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Defend with Honor

Defend with Honor

Course 144 episodes
(9 hours 39 min)

Creators GM Johan Hellsten

While it's much more interesting to attack and have the initiative in our hands, sometimes opponents will attack us and we'll need to defend.

Many chess players don't like to defend, however, after watching this course you'll hopefully have more pleasure when you do it.

The key is to know the main principles and Grandmaster Johan Hellsten will teach you that...

Here are some of the positions taken from the course:

To help you grasp the defensive concepts better, the course is divided into the following sections:

1. Mobilization
2. Defensive exchange
3. Blockade
4. Prophylaxis
5. The brave King
6. The escaping King
7. Sacrifices
8. Counterattack
9. Intermediate Moves
10. Obstruction
11. Deflection
12. Perpetuals
13. Counterthreats
14. Tactical Tricks
15. Accepting Sacrifices
16. The Process of Elimination

Ready to become a better defender?
Let’s get started!

What you'll learn

Important defensive concepts like prophylaxis, blockade, piece mobilization.
How to run away with the King at the right time, when under attack.
How to use tactics and sacrifices to get out of a difficult position.

Lesson Plan

144 episode(s) 9 hours 39 min

Course overview

1. Introduction

2. Bringing in the Queen 1

Unlocked 2m 54s

3. Bringing in the Queen 2

Unlocked 5m 53s

4. A distant defender

Unlocked 4m 58s

5. A distant defender 2

Unlocked 6m 22s

6. Thanks to the Bishop 1

Unlocked 4m 31s

7. Thanks to the Bishop 2

Unlocked 5m 23s

8. A smart Knight 1

9. A smart Knight 2

Unlocked 6m 28s

11. Introduction

12. Swapping Queens 1

13. Swapping Queens 2

14. Swapping Queens 3

15. Swapping Queens 4

16. Eliminating a key attacker

17. Eliminating a key attacker 2

18. Eliminating a key attacker 3

19. Eliminating two key attackers

21. Introduction

22. The best blockader

23. The best blockader 2

24. Another good blockader

25. Yet another good blockader

26. A double blockade

27. In the footsteps of Petrosian

28. The pawn blockade

29. The pawn shield

31. Introduction

32. Hiding the King

33. Hiding the King 2

34. The King move

35. The King move 2

36. Overprotection 1

37. Overprotection 2

38. Masterpiece

39. Preventing enemy plans

41. Introduction

42. The brave King

43. Another brave King

44. Ready for a walk

45. The bravest piece

46. A fearless King

47. Visiting a colleague

48. Another fearless King

49. Morozevich's Monarch

51. Introduction

52. A little escape

53. Another smooth escape

54. Run for your life

55. Safety first

56. Relying on the King

57. Home sweet home

58. What a nice journey

59. Travelling again

61. Introduction

62. With an open mind

63. Payback time

64. French style

65. Thanks, dear Rook

66. Neutralizing the attack

67. A heroic Rook

68. A radical choice

69. Two great Bishops

71. Introduction

72. Trading places

73. Perfect coordination

74. An amazing resource

76. The only way

77. Family work

79. A psychological trap

81. Introduction

82. A smart sequence

83. A vital check

84. Two in a row

85. A little pawn push

86. A clever check

87. What a surprise

89. Introduction

90. Obstructing the Queen

91. Third rank obstruction

92. Another obstructor

93. Breaking the pin

94. Turning the tables

95. Favorable congestion

97. Introduction

98. Deflecting the Queen

99. Getting back the 1st rank

100. Ruining their attack

101. A deflecting check

102. Another disruptive check

103. A heroic bishop

104. Conclusion

105. Introduction

106. Using the Diagonals

107. Two Great Rooks

108. An Astonishing Resource

109. A Strong Tandem

110. Preparing the Perpetual

111. What a Combination!

112. Conclusion

113. Introduction

114. Threat vs Threat

115. Remember the 1st Rank

116. Going for their King

117. Exploiting Undefended Pieces

118. Non Standard Defense

119. Crossing the Board

120. Conclusion

121. Introduction

122. Saving the Day

123. A Nice Trick

124. A Heroic Bishop

125. Tempting but Wrong

126. A Nice Cooperation

127. Attracting the Queen

128. Conclusion

129. Introduction

130. Up for the Challenge

131. Facing the Greek Gift

132. Suffer but Prevail

133. Everything under Control

134. A Very Narrow Path

135. A Methodical Defense

136. Conclusion

137. Introduction

138. A Lesser Evil

139. Avoiding the Pitfalls

140. At Crossroads

141. The Right Check

142. Checking One by One

143. Three Choices

144. Conclusion

4.8

Students give this course an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

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Course 144 episodes (9 hours 39 min)

Creators GM Johan Hellsten

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