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Part 3 of GM Kaidanov's latest video series on the Alapin continues today with more great examples of IQP attacking potential! He provides several examples from the games of GM Vajda, and points out many of the common tactical patterns that exist from the common middlegame structure that arises from the Alapin. He also reviews many of the sideline approaches for black. | Watch video
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In part 2, GM Kaidanov reviews the popular 2...d5 variation for black. He highlights the important principals for white to remember while developing into the middlegame, and shows many of the common tactics that can occur in the variation/structure that arises. In addition, he quickly ties up a few "loose ends" from the 2...Nf6 and 4.g3 variation, displayed in the previous video. | Watch video
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In the penultimate round of the 2012 Chicago Open, a familiar face was playing for first place! Chess.com's own Video Production Manager, David Petty, needed a win in order to "leap frog" his opponent and take home the whopping five thousand dollar first prize! But when the game started off on the wrong foot, Petty needed to find key defensive resources in order to hold off his opponent's initiative? Did he get a little help, or come up a little short? Watch and find out! | Watch video
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GM Khachiyan brings us another game from his personal "most memorable" library! This particular battle against GM Sveshnikov -- the infamous opening expert -- left Melik feeling unsure about playing his "best stuff". But when Melik makes the right decision to go for it, we see an exciting, instructive game to follow. This lecture will surely leave you delighted with Melik's presentation of this video series as a whole, and how it leads on a journey of his own growth as a chess player... | Watch video
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With his next installment, GM Bojkov explains how his student captured her first National Title (Bulgarian Women's Championship). The game itself was a tricky one, with Isolated Queen Pawn strategies dictating the plans for both sides. After a surprise opening choice (the Alapin against the Sicilian) both players venture in one of the sharpest, modern variations for a complicated middlegame. | Watch video
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Today Roman brings us a taste of the Anti Sicilian from black's perspective, recommending his personal recipe as a "universal approach" against both the Smith Morra and the Alapin. 2...g6 followed by an early strike in the center has its inherited risks, but if you use Roman's work as as starting point and check the analysis with game research, you should be able to make it work! | Watch video
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In Part 2 Dzindzi covers his recommendation for white against the "Main Line" 2...Nf6, as well as how to handle the 2...e6 (French Transposition) variation. He provides information on all of your different options, and stresses that you can use these lines as a foundation, but you must still do the work to complete your repertoire if you truly intend to play the Alapin against the Sicilian... | Watch video
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The second installment in GM Bojkov's new video series brings us another game full of practical lessons for our learning! Many typical and instructive mistakes were made by Ashrita (and her opponent), but she also executed some very nice middlegame plans against white's IQP, arising from an Alapin Sicilian, to gain a small advantage heading into the endgame. | Watch video
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With this new series, GM Roman Dzindzichashvili intends to provide a "stop gap" opening for players struggling against the Sicilian Defense. This is the first of 5 videos in a series that will hopefully jump start your approach/repertoire against black's most popular weapon against 1.e4. Today he covers 1...d5 and 1...d6 (the d-pawn) moves for black! | Watch video
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Sam Shankland continues his series on "getting lucky", with the review of another one of his own games from a recent tournament in Europe. Sam describes the practical risk involved in trying to surprise your opponent our of the opening. At the same time, he conversely explains how important it is to "just hang in there" against your opponent's attack. They might make a mistake, after all. Then again, so might you! We all get lucky...
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