Grivas Chess Lab - Endgames with Opposite-Colored Bishops 

A Comprehensive 120-Example Journey Through Chess's Most Paradoxical Endings

Modern Chess is proud to announce the launch of the Grivas Chess Lab series with GM Efstratios Grivas's definitive work: Endgames with Opposite-Coloured Bishops. This meticulously crafted course represents one of the most comprehensive treatments of this notoriously complex endgame theme ever assembled for the serious student.

The Endgame That Defies Convention

"In endings with bishops of opposite color, material means nothing, position everything," observed Cecil Purdy—a principle that makes these endings both fascinating and treacherous for players at every level. GM Grivas has distilled decades of analysis and practical experience into 120 extensively annotated examples that illuminate the subtle dynamics governing these positions.

The course addresses a fundamental paradox: while opposite-colored bishop endings are renowned for their drawing tendencies, they simultaneously offer the most complex strategic and tactical challenges in endgame theory. Unlike traditional endings where material advantage typically translates to winning chances, these positions demand a complete recalibration of evaluation criteria.

Comprehensive Coverage Across Seven Strategic Themes

GM Grivas's systematic approach divides this vast subject into seven expertly structured chapters:

Chapter 1: Separated Pawns The counter-intuitive principle that separated pawns often prove superior to connected ones receives thorough examination. Grivas explores the critical rule governing pawn separation—when one file divides passed pawns versus two or more—and the practical exceptions that determine outcomes.

Chapter 2: Material Advantage (1-3 Extra Pawns) A detailed analysis of positions where traditional material counting fails. The course demonstrates why two or even three extra pawns may prove insufficient, and identifies the positional factors that determine convertibility.

Chapter 3: Positional Advantage Here, Grivas emphasizes GM John Nunn's crucial insights: the primacy of passed pawn quantity over total pawn count, and how minute structural changes can dramatically alter evaluations. The concept of color blockades receives particular attention.

Chapter 4: Rooks on the Board With additional major pieces, the stronger side's winning prospects improve significantly. The course examines breakthrough techniques, sacrifice motifs, and the complex interplay between attacking and blockading strategies.

Chapter 5: Adding Queens When queens remain, direct mating attacks become viable, fundamentally altering the strategic landscape. Grivas demonstrates the timing of queen exchanges and the creation of widely separated passed pawns.

Chapter 6: Queen and Rook(s) Present These late middlegame positions demand exceptional technique. The course explores initiative maintenance, optimal pawn placement relative to the opponent's bishop, and the exploitation of weakened king positions.

Chapter 7: Initiative Cases A masterclass in dynamic evaluation, showing how initiative can override material considerations entirely. These instructive examples demonstrate the power of the "active" bishop in complex positions.

The Authority Behind the Analysis

GM Efstratios Grivas brings unparalleled credentials to this work. His achievements span competitive play, training excellence, and theoretical contribution:

Competitive Accomplishments:

• Olympic Silver Medal (1998, 3rd Board)
• European Team Championship Gold Medal (1989, 3rd Board)
• World Junior Championship 4th Place (1985)
• Five Balkan Championship medals
• 28-time Greek Individual and Team Champion

Training and Theoretical Recognition:

• Six FIDE Annual Awards, including the prestigious Boleslavsky Medal (2009, 2015) for best author
• Former Secretary of the FIDE Trainers' Commission (2009-2018)
• Professional lecturer for FIDE trainer certification seminars
• Author of 153 published works across nine languages

This combination of practical strength and theoretical depth ensures every example carries both analytical rigor and practical relevance.

Multi-Format Learning Experience

Understanding that serious students require flexibility in their study methods, the course provides:

• Extensive PGN Database: All 120 positions with GM Grivas's detailed annotations
• Downloadable PDF Reference: Complete framework for offline study
• Video Presentations: Visual explanation of key concepts

This multi-modal approach accommodates different learning preferences while maintaining the analytical depth that characterizes Modern Chess content.

The Beginning of an Extended Collaboration

This release marks the inaugural course in what promises to be an extensive series. The Grivas Chess Lab represents a long-term commitment to bringing GM Grivas's encyclopedic knowledge and analytical precision to the Modern Chess platform. Future releases will continue exploring endgame theory with the same meticulous attention to detail and practical applicability.

Strategic Investment in Endgame Mastery

For ambitious players, endgame knowledge often determines competitive outcomes more than opening repertoire breadth or tactical pattern recognition. Opposite-colored bishop positions, occurring in approximately 3.6% of high-level games, represent a critical gap in many players' technical arsenal.

GM Grivas's course fills this gap with the thoroughness and precision expected from Modern Chess. Each of the 120 examples has been selected for its instructional value, with annotations that reveal the underlying principles governing these complex positions.

Technical Excellence Meets Practical Application

The course materials reflect Modern Chess's commitment to production quality. The PGN annotations maintain GM-level analytical standards while remaining accessible to dedicated students. The accompanying PDF provides a structured reference framework, while video content offers dynamic explanation of critical concepts.

This comprehensive approach ensures that complex theoretical knowledge translates into practical playing strength—the ultimate measure of any educational chess material.

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