remote Chess Academy.
* 1.2M+ learners across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok
* Founder of Remote Chess Academy (2009) — a global online chess school with 75,000+ students across structured training programs
* Author of A Promoted Pawn and creator of the RCA “system of thinking,” helping players break plateaus and reach 2000+ ELO
* Winner of Kasparov’s Cup (2009) and Ukrainian U16 Champion, with deep tournament and coaching experience
* A mentor who has conducted seminars and simul exhibitions in India, featured in The Hindu, and published 1,700+ instructional chess videos
Having earned the GM title through years of disciplined training, he blends classical chess strategy with psychology-based decision-making to help players think clearer, avoid blunders, and take control of their chess growth.
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🌐 Follow GM Igor Smirnov on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemoteChessAcademy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gm.igorsmirnov/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmigorsmirnov/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/GMIgorSmirnov/
#IgorNation #ChessStrategy #Capablanca #ChessTips #ChessMiddlegame #ChessRules #ChessPrinciples Capablanca’s Simple Plan When You Don’t Know What to Do [Middlegame Strategy]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NM2_-FWAVfg/mqdefault.jpg)
![6 Simple Rules to Learn ANY Chess Opening Easily [WITHOUT Theory]
🔥 *You don’t need more openings—you need a better thinking process. GM Smirnov’s FREE masterclass teaches you just that* ► https://chess-teacher.net/masterclassyt/
⌛ *GM Smirnov has spent years mastering chess—so you don’t have to. Learn from his courses* ► https://online.chess-teacher.com/shopyd
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🎬 About this video lesson:
Capablanca proved that opening success is not only about memorizing theory.
In this video, GM Igor Smirnov breaks down Capablanca’s game against Kornel Havasi, showing how simple opening understanding can lead to a strong middlegame and easy plans.
You’ll learn:
* Why Capablanca didn’t rely on endless opening study
* How to reach solid positions as Black
* How to improve your pieces naturally
* Why understanding beats memorization
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📺 Recommended Videos:
🔹Carlsens 10 Simple Rules to Win [Copy His Easy Strategy] - https://youtu.be/T8GaQhVpbJg
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📚 Games & Other Resources:
Find the complete chess game between Havasi and Capablanca shown in the video in this blog-post - https://chess-teacher.com/capablanca-opening-fundamentals/
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 How to learn chess openings properly?
00:10 Capablancas Chess Opening Principles (6 Rules)
00:36 Rule-1
01:05 Rule-2
03:37 Rule-3
04:02 Rule-4
05:00 Rule-5
05:51 Opening Rule Violation?
07:25 Rule-6
08:29 Capablanca had to win the tournament
09:42 What to do in the middlegame stage?
10:17 Middlegame Strategy
12:00 Capablancas favorite plan
12:44 Capablanca missed the winning move
14:00 Final moments of the game
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ℹ️ About GM Igor Smirnov
Igor Smirnov is a Chess Grandmaster, leading online educator, and the founder of Remote Chess Academy.
* 1.2M+ learners across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok
* Founder of Remote Chess Academy (2009) — a global online chess school with 75,000+ students across structured training programs
* Author of A Promoted Pawn and creator of the RCA “system of thinking,” helping players break plateaus and reach 2000+ ELO
* Winner of Kasparov’s Cup (2009) and Ukrainian U16 Champion, with deep tournament and coaching experience
* A mentor who has conducted seminars and simul exhibitions in India, featured in The Hindu, and published 1,700+ instructional chess videos
Having earned the GM title through years of disciplined training, he blends classical chess strategy with psychology-based decision-making to help players think clearer, avoid blunders, and take control of their chess growth.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🌐 Follow GM Igor Smirnov on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemoteChessAcademy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gm.igorsmirnov/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmigorsmirnov/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/GMIgorSmirnov/
#IgorNation #Capablanca #ChessTips #ChessOpenings 6 Simple Rules to Learn ANY Chess Opening Easily [WITHOUT Theory]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NTOuiIsAJao/mqdefault.jpg)
![Crush Everyone Below 1800 ELO With This Aggressive Gambit
🔥 *You don’t need more openings—you need a better thinking process. GM Smirnov’s FREE masterclass teaches you just that* ► https://chess-teacher.net/masterclassyt/
⌛ *GM Smirnov has spent years mastering chess—so you don’t have to. Learn from his courses* ► https://online.chess-teacher.com/shopyd
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🎬 About this video lesson:
The Göring Gambit gives White fast development, open lines, and dangerous attacking chances.
In this video, GM Igor Smirnov explains how this aggressive gambit combines ideas from the Danish Gambit and Scotch Gambit to create practical problems for players below 1800 ELO.
