3 Secret TIPS To Identify Poisoned Pawns In Chess

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In chess, a poisoned pawn is one that appears safe to capture, but doing so comes with serious consequences, such as losing material or wasting crucial moves.

But how do you determine if a pawn is poisoned? Are there ways to identify it before it’s too late? Yes, there are!

In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov reveals the 3 most common situations in which a pawn is considered 'poisoned.' Recognizing these scenarios will help you avoid costly mistakes, and even set traps for your opponents by baiting them into capturing a poisoned pawn.

You'll learn these concepts through practical examples, including famous games like Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer in the World Championship Match, Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Magnus Carlsen, and more.

By mastering this key strategic concept, you’ll gain a significant edge over your opponents!

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► Chapters

00:00 3 Tips To Identify Poisoned Pawns In Chess [And Avoid Capturing Them]
00:22 Example-1
01:07 Why you should NOT capture a poisoned pawn
01:20 Scenario-1 (when a pawn is poisoned)
02:40 Example-2 (Spassky vs Fischer)
03:56 Example-3 (Nepomniachtchi vs Carlsen)
05:15 Example-4
05:36 Example-5
06:11 Scenario-2 (when a pawn is poisoned)
06:28 Example-6
07:43 Puzzle of the Day
07:52 Example-7
09:05 Example-8 (Mamedyarov vs Carlsen)
11:02 Scenario-3 (when a pawn is poisoned)
11:11 Example-9
12:58 Answering students' questions

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#IgorNation #ChessStrategy #ChessTips #ChessPrinciples #ChessPawn

[TitanCalE]

I am getting addicted to chess. And I blame you. I do not mind losing because it is the best way to learn from my mistakes. I have written down the most important rules to follow and I can see via my enemy's moves that they are frustrated and keep making it worse for themselves. Basically giving me the win sometimes. I just wish I discovered chess sooner.
Thank you Grandmaster.

[larryphotography]

I wanted to learn about poisoned pawns and this video really explained it amazingly. Loved the idea of locking a piece in to the square

[friederermel]

Puzzle of the Day: Bishop to b4 (doublecheck), followed by rook to e1#.

[NJDJ]

@2:10 i love the jail effect on black's queen cause it's their own version of being checkmated by opponent's pieces!

[trutty]

Igor, you are the man Your videos + a ton of puzzles have helped me so much. I hit my personal best on Friday night, and instead of calling it a night when I got to my PB, I went on won 5 straight games to finish 40 rating points above my previous best rating

[MyBiPolarBearMax]

The biggest thing you can take away from this channel is this:

Piece activity is MORE important than material.

If you internalize this one idea, you will win so many more games.

Humans are materialistic because counting points is something we can analyze easily versus a positional advantage, which computers can calculate easily.

But if i show you a position and say you can have 3 developed pieces in exchange for a pawn, you would take that, but too few players are willing to sacrifice the pawn for that compensation (or even pieces).

Try it, if your elo drops, you can always go back and play the old way and it will come back, but you will improve.

[develop]

Very useful video, amazing as always.
Best moment for me: 2:26 when white sacrificed knight to trap the Queen with bishop

[eldonbgrove]

Amazing video. Finally the answers I’ve been looking for. Plus I have the video of you explaining a poison pawn. Can’t wait. I’m leveling up. Might even play you someday 😊 thanks 🙏

[lherfel]

6:20 wayward queen attack defense 7:57 bishop opening take queen offense

[usyan]

Thank you so much for this video and your content in general. In fact one of my opponents a few days ago played something similar to that bishop move from 2:55 and I was able to trap it and take it.

[GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters

00:00 3 Tips To Identify Poisoned Pawns In Chess [And Avoid Capturing Them]
00:22 Example-1
01:07 Why you should NOT capture a poisoned pawn
01:20 Scenario-1 (when a pawn is poisoned)
02:40 Example-2 (Spassky vs Fischer)
03:56 Example-3 (Nepomniachtchi vs Carlsen)
05:15 Example-4
05:36 Example-5
06:11 Scenario-2 (when a pawn is poisoned)
06:28 Example-6
07:43 Puzzle of the Day
07:52 Example-7
09:05 Example-8 (Mamedyarov vs Carlsen)
11:02 Scenario-3 (when a pawn is poisoned)
11:11 Example-9
12:58 Answering students' questions

[ashoksafaya]

Nice lecture on poisoned pawn etc, first two situations I have already come across, thanks 🙏.

[josephsalmonte]

I love your videos mate. They've helped me for years. Thanks mate 😁

[BrazilianiteParasite]

5:10 I think it's funny to mention that even if white's idea was to get black's bishop on e8, black can yet again trap the bishop with Rc7, but that might not win the piece back after c6. Rxb3 however, does win a piece for free and will be up a whole rook.

[ajm]

Igor and Eric Rosen the best chess teachers for real

[wallysullivan]

6:02 Another lesson is to learn to accept that you blundered and make your next move is the lesser of two evils. The obvious move after the blunder is to just take the bishop and pray you can squeeze a draw out of Knight vs Rook. Trying to save the rook only to still lose it AND losing the knight is just even more hopeless

[namedperson]

B4, the "I'm not even going to take your queen"-move. E1 m8 is unstoppable after that due to double check.

[aishwrayaramachandhran]

Bb4+ is followed by Re1# after any move like Kf1 or Kd1

[timsagichnicht]

Already knew a lot of this stuff but really yuseful video

[namedperson]

Am I too dumb for chess?
>Looks at history of played games
Yes