Hello Kids, Parents & Coaches! Don't quite remember that tricky knight maneuver you saw in last week's video? Or just need to brush up on some earlier material? Either way, if you are looking for an easy way to review a lesson video you've already seen, we have you covered!
This article serves as a one-stop-shop for links to every lesson video; providing a quick and easy way to review all the past lesson videos to your heart's content!
Lessons Levels:
Let's learn our first chess piece: the rook! He moves up, down, left, and right, and will get you started in becoming a chess player!
Mr. Bishop is more tricky. He moves along diagonals but like the rook, can cross the board in one move. Let's see how the bishop works!
The queen is the mightiest chess piece. She's a mash-up of the rook and bishop and she needs to be mastered for you to become a chess master!
The king may move like an old man, but he has a special importance, too. Let's see how he plops around the chessboard.
Pawns are your foot soldiers, and you can't win a battle without them! You get eight pawns in a chess game, so pay close attention to how the move and capture!
We end with the trickiest of all chess pieces -- the knight. This horse-like piece moves in an "L" shape and can leap over other pieces. He's the hardest to master, but you can do it!
What’s the most urgent move in chess? Check! FM Mike Klein shows you how to give a check, and what to do if you find yourself in check. Learn the memory aid “CPR” — capture, protect, or run away — to get your king out of check.
You know about check, but what's the real goal of the game? Checkmate! FM Mike Klein tells you what this important chess term means and how to recognize it.
If you’re in check and can’t get out, it’s checkmate — you learned that in the last video. But what happens when a player is not in check, but has no piece or pawn able to move? That’s something different entirely: stalemate — a tie. FM Mike Klein explains what stalemate is, what it means, and how you can avoid it if you’re winning — or hope for it if you’re losing.
Bishop 1: Help Needed for Checkmate!
Checkmate is the goal, but how do you create one in a game? FM Mike Klein gives you the recipe for an easy checkmate using an important concept: the helper. Learn how to use your pieces to help one another to trap and destroy the enemy king.
What’s one of the most common checkmates in the game? The king and queen mate, of course. FM Mike Klein shows you exactly how to mate with this combination, building a fence to contain the enemy king. Learn how to use the king and queen together to force checkmate and win the game.
So you know how to mate with a queen, but what if you have a couple of rooks instead? Don’t worry — it’s even easier! FM Mike Klein shows you an ironclad technique for achieving this basic checkmate. Watch this video and get those rooks rolling in your own endgames.
Have you ever moved two of your chess pieces — on the same move? FM Mike Klein explains the special move called castling, where you are allowed to tuck your king safely away toward the corner. How do you castle? When are you allowed to do it? When are you definitely not allowed to castle? FM Mike Klein has all the answers in this important video.
Pawns are the most common chess piece, but did you know they also have some very special moves? FM Mike Klein explains everything you need to know about promotion and en passant, two exciting rules you need to know about. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a pawn reaches the end of the board, this video is for you.
Castling is a great move, but there is one issue you should know about after you do it — your back rank. FM Mike Klein explains what makes the back rank so important, how to checkmate on it, and how to avoid being mated there.
Every chess game begins with the opening — but what moves should you play? FM Mike Klein shows you the fundamentals behind the ideas of good openings, so you know why to play them, not just how. Learn how important controlling the center is in a chess game, and apply that lesson to your choice of first moves.
FM Mike Klein told you the goals of the opening, but how do you get there? The answer is development. Learn how to bring your pieces out in the correct order and to the correct squares in this important lesson. Find out what happens if you try to be a hero too early with the queen, a common mistake in the opening.
What’s the most common tactical mistake in beginner chess? Hanging pieces, of course. FM Mike Klein explains what it means for a piece to be hanging, and how to avoid losing your own pieces. Don’t forget to try the ChessKid puzzles trainer in the related links.
How do you know if you should make a capture? Most of the time, all you have to do is count. FM Mike Klein explains the key chess concept of counting how many pieces attack and defend your target. Learn how to make one of the most important decisions in chess by simply adding things up.
Queen 3: Tactics: Double Attack
Can you do two things at once? Your chess pieces can. FM Mike Klein shows you how to attack two enemies at the same time, which sometimes can be impossible to defend against.
Are you ready for some forks? FM Mike Klein shows you this exciting chess move that allows you to attack two pieces at the same time. If you can master this important idea, you can turn your knights into nightmares — for your opponent.
What is the most common tactic in chess? FM Mike Klein teaches you all about pins — one of the most powerful tactical ideas in the entire game. Learn what pins are, the different types of pins, and how you can use them to win the game!
FM Mike Klein continues his lesson on the fundamental chess tactics with an exciting video on skewers — the reverse of pins. Learn how to spot skewers and use them to win tons of material. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Searching For Bobby Fischer,” you’ve watched a powerful skewer in action. Enjoy the show as FM Klein explains the tactics from the movie’s climax.
