1.b3 - Expert Repertoire for White - Part 1
GM Baadur Jobava and GM Pier Luigi Basso
Welcome to Our Exciting Chess Series: Mastering 1.b3 with Grandmasters Baadur Jobava and Pier Luigi Basso
We are thrilled to introduce a comprehensive two-part series designed to develop your expertise in the chess opening 1.b3. Led by the renowned grandmasters Baadur Jobava and Pier Luigi Basso, this course offers a fresh and strategic approach to your opening repertoire.
Why Choose 1.b3? In the modern era of chess, dominated by powerful engines, players often find themselves well-prepared against conventional white openings. The quest for a fresh and viable position is increasingly challenging. The move 1.b3 emerges as a robust choice, validated even by top-tier engine analyses. While the engine evaluations suggest minimal advantage (ranging from 0.00 to 0.20) when Black plays optimally, the real challenge for your opponents lies in the rarity and complexity of the resulting positions. This unfamiliar territory often leads opponents out of their comfort zones, offering you a significant practical advantage.
Course Requirements: Success with 1.b3 demands not only a keen understanding of positional play but also a high degree of creativity and adaptability.
Course Structure:
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Theoretical Foundation:
Dive into 12 meticulously crafted theoretical chapters, developed collaboratively by GMs Jobava and Basso. -
Interactive Learning:
Experience each chapter through a video presentation by GM Baadur Jobava, enhancing your learning with visual and practical insights. -
Model Games Analysis:
Explore four illustrative games played by GM Jobava, with detailed video analyses structured as engaging discussions between GM Basso and GM Jobava. These discussions address the common questions and reservations players might have about adopting 1.b3.
Current Scope and Future Expansions: This course currently examines responses such as 1...e5, 1...b6, and 1...g6. The exploration of additional responses will be featured in Part 2 of our series.
The course consists of 12 theoretical chapters, 12 interactive test positions, 4 model games, a Memory Booster, and a Video Version (4h and 52min).
Preview by GM Pier Luigi Basso
When my good friend Baadur Jobava suggested we team up for a course on 1.b3, I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. As a traditional player, diving into the depths of 1.b3 for White didn't immediately strike me as a winning strategy. But as Baadur shared his insights and strategies, I began to see the potential. With a blend of creativity and preparation, we uncovered exciting opportunities to gain an edge right from the opening move. Here's the deal: to make 1.b3 work for you, you've got to mix things up, understand the key positions and strategies, and let your creativity shine. And that's where our course comes in. We've crafted it to inspire you, to ignite your passion for the game, and to give you the tools you need to dominate the board with 1.b3. So, whether you're a seasoned pro looking for a new challenge or a budding enthusiast eager to explore new horizons, join us on this exciting journey with 1.b3. Let's turn your opening game into a masterpiece together!
Now, let's delve into some technical aspects. The course will be divided into four main areas: 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...d5, and systems where Black plays g6. In this initial database, we'll tackle 1...e5 and systems with g6 together. We've organized the material into 12 chapters. By the end, you'll have access to model games played by Baadur, which will prove immensely helpful in inspiring you and understanding the types of positions involved. During Baadur's commentary on these games, I'll be there to ask him all the questions that a player who has never played 1.b3 as White would want to ask. Baadur will open up about how he started playing 1.b3, the philosophy behind it, and why it's not as popular at the highest levels. Together, we'll discover that it's more about psychological motivations than purely chess-related ones.
VIDEO INTRODUCTION
SAMPLE CHAPTER
SAMPLE VIDEO