Courses (261)

This course tackles the sharpest lines in the Winawer arsenal, with the legendary 7.Qg4 at its core. After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4, White commits to tactical warfare, and Black responds with the fearless 7...Qc7, sacrificing the g7-pawn for dynamic counterplay. The position after 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 is where theory explodes into concrete variations, each requiring precise calculation and deep understanding. What distinguishes this course is the collaborative depth between Jobava's creative tactical vision and Basso's systematic modern approach.

When GM Valery Kazakouski and GM Pier Luigi Basso released Triangle Slav for Black - Part 1, they armed club players and professionals alike with the Marshall Gambit and the Noteboom—two aggressive systems where Black seizes the initiative from the opening moves. Now comes the natural question: what happens when White declines the confrontation? When they choose e3 instead of accepting complications, when they opt for Catalan structures or other "quiet" setups hoping to neutralize Black's ambitions?

Triangle Slav for Black - Part 2 answers this question with a bold proposition: transform these supposedly calm positions into a superior version of the Stonewall structure. The key insight is simple yet profound—by reaching the f7-f5 structure through the Triangle Slav move order, Black obtains a Stonewall where White's pawn is already committed to e3. This seemingly small detail fundamentally alters the character of the position. Where traditional Stonewall setups often struggle against White's space advantage and piece pressure, this version gives Black cleaner development, better piece coordination, and genuine winning chances.

When GM Baadur Jobava and GM Pier Luigi Basso designed this course, they made a deliberate choice: understanding before memorization. In an era where players rush to learn the latest engine lines in the Winawer, this course takes a different path—one that begins with Karpov-Short 1982 and travels through decades of classical games before arriving at modern theory. The philosophy is simple yet profound: most players know the Winawer's moves, but few grasp its logic. This course bridges that gap.

When Alexey Dreev first championed the Catalan at the highest level, he didn't just play an opening—he refined a philosophy. Now, in partnership with GM Pier Luigi Basso, that philosophy evolves. Play the Catalan - Part 1 - 2025 Edition arrives exactly one year after their original course, not as a replacement, but as a strategic evolution shaped by elite practice and theoretical earthquakes at the top level.

This isn't a repertoire built on equalizing. It's built on the understanding that White's "safe" choice creates specific weaknesses, and that ambition beats comfort when preparation is deeper. Where most players see the Moscow as a detour from sharper Sicilian paths, these authors see opportunity—a chance to dictate the game's character from move three. Their approach centers on 3...Nd7, Black's most ambitious response, followed by concrete solutions to every modern try White has developed to avoid theoretical Najdorf battles.

For decades, French Defense players have faced a peculiar problem: while main lines receive exhaustive theoretical coverage, the sidelines—those early deviations starting as early as move two—often catch them unprepared. A 2.Qe2, a King's Indian Attack setup, or even the archaic 2.f4 can derail your preparation not because these moves are objectively superior, but because they shift the game into unfamiliar territory where your main-line knowledge offers no guidance.
GM Pier Luigi Basso and GM Vladimir Malakhov recognize this gap in French Defense - Arsenal for Black, a course built on a radical premise: sidelines aren't inferior alternatives to be dismissed—they're distinct battlegrounds requiring specific, well-grounded solutions. Rather than offering you superficial "just play normally" advice, this course treats each sideline as a serious challenge worthy of the same analytical rigor typically reserved for the Winawer or Tarrasch.

When GM Baadur Jobava first introduced 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 in 2013, he compared the opening to "a lady I had fallen in love with." For years, he guarded his secrets jealously, watching others publish courses that relied on engine evaluations rather than capturing the opening's true spirit. In 2024, he finally shared his complete vision with Modern Chess. Now, just one year later, the Jobava London returns—not as a static system, but as a living, breathing organism that continues to evolve with modern chess.

The Bogo-Indian Defense has long carried a reputation for being solid but passive—a reliable drawing weapon rather than a path to active play. GM Alexey Dreev and GM Pier Luigi Basso challenge this perception fundamentally. Their course centers on a philosophical shift: the classical 4...Qe7 line, dismissed for years as too quiet, contains dynamic potential that modern engine analysis has only recently revealed.
This isn't about memorizing twenty-move sequences. It's about grasping the structural logic that makes the Bogo-Indian work—knowledge that transfers across your entire opening repertoire. Dreev's insight is elegant: when understanding replaces memorization, Black reaches "active, reliable positions that are also very easy to play."

When Magnus Carlsen defeated Fabiano Caruana at the 2018 World Championship match using the Italian Game, he wasn't just playing an opening—he was reviving a strategic conversation that began centuries ago. The Italian had been considered too drawish for modern elite competition, yet Carlsen demonstrated that with precise handling, White's modest-looking setup could create the kind of technical pressure that even world-class defenders struggle to neutralize. This course by GM Jose Martinez Alcantara and GM Pier Luigi Basso builds on that insight, offering a complete repertoire against Black's most resilient defense: the immediate 3...Nf6.

This first volume of Triangle Slav for Black by GM Valery Kazakouski and GM Pier Luigi Basso focuses on the system's sharpest variations: the Marshall Gambit (4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4) and the Noteboom Variation (4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4). These aren't positional abstractions; they're practical battlegrounds where precise calculation matters more than general plans.