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In one of his most recent tournaments, GM Khachiyan faced off against a fellow Chess.com Video Author to create a dynamic, Classical Spanish struggle! International Master Keaton Kiewra took the white pieces into this main line Lopez, but when Melik engineered the threat of a d5-pawn break, Keaton was forced to concede the advantage, and found himself slowly outplayed into the late middlegame/endgame. | Watch video
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Before bringing his review of the Two Knight's Defense to a close by covering the Hungarian Variation (3...Nd4) as well as the dubious 3...h6, GM Kaidanov sidetracks into the Evan's Gambit! He recommends the declined (4...Bb6) for black, but also reviews some of the critical lines that follow after accepting the gambit. He then finishes off his coverage of the Two Knights before stressing the importance of studying middlegame play. | Watch video
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A victory, though not well known, comes in classic Capablanca fashion: A strategically sound kingside attack creates long term positional weaknesses in his opponent's camp; key exchanges are made; a superior endgame is reached (Bishop vs Knight); accurate calculation is applied to achieve... "flawless technique"! GM Dejan Bojkov describes it all elegantly... | 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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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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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
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Revenge is best served... with checkmate! When two of the world's strongest players claimed the young Cuban had no right to take part in the San Sebastian Super Tournament of 1911, Capablanca did not take their words in stride! Rather, he made a mental note to play as precisely as he could to crush these two foes. The first victim? Ossip Bernstein. Enjoy this old school Spanish Game, with our guide, GM Bojkov, at the helm. | Watch video
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Just when you needed it most, especially after IM Rensch's review of "white's perspective" yesterday, IM Kiewra is here to show just how the Dragon breathes fire! He displays the critical lines of the Soltis (...h5) Variation, focusing mainly on white's direct idea of 16.Bh6. The theory is deep and complex, with "nerves of steel" required, but Keaton's clear explanations of the common patterns with the Dragon are brilliant. Enjoy! | Watch video