ICC Chess.FM

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

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.

National Master Dan Heisman is a name that is synonymous with excellence in chess coaching and teaching. Dan authors the award-winning Novice Nook column (winner of three Chess Journalists of America "Best Instruction" awards), aimed at improving adults, for chesscafe.com that are clearly written and offer very practical advice and tips on how to improve your game.  He has also written eight (with more in the pipeline) acclaimed teaching books on the game, including Back to Basics: Tactics, Everyone's 2nd Chess Book, and Looking for Trouble.

Over the years, Dan has produced many winning students and scholastic teams - and now he can help you, too! Earlier in the year, Dan released Improve Your Chess I, a series of five highly-rated instructional videos for ICC Chess.FM, bringing you his innovative teaching methods on how to play better chess. Now, in a follow-up comes a new five-part series Improve Your Chess II, all packed with more advice and helpful tips from the maestro himself.

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.

The solid Slav Defence with 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 is enjoying a renaissance these days thanks to its extreme solidity and abundant possibilities for dynamic counter-play. Many masters of Slavic descent helped develop its theory in the 1920s, but its popularity increased dramatically after two exhaustive trials during the Alekhine-Euwe World Championship encounters of 1935 and 1937.

It had a lengthy hiatus thereafter - but now, thanks to a modern-day re-evaluation of its theory, the Slav is back in vogue again both at grandmaster and club level. And in a new three-part opening video series for ICC Chess.FM, IM Alex Lenderman (manest) provides an ideal primer for anyone looking to learn the nuances of this perennial favorite.

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!

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.

National Master Dan Heisman is a name that is synonymous with excellence in chess coaching and teaching.

Over the years, Dan has produced many winning students and scholastic teams - and now he can help you, too! In this series of five instructional videos for ICC Chess.FM, Dan brings you his innovative teaching methods on how to play better chess - and all packed with sound advice from the maestro himself.

IM Alex Lenderman shows how to play the Advance Variation of the Caro-Kann Defense.

Watch (members only) Free preview

To become a member subscribe today!

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.

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.

The Scandinavian Defense (or Centre Counter) has risen in a relatively short time from being a theoretical backwater to a fully-blown main line opening. Its change in name to the Scandinavian came in the mid-1980s with its rehabilitation at top level by Denmark's Bent Larsen. And its rise since then has been nothing short of meteoric, even being used with great effect by Vishy Anand in his unsuccessful 1995 world title match against Garry Kasparov.

IM Alex Lenderman provides a two-part, introductory lecture about chess endings. Follow along as he annotates moves upon the board for play-by-play action.

Part 1 Watch (members only) Free preview
Part 2 Watch (members only) Free preview

To become a member subscribe today!

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.