How to Beat the Russians – A Deep Dive into Edmar Mednis’ Classic | IM Thomas Engqvist

In this 25-minute lecture, IM Thomas Engqvist shares his insights on How to Beat the Russians by the American Grandmaster Edmar Mednis (1937–2002). Mednis is perhaps best remembered as the first player to defeat Bobby Fischer in the US Championship (1962/63). In this influential work, he explores the practical strengths and weaknesses of Soviet players and, more importantly, the broader strategic and psychological principles needed to win serious tournament games. In this video, I examine: • The key themes and ideas presented in the book • How to analyse strengths and weaknesses in your opponent’s play • Practical middlegame and strategic lessons • What modern players can still learn from Mednis today • How structured thinking improves your results in competitive chess This is a serious, instructive and inspiring discussion aimed at ambitious club players and tournament competitors who want to deepen their understanding of practical chess strategy. If you are interested in improving your analytical skills and learning how strong players think, this lecture will provide valuable insights.