Black's bishop pair
This game is an excellent demonstration of how black should use his bishops to attack the white king.
Kotronias vs. Ivanchuk
I had Fritz 12 analyze the previously posted game. I will add my own annotations later.
The Dragon
From now on, I will be using this blog to keep up with changing theory in the Dragon opening, which I play. I will be posting key Dragon games from this year to keep track of what I have to analyze. I will probably post the annotated GM games here...
1. e4 e5 traps
This week’s article is structured differently than normal, instead of picking one opening for this week, I will show 8 tricky traps found in 1. e4 e5 openings. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Next week I plan on returning to the traditi...
Fighting the Petroff
I didn’t receive any suggestions this week, so I chose the opening this week. This week I will examine a line that I think is white’s best chance for an advantage in the highly drawish Petroff Defense. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe...
Open Catalan
After a month of not being able to post a game, it finally works now, so my column can finally resume. This week’s column is on the open Catalan, after examining the closed Catalan last week month. Obviously, the difference between these 2 syst...
Closed Catalan
I was requested to examine the Catalan in my column, so this week will be the first part of a 2 part series on the Catalan. This opening, based on the fianchetto of the king’s bishop, is gaining popularity at an amazing speed, see the chart be...
Main Line Bird
2 weeks ago, (by request) I wrote an article on the Froms gambit, 1. f4 e5!? I was then requested to examine the main line bird (by the same member). I decided to take a week off of the bird last week, but this week I will go back and use the ...
Sokolov Defense
This week’s opening is a variation in the classical Slav defense, dubbed the Sokolov defense by James Vigus in his book, Play the Slav. I was inspired to play this variation when I first read that book. Ivan Sokolov is the strongest player who r...
From's Gambit
This week’s opening is the From’s Gambit. The From’s Gambit only takes one move to begin, 1. f4 e5!? White weakens the e1-h4 diagonal with 1. f4, so black sacs a pawn to open files and diagonals for his pieces. I don’t think this is the soundes...
The Smith Morra Gambit- Hopefully Refuted
This week’s opening is a well-known gambit in the Sicilian Defense, the Smith Morra Gambit. This gambit is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3!? White offers a pawn for a lead in development and to open lines for his pieces. This isn’t comple...
The Four Knights, 4.g3!?
From now on, I will be posting a blog roughly every week, examining some opening. I will first look at the basic book lines, and then some examples. This week's article is about 4. g3 in the four knights. It is a simple, fun to play opening th...
