Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
In the introductory video, Pert presents his project using an interesting game between Alexander Grischuk and Levon Aronian:
Revealing Modern Grandmaster Secrets Vol. 1 – Attacking the King, Opening Ideas and Initiative
This isn’t just another chess tutorial—it’s your all-access pass to the strategies, insights, and techniques that define modern grandmaster play.
"Improve your chess by uncovering the secrets of opening preparation used by grandmasters", is the promising invitation to the opening chapter, "Opening Play". This sounds difficult, even impossible, but the essence of Pert's promise is to find moves that are rare but good and playable. His first example, in which he shows how White can counter the Ruy Lopez, is impressive in its simplicity and the many possibilities it offers.
5.Nc3!? is only the fifth most common move. Bortnyk shows against Kosteniuk how dangerous the knight can be if it quickly enters on d5.
In the following chapters, Pert explains strategies for attacking the king, whether it has castled or not. Master games, such as Kramnik against Anand or Carlsen against Pentsulaia, show how to apply pressure. Throughout the course, the author shows games of his own. After all, he knows best what he thought during the games – whether he won or lost. And yes: as promised in the title, Pert doesn't shy away from revealing his own secrets.
Sacrifice for the initiative: In this position, Praggnanandhaa sacrificed an exchange with Rxc6 against Berkes
In the two final chapters of the first part of the video series, the focus is on the fight for the initiative. Pert recommends to "take control of the game with proactive, dynamic play." Pert is always concerned with identifying the opponent's weaknesses – this is of course particularly effective when it comes to the king's position.
This isn’t just another chess tutorial—it’s your all-access pass to the strategies, insights, and techniques that define modern grandmaster play.
The second part of the series deals with topics such as calculating variations, defence and counterplay.
For Pert, positional play, especially in regard to the king, plays an important role. The role of the king is often underestimated, although it gains in importance and strength in the endgame. But an active king is by no means only a secret weapon in endgames; if everything fits, it can also be profitably used in attacks in the middle game.
This course covers grandmaster-level strategies, with two chapters full of ideas for improving your own game. It provides instructive examples of attacking, but also helps with ideas for insurmountable defences. This is a topic that is generally rather neglected, but in practice it can help you to save many points.
This example shows how Carlsen defended actively
Examples from top German players such as Vincent Keymer and Rasmus Svane show which positional subtleties you have to keep in mind to defend successfully and how important calculation is here. In the six chapters, the author shows how you can win even bad positions, what differences mate threats and an active king can make in an endgame, and how to defend positionally or tactically.
Pert has the ambitious aim to reveal secrets for all phases of the game. The examples he presents are excellent and the structure of the course supports his aim. Although there are some games for which one would like a little more explanation and a final conclusion, there are also outstanding model games in each chapter with very deep and helpful analyses.
The video course really does provide many extraordinary insights into the thought processes of grandmasters. This allows you to improve your play in all phases of the game. The title does not promise too much and the video material is a first-class strategic basis for understanding the ideas of top players, which often remain hidden from amateurs.
Equipped with this knowledge, you can gain an early advantage in practice and prevent your opponent from getting the initiative. But if this does happen, the second part helps you to defend and and to counterattack.
Pert thus lives up to his goal and vividly dissects examples from his own practice and from the games of many well-known grandmasters and world champions.
Video running time: more than 6 hours each
With interactive training and video feedback
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Play key positions against Fritz at different levels
Including Download & Stream for iPad, tablet etc: can be activated with printed key.
Revealing Modern Grandmaster Secrets Vol. 1 & 2
This isn’t just another chess tutorial—it’s your all-access pass to the strategies, insights, and techniques that define modern grandmaster play.
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