Fritztrainer
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Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol. 5
Ivan Sokolov
Understanding an opening doesn’t stop after the theory. It’s essential to understand ideas and structures connected to the opening moves. In this video course we’ll concentrate on Rossolimo and Maroczy structures in the Sicilian Defence.
The Rossolimo gained popularity recently as it avoids Open Sicilian theory such as the Sveshnikov or Kalashnikov. In essence, we reach an English opening with colours reversed (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 (or 2…Bb4) 3.g3 Bb4) being a tempo up. As with most colour reversed systems, now we have (as White) a comfortable position (the extra tempo counts after all!), but our aim also changes (as we are no longer happy with a ‘comfortable position’ but are aiming for an advantage). None other than Magnus Carlsen is playing this opening to a great extent, which is a key component of the selection on this video course. We mostly analyse plans after 3…g6 (followed by Bxc6 with both …bxc6 or …dxc6 recaptures) or 3… e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6. At first glance White has an ‘obvious advantage‘ in the Marcozy Bind: White has more space with Black not having clear counterplay. Danish chess legend Bent Larsen liked to play against the Maroczy Bind with Black and came up with many ideas that are still viable today. In this video course, my material is based on the Classical main-line Maroczy bind, I have pointed out the main ideas/positions both sides are aiming for and show surprising strategic mistakes (committed even in top-level games!).
• Video running time: 7 hours 20 Minutes (English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Model games database & Training with ChessBase apps - Play key positions against Fritz on various levels
Contents
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Rossolimo Structures: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
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Video 1: 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 Rozentalis vs Carlsen
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Video 2: 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.a3 Nge7 7.b4 and 6.c3 Nge7 7.a3 0-0 8.b4 Botvinnik vs Furman/Veresov
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Video 3a: 3...Nf6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 and 4.e5 Nd5 5.0-0/Nc3
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Video 3b: 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Nc3 Nc7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7.h3 g6 Adams vs Kramnik
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Video 4a: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nf6/f6/e5
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Video 4b: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d4 Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen
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Video 5a: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Qc7 and 5...Bg7 6.h3 Nh6/e5
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Video 5b: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 Caruana vs Carlsen
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Video 5c: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.0-0 Caruana vs Carlsen
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Video 6: 3...e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3
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Video 1a: 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Ne6 10.Qd2 d6 11.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rac1 Bc6 14.b4 Keres vs Petrosian
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Video 1b: 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Ne6 10.Qd2 d6 11.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rac1 Bc6 14.Rfd1 Keres vs Petrosian
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Video 2: 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Ne6 10.Qd2 b6 and 10.Rc1 Qa5 11.Be2/Qd2
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Video 3: 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Nc6 10.Qd2 d6/Qa5
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Video 4: 7...0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 Carlsen vs Lie
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Video 5: 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Be2/Bg5 - a5 ideas
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Video 6: 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 a5 11.b3 Caruana vs Carlsen
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Video 7: 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qcd4 d6 8.f3 Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.Nd5 Qxd2 13.Kxd2 Endgame and 12.b3 Rfc8 13.g4
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Video 8: 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Ne6 10.Qd2 d6 11.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rad1 Bc6 Larsen vs Petrosian