Queen 7: Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks
FM Mike Klein continues his chess tactics survey with a lesson on a powerful move: the discovered attack. Learn how one piece can move out of the way, unveiling another piece just waiting to pounce. Find out how you can use a discovered attack to win your opponent’s queen on just the sixth move of the game.
Checkmating with a king and rook against a lone king is one of those basic checkmates every chess player must know by heart. FM Mike Klein explains exactly how to do this mate, teaching you every move you need to win the game.
What’s the one thing that turns an average chess player into a real chess master? Focusing on the opponent’s moves! FM Mike Klein gives you one of the most important lessons of your chess career today in this video that teaches you exactly how to stop your opponent’s threats.
King 1: Phases of a Chess Game!
Did you know chess games have phases? FM Mike Klein teaches you the three phases of chess: the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. Learn what you should do in each phase in this fun lesson.
Are you ready for a race? FM Mike Klein gives you a fun lesson on pawn races, which are the key to many important endgames. Learn how to know if you’re winning or losing the race, and when a special trick can change the result — just like in the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer.”
Think you know about king opposition? FM Mike Klein cranks up the intensity in this advanced lesson. See if you can keep up and become a king opposition black belt.
King 4: Tactics on the F-pawns
Are you ready for some tactical fun? FM Mike Klein shows you the two best squares on the whole board to attack the king: f2 and f7. Learn from FM Klein and Bobby Fischer how to use these naturally weak squares to go after your opponent — and have lots of fun at the same time.
Checking is the most forcing move you can make in chess — but when should you do it? FM Mike Klein teaches you the right time to check, and just as important, when not to do it. Learn how to use this powerful move correctly and your rating will go up quickly.
A big part of chess is trading material — all the best players do it, but only when it’s a good trade. FM Mike Klein teaches you when trading is a smart move in this very important chess lesson. You’ll never make a bad trade again if you watch this video. Stick around till the end to see how Bobby Fischer traded to win.
King 7: Piling up on Pinned Pieces
If you’re pinning an enemy piece, that’s good, but you’re only halfway there. How do you go for the knockout? Put pressure on the pinned piece! In this lesson, FM Mike Klein shows you how to win a piece once you’ve pinned it.
Hope you like rooks, because this video is all about them. What do rooks hate more than anything else? Pawns! They block in the powerful pieces, and sometimes the rooks will eat pawns just like Pac-Man. Find out where to put your rooks to make them the happiest in this fun lesson by FM Mike Klein.
King 9: Tactics: Remove & Destroy!
In chess, sometimes you can win a lot of treasure if you can just get rid of that pesky guard. FM Mike Klein shows you how to remove or even distract defenders in chess so you can swoop in and win even more material at the end. This is one tactic you’ll be glad you learned.
King 10: Tactics: Deflection and Decoy!
A “D” on your report card is bad, but in chess it stands for decoy and deflection, which are powerful tactics you need to know about. Learn how to play your opponent’s pieces like a fiddle in this exciting video lesson by FM Mike Klein.
King 11: Advanced King Play & Opposition!
Think you know about king opposition? FM Mike Klein cranks up the intensity in this advanced lesson. See if you can keep up and become a king opposition black belt.
Hey, ChessKids, did FunMasterMike mess up and set up the board backwards? Nope! It’s just time for another promotion lesson. In this video, FM Mike Klein shows you what happens when one side gets a queen just before the other can promote his pawn. Can the queen win? You’ll have to watch to find out.
Have you ever seen bugs attracted to a light outside in the summer? If you have, you can understand attraction on the chessboard. FM Mike Klein explains this powerful idea, and how you can use attraction to make some crazy tactics you might not even believe. Make sure you watch to the end to see one of the hardest problems FunMasterMike has ever assigned.
What do chess and hash browns have in common? More than you might think! Take a delicious lesson from FM Mike Klein on the most satisfying checkmate in the game — the smothered mate.
King 15: Strong and Weak Pawns
When is a pawn a super hero? FunMasterMike shows you three ways that pawns can be as strong as any piece on the board. But the fun doesn’t end there. FM Klein also teaches you the exact opposite, when pawns are weaklings. Watch this video to make sure your pawns are as powerful as they can be.
What’s a good place to put your piece? An outpost. FM Mike Klein explains what outposts mean and why they are so strong. If you start looking for outposts in your games, your pieces will thank you!
King 17: Pieces Working Together
How do you combine the power of your pieces in chess? IM Daniel Rensch teaches you this important skill.
King 18: Bishops Versus Knights
It’s the age-old question in chess — which piece is better, the bishop or the knight? Even though both are worth three points on paper, IM Rensch will show you that sometimes one is much better than the other. It’s up to you to decide when in your own games.
What happens in chess when you have no good moves? It’s called zugzwang, and it’s an important part of many endgames. FunMasterMike shows you a bunch of positions where all the options are yucky in this fun lesson. Learn how to use zugzwang to checkmate your opponent!
