 Wang Bang in Amsterdam!
It looks as if a “Wang Bang” in Amsterdam could provide another defining moment for Chinese chess. Nineteen-year-old Wang “Bang” Yue, China’s exciting and explosive young teenage sensation, is blowing away the opposition in the Rising Stars vs. Experience match in the Dutch capital, and looks to be on the brink of a major breakthrough into the elite arena.
After getting off to a perfect start of six wins, Wang was held to his first draw by Norwegian GM Simen Agdestein before getting back to his winning ways by beating GM Artur Jussupow. In the penultimate round, he found himself fighting for a draw - and getting - against the one and only, the venerable Viktor Korchnoi.
Now on 8/9, and a tournament performance rating of 2940, Wang has (so far) increased his Elo rating by a seismic 33-points and now looks destined to become the first Chinese player in history to enter the world’s elite Top 10. And already his rise in status hasn’t gone unnoticed. Jeroen van den Berg, Tournament Director for the world famous Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee, approached Wang in Amsterdam with an invite to play in next January’s Grandmaster ‘A Group’ alongside superstars Anand, Kramnik, Ivanchuk, Carlsen and Topalov.
In the 'Scheveningen' team match in Amsterdam, sponsored by NH Hotels, in conjunction with the Monaco-based Association Max Euwe, the Rising Stars team leads the Experience team by a one-sided score of 30-15 with the final round left to play.
Wang’s performance though has overshadowed that of his fellow teammate, Ivan Cheparinov, who has also had a stellar tournament being unbeaten on 7/9, with a full point separating the two going into the final round. This is important because the Rising Stars’ player with the top score also gets an automatic invitation to another prestigious tournament on the elite circuit, that being next year’s Amber Rapid and Blindfold tournament in Nice, France.
ICC Chess.FM's Macauley Peterson (voted Journalist of the Year by the Chess Journalists of America - Congratulations, Macauley!) brings us his inimitable spin on this intriguing match-up, with daily videos throughout, along with Peter Doggers of ChessVibes.com. Check out their videos below.
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August Membership Special - Final Weekend Offer!
 The dog days of summer are with us, but this time it comes with a special membership offer here at ICC that you just can't pass up. Now is your chance to SAVE $60 while at the same time turbo-charging ICC Dasher with the innovative World Champion "Junior" chess engine. Junior FAQ: http://www.chessclub.com/help/Junior
We are offering Junior for FREE all of this month with a purchase of a three-year ICC membership, new or renewal. At just $149.95 for three years, you already save $30 compared to the to the regular one-year price, while Junior would normally cost an additional $29.95 at our exclusive members-only price, saving you a total of about $60!
All you need to do is sign up or renew online at the three-year rate during the month of August and then download Junior 10.1 (the latest version of this engine) using Purchase Junior Engine from the Dasher Web menu. If you prefer, you also have the option of purchasing Deep Junior for just $20 (the normal difference for members).
Junior integrates with ICC Dasher, allowing you to analyze your games or “Play vs. Computer” offline. This is also the only UCI-COMPATIBLE version of Junior on the market, so you can run it in your other favorite chess programs in addition to Dasher.
So what are you all waiting for -- Save $60 and get Junior now!
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IM Alex Lenderman "Manest on The Slav"
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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.
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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.
Preview Part 1
Preview Part 2
Preview Part 3
To watch the rest sign up for membership!
Mondays: GM Ronen Har-Zvi "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.
Click here for a free 5 minute preview of Ronen's latest video. To
listen to the full videos, sign
up for membership!
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Tuesdays: Chess Talk with IM John Watson
 Tune-in
for Chess Talk with IM John Watson on ICC Chess.FM. John’s
weekly 60+ minute show (members only) will feature an interview
with leading chess personalities. All shows run on demand
for members after airing.
This week (Tue., 29 July), joining IM John Watson on Chess Talk is English IM John Cox (a.k.a. octavia on ICC). A former British junior champion, John has made a name for himself as an author of four clearly-written and praised opening books for publishers Everyman Chess: Starting Out: Sicilian Sveshnikov, Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence, Starting Out: 1 d4, and Dealing with d4 Deviations
Chess Talk will be on its summer break throughout August - but John Watson will be back in early September for a new season of his show with lots of new guests!
Find below a selection of free 5-minute
previews of the latest shows. To listen to the full shows, sign
up for membership! |
Wednesdays: Attack with LarryC!
 New
at ICC Chess.FM - Attack With LarryC! A
weekly 30 min+ show on Wednesdays at 15:00 EDT (and available on-demand thereafter for members), featuring
three-time U.S. Champion Larry Christiansen, one of the
most dangerous and respected attacking players of his generation.
Larry is a feared competitor and attacker
who authored two popular books that showcase his aggressive
style: Storming
the Barricades and Rocking
the Ramparts. And each week on his show, Larry
will feature various attacking motifs and themes and showing
you how best to play for mate.
Click "Play
Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Larry's latest
video. By popular demand from members, we are now archiving
previous Attack
with LarryC shows. This video is just one of the many
benefits of being a full member of ICC - so, sign
up for membership!
Thursdays: Ask the Renaissance Man
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Tune-in for "Ask the Renaissance Man" with National Master Dan Heisman every Thursday at 21:00 EDT. You send in the questions and Dan provides the answers every week on his Q&A show. Questions on tournament rules, opening play, chess books, chess politics, current events, and more!
Click
"Play Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Dan's
latest show. To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership! |
And this week for non-members, you can listen to the full show for free by clicking here. So, all the more reason to become a member now and get to listen each week to all the shows on ICC Chess.FM!
