Going Above and Beyond: Adhiban Baskaran

Shortly after winning the World Championship title in Singapore in 2024, newly-crowned Gukesh played a casual game with AI-generated pieces. In his first game after becoming World Champion, Gukesh played 1.b3, and proclaimed “for Adhiban!”.

As the celebrated author of Lifetime Repertoires: 1.b3 , GM Adhiban Baskaran is one of the strongest grandmasters to make opening courses that highlight offbeat yet dynamic lines. He reached a peak rating of 2701 and got the nickname of “The Beast” thanks to his ultra-aggressive play. Two examples of his brilliance are his victory over Sergey Karjakin and his 3rd place trailing only Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen at the 2017 Tata Steel tournament, where he was the lowest-seeded player.

Adhiban’s love for dynamic, attacking chess shines in his Chessable work, and it’s one of the reasons his courses stand out. In both Lifetime Repertoires: 1.b3 and 1.e4, he goes for fresh, offbeat lines that are fun to play and pack a real punch. As a Chessable author, he has earned glowing reviews because of the thoughtful way he explains ideas and plans. Add to that his signature energy and humor and it’s easy to see why his courses are so popular.

In this new edition of Going Above and Beyond, where we celebrate the authors who go the extra mile to keep their Chessable courses fresh and their forums responsive, we chat with Adhiban about the massive update of over 200 variations he delivered to his Lifetime Repertoires: Adhiban’s 1.e4 as well as his next project for Chessable:

What are you most proud of in your courses?

I'm most proud of how each of my courses brought something fresh and impactful to the table. My first course on 1.b3 was truly unique—it turned what many considered a side weapon or even a joke into a serious option across all time controls, from blitz to classical. It gave players a new way to fight for the initiative early on.

My Lifetime Repertoire on 1.e4, on the other hand, was a dream project. Unlike 1.b3, 1.e4 is a mainstream opening with many excellent courses already out there by Wesley So, Sethuraman, and Anish Giri. But what makes me proud is that I managed to complete the entire repertoire in just one volume—a feat in itself! I introduced fresh ideas, new directions, and gave a bold twist to classical systems, making it both practical and exciting for players at every level.

What made you decide to update this course?

Compared to my 1.b3 course, there were a few things that I felt were missing in the 1.e4 Lifetime Repertoire. While I was proud of how complete and ambitious it was, I realized that many lines were concluded a bit early, and there weren’t enough model games to help players fully understand the practical application of the ideas. The feedback from readers made it clear—they wanted more depth and guidance. So I decided to update the course by adding fresh model games, extending key lines, and introducing a brand-new chapter called 'Thematic Exercises' to reinforce understanding through targeted training. This update makes the repertoire not just sharper, but also more instructive and player-friendly.

What else are you working on these days?

Now that the update is finally live, I can fully focus on my next project—Lifetime Repertoires: Taimanov & Kan. I’m really excited about this one, as it’s my first time creating a Lifetime Repertoire from the Black side. This course is especially close to my heart because I’m bringing together everything I’ve learned from my first two repertoires—and the recent update—as both a player and a trainer. The Taimanov is a dynamic, flexible system that I’ve used successfully for many years, and I’m looking forward to showing how it can become a powerful weapon for ambitious players.

What's your philosophy for course creation?

I aim to make learning both enjoyable and deeply instructive. I want students to not only improve their opening repertoire but also have fun doing it—feeling inspired to explore, fight, and grow as players. I’ve heard many people say that the rise of Chessable has helped narrow the gap between different levels of players, especially when it comes to opening preparation, and I’m proud to be playing a small part in that journey. Whether it’s through fresh ideas, thematic exercises, or practical model games, I try to give every student tools they can actually use—and enjoy using—in real games.

Now packed with extra 211 variations spread across all chapters, Lifetime Repertoires: Adhiban’s 1.e4 is on sale until May 22, 2025! Similarly, Lifetime Repertoires: 1.b3 is also discounted. Make sure to check them out!