Reykjavík Open upset - 400 Elo difference. When the underdog wins!

by Arne Kaehler
4/1/2023 – In today's episode, we will delve into an astonishing upset from the first round of the Reykjavík Open 2023, where a relatively unknown Norwegian with the Black pieces defied all odds by defeating an opponent with a staggering 400 Elo rating advantage. IM Robert Ris will expertly dissect the game, revealing the critical moments and ingenious strategies that led to this David versus Goliath victory. Get ready to be inspired by the power of perseverance and the beauty of the unexpected as we explore this thrilling upset together.

Adhiban Gambit against 1.c4 Adhiban Gambit against 1.c4

After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 Black is giving up a pawn. By sacrificing the e-pawn, Black gains a lot of time harassing the white knight and seizes the initiative in the centre.

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The Underdog!

with IM Robert Ris

We all love stories where a vastly underrated player surprises everyone by winning against a far stronger player. Luckily, we are all human, after all.

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 we get to face a stronger opponent?

Dutch IM Robert Ris presents us real examples of such encounters from the last month. With his co-host Arne Kaehler, they look at the tactics and strategies that led to the upset win.

 

Robert Ris has authored plenty of FritzTrainers for ChessBase — check out the newest from his vast collection:

A Complete Black Repertoire against 1.d4, 1.Nf3 & 1.c4

These video courses feature a black repertoire against 1.d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. The recommended variations are easy to learn and not difficult to remember, but also pose White serious challenges.

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Arne 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.