2/27/2025 – Recently, Marc Andria Maurizzi was performing like a super GM at the Djerba Open, with 7.5 points out of 9 games. His performance was close to 2900! It was also a meeting of the two youngest GM's in French history - the youngest is Maurizzi, against the second-youngest Etienne Bacrot. The higher rated Bacrot didn't stand a chance against the underdog. Robert Ris analysed this crazy game.
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Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!
Looking for a realistic way to play for a win with Black against 1.e4 without taking unnecessary risks? The Taimanov Sicilian is a reliable system, and hence one of the best options out there!
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The Underdog!
with IM Robert Ris
We all love stories where a vastly underrated player surprises everyone by beating a much stronger player. Fortunately, we are all human.
But how do these things happen? What are the moves that lead to success? And what can we learn from these examples for the times when we face a stronger opponent?
Dutch IM Robert Ris presents us with real-life examples of such encounters from the past month. Together with his co-host Arne Kaehler, they look at the tactics and strategies that led to the upset victory.
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Players
1.e4
1,165,570
54%
2421
---
1.d4
946,474
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
281,312
56%
2441
---
1.c4
181,937
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,688
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,236
54%
2427
---
1.f4
5,886
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,796
51%
2384
---
1.b4
1,753
48%
2380
---
1.a3
1,197
54%
2403
---
1.e3
1,068
48%
2408
---
1.d3
948
50%
2378
---
1.g4
662
46%
2361
---
1.h4
446
53%
2374
---
1.c3
426
51%
2425
---
1.h3
279
56%
2416
---
1.a4
108
60%
2468
---
1.f3
91
47%
2431
---
1.Nh3
89
66%
2508
---
1.Na3
42
62%
2482
---
Please, wait...
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.e5Nfd75.f4c56.Nf3Nc67.Be3a68.Ne28.Qd28...Qb69.Qc1Be710.c30-011.h411.g3f612.Bg2cxd413.cxd4Qa5+14.Nc3Nb615.exf6Bxf616.b3Bd717.0-0Rac818.Qd2Be719.Ne2Qxd220.Bxd2Rc721.Rac1Rfc822.f5Ba323.Rce1Bb424.Bxb4Nxb425.fxe6Bxe626.Nf4Bf527.Ne5g628.g4Be429.Bxe4dxe430.a3N4d531.Rxe4Rc332.Nd7Rxb333.Nxd5Nxd534.Re5Nc335.Nf6+1-0 (35) Caruana,F (2764)-Carlsen,
M (2853) Stavanger 202311...f612.h5h613.a3!?13.Rh31/2-1/2 (26)
Van Foreest,J (2699)-Bacrot,E (2660) Linares 202313...Na513...a514.Rh31-0 (37) Grover,S (2513)-Aveskulov,V (2506) Budapest 202314.Rb1Qc714...Nc415.Nh4cxd416.cxd4Rf717.Ng6Bd818.Bf2Nf819.b3Na520.g4Bd71/2-1/2 (27) Elyoseph,H (2432)-Ohtake,S (2445) ICCF email 202215.b315.b4cxb416.cxb4Nc415...fxe515...Nc615...cxd416.cxd4Qxc1+17.Bxc1±16.dxe516.fxe516...b517.g3Bb718.Bg2!18.Bh3?d4!-+18...Rac818...Nxe519.Nxe519.fxe5d420.0-0dxe321.Qxe3Bxf322.Bxf3Bg523.Nf4Rad824.Bg419...d420.Bh3!20.Bxb7Qxb720...Rf620...Bxh1??21.Bxe6+Kh821...Kh722.Qc2+22.Ng6+Kh723.Qc221.0-0dxe322.Qxe319.0-0Nb619...d420.cxd4+-19...c420.b4Nb321.Qc2+-19...b420.axb4cxb421.Nfd4+-19...Rfd8±20.Qc220.Bh3!?Qc620...Qd721.Qg6Rc621...d422.Bh3Bd523.cxd4cxd424.Nfxd4+-21...Qe822.Qxe6+22.Ng5!22.Bh322.Ng5!hxg522...Bxg523.fxg523.h6Bd824.fxg5d424...Rf725.h7+Kh826.Rxf724...Rf525.g4Rxe526.h7+Kh827.Rf8#25.h7+Kh826.Rxf8#1–0
Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!
Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!
Arne KaehlerArne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
1/29/2025 – The first Underdog of 2025 has been chosen by Robert Ris. It is IM Lu Miaoyi. Currently, she is playing formidable at the Tata Steel Chess Festival tournament. She is second worst rated in the Challengers group, but could already gather 4.5 out of 8 points. One favourite to win the Challengers in Wijk aan Zee is Frederik Svane, who advanced to Germany's second-best player behind Vincent Keymer. Frederik Svane played as Black in the French exchange variation, against Lu Miaoyi, and the board was on fire quickly.
12/4/2024 – Besides the World Chess Championship, some other important chess tournaments are currently going on. The US Chess Masters in Charlotte was crucial for Fabiano Caruana, to qualify for the candidates in 2026! He started with 5 out of 5, until he faced Nikolas Theodorou! The Greek GM also had 5 points, and got a nice king-side attack against Caruana in the English opening. Robert Ris has the full analysis of this fascinating game!
King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.
Whether it’s a weak pawn, a vulnerable king, or poor piece coordination, this course will teach you how to pinpoint the critical targets, prioritise your attack, and execute a clear, effective plan.
Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
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If you're looking to revamp your opening repertoire and surprise your opponents with powerful, modern ideas, The Ultimate Scotch Gambit is the perfect choice.
€39.90
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