CALCULATION MASTERMIND

With IM Mat Kolosowski

Summary

Chess is (rightly) considered to be 99% tactics. Most likely this is a bit of an exaggeration,
but still the ability to calculate properly is definitely the most important one for practically
any chess player. This course is supposed to help those players who already mastered
the basics of tactical patterns and recognize them quite easily.

If you’re still struggling with this, please be advised to consult my previous video course
related to basic tactics. This time I attempted to provide chess players with practical tips
regarding more complex calculation process.

My goal was to help players not to get lost in long calculation lines, help them in structuring
their tactical thinking process, sharpen their tactical vision and show a few other things
from IM’s workshop.

This is not another video course packed with theory. Instead we will calculate as much as
possible, as far as possible and as quick as one can.

The course itself is divided into 4 chapters:

1. Long lines
2. Crossroads
3. Elimination
4. Creative thinking
Additionally, in the last video you will get a chance of watching me playing a quite a few
online games in which I attempted to outplay my opponents in tactical battles.

I commented on all of the games while playing so that you get the chance to see my
applying the theory presented in the course.
 1. Long Lines

Chapter one covers examples involving long but relatively straight-forward lines.

Since a game of chess is often won by the player who can out-calculate the other player
by one move, I have decided to start our training session with this important part of chess
mastery.

In particular you will learn:

• How to set goals in tactics

• How to visualize properly
• How not to get lost in a complex position
• When to stop calculating
 2. Crossroads

The second section covers another portion of interesting examples. While in the first one
we worked on relatively straightforward lines, chapter 2 deals with games involving more
branches of variations.

In particular you will learn:

• Preventing prophylaxis
• Using candidate moves
• Finding backup options
 3. Elimination

Chapter 3 deals with another important aspect of calculation – defensive use of tactics.
In most of the available courses and books you learn how to calculate in order to win
games.

As practice shows, one can also save great many precious points while defending
properly.

Thus, I have decided to show you a few practical tips on how to survive in this eternal
tactical battle.

In the 3rd part of the course you will learn:

• How to use elimination as a calculation method

• How to simplify your thinking process while defending
• How to compare your options
• How to use traps for defensive purposes
 4. Creative thinking

The last chapter of this course is most likely the most entertaining one. The puzzles used
are much shorter than those used in previous sections but it’s all about the hidden
resources here.

I used a few chess jewels I found in practical games as well as composed positions to
show you that the result of the game can be decided with a use of creativity.

My goal in this part was to convince you that working on your own intuition can be both
fun and useful.

In the 4th part of the course you will learn:

• Unique ways of solving chess problems over the board

• How to use studies for training purposes
• What’s blindfold chess and why it’s important for one’s development