Courses (1099)

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 Magnus Carlsen needs a flexible weapon against 1.e4, he often reaches for the Taimanov Sicilian. When Fabiano Caruana wants to keep his options open while maintaining concrete chances, the same opening appears on the board. This isn't coincidence—the Taimanov represents a uniquely modern approach to the Sicilian Defense, where rapid development and positional flexibility matter more than concrete forcing sequences. Now, GM Aydin Suleymanli brings his own perspective to this variation in The Practical Sicilian Paulsen - Part 1, offering a repertoire that emphasizes understanding over memorization.

When GM Ivan Cheparinov set out to create a complete repertoire against 1.c4, he faced a fundamental question that confronts every strong player: should you meet the English Opening with the symmetrical 1...c5, the solid 1...Nf6, or the ambitious 1...e5? His answer reveals a deeper philosophy about modern chess preparation. Rather than choosing the path of least resistance, Cheparinov selected 1...e5 as a counterattacking weapon that combines concrete equality with practical fighting chances—a rare combination in an opening where White typically dictates the game's character.

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 facing 1...d5, White players often find themselves juggling multiple repertoires—one system for the Queen's Gambit Declined, another for the Slav, yet another for the Semi-Slav. GM Swapnil Dhopade's latest course offers something different: a coherent strategic framework that treats these Black defenses not as separate entities requiring distinct preparation, but as variations of a single narrative. By employing g3-setups across the board, Dhopade creates what might be called a "Catalan philosophy" even in positions where Black has committed to ...c6—bringing the benefits of the fianchetto's long-term positional pressure to structures traditionally associated with sharper theoretical battles.

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 GM Pavel Eljanov sat down to build his second volume on the Pirc Defense, he faced a challenge familiar to every opening specialist: how to handle White's scattered alternatives without losing the thread of a coherent plan. Rather than treating each sideline as an isolated puzzle, Eljanov approached these systems through a unifying lens—flexibility as strategy. Where Part 1 addressed White's most forcing attempts (the Austrian Attack and the Space-Grab with 3.f3), Part 2 tackles everything else: the quiet systems, the Sämisch-style setups, and Karpov's patient 5.Be2. The course reveals how Black can maintain dynamic potential across these varied landscapes, turning White's flexibility into a double-edged sword.

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.

The Scotch Opening has long occupied a peculiar place in chess theory — respected but rarely trusted at the highest level. For decades, players have dismissed it as too straightforward, leading to simplified positions where Black can comfortably equalize. Yet history shows us that openings never truly die; they merely await someone with the vision to breathe new life into them. GM Sina Movahed, at just 15 years old with a rating of 2596, brings precisely this fresh perspective to his debut Modern Chess course, The Ambitious Scotch Game – Top-Level Repertoire for White.