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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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He plays in so many tournaments, continuously creates one instructive moment for his Chess.com Students to enjoy after another, and always does so with style! Who is he? GM Melik Khachiyan of course! We decided to create a new series designed to "keep up" with Melik and his journey, and here he takes on recent Death Match runner up, and Chess.com Ambassador, GM Alejandro Ramirez. | Watch video
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As Sam explains, a common approach by Grandmasters against their young, usually well prepared opponents, is to take them out of theory early. GM Ivanov consistently agrees with this philosophy with his choice in the Modern; however, when a young Shanky takes a creative, aggressive approach, black finds himself on the ropes despite the Bishop Pair. This leads us to an extremely complex, but highly interesting endgame for Part 2! | Watch video
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Here GM Bojkov faces off against the eventual winner of the tournament in Queenstown, GM Li Chao. An interesting King's Indian Attack leads to a complicated middlegame where Chao's center will either become his biggest asset, or biggest weakness. Dejan calculates a variation to win a pawn, and it shows us that even 2700 Level GMs can miss things. But was it enough for Dejan to take the game home? Watch and find out... | Watch video
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GM Dzindzichashvili continues his series on the English Opening, reviewing the popular transposition into the Maroczy Bind structure that commonly occurs in the Accelerated Dragon Sicilian. Take notes on black's best plans and Roman's "home cooked" analysis. He highlights black's modern idea with the a5-pawn advance approach, among many other things. Be careful not to fall for move order traps, and enjoy! | Watch video
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To aid the beginners perspective, FM Lilov provides a follow up video to GM Kaidanov's lecture last weekend. TigerLilov covers the basic tricks and traps associated with the Fried Liver, the Lolli Attack, and other "messy variations" surrounding tactics on f7. | Watch video
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For players of all levels looking to improve their approach to the first stage of chess, GM Kaidanov continues his series today where he provides theoretical recommendations, as well as general guidelines for players in need of opening help! Next on the docket? The opening adored by players of all levels and ages alike: The Fried Liver Attack! | Watch video
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With his next contribution, GM Shankland reviews one of the biggest wins of his career, and a game that catapulted him towards earning his first IM Norm. When he was faced with the choice of either simplifying the position and striving for equality as black, or castling long to "mix it up", a young Shanky made the predictable, aggressive decision. We're happy he did, as the fireworks that ensued were definitely worth it! | Watch video
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World Champion Viswanathan Anand provided the world with a special treat in Round 4 of Tata Steel's Super Chess Tournament, being held in Wijk aan Zee, when he smashed the world #3 Levon Aronian with the black pieces! The game itself was beautiful, creative, and most importantly for this video lecture, proof that liberating black's pieces with the c5-break in the Caro-Slav Structure can lead to wonderful things. Enjoy Danny's replay of this brilliant performance! | 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