Yes, you can become a chess master, here's how: part 13

Sorry I took so long following up to my last blog. I got sick with the flu right after I said I would update and once I recovered, I have been teaching chess pretty much non-stop. 

Meanwhile, my video lessons groups is quickly approaching 10,000 members! Please join it and be a part of the fun and learning which goes on there! Link to join may be found in the right-hand column of this blog.

Last time, I left this positions which occurs in the rafrely playedRuy Lopez Marshall Attack, Steiner variation. If White knows it, he will get the better game, but if he doesn't, Black has great chances.Most importantly, all White's preparations to the main line have been avoided. At the top level of chess, this line is risky. Not so much among players rated under 2000, which is where most of your ratings are. So the purists will say it's not a good line, but practically speaking, it can bring you home a much needed point in a game.

The main lines responders to my blog considered were 11. d4 and 11. Qxf3. The former is correct and White scores the point in master games at a 64% clip. However, 11. Qxf3 only nets White 35%. Quite a difference. I believe, at first glance,11.Qxf3 appears to be the correct move. Anyone under a 2000 rating doesn't want his Pawn shield in front of his King broken. However, doing so will tangle Black up,as will be seen in the notes to the games I played back in 1975. I was rated low 1800's, my opponents were 1600's. I almost messed up the first game, missing a one-move mate and having to avoid White's stalemate attempts.

Well, there you have it. I will be curious to see if anyone tries this out. Report back here! Thanks.

Be back soon with another blog!