Hey, what’s your plan, ChessKids? FM Mike Klein gives you three important things to focus on in all your chess games: checks, captures, and threats. Let FunMasterMike teach you why should never make a move without looking for these three forcing ideas.
King 21: Calculating Tactics in Games
When is a chess player like a calculator? Well, hopefully, all the time. FM Mike Klein explains how to calculate in your games, which is the most important skill to have in chess. Learn how to use the clues of the chessboard to solve tactical puzzles you might not have seen otherwise.
What’s the fastest way to blast open the chessboard and use a lead in development? Opening the center. Learn from one of the rarest occasions in chess: a FunMasterMike mistake where he didn’t play this powerful strategy.
King 23: Pawn Breakthroughs (On the Wing)
What’s the best place to break your pawns through to the end of the board? The wing, says FM Mike Klein. it’s so valuable to get a pawn to score a touchdown, it’s worth giving some other pawns away — and often this is the key to victory. Can you solve the tricky — and the most famous — beginners’ pawn endgame puzzle? Find out in this fun lesson.
Most of the time, your king has to hide away safely. But in the endgame, the king becomes a fierce warrior on his own. FM Mike Klein shows you the awesome power of an active king late in the game.
There is more than one way to draw in a chess game. FM Mike Klein shows you five ways you can tie in chess, including some you might not have known.
King 26: Rooks on the Seventh Rank
Where is the best place you can put your rook in a game of chess? Usually, it’s on the seventh (or second) rank, where the rook is a real monster, says GM Simon Williams in his latest lesson. The rook only realizes its full power in the endgame when you put it on this ideal row, where it gobbles up pawns and restricts the enemy king.
All chess pieces start out on the same squares, but once the game begins it’s up to you to make them good or bad. If you notice your opponent has bad pieces, look for opportunities to attack! FM Mike Klein explains what makes a piece good, and gives you important tips on how to get the most out of your chess pieces.
It's not common, but sometimes the winning idea is not to promote your pawn to a queen, but to sneakily underpromote to a knight, bishop, or rook. Let's see why you might do that!
King 29: More On Isolated Pawns
Let's learn more about pawn weaknesses! Specifically, let's look at isolated pawns. Answer these questions and move onto the next level.
King 30: Pawn Play: Doubled Pawns
In this course, we will be learning about doubled pawns: an important element of positional play.
King 31: Pawn Play: Backward Pawns And Outpost Squares
The third basic type of positional pawn weaknesses is "backward pawns." In this course, we will be learning about them, and how they can make available outpost squares.
One of the most important questions any ChessKid needs to answer is: where to attack? This lesson gives you all the pointers you need as well as some beautiful attacking ideas!
King 33: Attacking The Castled King
The goal of the game is checkmate. A direct attack on the king is only one method of winning, but it is a good one! Here we will learn how to attack a king which has sought safety in its castled position.
When an enemy piece invades your territory, what do you do? You kick them out, of course! But it is not always so easy to know how, when, or even if to kick out your opponent's pieces.
How to deal with pawn tension? You have three choices: stay, push, or capture. Learn more in this lesson!
King 36: Quick Mates and Traps!
Learn about some ways that a game can end...very early! There are some ways to get checkmated in 2-4 moves if you play badly, as well as a tricky (but incorrect) way to try to force checkmate in only four moves.
In chess, controlling the game by making forcing moves is very important. You want to keep your opponent reacting to what you do, rather than allowing them to do their own thing!
Batteries give real-life devices like cars and cell phones power, and in this lesson, you'll learn how they can give power to the pieces too! Queens, rooks, and bishops align to ram through the enemy defenses!
King 39: Knight Versus Bishop In The Endgame
Sometimes knights are better than bishops, but sometimes bishops get the better of knights. There's about a half-dozen factors to help guide you, and this long lesson explains them all!
Pawn "chains" are when a series of pawns protect each other on a diagonal. They are an integral element of chess. Here we will learn how to use and how to attack pawn chains.
The chessboard consists of 32 light squares and 32 dark squares. Quite often, one player might be weak on a particular color of squares. This is usually due to the positioning of the diagonal-attacking pieces - the bishops and the pawns.
A "gambit" is like an early gamble. You give up a pawn (or sometimes more) in return for something like a lead in development, more space, or to create weaknesses in the opponent's position. You are "gambling" that the sacrifice will pay off later!
A combination is a magical thing in chess. Something is sacrificed, but then several moves down the line, it all becomes clear why! Let's make some combinations.
King 44: Blockading Passed Pawns
A passed pawn is usually a formidable force. However, if the pawn can be blockaded, sometimes its claws can be shorn. Sometimes - in fact - the blockading piece can become very strong in its own right.
The "Greek Gift" is a common attacking pattern, where a bishop sacrifices on h7 or h2, to remove the opposing king's cover and draw the king out. Like the real Trojan Horse of olden days, it's not really a gift to the other side. It's a trick!
