Otvorenia, Strana 19

The Giuoco Piano (Italian for “quiet game”) is the oldest recorded chess opening, appearing as one of 12 chess openings detailed in the Göttingen manuscript over five hundred...

This “60 Minutes” is aimed at providing the reader with a guide to positional and strategic play in the middlegame. Tarrasch wrote “Before the endgame, the gods have placed the...

The Grivas is a well-known and respected Sicilian variation. It starts with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 and then the characterising move 4…Qb6. The knight is now attacked...

The story goes that a low-rated player once bravely asked Viktor Korchnoi his advice about what opening to play against a stronger opponent. “Play Grünfeld” was the grumpy...

The Hedgehog is a wily opening system characterized by a very particular pawn structure. At first glance, Black’s setup might appear somewhat passive, but looks can be...

The aim of the sideline 4...Bf5 in the KID is crystal-clear: Black doesn't want to see 5.e2-e4 on the next move and is probing for their opponent's intentions. White's very next...

“People did not take 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 too seriously until recently, when online chess started becoming popular due to the pandemic, as this opening was used frequently. I...

The Kupreichik is a fine Sicilian variation. Magnus Carlsen himself managed to beat MVL in the final round of the London Chess Classic to finish joint-first. Subsequently he won...

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire. Unlike its...

Why bother learning hundreds of complex variations when you can play a simple yet deadly opening – the London System with 2.Bf4. Over the last couple of years nearly all the...

The Maroczy System of the Sicilian Defence is one of the modern openings where Black attacks the white centre mainly with pieces. After the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4...

The Grand Prix Attack is one of White’s most enterprising weapons against the Sicilian Defence, and a favourite among club players and Grandmasters alike. This is an opening...

Viktor Bologan has played the Pirc all his life and explains why he likes this opening: “Strong Grandmasters, International Masters or amateurs often ask me what they should...

The Scotch has long been associated with exciting play, although people often doubt it’s positional base. But the opening has evolved from the swashbuckling games of the 19th...

The Two Knights Defence is one of the oldest opening lines in chess history. The sharp positions, arising after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, have...

The Nimzowitsch Defence, 1.e4 Nc6, is a lesser-known and by far less popular branch of opening theory from the great strategist Aron Nimzowitsch. Unlike the Nimzo-Indian...

Discover the Neo-London System – a creative and improved version of the classic London System! With the move 3.c3 and later Bf4, the Neo-London offers two decisive advantages:...

Playing the McCutcheon Variation of the French Defence (3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4) immediately sharpens up the game, but quite frequently what soon arises is a positional struggle....