2/28/2025 – In the main line of the Yugoslav Attack, the ninth move Bc4 is nearly as popular as castling long. While Bd7 remains the most common response, Chris has some excellent alternative suggestions that can give Black an edge. Interestingly, Bc4 recently proved to be a nightmare for co-host Arne Kaehler, as Chris thoroughly enjoyed predicting and countering Arne’s "amateur" plans. | Photo: John Upham
Tata Steel 2023: Analyses by Giri, Van Foreest, Praggnanandhaa, Donchenko and many more. "Special" on Anthony Miles. Kasimdzhanov, Marin and Zwirs show new opening ideas from Wijk in the video. 11 opening articles with repertoire ideas and much more!
In this first part, the emphasis is on themes and ideas whereas Part 2 and 3 focus on theoretical knowledge!
With the new ChessBase series "The Monthly Dragon", the passionate Salsa dancer is showing us the newest tactics, plans, and development of this fascinating opening.
Lucky for us, the dragon is an opening, played by some of the best players in the world. This means, Chris probably won't run out of fuel for new content.
Full analysis by Chris Ward
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1.d4c52.e4cxd43.Nf3d64.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g66.Be3Bg7This was a
novel move order to reach the Dragon and there is a big reminder that Black is
not compelled to enter main lines. For example the Hungarian Dragon continues
to gain popularity with a model game being:6...Nc67.f3h58.Qd2Nxd49.Bxd4Bh610.Be3Bxe311.Qxe3Be612.Bb5+Kf813.0-0Qa514.h3Rc815.Bd3Kg716.f4Qc517.Qxc5Rxc518.Ne2Bc419.b3Bxd320.cxd3Rc221.Kf2e522.Ke3h423.Rf2Nh524.a4Rhc825.Raf1f626.fxe5dxe527.Ng1Ng328.Rd1f529.exf5gxf530.Rxc2Rxc231.d4e432.d5Kf633.Kd4f434.d6Ke635.d7Kxd736.Ke5+Ke737.Kxf4Rxg238.Re1Rxg1
0-1 (38) Oparin,G (2653)-Dubov,D (2693) New York USA 20246...a67.f3
might look set for an 'Accelerated Dragadorf' but an example of new ideas/
systems cropping up is:e58.Nb3Be69.g4?d5!10.g5Nc6!Not10...d4?11.Nxd4exd412.Qxd411.gxf6d412.Bg5dxc313.Qxd8+Nxd814.bxc3Rc815.Kd2Ba316.Rb1b517.Bh6Nb718.h4Kd719.h5Rhd820.Bd3Nd621.Rhg1Nc4+22.Ke2Nb623.Bd2Na4and Black went on to convert his endgame advantage in Azarya,J (2417)-Dau
Khuong Duy (2410) Hanoi VIE 20257.f30-08.Qd2Nc69.Bc4Nxd4The 9
Bc4 variation of the Yugoslav Attack is the most theoretical with Black having
plenty of systems to choose from including:9...Bd710.0-0-0Rb8Chinese
System10...Qa511.Bb3Rfc810...Rc811.Bb3Ne511...Nxd412.Bxd4b5 The Topalov System12.h4or12.Kb1Re8Prophylaxis12...h5Soltis Variation11.Bb3Na5and even9...Nd710.Bxd4Be611.Bxe6Intriguingly humans
decided over time that White was better off eschewing the bishop trade on e6
with11.Bb3remaining twice as popular in practice. Nevertheless as a kick
in the teeth to the living, top engines prefer the text!11...fxe6So this
pawn handily covers the d5-square but could also potentially be a key weakness.
White would also like to successfully get in e4-e5 whilst he might consider
the g6-pawn to be flimsy cover for the black king.12.0-0-0Qa5The natural
developing move, activating her majesty, adding cover to the e5-square and
connecting the rooks along the back rank. Soon White will have a decision to
make as to whether he should try to attack the black king or look to break
through in the centre in order to pressurise Black's e-pawns. For now though
he keeps his options open as the vast majority have also done before him.13.Kb1Alternatively13.Rhe1Nd714.Bxg7Kxg715.e5!?Nxe515...d5being the other approach.16.f4Nc617.Rxe6Qf518.Re4should be okay for Black.13...Rac814.h414.Rhe1Nd715.Bxg7Kxg716.Ne2Qxd217.Rxd2isn't a
problem for Black who can even playe5 if he
wants to keep the white steed away from attacking that same pawn on e6.
