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"Sicilian: Moscow Variation" |
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Playing the White side of the Sicilian is a tricky business these days with all that main-line theory to remember. Indeed, if White is looking to present Black with some real problems while still avoiding mountains of theory, then the Anti-Sicilian Bb5 lines – more specifically, the Rossolimo (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) and the Moscow (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+) – might just be the way to go.
They are easy to play and often can resemble a Ruy Lopez - not what Black is looking for. Even players such as Anand, Carlsen and Svidler regularly use it - and with excellent results. So in his latest series “New Ideas In….” GM Ronen Har-Zvi examines the Anti-Sicilian Bb5 lines. |
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"French: Pseudo-Steinitz" |
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In a new series of “New Ideas In….” to accompany his recent series on the Rubinstein French, GM Ronen Har-Zvi take as look at the Psuedo-Steinitz variation of the French Defence with 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e5 Ne4!? While this interesting line can also be played against the Tarrasch with 3 Nd2, it’s best against 3 Nc3, as White has the strong option of ignoring the Knight on e4 and playing Bd3 and c3.
The idea is to break down the White center as quickly as possible - and, if White takes on e4, the Black pawn stops White’s natural development - and the Psuedo-Steintz is regarded as a good alternative line for players of the French Defence. |
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"French: Rubinstein variation" |
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With over 90% of White players opting for either 3 Nc3 or Nd2 against the French Defense, many players like the idea of the option of an easy-to-play sideline rather than the theory-trodden paths of the Winawer or Tarrasch variations. A simple solution is the Rubinstein variation with 3 ...dxe4 that can be deployed against both the big main-lines of 3 Nc3 and 3 Nd2 and has easy development and no pawn structure weaknesses for Black. |
And from there, there's also the solid Fort Knox variation with 4 ...Bd7 or the newer (neo-Rubinstein) Katalymov's variation with 4 ..Qd5. And in his latest series of "New Ideas In....", GM Ronen Harzvi shows just how easy and how handy the Rubinstein variation can be.
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"Panov Botvinnik" |
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Panov-Botvinnik Attack against the Caro-Kann Defense - a line that can also be transposed to from many openings, including the Queen's Gambit and the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
The Panov-Botvinnik Attack has a unique important place in chess lore. After Capablanca adopted the Caro-Kann, it assumed a status as the solid way for Black to escape attacking efforts of e4 players.
But Vasily Panov, a Soviet master, theoretician and Chess correspondent for "Izvestia", took a different view of the situation and decided to test Black's mettle with the direct action of 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4. Mikhail Botvinnik picked up on this and quickly formed it into a potent weapon that has since become the choice of determined king pawn players. |
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"Alapin Sicilian" |
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For many players not having the time or inclination studying the never-ending labyrinth of mainline Sicilians, such as the Najdorf, Dragon, Taimanov and Sveshnikov, the Alapin with 1. e4 c5 2. c3 has proved to be a very popular alternative.
It is named after the Russian master Semyon Alapin (1856-1923), and today it is one of the most solid and respected Anti-Sicilians, championed by many club players and leading grandmasters, such as Evgeny Sveshnikov, Eduardas Rozentalis and Sergey Tiviakov.
And now in his latest series of "New Ideas In... " , GM Ronen Har-Zvi takes a closer look at this very popular Anti-Sicilian line.
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"The 150 Attack" |
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In the latest of his "New Ideas In... " series, GM Ronen Har-Zvi looks at " The 150 Attack, " a sharp line for white against the Pirc that was pioneered in the 1980s by a new generation of English players, such as John Nunn, Nigel Short and Mickey Adams.
The main idea is Be3, Qd2, Bh6, advance the h-pawn and then deliver mate. Naturally, this seemed too good to be true and was quickly dubbed the 150 Attack (a peculiarity of the English grading system, with 150 equating to 1800 Elo), since it seemed that only a club player would use such a blatant attacking system and expect the game to finish in checkmate.
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"Yugoslav Attack, Dragon Sicilian" |
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In the latest of his "New Ideas in...." series for ICC Chess.FM, GM Ronen Har-Zvi investigates the latest developments and trends in the ultimate test of the Sicilian Dragon, the Yugoslav Attack with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4.
