Dark Forest Vol. 2: The Menacing Minors - GM Maurice Ashley

Tactics course by GM Maurice Ashley
Includes video and PGN

Language: English
Lectures: 8
Total Running Time: 9 hours 8 minutes

From the course:

You must take your opponent into a deep, dark forest, where 2+2=5 and the way out is only wide enough for one.

— Mikhail Tal, 8th World Chess Champion



Make your minor pieces worth more than your opponent's rooks and queens!

The Dark Forest series leads you into enchanting chess positions, where the laws of material don’t apply. It pushes the limits of what’s possible with logic-defying tactics — then opens your mind’s eye to the invisible, intricate geometry of the most magical sacrifices ever.

Volume 2 of The Dark Forest illuminates the wondrous and hidden powers of the minor pieces.

The long-range bishop, hidden in the corner that your opponent failed to spot while you pick off vulnerable pieces.

The octopus knight, wielding control over the entire center, with its tricky checks and forks, keeping you in the game.

These "lesser" pieces may seem to take a back seat to the heavy hitters, but they can help you deliver the most entertaining and dazzling combinations and checkmates, even when your opponent is armed to the teeth with their major pieces.

Explore all material imbalances and how to work them to your advantage

You've been taught the queen is worth 9, the rook 5, and your minor pieces 3 - but you can throw all that out the window when you know how to play practically and effectively - and not base your game on outdated and overly simplistic arithmetic.

Imagine your knight doubling in value or your bishop pair being worth more than a queen - it's possible when you know how to use them.

Understand how to play in the common and rare imbalances and come out on top:

♛ Two minors for a queen

♜ Two minors for two rooks

♝ Four minors for a queen and a rook

You'll learn sacrifices you never thought possible. Give up your queen and give a devastating checkmate with just the minor pieces, all while your opponent thinks they're on top just because of material.

Grandmaster Maurice Ashley teaches you all the potential of his favorite piece
In the first volume of The Dark Forest, GM Maurice Ashley showed you how to use the rooks to effect maximum damage.

Now he shows you how the little guys can be just as tough as their major counterparts. And he loves knights, going so far as to sacrifice anything to get a knight in return if the situation calls for it!

Ashley's hit courses are unique - as they teach players to see the board differently and think outside the box - and The Dark Forest series is no different.

He's also a beloved commentator for some very high-profile matches, including the World Chess Championship.

All this attention is distilled in more than 40,000 words of detailed explanation in The Dark Forest Volume 2: The Menacing Minors.