Hello everyone,
As a chess player, if there is ever any simple advice I would give to any other chess player out there, most especially beginners, it will be to make use of more than a single piece. Do not rely on only a single piece for a job that requires more than two pieces. There is a reason why they say avoid moving a particular piece two, especially at the beginning of the game. This is because more developed pieces can come together to achieve a coordinated attack.
What better game example this concept of the power of coordinated pieces than the game played between Antoaneta Stefanova and Alec Hedger? Antoaneta Stefanova is a 2300+ rated female grandmaster, while Alec Hedger is a 1800+ rated player. It is exciting to see a pairing like this, where a grandmaster gets to play a 1800+ rated player. The game is usually instructive because there will be lessons on what to do and what should not be done. Open field tournaments like The London Chess Classics allow for pairings like this since it is an open field to everyone.
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c58. c3 b6 9. Qe2 Bb7
The opening employed is the Queen's pawn, where the play in the game is centered on the control of the center squares e4 and d4. Nothing too difficult. Simply developing pieces into good squares is the foundation for a good opening. Mind you, a good position where you can often land tactical blows often comes from good chess openings. How you play during the beginning of the game goes a long way in determining whether you win the game.
The crucial point in the game comes when Stefanova goes for the move 19. f5.
The move may look like a simple pawn move, but trust me, it is the move that sets the precedent for the attack to come. It allows the opening for the rook on f1, and not only that, the d1 to h5 diagonal has been opened up for the queen as well, and the knight on d2 can come into the position as well.
As I anticipated, more and more pieces have gained activity in the position. Look closely, you will see how the white queen, knight, and bishop are all combined and active on the black kingside for one simple goal: checkmate. These kinds of coordination are very difficult to play against, especially when your pieces are in passive states, just like black's pieces. You have to be proactive even when defending. That is why I believe counterattacks are usually the best when it comes to defending.
Here is the link to the full game if you would like to see it:
Game Link
And here is the PGN game:
[Event "Round 1: Stefanova, Antoaneta - Hedger, Alec"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-london-chess-classic--super-rapidplay/round-1/cduGxN6p/QxK7TO5r"]
[Date "2025.12.06"]
[Round "1.35"]
[White "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Black "Hedger, Alec"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2379"]
[WhiteTitle "GM"]
[WhiteFideId "2902257"]
[BlackElo "1812"]
[BlackFideId "453943"]
[TimeControl "15+10"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation"]
[UTCDate "2025.12.06"]
[UTCTime "12:35:36"]
[BroadcastName "2025 London Chess Classic | Super Rapidplay"]
[BroadcastURL "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-london-chess-classic--super-rapidplay/round-1/cduGxN6p"]
[GameURL "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-london-chess-classic--super-rapidplay/round-1/cduGxN6p/QxK7TO5r"]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5
8. c3 b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rad1 Re8 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7
14. e4 Bg5 15. Bh2 c4 16. Bc2 b5 17. f4 Be7 18. Kh1 Qb6 19. f5 exf5
20. exd5 Bf6 21. Rxf5 g6 22. Rff1 Bxe5 23. Qf3 Rf8 24. Ne4 f5 25. Ng5 Qd6
26. Bxe5 Nxe5 27. Qg3 Rfe8 28. Bxf5 Nf7 29. Qxd6 Nxd6 30. Be6+ Kg7
31. Nf7 Ne4 32. Kh2 Bc8 33. Bxc8 Raxc8 34. d6 Nf6 35. d7 Kxf7 36. dxc8=Q
Rxc8 37. Rd6 1-0
Until next lecture.
I am @samostically, a chess player and writer. I love to share the experience I have gained from different battles over the 64 squares and the knowledgeable insights from books I have read. But most importantly, I am a Midnight Owl and I founded the community Midnight Letters.
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The chess really looks so confusing to me. You must be an expert in this Chess game.