The "windmill" tactic is where one side's king is repeatedly discover checked, allowing the attacker to sweep pawns and pieces off the board! Round and round the pieces get captured!
Nobody can win every game. Sometimes the best option in a position is to force a draw through various methods. It's better than losing!
It has been said many times that the hardest part of chess is winning a won game. Let's fix that! Here's some methods to finish off the game.
When a piece is under attack and will soon be captured, it sometimes becomes a "desperado"! It gives itself away before being captured. Like in the Old West, that piece can often do some wild things!
King 50: Playing Tournament Chess!
After 50 king lessons, you're basically a pro! You are going to need all of this experience if you enter the world of tournament chess. Let's go!
In most situations in chess, you want to be making progress and creating attacks. But sometimes you just need to hold a fortress, not allowing your opponent to make any progress. This often happens in the endgame. Let's make some forts!
King 52: The Power of the Bishop Pair
Two bishops are worth far more than twice what one bishop is worth. This is because the bishop's greatest weakness - its ability to aim at only one color - is unimportant when a player possesses both bishops. They are a great team!
Sacrificing the exchange (rook for minor piece) is an advanced tactic. Although rooks are usually more valuable, in some positions a minor piece might be better. Let's see some of those positions!
King 54: The Principle of Two Weaknesses
In the endgame, forces are spread thin. If your opponent is holding you off in one area, opening up a weakness on the other side of the board is the way to break through. Let's see this important concept in action!
An unusual material imbalance is created when a queen is traded for two rooks. This can happen a lot, but which is better? Let's find out!
"Simplifying" the game means trading down from a more complex to a "simpler" position. You might simplify the game to make it easier to win a won game, secure a clear advantage, or force an easy draw.
King 57: Advanced Opening Principles, Part 1
You already know the basics of the opening: control the center, develop minor pieces, and castle. But how about some other concepts? This lesson will show you some finer points of the first 10 moves!
King 58: Advanced Opening Principles, Part 2
Now it's time to see even more examples of one side mastering the opening more than the other side. Let's see how space, cramping opponent's development, and other ideas can get you the full point out of the opening!
King 59: Exceptions to the Rules
FunMasterMike says a lot of things. Don't more your f-pawn. Don't double your pawns. Don't talk with food in your mouth. But there are exceptions to everything, otherwise chess would be only about memorizing general rules. This lesson will show you how to decide when it is time to "break the rules"!
If the enemy pieces can't "talk" to each other, they'll be one-man armies, and ripe for the taking. This lesson shows some amazing moves that offer one of your pieces to "cut the communication" of enemy pieces, leading to big gains or even checkmate.
Sometimes you want to "zap" your own piece! That's right -- in rare situations, you'd prefer your piece to just be gone since it blocks a square or line that your pieces need. But there's an art to "throwing away" that piece, and this lesson will show you how it's done!
King 62: What to Do When You're Losing
What should you do when you have a lost position, ChessKids? Some might resign, but FunMasterMike has some better ideas! Watch the video to find out more.
Remember the previous lesson King 59: Exceptions to the Rules? Well here we will focus on just one of the rules to be broken. When can you ignore FunMasterMike's "normal" advice and choose not to castle? These are certain groups of positions where you have permission to avoid castling. This lesson will tell you all about them!
Sometimes in chess, you have to go for "plan B," then come back to "plan A!" What's this all about? ChessKid will learn about "in-between" moves, also known as "intermediate" moves or "intermezzo" or even the German word "zwischenzug." If the tactic goes by that many names, it must be important!
Here we get to chase the mouse across the room! It takes planning and trickery to trap a king that has been let loose. This lesson will explain when to go after him with checks, and when to play "quiet" moves to prevent his escape to safety!
King 66: Opposite Sides Castling
If your king goes one way and the opponent goes the other, how can you checkmate first? This idea is all about winning the race to attack. There won't be much defense in this lesson, just creating open files and barreling down them to the enemy king!
If you give away your best piece to win, you know there must be a special idea! This lesson will show the times you can justify giving away your queen: to mate, to get the queen back, or to gain more active pieces. Don't miss the electric idea!
What happens when one piece get lost on the edge of the board or in their other side's territory? Well, nothing good, that's for sure. This lesson is all about trapping and winning pieces -- you'd be surprised how often the mighty queen can run out of squares!
If your dog was a rook, you'd name him "Rover"! That's because sometimes rooks like to come up+over, hence, a Rover! Watch and see how your rooks can become battering rams, even when there's no open files on the board!
King 70: Opposite Colored Bishops
When bishops are on different colors, they control their own space. Just because they won't run into each other doesn't mean they aren't fun! This lesson will talk about how to use them in different parts of the game. Make the most of those OCBs!
