John Bartholomew

It's TeamScandi time in this 15+15 Classical game! In recent years I've gravitated towards the 3...Qa5 variation, as it has undergone a reevaluation due to the system with ...Bc8-f5, ...e7-e6, ...Bf8-b4, and likely ...Nb8-c6 (as opposed to the more traditional ...c7-c6). In this game my opponent offers a straightforward exchange of the light-square bishops on move 6, and after … [Read more...] about Sharpening the Struggle in the Scandinavian | Standard Chess #304

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+0 game against a player rated 1810 on Chess.com. The Alapin Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is my go-to recommendation for players at the amateur level, as … [Read more...] about Why the Alapin Sicilian is an Ideal Weapon | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1810

I've had some community requests for a double king pawn game (1.e4 e5), and I oblige in this 10+5 rapid game against a 2309. The Bishop's Opening: Vienna Hybrid line we enter (2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.f4) can produce sharp positions, and at the 2000+ level, a vague knowledge of theory may not be enough! Although I'm happy with my position after delivering a queen check on … [Read more...] about Brink of Disaster in a Vienna Hybrid | Standard Chess #303

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+5 game against a player rated 1333 on Chess.com. In a Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann featuring the "good marriage" of the White queenside knight and … [Read more...] about The Narrow Window for Compensation | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1333

The higher you climb in chess, the more razor-thin the margins. In this 15+15 Catalan game against a 2215, I emerge from the opening with a slight pull due to Black's isolated queen's pawn (IQP), but I spend a significant amount of time in the middlegame searching for a way to maintain favorable tension. We reach a key moment when the pawn structure transforms and a pair of … [Read more...] about One Mistake | Standard Chess #302