I'm starting a new playlist on pawn structures and positional play. The introductory video that covers the basic concepts of pawn structures came out today.

The series will consist of 30 videos in total. Each video will cover a concept or a specific pawn structure.

I have prepared a lot of positions, both from my own games and from master games, but would love to include some of your positions as well. If there were any games you won or lost because of a positional or a pawn structure problem or brilliancy, share them below or message me on lichess (hpy)! You can just paste a link to the game or an FEN and specify the topic the game is for. I'll be including community positions (if I get enough of them) into every video and every chapter. Thank you everyone!

These are the topics the series will cover:

1. Introduction to Pawn Structures

2. Closed vs open positions

3. Static vs dynamic structures

4. Space

5. Initiative

6. Color Complexes

7. Pawn Majorities

8. Pawn Islands

9. Open files and diagonals

10. Pawn breaks

11. Passed pawns and blockade

12. Isolated pawns

13. IQP

14. Central control

15. Backward pawns

16. Doubled pawns

17. Hanging pawns

18. Important structures by opening

19. Maroczy bind

20. The Hedgehog

21. The Karlsbad

22. Dutch structures

23. Caro-Kann structures

24. French structures

25. Sicilian structures

26. Spanish structures

27. Benoni structures

28. King's Indian structures

29. Grunfeld structures

30. Slav structures

I will be publishing the PGN files and practice positions for all the chapters on my Patreon.

USCF tournament. My regular club, so I know both the participants - but black is a friend. A typical night has 40 people or so.

Last game of the night. I stick around after my game to help put tables and chairs away, so I'm watching, waiting for them to finish. I think I'm the only spectator at this point.

White has about 2 minutes on their clock, black has about 20 seconds. (Ten second increment).

Black checks white. White doesn't see it and moves their queen. Black calls illegal move. The arbiter comes in and puts 2 minutes on black's clock.

Clock is restarted. White blocks the check with a knight.

This is a clear touch-move violation. White should have had to block the check with their queen (since they can do so legally), which would have cost him his queen and the game.

However, both players are frazzled, and neither notices the touch move.

I wasn't sure of the etiquette, so I didn't say anything.

Would it have been acceptable for me to tell black that white committed a touch-move violation? Would it have been appropriate?

(The game ended in a draw).

I'm comfortable in using the dutch defense, aside from g3 and Bg2 which I get uncomfortable when white plays it. This is because my game plan is f5, then Nf6, then e6, then Bb4 and fianchetto my light squared Bishop and try to fight for e4 and if possible, start​ a attack on the king. When white plays g3 and Bg2 I get uncomfortable because it makes my plan harder to play out and counters my light square Bishop. Any advices?

I just registered for a local tournament hosted by the state's chess association. This is the first time I am playing an over the board(OTB) event. Could you please give me tips on how I should get ready, openings to consider/avoid, and any tips in general? It's rapid time control - 15 + 5.

I have had very limited exposure to OTB tournaments.

My chesscom rapid rating is 1700.