What happens when you have a piece that can't get to its favorite square? You need a creative plan to get it there! In "Maneuvering" you'll see many examples of pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, and queens moving in strange directions to get to powerful squares! It's the hokey-pokey of chess!
Sometimes pieces just plain land on weird squares, but that doesn't mean they don't have their hidden reasons. Watch and see some of the strangest, yet genius chess moves that you likely weren't expecting, and most importantly, the diabolical reasons behind them!
Your opponent has a brain, too. I know, shocking news! In this video, you'll see how to first get inside the mind of your rival. Only after figuring out what she wants to do can you then stop it! It's like your normal thinking, but on one level higher!
Why would you want a small playroom? We don't know! Today we go for more space. More room for your pieces to play means a happier and more energetic army. This lesson shows what to do to acquire more space and prevent your opponent from doing her own land grab!
King 75: Destroying Pawn Shelter
In this lesson we huff and puff and blow the king's house down! See how different pieces play the part of the "wolf" in the fairy tale by sacrificing or finding other ways to force the pawns shelter to be destroyed!
If ever there was a video that was sure to win you some chess games, this is it! Simply memorize the common opening traps in the video and the corresponding lesson and you'll have about a dozen ways that you can use to win material right from the outset. Watch, memorize, execute. Easy!
Even when it seems all hope is lost, don't forget about stalemate! This is usually that one final trick you can try to save a lost game. Watch and see how you can escape with a draw by intentionally putting yourself in stalemate!
Just like the previous lesson on stalemate, here's another tool in your toolbox when you're behind! It's actually far more common that stalemate and often relies on the queen. If you are going to lose but you can find a way to give your opponent a never-ending series of checks, you'll get a repetition, a half point, and avoid a loss!
Rooks tend to survive the longest, which means there's a few "must know" endings if you want to score the full point, or earn the draw! This video shows you all you need to know about the "Lucena Position" and the "Philidor Position" and if those terms are new to you, then you should watch the video twice!
If the main goal of the ending is to promote a pawn, but nobody has any pawns, what to do next?! Watch and learn about the major endings that arise when a more valuable piece fights a less valuable piece without the help of an other distractions. Can the big guy win or can the little guy draw? It depends!
Queen endings are the toughest to calculate but if you've made it this far in the King levels, you can surely do it! Every aspect of endings are on display -- pawn endings, perpetual check, stalemate, blockade, and more. There's so much open space the ladies to operate, you are going to have to be a calculating machine for this level!
In a classic case of "good cop vs. bad cop" we now have "good bishop vs. bad bishop"! Checking your pawn structure, it should be easy to tell when you have a bishop behind bars. Watch and learn how bishops in jail are a sad sight.
Which pawn can be deadly to capture? Strangely, it's that small guy tucked away on b2 (or b7). Why is that little farmer often sacrificed early in the game? If giving it away gives you a lead in development or traps the queen, you can "bait" your opponents into swallowing the poison!
Is chess like math? Today it is! Watch and learn how "geometry" can help you win in the endgame. It's all about drawing a triangle to trick your opponent into moving first!
King 85: Two Bishops Checkmate
They say it takes two to tango, and in this video, you bishops are dance partners! They need to stay side-by-side to corner the enemy king. Watch and learn how your diagonal dancers can win, even when you run out of pawns in the endgame.
King 86: Bishop and Knight Checkmate
Uh-oh, we're out of pawns again! This time we have a bishop and a knight, but we also have some great FunMasterMike tricks. Is it enough to still force a checkmate? This is the hardest of the "pawnless checkmates" but if you follow all of the tips that FunMasterMike offers, and practice a ton, you can be confident of forcing mate with only a bishop and a knight!
Usually FunMasterMike tells you to answer an attack with a defense. It's like answering a question with an answer. But sometimes you are allowed to "talk back" to adult and answer a question with a question! Watch and learn when you can simple ignore your opponent's threats!
It's a tornado! No, a hurricane. No, a pawn storm! Bring your umbrella because it's raining pawns and your king needs to try to stay dry. Watch and learn how pawns can advance together to blow down the enemy king's castle.
We rate this video a "10"! It is packed with all kinds of fancy and weird checkmates. Have you used any of them in your games? If you count carefully in this video, you might even see some bonus mates!
Sometimes you have to go backward in order to go forward. That may just seem like a clever expression, but in chess it is really true. Watch and learn how you sometimes must be creative in your route planning to get to your dream square!
Different world champions have different skills, but if there's one word to describe the current world champion, it might be: tenacity. Magnus Carlsen simply never gives up and somehow finds a way to turn losses and draws into wins. Watch and learn how he does it -- you'll need to match his fortitude if you want to beat him one day!
This video was so complicated that FunMasterMike had to study hard just to record it! Why is that? Well, so-called "hanging pawns" can be a strength or a weakness and it is often hard to tell immediately which one they'll turn in to. They behave a lot like passed pawns though: If they aren't blocked, they are usually an advantage!
