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The prequel to last weekend's featured video is presented to us today -- courtesy of GM Melik Khachiyan and his "other" genius student, IM-Elect Steven Zierk. Here we can admire young Zierk's ability to keep his nerves against his higher rated opponent in the penultimate round of the 2010 World Youth Championship. Playing for gold, Steve played aggressively, accurately and didn't let up until his well-timed discovered attack ended the game... | Watch video
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What to do when you lose a tough game of chess? Time to go to the ZOO! Well, that's what Karpov did... Though Khachiyan's student, Kayden Troff, didn't quite "visit the animals" for relief, he did find a way to maintain his spirits and win a nice game in round 10 of this year's World Youth Championships in Greece. Maintaining his cool against an aggressive gambit and seizing his opportunity to grab the initiative, were the only two thing's Kayden needed to do... So much for the ZOO! | Watch video
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Grandmaster Melik Khachiyan throws a few more pearls of wisdom our way in today's video, featuring a game review of his recent victory over GM Jesse Kraai in the last round of the Western States Open in Reno, Nevada. A complete game indeed, watch as Melik allows his advantage to "evolve" from a queen-side pawn majority and better grip on the center -- to a devastating pawn advance and domination by the bishop pair. Enjoy! | Watch video
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Grandmaster Melik Khachiyan reviews another epic USCL Match for us this weekend! Here we see his own game against GM Yuri Shulman, and although Melik was not the victor in this this battle, his team won the war that night against the St. Louis Arch-Bishops! This particular struggle against Yuri is highly instructive, with stellar play from both players. Shulman's ability to keep a cool head and calculate accurately (Rc5 was a nice shot!!) is nothing short of amazing... | Watch video
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While we are all attracted to Grandmaster Melik Khachiyan's videos, he is attracted to well known positional weaknesses that inevitably lead to mating attacks. Much like IM Pruess's video, describing how to develop a solid strategical plan that can/will eventually lead to a tactical combination, here we see GM Khachiyan develop a strong positional plan (focused around the e6-pawn), and make a critical breakthrough against his opponent's kingside. The ending is pretty nice... so check it out! | Watch video
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Grandmaster Khachiyan follows up his game with GM Alejandro Ramirez (last week) by displaying a battle against a former student. In today's video lecture, we see more explanations and tips on developing plans and coordinating pieces in the Scheveningen Sicilian. After misplacing the queen on b8, black never seemed able to recover -- while Melik's initiative and strong d4-bishop dominate the board. Not a bad way to end the game either! | Watch video
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Today GM Melik Khachiyan launches a two part video series -- both describing games from the U.S. Open in Southern California not more than a month ago. His first battle, though a loss to Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez, is highly instructive in regards to common "Sicilian Pawn Structures" and typical Scheveningen plans for black. Enjoy this installment, and get ready for the second! | Watch video
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GM Melik Khachiyan reviews his game against fellow Video Author, FIDE Master Elliot Liu, from the US Open last month in Los Angeles. When Liu surprises Grandmaster Khachiyan with his opening choice, Melik decides to steer the game down "original lines" with the intention of preventing black's standard plans. The game becomes wild and tactical, but Melik is still able to provide us "positional insight" into his train of thought. | Watch video
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Today Grandmaster Melik Khachiyan reviews his first ever win in the United State Chess League. This game features two of America's best in our own Melik Khachiyan and GM Dmitry Gurevich. The game starts off in a Classical Dragon and builds momentum in the middlegame when GM Gurevich makes some "odd" decisions with his minor pieces, particularly the knights. Listen in on Melik's instructive thought process and in game approach. | Watch video
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GM Melik Khachiyan finds more instructive concepts from his own games and shares them with us in today's video! Here he takes the black pieces against IM Walter Shipman at the US Open just a few weeks ago. After a slightly strange opening, Melik finds a "flexible" way to grab an advantage. Pay special attention to his description of the knight vs bishop middlegame, the need for activity, and the lesson his first coach gave him about f2 and f7... | Watch video