Svitlana's Smart Moves - The Taimanov Sicilian

9/12/2026 – In this episode of Svitlana’s Smart Moves, Svitlana Demchenko introduces the Taimanov Sicilian, an opening she played as her main weapon for many years. She explains the flexible setup, and examines White’s most important approaches, including the Maroczy Bind, early Nb5 ideas, f4 setups and quieter development with Be2 or g3. Particular attention is given to the main lines with opposite side castling, where Black combines queenside counterplay with well-timed central breaks such as ...d5 or ...e5. Svitlana shows why the Taimanov offers a rich mixture of positional ideas and tactical possibilities and makes an excellent fighting opening for players who enjoy complex, unbalanced positions.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Complete control like Petrosian

9/4/2026 – In this episode of Svitlana's Smart Moves, Svitlana Demchenko explores how to keep complete control of a position through the classic game Petrosian vs. Unzicker. She shows how Petrosian calmly neutralized every source of counterplay, dominated the open c-file and gradually improved his pieces before creating a second weakness on the kingside. A remarkable king walk from g1 all the way to b1 clears the way for a pawn storm and demonstrates how even the king can play an important role in a long term strategic plan. The lesson highlights prophylaxis, the principle of two weaknesses and the art of turning a small positional advantage into a winning attack.

60m English Anti-Bayonet

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.