This may seem like a small difference: choosing which rook to place on a square when they can both move there. But hey, we're on King 93, so he improvements are going to be smaller! Actually if often does matter a lot, but you have to look far into the game to see why. Watch and you'll see why chess masters don't flip a coin over this decision; they think their way through it!
In endings where each side has one bishop, can one extra pawn win? Sometimes/often/maybe/depends! Watch and learn which kinds of pawns are the better ones to have, and also how to defend before that pawn makes a touchdown!
Just like bishop endings, the result of a game with a knight vs. a pawn greatly depends on which pawn he is fighting! There's some surprising positions in this video, and you may have your head spinning with all of the hopping around of the horses. Since knights can't "lose" a tempo like bishops can, that adds an addition level of complexity!
In this video, we get to combine chess and art! These are positions known as "studies" which means they didn't happen in real games but instead they were "painted" by brilliant composers to have a beautiful and often unlikely solution. Watch and be amazed at how the pieces paint a perfect picture on the chess board!
King 97: Winning Endgame Transitions
If you sense the end is near, you need to plan for it! In this video, you'll see several examples where one side has the chance to trade into a very simple ending, but must be sure that doing so will lead to a win. Essentially, you must solve a king-and-pawn ending before it arises, and therefore you must be a great calculator!
Which is better, one minor piece or a group of pawns? As always, it depends! You'll need to see many examples and learn the general guidelines for this complicated imbalance. Watch and see how FunMasterMike explain when you would prefer to have one David or a bunch of Goliaths!
King 99: Capablanca, The Endgame Maestro
Former World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca went about 10 years without losing a game! How is that possible? Well, he must have had a better grasp of certain parts of chess than his opponents. Chiefly, his endgame technique was brilliant. He made it seem so simple, and so FunMasterMike has the hard task of trying to explain some of Capablanca's best endings.
King 100: FunMasterMike's Favorite Moves
Wow, you did it! King level 100 is finally here and kids are partying all over the world. Why not have some fun for the monumental day? FunMasterMike has a little "show and tell" and offers his favorite moves of all time. Watch and enjoy the unexpected and tricky displays of tactical genius. He also shows the only tactic he ever played that ended up in a chess book!
SuperKing 1: Defending the King
To kick off the SuperKing levels, FunMasterMike turns the tables. Instead of all the fun tactics and attacks you've learned so far, now you simply have to survive! That means noticing your opponent's threats before they happen, and finding a way for your king to defend. Can you think on this higher level? Of course you can, you're a SuperKing!
Of course you know the power of a pawn if it gets to the other side of the board. But what about when it "only" gets to the 6th rank in the middlegame? Actually, that's a powerful place to be as well. When a pawn gets that far down the board, it has three main powers: messing up your opponent's defense, guarding key squares near the enemy king, and threatening to promote later on. Watch and see the power of the wedge pawn!
SuperKing 3: How to Squeeze Like Karpov
The 12th World Champion, Anatoly Karpov, has a definite style. He's known as the king of prophylaxis. Before he does anything to improve his position, he first makes sure you can't have any fun with your pieces. While this is not a nice trait in real life, it is exceptionally important to use in chess! Watch and see how limiting your opponents' ideas can win you a lot of chess games.
SuperKing 4: Active vs. Passive Defense
OK, you're in a worse position. What do you do? Do you hunker down and try to defend everything, even if your pieces get to sad squares? Or do you not worry about every last pawn, and instead activate your pieces and launch a counterattack? Actually this is one of the hardest decisions in chess and you need to see a lot of examples to make the right choice. Watch and learn how FunMasterMike and GMs approach this important decision.
What happens when you have fewer pawns than your opponent on the queenside? You take lemons and make lemonade! This video is about a very specific pawn attack that can come from many, many openings. It's a several-step process but if you follow FunMasterMike's plan, you'll be wrecking your opponent's queenside pawns in no time, even if you start with fewer than them!
You might want to grab a snack before this one. You'll need it! FunMasterMike walks you through some of the most complicated and tricky positions. The "challenge" is to analyze everything before you make your first move. You'll also be treated to a bonus -- Garry Kasparov's deepest calculation of his entire career, and the game that he is most proud of! Get ready to also hit pause since you're going to need time to absorb the intricacies of each position.
Never heard of "The Nutmeg"? Don't worry -- there's a reason for that. FunMasterMike made it up! The Nutmeg has another super boring name but we've renamed the idea to make it more fun. You can Nutmeg your opponent by remembering that two pieces on the same line can advance toward each other, but stop before a capture. The ideas is easier to understand by seeing it in action, so click the link above to add some spicy Nutmeg to your chess sauce.
SuperKing 8: Play Like Brewington
NM Brewington Hardaway, aka "BrewMaster" on ChessKid, may be a polite, young chess master from New York City who joins FunMasterMike on his shows. But over the board, he's a tactical monster! See if you can spot the same tactics he did in his games. And even if making master is not in the cards for you just yet, at least you can be as good as him for one move!
