Sicilian Dragon: The Real Deal! Part 2
Following on from ‘Part 1: Understanding The Dragon’ where important themes and concepts were explained, now it’s time to delve into the theory that has shaped this exciting opening over the years. From reasons why once popular variations are no more (but with revival suggestions!) to coverage of the more modern systems currently deployed by the World’s elite, this two-parter has it all!
Following on from ‘Part 1: Understanding The Dragon’ where important themes and concepts were explained, now it’s time to delve into the theory that has shaped this exciting opening over the years. From reasons why once popular variations are no more (but with revival suggestions!) to coverage of the more modern systems currently deployed by the World’s elite, this two-parter has it all!
The Yugoslav Attack always grabs an audience and in this video course it is the 9 0-0-0 and 9 g4 lines that come under the microscope with all systems to date reflected upon but a bias towards where we are now and where it looks like we’re heading. Also featured are the ‘Dragadorf’ systems including the fashionable early …h5 ideas such as the one championed by Magnus Carlsen! With his constant monthly monitoring of Dragon games Worldwide on the chesspublishing site, Chris argues that rather than being analysed to death as many had predicted, in fact the opening has flourished in recent years with new variations frequently popping up. The viewer won’t be overwhelmed with myriads of moves to learn but with a nice choice of systems, will receive a good grounding in all chapters that can be used as a fantastic springboard for further investigation. There is simply no doubt that with these video courses assimilated, the user will be more ready than ever to enter the Dragon!
Themes: Yugoslav Attack 9 0-0-0 and 9 g4 and all things ‘Dragadorfy!’.
• Video running time: 4 hours 22 minutes(English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels
Sicilian Dragon: The Real Deal! Part 3
Following on from ‘Part 1: Understanding The Dragon’ where important themes and concepts were explained, now it’s time to delve into the theory that has shaped this exciting opening over the years. From reasons why once popular variations are no more (but with revival suggestions!) to coverage of the more modern systems currently deployed by the World’s elite, this two-parter has it all!
Everybody loves Yugoslav Attack encounters and in this video course it is the sharp 9 Bc4 line that takes centre stage. Whilst these days most focus on the Soltis, Topalov and Chinese Variations, also covered here, other Black options similarly come under the microscope. Everything non-Yugoslav Attack is also then visited including the trendy ‘Long Castles Classical’ approach. With his constant monthly monitoring of Dragon games Worldwide on the chesspublishing site, Chris argues that rather than being analysed to death as many had predicted, in fact the opening has flourished in recent times with new ideas and variations frequently popping up. The viewer won’t be overwhelmed with myriads of moves to learn but with a nice choice of systems, will receive a good grounding in all chapters that can be used as a fantastic springboard for further investigation. There is simply no doubt that with these video courses assimilated, the user will be more ready than ever to enter the Dragon!
Themes: Yugoslav Attack 9 Bc4, Classical and Fianchetto Systems
• Video running time: 6 hours (English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels
Sicilian Dragon Powerbook 2022
For the new edition of the Sicilian Dragon Powerbook the Elo average was set to at least 2450 (computer chess) or 2400 (human chess). This threshold was achieved by 14000 games from Mega 2023 and from correspondence chess, to which have been added 161 000 games from the engine room of playchess.com. The Dragon is one of those openings which you do not simply play but which turns into a passion. With this setup you avoid boring symmetrical positions but by playing it accept greater risks. However, the risk can also be minimised with good theoretical knowledge.
In the Sicilian Dragon Powerbook 2022 too, nice discoveries await you. The numbers confirm that White should aim to castle long with 6.Be3, since the alternatives are harmless. After 6...Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 you are faced with the next decision. In modern tournament practice there is a slight trend to 9.0-0-0, which is also confirmed by the statistics in the Powerbook. To be sure, the exciting variations occur after 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5
Here the statistics also confirm that the waiting move 12.Kb1 is much stronger than the alternatives. Black must deviate beforehand and there is, e.g., the very popular, Topalov Variation 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5.
However, the pretty picture from White’s point of view is contradicted by unsatisfactory evaluations in human practice.
Sicilian Dragon Powerbase 2022
The 736 selected annotated games provide excellent study material. Top players such as Adhiban (1), Anand (2), Edouard (3), Gelfand (1); Kamsky (1), Motylev (1), Nielsen (3) and Tiviakov (9) have analysed their games, plus comments from Dragon experts such as Dorian Rogozenco (289) and André Schulz (140) as well as other top-class authors. In total there are 5490 games, with a rating average of at least 2500 (excluding games with commentaries as well as those of the Dragon specialists Mikhail Golubev, Sergei Tiviakov, Gawain Jones, Rauf Mamedov, the games of the strong correspondence chess players Michel Leqroc and Arild Haugen are also worth studying).
Double-click on the database to load the game overview. Another double-click loads the corresponding game. Using the Players tab, you can sort the games by frequency (with the Total tab). Mikhail Golubev is at the top with 127 games, followed by Sergei Tiviakov (126). Other specialists are Gawain Jones, Rauf Mamedov, Alexei Fedorov and Kiril Georgiev.
The games can be played through or examined further with an engine or a Powerbook.
