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IM Keaton Kiewra finishes his complete series on the Dragon by showing his attempt to garner a second GM norm. In a crazy position with both kings on the run, black's finds more shelter, but the talented Hess continues to create complications until the end. Can Kiewra navigate a double-edged middlegame and avoid endgame traps as well? Watch the final video of this great series to find out! | Watch video
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Dragon players beware! After eight informative videos where black can basically develop on autopilot, IM Kiewra warns not to be so casual against a few of white's offbeat setups. In case of an early f4 (Levenish) or g3 system, black needs to play ...Nc6 instead of the customary ...Bg7. Don't be caught off guard in these systems - learn why the move order is so important! | Watch video
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IM Kiewra is back this month to continue his series on the Fighting Dragon! He reviews a game in the Chinese Dragon between GMs Zhigalko and Bu Xiangzhi. As to be expected with Keaton, he does a great job highlighting the patterns of each position, the tactical motifs that repeat themselves consistently, and he provides insight into what the top Dragon players think about each idea / position. | Watch video
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In the exciting conclusion of this monumentally important game for the young Sam Shankland's career, we get to see white slowly work his way back from a slightly worse ending, to one of equality, to an endgame where his opponent is fighting for a draw, to eventually, well, you'll have to watch to see! Take notes on Sam's excellent defensive technique, and his "practical poise" in seizing the moment to go for it! | Watch video
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IM Rensch breaks down this well-known, theoretically driven opening (The Sicilian Dragon) not by focusing on all the complex variations available, but rather, explaining the evolution of those lines by revealing the patterns and repeating ideas within the pawn structure. Danny reviews the "stem game" Karpov-Kortchnoi, Moscow 1974 and he shows how Karpov changed white's approach in the Yugoslav forever, which inevitably led to black's modern approach (The Chinese Dragon)... | Watch video
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In perhaps the defining moment of his career (or at least one of them) a young Sam Shankland took down one of the world's top talents to claim a tie for first at the 2008 World Youth Chess Championships. Here he reveals all that was in a sharp, 9.0-0-0 Yugoslav Attack Dragon Sicilian. He highlights the in-depth variations both he and his opponent calculated, and instructs on the basic ideas of the line for players of all levels. Enjoy! | Watch video
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As mentioned in the multiple Yugoslav Attack and Dragon videos being featured this month, the topical 9.g4 is exciting, tricky, and a must know for black players who intend of playing the Dragon as a regular part of their repertoire. IM Kiewra focuses black's three main options, including the controversial piece sacrifice on g4. Check out the related links for more on the topic! | Watch video
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To follow up on his first installment in the Soltis (...h5) Variation, IM Kiewra reviews a game between two of the best players in the world! He highlights critical move order differences for the advanced player's, and then, along with the rest of us, he enjoys the amazingly sharp, tactical and brilliant show that Magnus Carlsen puts on with the black pieces. | Watch video
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IM Rensch provides the introduction to what is considered white's most dangerous, accurate, and potentially universal approach to the Open Sicilians. As with each video in this series, he breaks it down the perspective of "the little guys", highlights the positional features more than the "opening theory" and tries to provide a preview as to what will be discussed over the course of the next few videos... | Watch video
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After a weird move order, an Accelerated Dragon is reached. IM Rensch then converts his initiative into a small material advantage and expects smooth sailing from there on out... But when his opponent finds the best defensive resource (c4), he realizes he will need to work hard to win the game. That's when the rant starts! Danny talks about the keys for successfully converting your advantages, and gives away some valuable gems in the process. | Watch video