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The Most Fighting Opening for Black versus 1.d4!

The Most Fighting Opening for Black versus 1.d4!

GM 2bf41-0
| Oct 13, 2025
| 2,174
| 8

The subject of this blog is the investigation of Black's strongest gambit in chess. Whether you're simply a chess enthusiast looking for a fun game full of tactics, a club player looking to liven the game against 1.d4, a relentless tacticia...

How Magnus Carlsen Wins With White

How Magnus Carlsen Wins With White

GM 2bf41-0
| Aug 31, 2025
| 13,416
| 18

Greetings everyone! After a lengthy hiatus spanning 2.5 years without writing, I am happy to return with my first blog as a grandmaster. Despite my protracted absence from the blogsphere, I did not stop consuming knowledge from books (which I felt...

My 1st GM norm

My 1st GM norm

GM 2bf41-0
| Feb 25, 2023
| 4,448
| 24

Greetings everyone! I haven't posted a blog in slightly over 2 years now. I always enjoyed writing but had to take a hiatus in order to play more tournaments. Since then I became an international master, and I'm currently on a quest to get the GM ...

Analyzing Jobava's Unconventional openings!

Analyzing Jobava's Unconventional openings!

GM 2bf41-0
| Feb 15, 2021
| 5,859
| 18

First blog post in over 4 months. Hopefully, you enjoy the blog and find these opening ideas of value. No doubt Georgian GM Baadur Jobava is one of the most enterprising players from the modern era. One can learn many things from his original ...

How to Learn from Magnus Carlsen's Modern Chess!

How to Learn from Magnus Carlsen's Modern Chess!

GM 2bf41-0
| Nov 7, 2020
| 4,092
| 5

Greetings everyone. It's Edward...  After a protracted absence, I'm temporarily back! I left Bristol, UK, and came over to Zzyzx, California, in the United States, because of emerging job opportunities. In the meanwhile, I've significantly in...

The Carlsen Variation of the Sicilian

The Carlsen Variation of the Sicilian

GM 2bf41-0
| Aug 17, 2020
| 60,877
| 11

"Have you ever heard of the Carlsen variation of the Sicilian defense?" If not, that's bad news! You could be missing out on the latest fashion top players are pursuing in 1.e4 c5. This so-called "Carlsen variation" can be a great way to boost...

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part V)

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part V)

GM 2bf41-0
| Aug 10, 2020
| 3,954
| 2

And without further ado welcome to the fifth and final blog in my Magnus Endgame series! As a reminder, I'm reading Hungarian IM Tibor Karolyi`'s ground-breaking work: Endgame Virtuoso Magnus Carlsen: His Extraordinary Skills Uncovere...

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part IV)

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part IV)

GM 2bf41-0
| Aug 10, 2020
| 2,158
| 1

Welcome ambitious chess enthusiasts! I'm glad you've come to Part IV in my Magnus series in order to improve your chess strategy and practical endgame play. There's nothing more precious then a game collection on the modern genius of the game.&n...

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part III)

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part III)

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 26, 2020
| 2,482
| 3

Welcome ambitious chess enthusiasts! I'm glad you've come to Part III in my Magnus series in order to improve your chess strategy and practical endgame play. There's nothing more precious then a game collection on the modern genius of the game. ...

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part II)

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part II)

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 23, 2020
| 2,621
| 3

Greetings chess lovers, it's Ed again! Now we're on Chapter 2: The Young Supertstar Rises to the Top.  As a reminder, I'm reading Hungarian IM Tibor Karolyi's ground-breaking work: Endgame Virtuoso Magnus Carlsen: His Extraordinar...

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part I)

Analyzing Magnus Carlsen's Endgame Technique (Part I)

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 17, 2020
| 10,622
| 12

It's well known that our current world champion, Magnus Carlsen, possesses impeccable technique in the endgame. He knows all theoretical endings by heart, studied all of the technical masterpieces of Rubinstein and Capablanca, and c...