Guess who had three more world championships than FunMasterMike? WIM Alice Lee, that's who! The star of "Alice's Pawn Palace" shows off some of her best tactics played in over-the-board tournaments. We can all learn a lot from Alice. Class is in session!
SuperKing 10: The Maroczy Bind
There's only a few pawn structures in chess so common and famous that they have a name! The "IQP" and the "Carlsbad" are two of them, but here we focus on the "Maroczy Bind." You'll see how to gain space with it as White, and then how to try to knock it down as Black. It's often a slow, positional idea but if you don't know the main ideas, FunMasterMike is scared for you!
The young man, the myth, the legend -- Tani! You surely know him. He streams, he has a ChessKid bot, he became an FM at the age of 11. HIs story is inspirational. And you know how he got his start in chess? By solving about 20,000 puzzles on ChessKid in one year! Here's a few tactics of his own that he played. Some of them he used to beat FunMaster!
Which file if the hot file? Can't guess? What if we say it is the Hot file!? Surely you know -- it's the h-file, and it's often where some lightning-quick attacks go down. If you like attacking (and who doesn't?) you'll want to study these games and ideas. Open the hot file and burn down your opponent's castle!
If there was such a move in chess as "I know you are but what am I?" it would be cross-check! That's when you answer a check with a check. Don't believe it is possible? Well it is! While it is super fun as a surprise weapon and in a few cases leads to shocking tactics, it's actually most often used in the endgame to trade into a winning king-and-pawn position. Watch and see both uses in action!
SuperKing 14: Limiting the Damage
No one likes to lose material. But let's face it, sometimes you have no choice. But would you rather lose a lot of points or just a few? We know, we know, that's the easiest question of the day. But this is also a key skill -- you'll keep yourself "in the game" by limiting the damage and making your opponent work hard for the win. So don't give up. Dig in!
Is it possible to put someone else's king in check twice? it might seem impossible or goofy but it is actually possible and the strongest move in chess! Forget C-P-R. When you put the opponent in double check, they have to move the king. And guess what, sometimes that's not even possible. Here's some crazy (and famous) examples of sacrificing a large amount of material since double check is so unstoppable and strong!
SuperKing 16: Defending the King, Advanced Edition
We all love to attack but if you want to improve you also have to learn how to stop your opponents' attacks. Let's face it -- you're going to face some kids that sacrifice and go after your king at all costs. But if you stay calm and follow FunMasterMike's 3 rules for defending the king, you should be fine. These are advanced examples from an earlier video, but we think you can handle it!
SuperKing 17: Queen Vs. Minor Pieces
Get ready. The most amazing queen sacrifices by the most gifted attackers in chess are all right here! Why on earth would you want to part with the lady? Well, a swarm of pieces can often overcome her singular power. Seeing is believing so watch and learn from Tal, Bronstein, and other famous attackers!
SuperKing 18: Attacking the Hook Pawn
If you like sacrificing to rip open your opponent's king, today is going to be your birthday, Christmas, and New Year's, all rolled into one! Here we see a super fun collection of examples when you take a pawn on h3 or h6 to launch a serious attack on the enemy king. But even after doing so, you have to know your tactics to find the mate. Enjoy! Oh, and happy birthday :-)
SuperKing 19: The Best Chess Tactics in World Championship History
FunMasterMike takes on a big challenge as he tries to cover 150 years of chess history in only 10 minutes! Watch this video and learn about the most amazing tactics ever used in the World Chess Championship. Can you figure out what the winning moves are before they're played?
FunMasterMike covers tension: when two pieces that are the same are aiming at each other! Being comfortable with tension can win you games. Do you have the skills to win a chess-based blinking contest? You will, after watching this video!
SuperKing 21: The Fighting King
FunMasterMike gets into the fighting spirit and teaches you how to attack using your king! It doesn't happen often, but sometimes your king can be used as a powerful attacking piece. Enjoy some fun examples taken from real grandmaster games featuring some mighty fighting kings!
SuperKing 22: FunMasterMike's Favorite Opening Traps
Get an advantage at the start of the game with some of FunMasterMike's favorite opening traps! What's the best way to respond to the Queen's Gambit, and how can you win a bishop in the first few moves? Enjoy learning these tricky traps, and watch as FunMasterMike shows you what might be the most fantastic move in all of chess...
SuperKing 23: FunMaster Mikhail Tal
It's time to meet the original FunMasterMike - Mikhail Tal! Also known as 'The Magician from Riga', Tal was one of the most creative and exciting chess players in history. Watch and enjoy as FunMasterMike shows you some of Tal's best tactics!
SuperKing 24: How to Beat FunMasterMike
How do you beat FunMasterMike?! It's not easy, but it's also not impossible. Learn some weaknesses of the old man that you might be able to use to your advantage against Mike (and other high-level players). All examples are taken from real games on ChessKid!
