Chessable Roundup: August 30, 2025
The chessboard may have just 64 squares.
But the amount of theory, patterns, and ideas packed into those squares?
Practically infinite!
And while that's a testament to the richness of chess, it can also be a trap.
It's far too easy to get distracted by "nice-to-knows," and lose sight of the things that actually improve your game.
So in this round-up, our newest releases help you cut through the noise.
We're narrowing your focus on repeatable opening plans for both colors, core middlegame themes, and training tips that translate to serious rating gains.
Check this out:
Zlotnik’s Middlegame Manual by IM Boris Zlotnik, New in Chess & GM Dariusz Swiercz
Crafted through the decades by the Soviet legend who trained generations of top 10 GMs. His manual shows you how to play both sides of 6 universal middlegame themes.... themes that narrow your focus on the elements that truly matter. So no matter your opening, you always know what to do even after your prep runs out!
No Fear of Gambits: 1.e4 e5 by WIM Melissa Castrillón Gómez
Accept their 1.e4 gambit. Administer the antidote. Then ask them what they've got to show for the missing pawn! From the King's Gambit to the Vienna Gambit, Danish Gambit, and everything else in between — this Black repertoire turns White's pawn sac into your advantage.
The Unexplored London: Heinzel Variation by GM Nikola Sedlak & by FM Vuk Zegarac
This "under-the-radar" London places your bishop on an unexpected, modest square... maximizing your flexibility. So no matter how Black sets up shop, you’re in time to seize a lasting practical edge! Every line explained by London System experts who play it at the toughest events.
Attacking Repertoire for Beginners: Caro-Kann and Slav Defense by FM Midas Ratsma & Arthur Maters
Opening attacks with Black made simple — by reading the bishops! Use the ...Bg4 Pin Development Plan to win a pawn. And with the Bishop Attacking Plan, you might just net a full piece before move 10. Two of Chessable's top-rated authors show you how.
Over on the Chessable blog, you'll join the visionary who built one of the U.S.A.'s premier chess institutions — the Charlotte Chess Center.
Discover his minimalist training plan if you only have 3 hours/week. Learn the right time to start learning strategy, as well as the 3 questions you must ask when choosing openings.
That wraps up this week's round-up. See you in the next one!
