The Chess Mind

For those of you waiting for my announcements to check them out, you get a two-fer. Last week's show was posted after I had decided to take the week off from blogging, and now that I've resumed the new show is up as well. So:

(1) Last week's show: Part 6 on the Super-Fast Najdorf. This marks the end of the series (I can hear both the cheers and boos), and covers the variations starting with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4. This includes some of the sharpest chess known to mankind, and unless you're already thoroughly familiar with the B99 systems I highly recommend checking it out. Even if you never play them, you'll find the analysis most entertaining.

(2) This week's show: Viewer Questions, Episode 8. As usual with the viewer question shows, it's a bit of a grab bag, with some chess and some training advice. You might not find everything interesting, but since you'll probably find something you can use it's worth a look.

This is especially the case given that the shows are free (though you will need to register [also for free]) to watch, at least for the next month or so. (After that they go to the archives, where they can be accessed, along with the other two years' worth of my shows, with a premium membership.)

If you're a Najdorf fan, then this is absolutely your week! After recording the 5b video, I had the opportunity in a local blitz game to try out the theory I had spent the past couple of weeks summarizing. My fiendish opponent didn't realize he was supposed to fall, lemming-like, into my preparation, and I was quickly on my own. The game grew wild almost immediately, and while its theoretical significance is minimal its entertainment value was through the roof. (At least for me!) I think you'll find it exciting and enjoyable as well, and since it's free you might as well have a look - right here.

(Not so keen on the Najdorf? Fear not: I have already recorded part 6, and it's the grand finale of the series.)

Right, it's not yet part 6. Najdorf fans, the end is still a week away! A viewer of the previous show brought up an interesting problem with one of my suggestions, so I decided to take a (much) deeper look at established theory in the relevant sub-variation I was hoping to bypass. The glorious details are all here, awaiting your perusal. The show is free to registered members (and registration is free), and available on-demand for at least another month or so.

Next week, the Najdorf series ends!

We're almost there. Almost, but not quite! We have reached the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7, and in this week's presentation we look at the following variations:

(1) 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5!?

(2) 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 and now:

(2a) 10.Qg3
(2b) 10.Be2
(2c) 10.Bd3

The biggie, 10.g4, will be the subject of next week's show - the grand finale of our series on the Sicilian in general and the Najdorf in particular.

In the meantime, there's plenty of (entertaining) content in this week's show (right here), and it's available free and on demand for at least the next month or so. Enjoy!