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Would the real "Benko Gambit" please stand up? Today GM Bojkov reviews an epic battle between two chess legends: Nimzowitsch and Capablanca! In 1914, long before the birth of Pal Benko, Capablanca applied a gambit "in the spirit" of the Benko, gaining the pressure of a long range bishop on the h8-a1 diagonal, and an open b-file in exchange for a small amount of material. Was this idea successful on it's first run? Watch and find out... | Watch video
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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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To conclude this interesting game between Shankland and Ivanov, 2007 - Sam dives deeply into the complications of the ensuing Rook vs Two Minors endgame. He displays several complex variations that should have led to his opponent's demise, but more importantly, he talks about the psychology of playing against a Grandmaster, and the common pitfalls to avoid in your thought processes... | Watch video
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Joining Danny right where we left him, we are immediately faced with the critical decision of who/what to trade in order to keep the best drawing (or maybe even winning) chances alive. Does Danny make the right decision after black trades on d1, finding a way to hold on? Or does black's f-pawn prove to be the difference? Stick around for the post game review and take notes on the importance of "active endgame choices"! | Watch video
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In the first of this rare two-part Live Session, IM Rensch loses his way early, forgetting opening theory to find himself struggling to equalize against his strong, well-known Chess.com opponent. After failing to calculate his complex options properly (choosing 8.e5 over 8.Qd2), Danny is holding on for dear life! But when he finds an outside chance at counter-play as today's video lecture reaches its close, the stage is set for an epic battle in Part 2... | Watch video
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To provide further details on why GM Kaidanov believe's there is more to the Two Knights and Fried Liver than previously thought, he reviews the tricky Traxler Variation, the complex 5...Nd4 lines, and the surprisingly playable 5...Bg4 - invented by one of Gregory's hometown friends. The verdict? Open to some interpretation of course, but certainly worth some home work! | 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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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