4/16/2025 – The Classical Sicilian remains one of the most resilient and strategically rich responses to 1.e4. In this new ChessBase course, Grandmaster S.P. Sethuraman offers an in-depth guide to this time-tested defence, covering key lines such as 6.Bg5, 6.f3 and 6.Bc4. Designed for ambitious club players and competitive improvers alike, the course balances theoretical depth with practical insight, featuring model games, tactical drills and move-order nuances. With over five hours of video content, it’s a comprehensive repertoire for Black.
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YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
The Hyper-Accelerated dragon is fast, from the very first moves, your bishop heads to g7, seizes the long diagonal, and turns into the most feared piece on the board.
It rewards players who love initiative and clear attacking plans.
€69.90
€54.90
Principled, timeless
The Classical Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6) has stood the test of time as one of the most principled and fighting defences against 1.e4.
The course is designed to provide a deep yet practical repertoire for Black, balancing solid foundations with aggressive counterplay. The Classical Sicilian has stood the test of time as one of the most principled and fighting defences against 1.e4. With its rich history spanning world championship matches and modern elite tournaments, this opening remains a favourite among players who seek a dynamic, counterattacking approach without venturing into extreme theoretical battles like the Najdorf or Sveshnikov.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: 6.h3
With its rich history spanning world championship matches and modern elite tournaments, this opening remains a favourite among players who seek a dynamic, counterattacking approach without venturing into extreme theoretical battles like the Najdorf or Sveshnikov.
In this comprehensive ChessBase course, GM Sethuraman guides you through the essential concepts, strategic motifs, and cutting-edge theory of the Classical Sicilian, covering all key setups and move orders. The course is designed to provide a deep yet practical repertoire for Black, balancing solid foundations with aggressive counterplay.
What you will learn:
Understanding the Classical Structure
Mainline Coverage (6.Bg5, 6.f3, 6 Bc4 and more)
Sharp Tactics & Strategic Play
Move-Order Tricks & Transpositions
Model Games & Exercise Drills
Whether you're an ambitious club player or a seasoned competitor, this repertoire will help you seize the initiative and dictate the game against 1.e4!
Video running time: 5 hours 27 min. (English)
You can save all the games and variations from the video clips in your ChessBase database!
Grandmaster S.P. Sethuraman is a former World Under-16 Champion and Asian Chess Champion. A key player in India's Olympiad success, he is known for his deep opening preparation and strategic mastery. With years of elite-level experience, he is a true expert in modern opening play. His insights help players navigate the complexities of the opening with confidence.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
App for Windows: Windows-PC, Windows 10 or 11 and Internet
App for Mac: Mac OS X and internet
ChessBase books: Computer (iPad, Tablet, PC etc.), current browser, internet
ChessBase video stream: Computer (iPad, Tablet, PC etc.), current browser, internet
Available as a download or as a booklet with an imprinted activation key:
The course is designed to provide a deep yet practical repertoire for Black, balancing solid foundations with aggressive counterplay. The Classical Sicilian has stood the test of time as one of the most principled and fighting defences against 1.e4. With its rich history spanning world championship matches and modern elite tournaments, this opening remains a favourite among players who seek a dynamic, counterattacking approach without venturing into extreme theoretical battles like the Najdorf or Sveshnikov.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: 6.h3
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
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.
The major part of the material on which the Petroff Defence Powerbook 2026 is based comes from the engine room of playchess.com: 357 000 games. This imposing number is supplemented by another 17 000 from Mega and from correspondence chess.
Petroff Defence Powerbase 2026 is a database which contains 6475 high class games from Mega 2026 and the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 682 annotated.
Videos: Felix Blohberger presents the surprise weapon 4…a6 in the Four Knights Game. Mihail Marin analyses the English Opening with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg2 Nc6. Plus the ‘Lucky bag’ featuring 37 analyses by Berg, Radjabov and others.
Renowned for its solidity and strategic soundness, it has been a cornerstone of the repertoires of elite grandmasters including Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who relied on it successfully in the Candidates Tournament.
€39.90
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