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The Fantasy Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3) is a tricky try by White to steer the game into muddy waters right from the off and take Black away from the solid positions he is accustomed to in the main line variations of the Caro-Kann. Traditionally the opening never gained too much credibility amongst top players, since White's attempt to preserve his pawn centre at the cost of weakening his kingside was hardly seen as a major threat to the super-reliable Caro. However, thanks to a wave of news ideas and innovations first introduced at the 2010 European Individual Championships and many more thereafter, the variation has made a major comeback and can now be found in the repertoires of some of the world's best. In this 60 minute video, IM Lawrence Trent will discuss the 5 main variations Black has at his disposal but how with each one White has a number of ways to keep the position full of play and dynamic possibilities, leading to games which loyal Caro players will have difficulty dealing with.

Tired of spending hours and hours on the boring theory of your favourite opening? Then here is your solution, play an Anti-Sicilian with 3.Bb5 against 2...d6 or 2...Nc6, and 3.d3 against 2...e6. In 60 minutes you will get a crash course in how to avoid mainstream theory and in understanding the ideas of this Anti-Sicilian setup. After these 60 minutes you should be able to survive the Sicilian for a long time, without being bothered by new developments found by engine x supported by an x-core machine. Now that it finally comes down to understanding, let's play chess!

The Grünfeld Defence is a very dynamic opening with an excellent reputation and the list of players ready to defend it reads like a who's who in chess. It is rather remarkable, that one variation still retains the position of main line and that after hundreds of games played with it some questions still remain open. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 promises White a very compact and solid pawn centre well supported by the pieces. Black is unable to destroy this main asset of the opponent, but can certainly try to undermine it with clever play.

Essentially, the English Opening usually leads to reversed positions in which the first player enjoys the extra tempo. Then why not meet this 1.c4 move with 1…e5 and play the reversed Sicilian? Indeed, this is one of Black’s most reliable options, and one that leads to positions which are full of life. Practically all the top players have tried it in important tournament games, and some of them like S. Karjakin, V. Kramnik and V. Topalov even tend to give preference to such an approach. In this 60 Minutes video you will find a complete repertoire for the second player based on the move 1…e5 against White’s most popular approach - the Reversed Dragon setup. Bulgarian GM Dejan Bojkov uses very recent top GM games to highlight the trends in the line and to explain the ideas behind Black’s development.

The French Defence is an aggressive and tough opening. Typically, the second player shows his ambitions as early as on move three in the main, after - 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 - the Winawer Variation. Black’s intentions are clear - pressure in the center, and quick development. They also do not mind to trade their bishop for the knight, and to spoil White’s pawn structure. In many cases this will lead to closed positions in which knights might prevail. And we should not forget the extremely sharp lines in which Black can sacrifice his whole king’s flank. Then, why not spoil these plans straight on move four? The continuation 4.Ng1-e2 is developing a piece, and keeps the pawns intact. What is more important - the resulting positions are unusual for the typical French player and contain a lot of venom. Check the new Learn in 60 minutes to find a repertoire based on the move 4.Ng1-e2. The author GM Dejan Bojkov for example used it to win a crucial game at the Canadian Open Championship 2011, which helped him share the win at this prestigious event.

The Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack with 1.b3 (or 1.Nf3 followed by 2.b3) is an opening system that has been rather neglected by the theoreticians but can prove deadly in the hands of the skilled tournament player. Leading exponents of this move have included both brilliant attacking players such as Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Albin Planinc and Artashes Minasian and positional players such as Tigran Petrosian, Mark Taimanov and Vladimir Bagirov. Even Bobby Fischer tried it in several games instead of his favourite 1.e4. And the greatest exponent of this system was the legendary Danish Grandmaster, Bent Larsen.White’s set up emphasises flexibility, often adapting his position to what Black does in reply. This can prove quite lethal to opponents who like to play a single predictable set up as Black and even strong players can go badly astray when confronted by the unusual problems it poses. On this DVD Davies arms the viewer with insights into how to handle things and demonstrates how he thinks White should meet Black’s main defences. Using examples taken from the practice of leading exponents of this opening he explains the strategies clearly and concisely. Video running time: 4 hours 40 minutes.

In the nineteen-twenties, hyper-modernism was making its appearance in the chess world. New openings were being tested, in which influence on the centre was being exerted from a distance. One such opening was the Pirc Defence. Chess was still very classical in nature, and when, at the New York tournament in 1924, Capablanca's opening choice as Black against Eduard Lasker was 1.e4 g6, this was called by the future world champion Alekhine: "a joke". However, chess proved to be richer than had been thought and the Pirc Defence established itself as an opening weapon for the creative player. The many attempts to refute the line with fast occupation of the centre and a direct assault (such as the Austrian Attack) prove that it is pretty much alive and still kicking. But why try to refute the Pirc, when one can get a small but stable advantage by simple development? In this 60 Minute course GM Dejan Bojkov of Bulgaria will unveil the secrets behind the Classical Line - 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0. Following classical principles, White occupies the centre, finishes development and can look confidently to the future. All Black's main replies are covered in the videos - 6…c5, 6…c6, 6…Bg4, 6…Nb8-d7, as well as some rare options. Enjoy!

Constancy and a striving for solid positions are what define Sergei Tiviakov’s opening repertoire. On his two repertoire DVDs against 1.d4 the top Dutch grandmaster presents to you exactly those variations and ideas with which he himself has been successful in tournament chess for many years. On the two DVDs all important systems which are available to White after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 are dealt with in detail. Also, in many areas Tiviakov offers you a choice between alternative variations for Black, between which you can decide according to your temperament. A further highlight of the DVDs is Tiviakov’s collection of all the games which he has played during his career with the Catalan, the Queen’s Indian and the Nimzo-Indian. Many of these are published on these DVDs for the very first time. Video running time: 5 hrs 36 min.

The Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3) is a simple and easy to learn answer to the Caro-Kann. By clarifying the central tension White gives himself a clear plan of attack using the half open e-file and the e5 square. This is far from easy for Black to meet as Bobby Fischer, Jan Timman, Walter Browne and other leading Grandmasters have demonstrated in their games. Black too has his resources but he needs to know what he's doing. On this DVD you will find a clear explanation of the strategy for both sides as well as answers to popular treatments such as 4...Nc6 5.c3 Qc7. Whilst the main focus is on the White side of this opening you will also find ways for Black to defend.

Constancy and a striving for solid positions are what define Sergei Tiviakov’s opening repertoire. On his two repertoire DVDs against 1.d4 the top Dutch grandmaster presents to you exactly those variations and ideas with which he himself has been successful in tournament chess for many years. On the two DVDs all important systems which are available to White after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 are dealt with in detail. Also, in many areas Tiviakov offers you a choice between alternative variations for Black, between which you can decide according to your temperament. A further highlight of the DVDs is Tiviakov’s collection of all the games which he has played during his career with the Catalan, the Queen’s Indian and the Nimzo-Indian. Many of these are published on these DVDs for the very first time. Video running time: 4 hrs 43 min.

In recent years the Classical Variation of the French Defence (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6) has been very popular with many different playable options for Black after either 4.Bg5 of 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4. Yet by playing 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3 White can sidestep these and get the game back onto his own turf. In the main line White can choose between two different approaches, purely positional play or a violent plan involving castling long. The first of these plans has been used extensively by Australian GM Ian Rogers whilst Alexandra Kosteniuk has played the second with great effect. Both these plans are explained making this product suitable for players of every style. A number of transpositions are also mentioned by which the lines covered can be reached via a 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 move order or even an Alekhine's Defence!