The Sicilian Dragon is back in vogue once again thanks to its recent addition to Magnus Carlsen's ever-growing arsenal. Years ago, Bobby Fischer gave his seal of approval to the Yugoslav attack, stating it was simply a case of preying open the h-file and sac, sac...mate! But this caveman approach in the Yugoslav Attack is well-worked out, as GM Ronen Har-Zvi shows that the Dragon still breathes fire for black with plenty of counter-play.
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"Unusual Queen Pawn Openings" |
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In his "New Ideas in...." regular video series for ICC Chess.FM, GM Ronen Har-Zvi investigates the latest developments and trends in those downright annoying and unusual Queen Pawn openings that avoid the main battle-lines with 2 c4.
Are you searching for a quick-fix against the Colle-Zukertort, Torre Attack, London System, QB Attack with 2 Bg5, Stonewall Attack or perhaps the King's Fianchetto Attack with 1 d4 2 Nf3 3 g3 (without c4)? Then look no further as Ronen gives you an easy-to-play antidote to all those annoying 1 d4 openings.
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"New Ideas in the Petroff Defence" |
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The Petroff Defence (sometimes called the Russian Defence, and named after Russia's Alexander Petrov, 1794-1867) is considered as one of Black's most reliable and solid methods of meeting the king's pawn opening. It is easy to play and an excellent choice for someone looking for an alternative to the Scotch Opening, the Italian Game and the 'Spanish torture' of the Ruy Lopez.
Until a few years ago, the Petroff was an opening that was favored by only a few top Grandmasters, including Anatoly Karpov and Artur Yusupov. However, the last few years have seen a dramatic rise in its popularity, and it now provides battlefields for many top clashes of the modern elite players, including Anand, Kramnik, Leko, Topalov, and Shirov. And in the latest of his "New Ideas in..." series, GM Ronen Har-Zvi, takes a closer look under the microscope at the solid Petroff.
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"New Ideas in the Marshall Attack" |
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One of the world’s first Grandmasters of chess,
America’s Frank J. Marshall (1877-1944), left behind a lasting legacy
to the chess world with his revered gambit against the Ruy Lopez –
the Marshall Attack with 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7
6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 0-0 8 c3 d5!
The Marshall Attack is one of the most important openings
in the history of chess and is still deployed with regularity at super
Grandmaster level. In current theory the ideas and strategies of both
approaches are studied in-depth, and nowadays experts have come to the
conclusion that White has no clear superiority in the main theoretical
lines. And in the latest of his "New Ideas in..." series, GM
Ronen Har-Zvi, takes a closer look under the microscope at Marshall's
revolutionary idea.
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"Slav and Semi-Slav Defences" |
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In a series of opening videos for ICC Chess.FM, GM
Ronen Har-Zvi investigates the latest developments and trends
that will keep you up-to-date in the rock-solid Slav and Semi-Slav Defences.
Sneak FREE preview of the last video.
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"Winter Blunderland" 2007 |
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Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane,
snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, We're happy tonight. Walking in
a winter....blunderland?? The festive fun starts here on ICC with
a special two part holiday show from GM Ronen Har-Zvi.
We're all prone to blunders - even the greats such as
Capablanca, Alekhine, Fischer, Kasparov, Karpov and Kramnik. But with
a dash of seasonal spirit, Ronen explores famous blunders from some of
the top players in the game, explaining why we make them and what we can
do to prevent them.
 Preview
Watch
(members only) Part 1
Preview
Watch
(members only) Part 2
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"Winter Blunderland" 2008 |
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The festive fun starts here on ICC with GM Ronen Har-Zvi's second seasonal Winter Blunderland, a follow-up to last year's big Christmas hit.
We're all prone to blunders - even the greats such as Capablanca, Alekhine, Fischer, Kasparov, Karpov and Kramnik. But with a dash of seasonal spirit, Ronen explores famous blunders from some of the top players in the game, explaining why we make them and what we can do to prevent them.
Watch the show
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"Ronen's Blunderland" |
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With Chess Talk and John Watson on vacation until September, each Tuesday through August Chess.FM will have a "summer special" with some new videos for you all to enjoy. First up is part one of Ronen's Blunderland, as our own GM Ronen Har-Zvi follows up on the success of his Winter Blunderland special from last year. This time, with the Anand-Kramnik match looming on the horizon, Ronen takes a look at blunders of the world champions. Yes, it can even happen to the best of them!
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