The Nimzo Indian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
In the Nimzo Indian Defense, Black often captures on c3 to inflict doubled pawns in exchange for the bishop pair. GM Johan...
The King's Indian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The King's Indian Defense and King's Indian Attack lead to unique and double-edged pawn structures. GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates...
The Stonewall Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Stonewall structure allows Black to gain space in the center at the cost of giving up a dangerous outpost on e5. GM...
The Queen's Indian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Queen's Indian Defense is one of Black's most solid opening choices and it leads to some unique pawn structures. GM...
The Queenside Majority Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
In many openings, one side will gain a majority of pawns on the kingside while the other side has more queenside pawns....
The Exchange Spanish Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
How can White aim for a winning pawn structure right out of the opening? GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates the goals of the...
The Petroff Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Petroff is one of the most popular openings at the highest level. GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates the key ideas in this...
The Pirc - Modern Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
What should each side try to do when Black plays a provocative hyper-modern opening? GM Johan Hellsten answers the key questions.
The Benoni Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Benoni Defense leads to one of the most imbalanced, complicated structures out of any opening. GM Johan Hellsten shows...
The Benko Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Benko Gambit offers a dangerous pawn sacrifice for long-term queenside pressure. GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates the...
The Scotch Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
When Black captures on d4 in the Scotch Game or Philidor Defense, White gets the bigger center and the responsibility to...
Closed Spanish Structures: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Closed Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) has been played many thousands of times between strong players. GM Johan Hellsten...
The c4 Scandinavian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
When White plays aggressively in a Scandinavian structure, he or she places pawns on c4 and d4. White might be able to attack,...
The c3 Scandinavian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
In the Caro Kann or Scandinavian Defense White often fights for the center with the b2-d4 pawn chain. GM Johan Hellsten...
The Closed Sicilian Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Closed Sicilian is a tricky weapon against the Sicilian Defense and frequently occurs with reversed colors in the English...
The Rossolimo Structures: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian has become the dominant Anti-Sicilian today. The same structure occurs frequently...
The Advanced French Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
When White's pawn chain reaches from b2 to e5, it could lead to a kingside attack, but Black also can target the pawns and...
The Competing Majorities Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
In many openings, one side has more pawns on the kingside and the other has more on the queenside. GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates...
The Sveshnikov Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Sveshnikov Variation of the Sicilian Defense used to be considered unplayable because Black accepts a risky-looking...
The Botvinnik Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
Mikhail Botvinnik was world champion several times and popularized a setup with pawns on c4, d3, and e4 or the reverse for...
The Maroczy Bind: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Maroczy bind allows one side to build a clamp on the center with the c and e-pawns. However, there's still room for...
The Hedgehog Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Hedgehog looks quiet, but it can unfurl a world of complications. GM Johan Hellsten explains.
The Exchange Slav Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The Exchange Slav has a reputation as a boring opening, but despite the symmetry, both sides have chances to play for a...
The Scheveningen Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
GM Johan Hellsten begins his overview of Sicilian structures with the Scheveningen, a favorite of Bobby Fischer and Garry...
The Dragon Structure: Every Pawn Structure Explained
The dragon structure often leads to sharp play in both the Sicilian and the English Opening. GM Johan Hellsten demonstrates...