What would you do if I reveal to you a secret idea from top chess players ―a real shortcut which will make you strong enough to enter into high levels?

Today, I’d like to share with you a simple actionable idea that will help you improve your chess immediately. I’m going to show you and exactly prove you how you can implement this in your chess games.

How Strong in Chess Are You?

Show Me with This Little Test

Before we move on to the game, where I’m going to show you how specifically you can apply this, let’s start with a little test. Let’s imagine that you’re playing White here and your opponent goes into this variation 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5.

Now it is your move. How would you play here as White? What is the first intent that you have here in this position?

Most chess players actually capture the pawn here and, while there is nothing drastically wrong with this move, it’s definitely just one of the options.

But there is another move: pawn to e5!, which is the move I want you to pay attention to. Think about this: When we just trade pawns here on d5 now, that is an equal exchange of pawns. But not just that! Also the opponent’s knight is relocating to a central square. In a way, we’re helping Black improve their position, even though it’s a very subtle improvement.

Benefits of Attacking Your Opponent

When we compare the options, we see that with pawn to e5, you’re attacking the black knight, and that is one of the key ideas of chess! Because, how can you win a game of chess? Well, you’ve got to attack! And, in addition to that, there is also a practical benefit.

Think about this, when you play pawn to e5, your opponent starts having doubts whether to move their knight to d7 or e4, and they start thinking…

Give your opponent a chance to think, to spend time… That is bad for him/her and very good for you! Also, you are giving them the opportunity to make a mistake!

When you just exchange on d5, your opponent immediately will capture the pawn because it’s such an obvious response. Your opponent spends zero time thinking and plays the correct move for sure.

OK, this was a little example, but it illustrates a BIG point.

Your Motto in a Chess Game

The point is while playing a game of chess, you’re always going to be looking for attacking moves! You’ve got to keep in mind: “I’ve got to keep punching”. I’ve got to keep attacking at every time possible.

This way of thinking will make you strong, and it’s the #1 shortcut to improve in chess.

I see over and over again that people make this mistake and that’s one of the biggest differences between stronger players as compared to weaker opponents or intermediate level players. So, if you adopt this level of thinking, I guarantee you’re going to become a much stronger chess player immediately.

Game: Morphy vs McConnell

Now let’s go to analyze a game played between Paul Morphy against James McConnell ―two strong chess players of the past. Morphy is playing White, and in this game, we’re going to see how this idea is implemented practically.

Black played Qf6, and you know it is not recommended to develop your queen too early. But, nevertheless, Qf6 is a playable move to protect the pawn on e5.

Now the important thing: How would you play here in this position?

Think about this: The majority of chess players have actually played Bc4 in this position. That is what the database says. But Morphy played Nc3, and what do you think? Is one of these moves better than the other or are just two equal options?

Well, the thing is that both of these moves develop a piece. However, Nc3 also creates the threat of Nd5, with a double attack to Black’s queen and the c7-pawn. Therefore, Nc3 is already a kind of attacking move, which forces Black to defend by playing c6. You can already see the difference of thinking and the difference of playing by using our idea.

Can You See the Difference?

By playing Bc4, the move which most players play, Black can do whatever they want! They can develop any of their pieces and start realizing their plans.

Bc4 does not challenge Black, does not create any problems for Black. But when you play Nc3, you’re already putting some pressure on Black, so Black already has to waste their time on playing a defensive move like pawn to c6.

How Would You Play here as White?

The game goes on… In every position, we could see how Morphy uses the same idea. For example, how would you play here in this position?

It’s the similar kind of idea that you got to implement. You’ve got to keep in mind: “I’ve got to keep punching”, I’ve got to look for attacking moves ―the moves that put pressure on my opponent.

By using this idea, you can find the best moves in any position and it will make you strong for sure ―it’s your shortcut to enter into high level chess.

Most players still play Bc4, a move which is not bad, but it’s not an attacking move. Instead, Morphy played d4, immediately challenging Black in the center. Black does not have time to do anything, apart from protecting the pawn.

By implementing this in your chess games, I guarantee you will increase in many hundreds your rating points immediately!

