ChessBase Magazine Extra 212

Opening videos

Romain Edouard: "Critical Lines in the Dragon" - Part I: 9.0-0-0 d5 Sidelines

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 9.0-0-0 d5

In this CBM Extra, French opening expert Romain Edouard starts a four-part series in which he presents new ideas for Black in the Sicilian Dragon Variation. Themes of this series are the lines after 9.0-0-0 and 9.g4 (9.Bc4 is not the subject of Edouard’s analysis). In the first part, the sidelines after 9.0-0-0 d5 are discussed: 10.Kb1, 10.Nxc6 and 10.h3 (the main continuation 10.exd5 will be dealt with in Part II in Extra 213). In his video analysis, Edouard gives many tips - Black must often be ready to sacrifice an exchange for active play with the bishop pair - and shows tricks that you have to know as a Dragon player. However, those who know the variations well should have no problems keeping the game in balance in these lines as Black.

Leon Mendonca: Caro-Kann

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.N1e2

Leon Mendonca was awarded the title of an International Grandmaster by FIDE at the age of 14. This season, the now 17-year-old Indian is playing in the German Bundesliga for the first time (for the Hamburg SK). In this video, he reviews his Bundesliga game against Anton Demchenko from early February. In his analysis he goes into the side variation 6.S1e2, which his opponent tried against him in that game, and explains the differences in comparison to the main continuations 6.h4 or 6.Nf3 as well as to 6.Sh3. Mendonca's explanation of the opening phase is very clear, as is Black's play. In the game he only began to think for the first time after the move 14.Qf3:

The position makes a balanced and calm impression at first sight. But Mendonca shows in his analysis that Black can quickly get into trouble e.g. after the immediate exchange of queens after 14...Qd5 15.Qxd5 exd5. For White could continue 16.Bf4 and after f2-f3, Ke1-f2 build up pressure both on the kingside (g2-g4-g5) and on the queenside (a2-a4-a5). In addition, the white knight on d3 is excellently placed and prevents any black counterplay. In the video, Mendonca describes in detail the course of his thoughts and explains how he achieved an improved version of the endgame through the intermediate moves 14...Bd6 15.Bd2. Another important and instructive moment of the game as well as the analysis is Demchenko's 19.g4 - a natural move, but a strategic mistake that with a little luck his opponent could have exploited to more than half a point.

Analyses by Romain Edouard, Spyridon Kapnisis, Adrian Mikhalchishin, Krishnan Sashikiran, Samvel Ter Sahakyan and many others

Krishnan Sasikiran contributes "The Brilliancy" of this Extra. After the unusual opening moves 1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3?! Ne4! 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ng1!? e5!? 8.dxe5?! Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qxe5, Sasikiran reached the following position with Black:

"I already felt that I had a big advantage, as the white kingside is not yet developed and Black has free piece play." Shortly afterwards he divided the white forces with the advance 13...e3! - an exemplary example of how to consistently keep the initiative going and exploit it when you have a lead in development!

In addition to “The Brillaincy”, the "Lucky bag" offers 43 further games with detailed commentary!

Last but not least: the Update Service provides over 40,000 new games for your database!

Once again, practically the entire world's top players are represented!

The games of the Update Service are also included in the Mega Update Service 2023, which you can use with the programmes ChessBase 15/16/17 (and a corresponding subscription).