How to Defend Difficult and Lost Positions

by Kasparov Chess Foundation
4/25/2025 – We are thrilled to announce an exclusive live lecture with IGM Athanasios Mastrovasilis at KCF Academy on April 27. He will be focused on one of the most crucial and underappreciated aspects of chess mastery: defending tough and even lost positions. Come watch and learn!
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Add to Your Calendar: April 27, 2025, 18:00 CET.
How to register: visit www.kcfacademy.org to enroll.

GM Athanasios Mastrovasilis is one of Greece’s most respected grandmasters. A consistent presence on the national team, he has represented Greece in numerous Chess Olympiads, European Team Championships, and other international events. Known for his solid style, resilience, and sharp defensive instincts, Athanasios has carved out a reputation for being exceptionally difficult to defeat — even from inferior positions.

In this instructive session, he will explore:
    • Practical strategies for turning the tables in tough positions
    • Psychological resilience and staying resourceful under pressure
    • Key defensive techniques, including fortress-building, counterplay, and simplification
    • Illustrative examples from his own games and top-level play

Reserve your spot now!

Why It’s Never Too Late to Join the KCF Academy Training Course

If you haven’t enrolled in the KCF Academy training course yet, there’s no need to worry - it’s never too late to join! The Academy’s structure is designed with flexibility in mind, ensuring that students can seamlessly integrate into the program at any point. Here’s why:

  1. Access to Recorded Lectures: Every live lecture, including Kasparov’s January 26 session, is recorded and made available to enrolled students. This means that even if you join after the event, you can still benefit from the full depth of his teachings, revisiting the material at your own pace.

  2. Comprehensive Curriculum: The KCF Academy’s training course is meticulously crafted to cover all aspects of chess improvement, from opening theory and middlegame tactics to endgame mastery. Each module is self-contained, allowing new participants to pick up where they’re most comfortable and gradually build their skills.

  3. Interactive Learning Environment: In addition to the recorded content, students have access to live sessions, interactive workshops on Thursdays, and Q&A opportunities with top instructors. This dynamic approach ensures a rich learning experience, regardless of when you join.

Enroll at https://kcfacademy.org

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The vision of the Kasparov Chess Foundation is primarily to use the many benefits of chess to help children worldwide. KCF does this through a variety of different programs, which you can find at KasparovChessFoundation.org
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