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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.
This week's very interesting pair of games are by Erik Grubbs, a Californian who sent them after I requested material while streaming. For a while now, I've been considering expanding the column to include a recorded masterclass of the material alongside (obviously only if the player would like to). And when I've sorted out the technical details with ChessBase it's possible that Erik will very kindly initiate the process.
For the moment, here are the two games played on the internet. Both involve considerable violence, and we start with a queen sacrifice which didn't quite work out in the end.
Click or tap the second game in the list to switch
Sicilian Defense with 2.c3 - Alapin Variation
Sergei Tiviakov started playing the line 1.e4 c5 2.c3 in the Sicilian Defence as White in 1988. Since then, he has employed it in more than 100 games, including a yearlong period when he I managed to win twelve 2.c3-games in a row. White tries to occupy the centre with a second pawn, and Black must know his stuff very well in order to be able to equalize. And this is only possible with 2...Nf6 – all other lines give the first player a small edge everywhere. Especially against stronger opponents, 2.c3 is an excellent weapon.
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Did you enjoy the column and instructive analysis by GM Jonathan Speelman? Do you wish you could have a world-renowned grandmaster analysing your play? You can!
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