In this other case, how do you play here as White? What are the moves that you’ve got to consider? We’ve got to still keep in mind the same motto: “I’ve got to keep punching”, I’ve got to keep attacking!

If you ask yourself how can I attack Black here, you’ll see that there are a couple options. You can play pawn to e5 or you can play Bg5. These are the two moves that I want you to consider here first of all, and for the most part, you get to play one of these two moves and, actually, both of them are good.

Now guess what people do instead. In a lot of real games, they capture the pawn on d4 (either with the knight or with the queen). The majority of players does that and, once again, you can immediately see how this little change in the way you think can immediately put you ahead of the vast majority of chess players. It’s definitely a shortcut to play strong chess. Morphy played pawn to e5, attacking the queen, which is one of the good moves.

Keep Attacking Your Opponent

Morphy was considered the first unofficial World Chess Champion, but you can see that you can understand the logic behind his moves. He is our role model here to see how strong in chess you can be if you take this shortcut.

He just thought always the same thing: How can I keep attacking? How can I keep punching?

Watch the video lesson below to see this strong way of thinking in action during the entire chess game.

It gives you, actually, a pretty simple way of finding the right moves because, very often, in most of the positions, you have only one or two attacking options. Therefore, you will only have to think about two moves (and not ten moves) to choose from!

GM Igor’s Incident with GM Victor Bologan

When I was an aspiring chess player myself, I approached Bologan. He was at the time one of the top players in the world; he won a big tournament in Moscow and, after that super tournament, I approached him asking him to take a look at my games and he suggested me something of how I could improve. Also we played a couple of blitz games.

He said: You are not playing bad, you’re playing good moves, but compared to the world’s top players you’re not tough enough. Whenever I meet the world’s top players in the world, they’re super tough! They’re always trying to challenge me, they’re always trying to attack to create some problems for me, and I don’t feel the same pressure when I play against you.

I LEARNED the lesson and I IMPLEMENTED this in my games and, sure enough, it helped a lot. So, that is kind of the same idea that I’m passing to you right now. Learn it and you will be taking a shortcut to become strong in chess!

Can You Find the Best Move for White?

Guess what White should do here. Think about this yourself. How would you play here as White?

It’s the same thing. The automatic reaction of an average chess player is: If my rook is attacked, I’ve got to move it backward. That’s how most players think, but that is certainly incorrect.

The correct way of thinking is how can I attack you first of all. Ask yourself this question. Offense is the best defense!

Watch the full video lesson to find the answer.

How Can Black Win Here?

In the game, Morphy played a move which was actually a mistake. Black had the way to win the game. Ne5 is a blunder. Let me know if you can find the winning move for Black. Write it down in the comments below.

In the game, Black didn’t find it.

Attack with Forcing Moves

There is another idea which goes hand in hand with the idea of attack. It’s part from the shortcut to become a strong chess player. It is the idea of forcing moves.

When you play forcing moves, you force a particular response of your opponent. Therefore, your opponent does not have any time to do something that he or she wants. They only have to respond to your threat. The forcing moves are: checks, captures and attacking moves.

Conclusion: Keep Punching

I do hope that you will really adopt this idea into your games: The main idea is keep punching. I guarantee that if you do, you will become a much more dangerous opponent immediately!

This is the #1 shortcut to become strong in chess.

If you’re always looking for ways to create problems to your opponent, to create some threats and create pressure, to play forcing attacking moves, you will stand out! That is the style of play that made, for example, Mikhail Tal, a world champion. So, I don’t see why you wouldn’t like to implement the same idea.

The Secrets of Strong Chess Players

If you want to know more about the secrets of strong players and really practice and get their skills, I invite you to join our course The Secrets of Strong Players.

With my support and with support of other students, you’ll be able to get all the secrets of strong chess players that help them advance from beginner or intermediate level to an advanced level.

If you’re interested in becoming a better chess player click the link and join.

#1 Shortcut to Become Strong in Chess (Video Lesson)

Below you can play the moves on the chessboard and download the PGN file for this game we analyzed to fully discover the #1 shortcut to become strong in chess: