Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 + Vol.2 by Jan Markos

For a chess player, chess pieces are like specific tools in a toolbox. We need to know how to use them best, like a craftsman knows their tools. We shouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail; and we shouldn’t use the queen just for defence.

Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 - The Power of the Queen

For a chess player, chess pieces are like specific tools in a toolbox. We need to know how to use them best, like a craftsman knows their tools. We shouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail; and we shouldn’t use the queen just for defence.

This series will show you in great detail the specific qualities of each chess piece, so that you can maximize their effectiveness and thus improve your game. Queens are the true ladies of the chessboard. They are dangerous attackers, but poor defenders. They dislike dirty work, and often wait until other pieces prepare space for them. Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!

• Video running time: 5 hours

• Extra: Additional database with exercises

• Training with ChessBase apps – Play key positions against Fritz on various levels

Middlegame Secrets Vol.2 - The Potential of the Rook

For a chess player, chess pieces are like specific tools in a toolbox. We need to know how to use them best, like a craftsman knows their tools. We shouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail; and we shouldn’t use the queen just for defence.

This series will show you in great detail the specific qualities of each chess piece, so that you can maximize their effectiveness and thus improve your game. Everyone knows that a rook is dangerous on the 7th rank, and that it belongs behind the pawn. However, there is so much more to learn about this inconspicuous piece! Let us explore together how the rooks should enter the game in the early middlegame, how they operate on open files and how they sometimes join a deadly attack, being transferred in front of the pawn chain. We will also discuss the cooperation of the rooks and many more topics.

• Video running time: 5 hours

• Extra: Additional database with exercises

• Training with ChessBase apps – Play key positions against Fritz on various levels

Sample video

Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 - The Power of the Queen

Middlegame Secrets Vol.2 - The Potential of the Rook

Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 - The Power of the Queen

• Introduction
• The queen shines
• The queen fails to reach her potential
• A personal experience of not handling the queen well
• Attacking Queen
• The 4th phase of the game - heavy pieces endgame
• How Magnus Carlsen handles the queen
• Queen Manoeuvres
• Backward manoeuvres and spotting holes
• Unprotected pieces
• Queen transfer for coordination and harmony
• Shall I exchange the queens?
• First set of examples
• Second set of examples
• Cooperation
• Queen + Knight = Soulmates
• Queen + Knight = Soulmates II
• Queen + Bishop battery
• Queen + Rook(s) battery
• Common Mistakes
• Bad blocker and premature activity
• Limited access to other parts of the board
• Queen Masterpieces
• Nakamura vs Navara
• Nepomniachtchi vs Yu Yangyi

Middlegame Secrets Vol.2 - The Potential of the Rook

• Introduction
• The rooks are stronger than minor pieces when playing on the edge of the board
• Get your rooks active as quickly as possible
• Connected rooks
• Open file
• Open file in a quiet position
• Widen the battlefield
• Two open files
• Entry squares
• The file which is further away from the king is usually the correct one I
• The file which is further away from the king is usually the correct one II
• Attacking rook
• Rook lifts
• Attack on the g- and h-file
• Doubled pawns are vulnerable to exchanges
• Opening a second flank
• The 7th rank
• Key factors for a successful attack on the 7th rank
• Typical defender mistakes
• Losing track of strategical goals in tactical positions
• Rook exchanges
• Space advantage
• Opposite coloured Bishops/Material Imbalances/Central Majority
• Passed Pawn/King position
• Rook lift
• Transfer to a different wing
• Transfer to attack a weakness I
• Transfer to attack a weakness II
• Transfer to attack a weakness III

System requirements: Minimum: Pentium III 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, Windows 8.1, DirectX9 graphic card with 256 MB RAM, Windows Media Player 9 and internet connection for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel Core i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Windows 7 / 8 or 10, DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 100% DirectX10 compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11 and internet connection for program activation.