The Sicilian is known to be one of the most theory-heavy openings in chess, in which you cannot afford to be lazy and avoid learning lengthy lines. Have you ever encountered a variation in the Open Sicilian, which does not require spending hours on memorization and constantly worrying about your opponents’ theoretical novelties? If this sounds like something you would enjoy, “The Lazy Sicilian” (1. e4-c5 2. Nf3-e6 3. d4-cxd4 4. Nxd4-Bc5) might be an interesting option to add to your opening repertoire. In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

Grandmaster Harshit Raja, India’s 69th GM, has created a practical and powerful 1.e4 repertoire - perfect for players who want to play aggressively without drowning in opening theory. Whether you’re playing online or over-the-board, this course gives you solid attacking weapons that are easy to learn, fun to play, and difficult for opponents to face. 

Free sample video: Introduction

Free sample video: Scandinavian Defence

For a chess player, chess pieces are like specific tools in a toolbox. We need to know how best to use them, just as a craftsman knows his tools. We shouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail; and we shouldn’t close the position when we have the bishop pair.

Reading sample for free: The Bishop Pair

Every game begins with the opening - and even sometimes ends there! That doesn't have to be the case. With the ChessBase tutorials, you can rapidly get up to speed. "Openings Vol. 1: Open Games (1.e4 e5)" is the first part of a five-volume series on the basics of chess openings. Here you will learn from experienced coaches and experts just what you absolutely need to know about the individual areas, which basic plans are followed, how to play them and what pitfalls to watch out for. In 23 video lessons you will learn everything you need to know about the King's Gambit, the Vienna Game, the Italian, the Evans Gambit, the two-knight game, the Scottish, the Steinitz and Berlin defences, the Open Spanish or the exchange variation, Marshall, Philidor and Russian and much more.