SuperKing 25: Best Sacrifices in the King's Indian, Part 1
How much do you know about the King's Indian Defense? FunMasterMike has done his research and is ready to share some of the best lines and sacrifices in this classic opening with you. Check out examples by legendary GMs like Garry Kasparov and Hikaru Nakamura, and stay tuned for part two!
SuperKing 26: Best Sacrifices in the King's Indian, Part 2
FunMasterMike is back with part two of his comprehensive guide to King's Indian Defense traps and sacrifices, featuring plenty of examples by chess legend GM Garry Kasparov and others. Watch this video to complete your education on one of the most powerful defenses in chess!
Rook vs. pawn endgames: not as easy as they seem! What happens when a rook fights against a pawn in an action-packed showdown? FunMasterMike takes us through lots of tricky examples and shows you how to come out on top.
SuperKing 28: Rook and Extra Wing Pawn
Rooks are the most likely pieces to last until the endgame, so it's important to study rook endgames and feel comfortable in all kinds of situations. Learn from FunMasterMike as he gives some great examples of endgames featuring a rook and extra wing pawn. Discover how to win in this situation, and how to prevent your opponent from winning!
SuperKing 29: How To Put A Piece In Jail
FunMasterMike shows you how to put your opponent's pieces in jail, using examples from real-life games. Learn how to limit the movement of enemy pieces to make your life easier on the chessboard. Imagine playing a game against someone who can't move their rook!
SuperKing 30: Magnus' Magic Pawns
Learn how GM Magnus Carlsen cleverly uses his pawns to 'freeze' his opponents! These tips can help you win tough games that look like draws. Like FunMasterMike says... "Sometimes it's the littlest moves that are the most winning."
FunMasterMike brings to you: The Spike! No, we're not playing volleyball - this is an unconventional move for advanced players that can lead to some crushing attacks. Also...can you guess who Mike's favorite player is? You'll find out in this video, and it's not who you think!
SuperKing 32: Attacking With The Isolated Queen Pawn
FunMasterMike does a deep dive into the isolated queen pawn! Many openings can lead to an isolated queen pawn, which brings a bunch of attacking possibilities. Put on your tactics boots because it's time to learn some crafty moves, including ideas by legendary GMs Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov!
SuperKing 33: Shreyas Royal's Best Tactics
This exciting video lets you learn from the #1 junior player in the entire United Kingdom! FM Shreyas Royal is on his road to grandmaster, and FunMasterMike shares some of our young hero's top tactics from real-life games. What ChessKid videos did Shreyas use to get so good? Prepare to find out!
SuperKing 34: The Famous Nd5 Sac
FunMasterMike is back with a masterclass on a very specific tactical idea: Sacrificing your knight on d5! This sacrifice almost always comes from the Sicilian, and can lead to some strong potential attacks on Black's king. Check out four of the very best examples, including one played by a familiar face...
SuperKing 35: Indian Teenage Stars
There is a big movement happening in the chess world right now: India has FOUR teenagers rated above 2700 when this was recorded in late 2023! Meet Gukesh, Pragg, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi, and learn from their best tactics as Mike takes you through some beautiful games played by this fearsome foursome!
SuperKing 36: Rook Vs Two Minors
Is it a good idea to swap a rook and a pawn for two minor pieces? Well, not usually, but there are some rare exceptions! Join FunMasterMike as he dives into some examples, including one from his own games and three masterpieces from the maestro himself, Mikhail Tal.
SuperKing 37: The King's Golden Cage
What is the ''Golden Cage'' and how can you use it to win your chess games? Hint: This tricky tactic involves rooks, the back rank, and trapping the enemy king. Learn all about it from FunMasterMike as he shows you this useful idea that has even surprised some grandmasters over the board!
SuperKing 38: The Great Pawn Race
A lot of endgames are determined by whose pawns are faster... so get ready to supercharge your pawns! Learn from these speedy examples by grandmasters like Hou Yifan and Anish Giri, and make sure your pawns are ready to start sprinting to the finish line. When can a single pawn defeat a knight? You're about to find out.
SuperKing 39: Intuitive Sacrifice
Can you calculate 20 moves into the future? Well, neither could some of history's greatest grandmasters! But they had a special skill: strong chess intuition. FunMasterMike shares some amazing sacrifices that just 'feel' right - including one that even confuses the best chess engines. Get inspired and train your own intuition, and maybe you'll be the next Mikhail Tal!
SuperKing 40: Defensive Sacrifice
By now, you know how to sacrifice to attack, but sometimes you have to give away material when you're being attacked! Watch and see how a group of world champions weaseled their way out of tough positions by sacrificing to survive!
What's the strongest weapon on the entire chessboard? How about when you line up all of your "heavies" on the same line? That's got to be it. Learn how getting a queen behind your two rooks on the same file will form Alekhine's Gun!