How to Think About The Initiative in Chess

When you "have the initiative," you're creating threats that lead to other threats. By virtue of this momentum, you can dictate the play and narrow the amount of acceptable replies from your opponent. A well-executed initiative can potentially lead to a win, but you don't always want to to get there violently! In this game I played in 2013, I demonstrate how a single pawn sacrifice in the opening led to a string of small, annoying threats that snowballed to a victory.

[Event "Twin Cities Chess League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.10.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "NM Scott Riester"]
[Black "IM John Bartholomew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2229"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.01"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qh4 Rb8 15. a3 Rd8 16. Nc3 Rd4 17. Qg5 h6 18. Qe3 Bh3 19. Re1 Qb7 20. Qf3 e4 21. Qf4 e3 22. Qf3 exf2+ 23. Qxf2 Re8 24. e4 Rc4 25. Bf4 g5 26. Bxg5 Ng4 27. Qd2 hxg5 28. Qxg5+ Kf8 29. Re2 Qb6+ 30. Kh1 Re5 31. Qh4 Qh6 32. Qd8+ Kg7 33. Rd1 Rh5 34. Kg1 Ne5 35. Rd6 Be6 36. h4 Qg6 37. Rdd2 Nf3+ 38. Kf2 Nxd2 39. Rxd2 Qf6+ 0-1

Recommended chess books and equipment:

[gcollins]

Holy moly. John is out here creating a legacy, lately.

IM Bartholomew is gonna be a historically famous name among chess teachers.

[davidh]

Nice and straight forward teaching. Very clear. Thank you very much!

[FloppsEB]

thank you so much for this awesome content, John Bartholomew! the last few years have seen me going from a Scholar's Mate fan to a FIDE ~1800 player via your videos and paying attention to what i believe is the most important and underrated part of your videos - going through the post-mortem! even your shortest Climbing the Rating Ladder vids, and the more i progress the other longer play games also, both have given me a LOT of insight into how i should go about analyzing my own games, which is not only the key to improving rating-wise, but to genuinely giving me a more beautiful and richer understanding of chess!


thanks so much for this AWESOME content! <3 floppsy bunny

[initialsea]

Hey John, Yesterday i commented asking for advice on my preparation for a game I had today. As an update, i managed to win 2 of the games, using the Queens Gambit opening, which really put me in a good lead and was only uphill from there. Thank you for the reply and the constant videos which really help everyones ability and understanding of chess, we can see the passion you have for this game and it is very well appreciated.

Thanks once again, from Australia

[reidpattis]

0:45 my chess in a nutshell. With that said, playing more positional openings are really helping me - the London in particular. Thanks for the video as usual John.

[dkpandey]

The way you explain your thought process and positional analysis is super instructive. I wonder when I'll be able to think like that in my own games. Thanks for the great content.

[bradenstewart]

Oh man I would have paid good money to have seen John go “hog wild” with that knight haha

[zomboom]

John, I want to let you know that your videos, especially the using the clock as a weapon series have really impacted my online chess. You've taught me how to calmly analyze my games whether I win or lose. Before I watched you if I would lose I would storm to the next game and be low-key pissed OR if I won I would be like "great, next one." However since watching you I always make sure to probe the question, if I won I ask, "What did I do well? Let's celebrate it!" and If I lose I ask, "where did I go wrong here? Let's learn about it." Being able to identity these moments has empowered me so much. Thank you for all of your work. It is appreciated.

[jshklt]

I just started learning chess and this is by FAR my favourite chess channel overall. Literally everything is explained well. Great player, but even better teacher!

[jhadesdev]

Thank you John for the daily uploads, they are a part of my day now. I am rooting for your channel to go to 100k subs and beyond 👍👍👍

[baszmania]

It's rare that I don't start a game after watching one of your videos. Very instructive and very clear as always. Thanks John!

[charlieday]

As one of those students of chess that really needs to work on their tactics, these videos are as instructive as they come. You're doing god's work, Bartholomew!

[Benkenobi]

I play the Catalan. I was shocked to see another Catalan player sacrifice the Catalan bishop, when there were other options. Generally in the Catalan you do not want to sacrifice that bishop unless you can obtain sufficient compensation for it, like a rook. As you showed, the Catalan system relies upon control of the light squares, losing the light square bishop gave you the option of putting significant pressure. I think that was the losing move right there.

[tomscott]

Super happy you’re dusting off that box of score cards in the closet! Very nice game and I agree with your superior coordination. I think that is really always the engine powering all attacks. Tactical plan with so many pieces around the king was the only thing lacking. (maybe as Morphy showed us) attacking “forward” instead of retreating to open the attack was key. It usually calls for a sac and you can’t do it if you don’t see it. Always super hard to find too. Awesome slowly building pressure Karpov style I think. Happy we’re getting your favourite games series!!!

[Socrates...]

Hi John, thanks for this wonderful lesson. You are the best and nicest chess content provider on YouTube.

[acernera]

John - I am very grateful for the great knowledge you share in these videos!

[CherubiJubell]

You're so easy to learn from!
I especially like the pause moments where I can consider moves!
I guessed the pawn one correctly!😄

[nomvanhoutte]

An excellent game and analysis Minnesota Fins. Nothing like a slow burning initiative.

[TheZanx]

Thanks John, ive been watching your videos everyday without fail and my chess has been improving. Ive gone from 1150 and moving towards 1400 in rapid and making better decisions overall. Blitz has been around 1200 for ages and thats at 1250, im still flagging too often but have really enjoyed your series of making the clock as a weapon. Keep it up! Your killing it :)

[bravesirrobbins]

John, thanks for this video. I’ve been following your channel for a while, and this video ties together several of the concepts you teach in a comprehensible way. I am improving by leaps and bounds because of your channel. Cheers!