Andrew Martin - The Evans Gambit is still dangerous

by ChessBase
9/9/2026 – Andrew Martin presents the Evans Gambit as a dangerous and highly practical weapon for club players, especially those rated below 1800. Using a historic game by William Davies Evans, he shows how White gives up a pawn for rapid development, central control and direct attacking chances against the black king. Martin also explains why the opening remains relevant today despite modern engine analysis, with even top players such as Magnus Carlsen facing it in recent practice. The course is designed not only to teach a playable repertoire, but also to sharpen tactical vision and help players enjoy dynamic attacking chess.
This is a full repertoire after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 focussing on the Evans Gambit as the main weapon.
Few openings teach the art of attack as directly as the Evans Gambit. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4, White gives up a pawn to rip open the position, build a powerful center and head straight for the black king. The best part is that the tactics aren't forced or memorized. They arise naturally from the position, which makes the Evans the ideal opening for club players and ambitious juniors who want sharper, more confident results. But a great gambit is only half a repertoire. Across these two volumes, IM Andrew Martin gives you the complete picture after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, with a clear, ready-to-play answer to everything Black can throw at you.

Andrew Martin - The Evans Gambit is still dangerous

IM Andrew Martin shows why this 19th-century opening weapon still is a fantastic choice for club players. The Evans produces exciting chess and teaches the art of attack.
When the Evans Gambit appeared in the 19th century, one admirer called it a gift from the gods to a languishing chess world. Nearly two centuries later, IM Andrew Martin argues the gift is still well worth accepting.

Playable today? At the very top level, perhaps mainly as a surprise weapon – which leaves the other 99.99% of us free to enjoy it in full. The Evans produces exciting chess and teaches the art of attack.

Interested? Watch the free sample video: Introduction

free sample video: Evergreen Game

IM Andrew Martin complements his Evans Gambit course with a simple and attacking repertoire against all of blacks sidelines after 1.e4 e5.

A gambit is only half a repertoire. Volume 1 armed you with the Evans; Volume 2 covers every Black player who steers elsewhere after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3.

IM Andrew Martin begins where it matters most: the Two Knights Defense, which you'll meet roughly half the time you reach for 4.b4. His choice here is 4.d3 – the move today's elite prefer. It won't promise an advantage out of the opening, but it produces a rich, closed-Lopez-style middlegame full of pieces and play, ideal for outplaying strong opposition. Little theory to memorize; plans and manoeuvres instead, including attacking schemes where White leaves the king in the centre and storms the kingside.

Watch the free video sample: Introduction

and the free video sample: Two Knights Defence

 

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Andrew Martin: Evans & Friends Vol.1 & 2

8/19/2026 – IM Andrew Martin presents a complete White repertoire after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, with the Evans Gambit as its aggressive centerpiece for tactically minded players up to around 1800 Elo. Volume 1 covers the key lines, attacking ideas and traps of the Evans Gambit, while Volume 2 provides practical answers to the Petroff, Philidor, Two Knights Defense, Hungarian Defense and several sharp gambits and traps. The aim is a ready to play repertoire that seizes the initiative early, sharpens tactical vision and puts Black under pressure from the very first moves.
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Svitlana Demchenko's ChessBase Training Courses on offer

8/14/2026 – WIM Svitlana Demchenko presents a selection of practical opening courses designed to give players flexible and dynamic repertoire choices. Her trainers cover the Alapin Variation against the Sicilian, the aggressive Leningrad Dutch, the versatile King’s Indian Attack, and a collection of easy to learn surprise weapons for both colours. As part of the ChessBase Summer Special, all of her Fritz Trainer courses are available at a discount until August 16, 2026.

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60m English New ideas in the Najdorf_E

‘New ideas in the Najdorf – a Power Play 18 Update’ aims to complement Daniel King’s popular DVD from last year ‘The Sicilian Najdorf - a repertoire for Black’. Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoire. The lines examined on this update are: • 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 h3 e5 7 Nde2 • 5….a6 6 Bc4 in combination with the English Attack (Be3, f3 etc) • 5…a6 6 Be3 and the …a5 variation • 5…a6 6 Be2 and 9 Re1 • 5 f3 (instead of 5 Nc3) It isn’t necessary to have seen the original Najdorf DVD to understand the lines examined here – but it would help as they form part of a complete repertoire.