As it guarded the a2-pawn, White's last move facilitated14.Ne2but whilst
Black could ponder keeping the queens on,Qxd215.Rxd2Nd716.Bxg716.Bxa7?b6is bad news for the greedy bishop!16...Kxg717.Nd4can
comfortably see Black guard the e6-pawn with either 17. ..Kf7, 17...Kf6 or 17..
.Rf6.14...Nh5 Totally logical. The other advantage to
Black that came with ...fxe6 is a half-open f-file and the text facilitates
the use of that e.g with the black steed able to move to f4. For now though at
least White's h-pawn is prevented from advancing further.15.Bxg7Kxg716.g4? White wants to budge the knight in order to make inroads
against the black king but this doesn't work out. Alternatively:16.Qd4+e517.Qe3Qc518.Qg5Rf7offers equal chances whilst16.e5!?is a
familiar mixer where afterQxe517.Rhe1Qf418.Rxe6Qxd219.Rxd2Kf720.Rde2Rfe821.Nd5Black would have the neat defensive resourceRc5!?i.e.22.Rxe7+Note22.Nxe7?Nf422...Rxe723.Rxe7+and23.Nxe7Nf424.Re4Nxg223...Kf8netting the knight for pawns.16...Ng3!Possibly
White was expecting16...Nf417.h5 whereg5would keep the
wolves at bay. However the text is stronger.17.Rh3Or17.Rhg1Rxf3
The f-pawn was always going to fall with the main question revolving around
whether the black steed will escape from behind enemy lines.17...Rxf318.Qg2White had clearly figured that this would safely win material but he's in
for a rude awakening.Rcxc3!19.bxc3Qxc3 The black queen
descends closer now to the exposed white king but more importantly both the
rook and knight are now well supported along that 6th rank.20.Rg1A
visual end would come via20.Rd3Qe1+20...Rxd321.cxd3Qxd3+22.Kb2Qd4+23.Kb1Nxe4also looks quite appealing with that queen and knight pairing.21.Kb2Qb4+22.Rb3Qd4+23.Ka3Qc5+24.Kb2Rf225.Qxg3Qxc2+26.Ka3Qc1+27.Kb4Qc5+28.Ka4Rxa2+29.Ra3Qc4+30.Ka5b6#20...Qb4+21.Ka1Qc3+
Black shows who's boss by repeating with the intention of deplying an
alternative strong move. Nevertheless neat would also have been21...Qd4+22.Kb1Qb6+23.Ka1Rf2!i.e.24.Qxg3Rxc2 forcing mate
or at least for now a very significant gain of material.22.Kb1Nxe4!23.Qxf3Because of the simple fork on d2 this came with a resignation. Instead
though23.Rxf3Nd2+24.Kc124.Qxd2Qxd225.Rgf1Qb4+26.Kc1Qxg4leaves two rooks for a queen and too many pawns!24...Nxf3
would have attacked the remaining rook whilst also
threatening mate on a1. Basically curtains!0–1
Arne KaehlerArne 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.
1/17/2025 – It's still the Year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac, but on the 29th of January, it will turn into the Year of the Snake. But for Chris Ward, every year is the Year of the Dragon, and new games continue to show up month by month. In this episode, Chris examines the variation without f3 for White. What are the plans? How should they be countered? The English GM knows it all. | Photo: John Upham
12/13/2024 – The mainline in the Yugoslav attack, is constantly played on a higher level. But what happens, if instead of moving the queen to d2, it goes to e2? Chris Ward says, shows us how to play against this attempt, and gain a good advantage for Black. Furthermore, the English GM has a recent, super entertaining game for us, where two chess legends battle it out - dragon style! | Photo: John Upham
After 1.d4 d5 many players with White avoid the great amount of theory in the Slav, Semi-Slav, QGA and Orthodox Queen's Gambit and do not therefore play 2.c4. This is not very ambitious, but the painful experience of many chess players has been that the Colle System, the Trompowsky Attack, the Torre Attack and the London System are nevertheless extremely dangerous. Black has to be prepared for each of these openings and IM Valeri Lilov offers you some help with his six instructive videos, in which he demonstrates for each single opening a relevant plan for Black. In addition to the openings mentioned, the Bulgarian trainer also delves into the Catalan, the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and the Richter-Veresov Opening.
Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
If you're looking to revamp your opening repertoire and surprise your opponents with powerful, modern ideas, The Ultimate Scotch Gambit is the perfect choice.
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