8/6/2021 – In ChessBase Magazine #201 (May/June 2021) IM Robert Ris presented an interesting line in the Sicilian Four Knights Variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 and now 9...Rb8. The rook move is an interesting alternative to the deeply analysed main line 9...Qb6. Meanwhile, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in particular has tried 9...Rb8 in a number of games, and Levon Aronian recently came up with an entirely new move: 9...Bb7. In the current issue of ChessBase Magazine Extra #202 Robert Ris analyses these new developments on a video. Take a look!
new: ChessBase 16 - Mega package Edition 2022
Your key to fresh ideas, precise analyses and targeted training!
Everyone uses ChessBase, from the World Champion to the amateur next door. It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.
Your key to fresh ideas, precise analyses and targeted training! Everyone uses ChessBase, from the World Champion to the amateur next door. It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.
The idea is to focus on certain themes by means of specific pawn structures. The central question is: how can the pieces be manoeuvred into good positions and what should we then consider? Themes: IQP and Passed Pawn
New: now also available as stream!
€29.90
Update in the Sicilian Four Knights Variation
Robert Ris checks the latest trends, 9...Rb8 and 9...Bb7
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4, one of the main lines of the Sicilian Four Knights Variation, the following position arises:
The reference function of ChessBase 16 and the Mega Database 2021 show that a) 9...Qb6 is by far the most popular move though b) 9...Rb8 is a trendy alternative!
In ChessBase Magazine #201 (May/June 2021) IM Robert Ris published an opening article about the line 9…Rb8 – an interesting alternative to the main line where some lines are analysed to death until the 30th move and beyond: "In practice, Black has excellent results with this variation, which I don't think is surprising because his position is easier to play. Beautiful tactical ideas were demonstrated in various games. White, with his king stuck in the center, suffers from a lack of coordination." (Robert Ris in CBM 201)
Meanwhile, 9…Rb8 has been tried by a number of top players, first of all by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. In the CBM Extra #202 Robert Ris provides an update to the most recent developments after 9...Rb8 when White answers with 10.a3 and 10.Le3.
In the second part of Ris' update he looks at another new idea: 9…Bb7 – Levon Aronian used this move to win a brilliancy against GM Alan Pichot in May. After 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 0-0 Black sacrificed a piece for a pawn, a strong center, and an exposed white king!
The video in CBM Extra #202 is 35:55 minutes long. Here's a sample:
Video analysis by Robert Ris from CBM Extra #202 (sample)
Video runtime in CBM Extra 202: 35:55 min
In the second opening video in CBM Extra #202 Mihail Marin takes a look at the English Opening with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 – taking the game Wesley So - Fabiano Caruana from the Superbet tournament in Bucharest 2021 as a point of departure. Video runtime: 28:39 min.
The new Komodo Dragon 3 engine has gained 100 Elo points in playing strength over its predecessor when using a processor core in blitz. That's a huge improvement for a program that already reached at
an Elo level of over 3500!
It's a great idea to take Grunfeld and King’s Indian players out of their comfort-zone right from the start! Let’s go 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 first and now play 3.h4!?
Videos: Nico Zwirs tests the dynamic 5...b5 in the Vienna Variation of the Queen's Gambit. Ivan Sokolov introduces 6.g3 as a surprise weapon in the Sicilian Four Knights Variation. "Lucky bag": 60 analyses by Anish Giri, David Navara and many more.
The best way to improve at chess is to carefully study master games, stop at certain positions and think about candidate moves. Doing this on your own can be difficult and tiresome, but on this viddeo course, you will be guided by worldrenowned trainers!
Throughout this video course, we will study how to master sacrifices and the initiative in several aspects: opposite-coloured bishops, the bishop pair, the exchange sacrifice, launching an attack, and the good moment to sacrifice will be covered.
Throughout this video course, we will study how to master sacrifices and the initiative in several aspects: opposite-coloured bishops, the bishop pair, the exchange sacrifice, launching an attack, and the good moment to sacrifice will be covered.
€29.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.