Thursdays: Boris Alterman's Gambit Guide
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In his weekly video lecture series
for ICC, Boris Alterman's Gambit Guide,
Boris investigates gambits old and new and show that,
while some may not be actively played on the grandmaster
circuit these days, they are all exciting to play
and at the same time instructive as they teach us
all about natural development of the pieces and tactics
in chess. GM Boris Alterman has just opened his
official blog where, among other things, he'll
be discussing some of his choices for his Gambit Guide.
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Show Previews:
Danish Gambit Part 1 Part
2
Evans
Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3 Part
4
Cochrane
Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3
Budapest
Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3
Hennig-Schara
Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3
Falkbeer
Counter Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3
Two
Knights Defence, Fried Liver Attack Part 1 Part
2
Two
Knights Defence, Traxler Counter-attack Part 1 Part
2 Part
3
Benko
Gambit Part 1 Part
2 Part
3 Part
4
Urusov
Gambit Part 1 Part 2
Max Lange Gambit Part 1
Part 2
Two Knights Morphy Attack Part 1
To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership!
Israeli GM Boris Alterman is best known as a leading chess advisor for the multi-title
winning chess software program (Deep) Junior, where he specialized
in developing its opening book.
Fridays: GM Joel Benjamin "Game
of the Week"
 Three-time
U.S. Champion GM Joel Benjamin starts his
weekly show every Friday at 15:00 Server Time. Click "Play
Video" for a free 5 minute preview of Joel's latest
show. To listen to the full show, sign
up for membership!
Joel is regarded by many as one of
the best commentators and analysts' we have in the game
today, and each Friday he will be giving us his insight
and spin with his selection of Game of the Week.
This not-to-be-missed weekly video
series is exclusive for ICC members only -- so if you want
to get ahead of the game, get ready to tune-in! By popular
demand and requests from members, ALL
of Joel Benjamin's GOTW videos are available. Enjoy! |
Fighting the Anti-King's Indians - Dembo
'I love playing the King's Indian, but no-one ever allows me to reach my favourite opening!'
Does this sound like an all too familiar complaint? The answer to this problem lies here.
The truth is you will reach your favourite opening in barely half the games you play against 1 d4, and that's why this book is a godsend to those players fed up with blindly searching for the right way to play against these annoying White systems designed to avoid the main lines: the Trompowsky; the London System; the Torre Attack; the Barry Attack; the Colle System; the Veresov; the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - the list goes on and on!Yelena Dembo, who as a hardened King's Indian and Grunfeld player has considerable experience facing these irritating openings, deals with them in no uncertain terms, in each case offering Black a no-nonsense solution that enables you to face the future with confidence. This title covers all of White's possibilities after 1 d4 Nf6.
It also includes King's Indian solutions to 1 Nf3 and 1 c4. It is written by a renowned opening expert.
Published by Everyman.
Price $22.95 -  Buy now!
Chess Instructor 2009 - Jeroen Bosch & Steve Giddins
Training Methods, Chess in Schools, Exercises, Top Coaches Explain, the Benefits of Learning Chess, the Use of Computers & the Internet, Interviews, Tools, Reviews, etc.
In the last decade there has been a phenomenal growth of chess within the educational community.
The popularity of chess is no accident: in an era of compulsive zapping of TV channels, violent gaming and mobile chatter, learning chess means improving basic skills (like analysis, decision making, strategic thinking, stamina, and dealing with stress) while interacting meaningfully with other pupils. A great job for motivated teachers and coaches.
But how do you teach chess? What material do you use? Is there a particularly successful method? How do you sell a chess curriculum, how do motivate your pupils and monitor their progress?
The Chess Instructor 2009 aims to give answers to all these questions, and more. It provides tools and methodologies for beginners as well as for more advanced coaching. With ready-to-use teaching exercises for all levels.
Published by New in Chess, 230 pages, soft cover.
Price $26.95 - Buy
now! |
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Play 1.b3! The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: A Friend for Life - Ilya Odessky
The popularity of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is largely based on its surprise value, but in fact 1.b3 is one of White’s more logical first moves. By immediately developing his queen’s bishop, White aims at undermining the black centre.
Ilya Odessky’s message in this unusual opening book is: opening with 1.b2-b3 is a lot of fun! Odessky will amuse and surprise you, but also teach you all the ins and outs of this offbeat system, which has been used by top players like Bobby Fischer and Bent Larsen.
White avoids the many theoretical landmines of mainline openings and steers towards an open battle, right from the start. This system’s basic ideas are strategically sound and easy to learn. But it can also offer wild complications for lovers of tactics.
Odessky does not fool you into believing that White is better in all 1.b3 lines. But you will get to know this opening deeply, and you will be better prepared for the struggle than your opponent will be. You will enjoy playing 1.b3!
Ilya Odessky is an International Master from Russia, a well-known chess coach and an outstanding chess writer.
Published by New in Chess, 258 pages.
Price $26.95 - Buy
now!
Flexible French, The - Moskalenko
The famous French Defence is one of the most widely-played chess openings. It is a fighting opening, which perfectly suits many club players as well as a growing number of top players.
The Flexible French is a revolutionary repertoire book for both Black and White.
The Ukrainian grandmaster’s analysis is high-level, yet his touch is light and fresh, and the book sparkles with original ideas. In his own inimitable style, Moskalenko gives the reader new gusto for the French.
This extremely accessible book rounds off with seven relatively unknown weapons, early deviations with which you may surprise your opponent – as Black or as White!
280 pages, soft cover.
Price $24.95 - Buy
now! |
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