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After blundering a pair of pawns on separate occasions, WGM Tatev Abrahamyan was determined to still convert a rook-and-pawn endgame in round one of the 2013 U.S. Women's Championship. After initially getting upset at herself for simply hanging a pawn and missing a simple tactic for the other one, she never lets her guard down after that, and still converts by using a beautiful zugzwang. The inauspicious start still led a solid third-place finish. | Watch video
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If you want to see the forest through the trees, you have to first see the "bushes"! GM Melikset Khachiyan continues his discussion of short, simple calculations, or "bushes" of analysis. By examining some highly tactical historical games of Alekhine, he shows how it doesn't take long to go two or three moves deep for several candidate moves. You'll find the right path faster by calculating the same way - watch and learn the grandmaster technique. | Watch video
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After a long hiatus, FM Elliott Liu is back, this time with a game from his childhood that instructs in all facets of the game. The location (Budapest) may be exotic, but the ideas are pragmatic - trading when you are ahead, doubling on the open file, carefully calculating variations. Still, the adage of "the hardest game to win is a won game" applies, and his opponent keeps enough chances to force him into a multi-part series. Here he gets us up to the endgame. | Watch video
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Are you constantly playing opponents who play solid, boring lines, hoping to trade everything right away and never spicing it up? GM Leonid Kritz has, and he shows how methodical probing and switching of ideas can still keep some life in the position. He continues his series by showing how to counter the plans of his previous videos. Kritz admits you sometimes have to allow some weaknesses, but you play to win, don't you? | Watch video
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Did you know Chess.com offered roller coaster rides? We do, and this one lasts 30 minutes. GM Dzindzichashvili might have the most excited chess video ever made for Chess.com, as he explains how to mate your opponent out of the opening in the Sicilian Paulsen. White basically removes his two center pawns, activates all of his pieces, and throws them down the board. Click on the video and take the ride! | Watch video
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GM Gareev explains his blistering round one win in his first U.S. Championship, replete with beautiful tactics and sacrifices. Along the way you'll learn the ins and outs of the Queen's Indian Defense, one of his favorites as of late. After winning a pawn, Gareev misses a stunning tactic that would have forced mate before move 20. He missed it in the game, but still went on to win - can you find it? | Watch video
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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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Be honest - do you sometimes check the computer's evaluation before doing your own? Most of us are guilty of this at least occasionally. GM Dzindzichashvili warns you not to always trust small pluses and minuses given by machines. Here he compresses many hours of original analysis into 20 minutes, showing you how the algorithms might need a tweak, and why processors should be augmented with human insight for proper evaluation of positions. | Watch video
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What happens when you let GM Larry Christiansen storm the barricades? GM Gareev found out at the 2013 U.S. Championship, when his opponent, a three-time champ, used only three pieces to rustle up an attack. After giving away his queen to reduce the pressure, Gareev pushed hard for the win, even without his queen! Did his gamble pay off? Watch to find out! | Watch video
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Continuing his two-part series on the exploits of Peter Svidler, GM Kaidanov finishes the analysis of the complex recent battle with Ivanchuk. The game is a clinic in the use of zwischenzug, exchange sacrifices, and avoiding trades to keep the tension. Kaidanov claims that super-GMs are even better than him in these areas! | Watch video