You’ll learn:
* Key Göring Gambit attacking ideas
* Why Black’s natural moves can fail
* Common sacrifices, forks, and mating patterns
* How to attack quickly in blitz games
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📺 Recommended Videos:
🔹How To Calculate In Chess? [5 Easy Tips] - https://youtu.be/o13lDg9JKUw
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📚 Games & Other Resources:
Find the Scotch Game, Göring Gambit, Double Pawn Sacrifice variations shown in the video in this blog-post - https://chess-teacher.com/scotch-game-goring-gambit/
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Best Chess Opening for White Below 1800 ELO
00:12 Problem with the Danish Gambit
00:40 Goring Gambit, Scotch Game (2-in-1 gambit)
01:49 1) 6...Bb4+ by Black
02:57 1.1) Nxd5 by Black
05:10 1.2) Nxe4 by Black
06:52 1.3) Qf6 to attack c3-knight
09:32 Common Attacking Pattern
11:10 2) 6...d6 by Black
13:03 3) 6...Nf6 by Black
14:43 4) If Black doesnt follow the script
16:19 1800 ELO players play this
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ℹ️ About GM Igor Smirnov
Igor Smirnov is a Chess Grandmaster, leading online educator, and the founder of Remote Chess Academy.
* 1.2M+ learners across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok
* Founder of Remote Chess Academy (2009) — a global online chess school with 75,000+ students across structured training programs
* Author of A Promoted Pawn and creator of the RCA “system of thinking,” helping players break plateaus and reach 2000+ ELO
* Winner of Kasparov’s Cup (2009) and Ukrainian U16 Champion, with deep tournament and coaching experience
* A mentor who has conducted seminars and simul exhibitions in India, featured in The Hindu, and published 1,700+ instructional chess videos
Having earned the GM title through years of disciplined training, he blends classical chess strategy with psychology-based decision-making to help players think clearer, avoid blunders, and take control of their chess growth.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🌐 Follow GM Igor Smirnov on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemoteChessAcademy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gm.igorsmirnov/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmigorsmirnov/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/GMIgorSmirnov/
#IgorNation #ChessOpenings #ChessGambit #ScotchGame #DanishGambit Crush Everyone Below 1800 ELO With This Aggressive Gambit](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NXa_yiofnp0/mqdefault.jpg)


![5 Chess Mistakes Keeping You Below 1500 ELO
✅ Just released: My BRAND-NEW FREE Masterclass, created after coaching thousands of students ► https://chess-teacher.net/masterclassyt/
⌛ *GM Smirnov has spent years mastering chess—so you don’t have to.*
*Learn from his courses* ► https://online.chess-teacher.com/shopyd
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🎬 About this video lesson:
Many players stay below 1500 ELO because of a few repeated thinking mistakes.
In this video, GM Igor Smirnov breaks down 5 key chess mistakes that separate lower-rated players from stronger intermediate players.
You’ll learn:
* Why rating progress is not just about openings
* Common calculation and planning mistakes
* How stronger players think differently
* Habits that keep players stuck below 1500
* What to fix to start improving faster
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📺 Recommended Videos:
🔹Carlsens 10 Simple Rules to Win [Copy His Easy Strategy] - https://youtu.be/T8GaQhVpbJg
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📚 Games & Other Resources:
Find the examples and games shown in the video in this blog-post - http://chess-teacher.com/how-to-reach-1500-elo-in-chess/
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Why Your Chess Rating is Stuck? [5 Tips to Reach 1500 ELO]
00:12 Tip-1
02:04 Tip-2
03:08 Magnus Carlsens game
04:58 Puzzle of the Day
05:12 Tip-3
07:17 Why reducing BLUNDERS helps
09:24 Tip-4
11:29 Difference between 800 ELO vs 1500 ELO
13:31 Typical Beginners Mistake
14:51 Tip-5
15:09 Bobby Fischers game
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ℹ️ About GM Igor Smirnov
Igor Smirnov is a Chess Grandmaster, leading online educator, and the founder of Remote Chess Academy.
* 1.2M+ learners across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok
* Founder of Remote Chess Academy (2009) — a global online chess school with 75,000+ students across structured training programs
* Author of A Promoted Pawn and creator of the RCA “system of thinking,” helping players break plateaus and reach 2000+ ELO
* Winner of Kasparov’s Cup (2009) and Ukrainian U16 Champion, with deep tournament and coaching experience
* A mentor who has conducted seminars and simul exhibitions in India, featured in The Hindu, and published 1,700+ instructional chess videos
Having earned the GM title through years of disciplined training, he blends classical chess strategy with psychology-based decision-making to help players think clearer, avoid blunders, and take control of their chess growth.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🌐 Follow GM Igor Smirnov on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemoteChessAcademy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gm.igorsmirnov/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmigorsmirnov/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/GMIgorSmirnov/
#IgorNation #ChessTips #ChessImprovement #ChessLessons 5 Chess Mistakes Keeping You Below 1500 ELO](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nl9PkC72xxE/mqdefault.jpg)




