John Bartholomew

The French Defense is a rarity in my practice against 1.e4, but frequent requests for this opening on my channel finally compelled me to act! White offers a pawn in the opening, and I - probably unwisely - decide to accept. I knew this would result in some white-knuckling and lost time on the clock, but you guys know I always have your entertainment interests in mind, … [Read more...] about Blitz Chess #469: IM fiero vs. IM Bartholomew (French Defense)

Shortly after the opening, White makes a series of very quick decisions. Frequent viewers will know that this can never be advised! Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fins0905 Support the channel: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=FURS92M5WXVCG … [Read more...] about Standard Chess #249: Gharaibeh vs. IM Bartholomew (Slav Defense)

Opponents include Hachiko, iamdarya, IM Ramnath Bhuvanesh, charkikan, and GM Anton Kovalyo9v. Final score: 6 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fins0905 Support the channel: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=FURS92M5WXVCG … [Read more...] about Bullet Chess #270: 12 games in the ICC 1-minute pool

IM Kassa Korley and I squared off in some over-the-board blitz games at the 2015 London Chess Classic (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZy5JSq816s), and now we meet on the interwebs. Kassa chooses the reliable Zurich Variation (4...Nc6) against my Classical 4.Qc2, and though I succeed in gaining the bishop pair, my resourceful opponent finds plenty of ways to stir up … [Read more...] about Blitz Chess #468: IM Bartholomew vs. IM Kassa Korley (Nimzo-Indian Defense)

The Smyslov System of the Caro-Kann (4...Nd7) is stylistically similar to the Scandinavain Defense, so why haven't I played this opening more often!? :) Black aims to develop with 5...Ngf6, and if an exchange of knights occurs he can look forward to liberating his light-square bishop, too. Strangely, the theoretically approved response to 4...Nd7 is 5.Ng5!?, which featured in … [Read more...] about Blitz Chess #467: powerpawn vs. IM Bartholomew (Caro-Kann Defense)