My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian

Moderne lukket Italiensk åpning presentert av verdensstjernen Wesley So, med hovedvekt fra svarts side. Like etter innspillingen vant han i London med svart mot Anand nettopp i ett av systemene han anbefaler på DVD'en!

ChessBase sin egen omtale:

The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations — in short, an ideal avenue to outplay your opponent without having to learn much theory. But how should you approach new positions and keep a clear head in view of so many playable possibilities? The best way is this: you sit down next to a world class grandmaster and just listen to him!

In a total of nine video clips, top ten player Wesley So talks to IM Oliver Reeh, explaining his personal preferences as Black in the Italian game. The videos are structured according to specific concepts and ideas. Should Black play ...a6 to allow the retreat ...Ba7 or rather ...a5? What’s the best way to meet White’s plan with Bg5, be it with or without short castling? When is it possible to unleash the early raid ...Ng4 followed by ...f5? What are benefits of the knight manoeuvre Nc6-e7-g6 combined with Nf6-h5? Can one do without ...d6 and play ...d5 rightaway to sharpen up the game immediately? These and many more features the grandmaster explains for Black, providing his White perspective too - as a top gun, So of course employs the Italian with both colours!

By the way, directly after these recordings were made Wesley So played the London Chess Classic 2017 where he defeated ex-world champion Vishy Anand as black, employing the topical ...a5 (instead of ...a6) which of course is also treated on this DVD. Plans, tricks and subtleties in the Italian Game, well-structured and conceptual, explained by a world-class grandmaster — this DVD can take you towards the very top!

• Video running time: 3 h 04 min (English) • With analysis and anotated games by Wesley So • Extra: Exclusive database with additonal model games and special book • Including CB Reader

System requirements

Minimum: Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, Windows 7 or 8.1, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 14/Fritz 16 or included Reader and internet access for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel i5 (Quadcore), 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX11, graphics card with 512 MB RAM or more, 100% DirectX10-compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet access for program activation.

Oversikt over innholdet:

1.e4 e4 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 01: 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.a4 d6 7.Bg5 - Analysis [25:25] 02: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4 d6 7.c3 a6 8.h3 Ba7 - Analysis [32:34] 03: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4 a6 7.c3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 - Analysis [13:33] 04: 4.d3 Nf6 5.0-0 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 a5 8.a4 Be6 - Analysis [20:08] 05: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Re1 Ng6 - Analysis [23:06] 06: 3...Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.0-0 d6 6.a4 g5 7.Nc3 Bg7 and 6.c3 g5 - Analysis [11:41] 07: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Re1 0-0 - Analysis [24:59] 08: 4.d3 Nf6 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 a5 8.Nbd2 Be6 and 5.0-0 0-0 6.h3/Nbd2 - Analysis [14:45] 09: 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.Bg5 d6/h6/Be7 - Analysis [18:43]

ChessBase sin omtale

The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations — in short, an ideal avenue to outplay your opponent without having to learn much theory. But how should you approach new positions and keep a clear head in view of so many playable possibilities? The best way is this: you sit down next to a world class grandmaster and just listen to him!