Flying Knives in the Dutch Defense

Flying Knives in the Dutch Defense

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 13, 2020
| 4,091
| 7

This is the Part II continuation of my previous blog on reviewing French GM Adrien Demuth's book: The Modernized Dutch Defense.  To see Part I, click here. Most importantly, in order to fully appreciate the set of tools at your fingertips on ...

A Trial Against the F-Pawn

A Trial Against the F-Pawn

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 11, 2020
| 4,712
| 7

No, no, I don't mean my good friend and mentor: @fpawn . I mean the Dutch defense. Is the Dutch defense guilty of being a weak, overrated opening? "Just how bad is the Dutch defense?" A player asked when he saw the paucity of elite level games i...

Breaking News in the Gruenfeld!

Breaking News in the Gruenfeld!

GM 2bf41-0
| Jul 8, 2020
| 4,276
| 2

Welcome back!  I'm continuing my reviews of chess books on the Forward Chess platform. In order to get an understanding of just how effective studying on Forward Chess itself has been, please read up on some of my earlier blogs. I give i...

The Grandmaster Mindset

The Grandmaster Mindset

GM 2bf41-0
| Jun 30, 2020
| 6,775
| 5

The Grandmaster Mindset by GM Alojzije Jankovic is an enjoyable read which increases the readers chess imagination. You contemplate the best move in a tactical position, learn a new theme, then press the solution button of Forward Chess to se...

The Correct Way to Study Rook Endgames!

The Correct Way to Study Rook Endgames!

GM 2bf41-0
| Jun 24, 2020
| 12,938
| 12

Morning, chess mates! I'm continuing to blog about my experience of studying chess books with Forward Chess! Please check out my blog relating my experience studying openings with Forward Chess in this blog:https://www.chess.com/blog/2Bf41-0/disco...

Discover your Passion for Opening Study! (Gruenfeld)

Discover your Passion for Opening Study! (Gruenfeld)

GM 2bf41-0
| Jun 22, 2020
| 4,610
| 4

Hello everyone, during the quarantine I've been experimenting with several ways to solidify and broaden my opening repertoire (even if you're an anti-theory extremist, please read this blog, you may change your mind that opening study is "bor...

Throw a Grenade at the London

Throw a Grenade at the London

GM 2bf41-0
| Jun 5, 2020
| 3,898
| 17

Today I wanted to quickly show a cool idea Seattle chess legend Viktors Pupols mentioned to me at a Reno tournament. Against dedicated Londoneers who play 2.Bf4 all the time, 1...e6 is a clever move order. But not to play 2...f5 and head in...

Great Tactics from IMs

Great Tactics from IMs

GM 2bf41-0
| May 16, 2020
| 2,331
| 4

Greetings chess lovers! In short, I will present 6 elegant tactical examples taken from lesser-known games from IMs.  Please nominate your favorite example in the comments! Good luck solving! I hope you sit back, relax, and enjoy the f...

Watch Out Benoni Players! (toxic London System antidote)

Watch Out Benoni Players! (toxic London System antidote)

GM 2bf41-0
| May 12, 2020
| 10,761
| 9

Afternoon everyone! I know that many London players are deterred by the Benoni defense because it neutralizes white's typical play and takes the London player out of their comfort zone. Not everyone is has enough time and resources to become ...

The Correct way to Learn the Najdorf Sicilian

The Correct way to Learn the Najdorf Sicilian

GM 2bf41-0
| Apr 29, 2020
| 7,378
| 3

Good morning Chess.commers! It's clear that the Najdorf Sicilian is an immensely complex opening with many variations, structures, plans and themes. Named after Polish-born Argentinean Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf , this is a staple in moder...

Destroying 3 Tricky Sicilian Sidelines

Destroying 3 Tricky Sicilian Sidelines

GM 2bf41-0
| Apr 21, 2020
| 4,964
| 8

Greetings chess lovers! With many stuck at home it comes as no surprise that many players will start playing online blitz. That said, there will be players who will want to experiment with aggressive variations against your beloved Sicilian defe...

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