This package contains Wesley So's two DVDs.

1. Wesley So: My Secret Weapon: 1.b3

2. Wesley So: My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian

Wesley So: My Secret Weapon: 1.b3

The Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack with 1.b3 (or 1.Nf3 followed by 2.b3) is a system, rather neglected by theorists, which nevertheless can be a forceful weapon in the hands of an ambitious white player. Even Bobby Fischer tried this opening in various games, sometimes preferring it to his beloved 1.e4, and its greatest advocate was the legendary Danish fighter Bent Larsen. Meanwhile, 1.b3 has also found its way into the practice of today’s world elite, and now finally a modern top ten player has taken on the subject for ChessBase: none other than Grandmaster Wesley So!

In a total of nine video clips, So talks to IM Oliver Reeh, explaining his view of White’s strategy after the four main replies bv Black: 1...e5, 1...d5 (2.Nf3!), 1...c5 and 1...Nf6. Often, play transposes to openings like the Queen’s Indian or the Nimzo Indian with reversed colours where White simply is a valuable tempo up. Also possible are transitions to the English where once again the move 1.b3 proves very advantageous to White — his bishop will always be the first to appear on the long diagonal!

Apart from plans and ideas in the individual variations after 1.b3, this DVD provides insights in the personal thinking of a modern top grandmaster. For example, you’ll get to know that So particularly appreciates the bishop pair, but also enjoys enemy doubled pawns (after for instance, Bb2xNf6!). Positional understanding and opening knowledge go hand-in-hand, imparted by one of the great players of our time. Broaden your chess mind with GM Wesley So and 1.b3!

• Video running time: 2 hours 50 min. (English)

• With annotated games by Wesley So

• Exclusive database with additonal model games

• Including CB 14 Reader

Wesley So is a grandmaster who lives in and plays for the USA. He was born in the City of Bacoor, Philippines on October 9th 1993, and was only six, when he learned how to move the pieces. After launching his career as a full-time professional in 2014, he vaulted in the Top Ten with a peak rating of 2822 ELO

in early 2017. He’s switched federations to the USA in 2014 and represented the country at the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, winning individual Gold on board three and team Gold for the first time since 1976.

Wesley So: My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian

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 hours (English)

• With annotated games by Wesley So

• Exclusive database with additonal model games

• Including CB 14 Reader

ISBN 978-3-86681-650-3

EAN 9783866816503

Contents:

1. 1.b3
2. 01: 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Be7 5.a3 0-0 6.d3/Qc2 - Analysis [11:13]
3. 02: 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 g6/d5 - Analysis [18:02]
4. 03: 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3/Bb5 - Analysis [20:30]
5. 04: 1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 e6/g6 and 2...Bf5/Bg4 - Analysis [20:26]
6. 05: 1.b3 c5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 and 2...d5 3.e3 - Analysis [20:03]
7. 06: 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 b6/c5/d5 and 2...b6 - Analysis [26:33]
8. 07: 1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.d4 Nbd7 and 5...d5 6.c4 c6/e6 - Analysis [14:34]
9. 08: 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e3 Nf6 4.d4/c4/g3 and 3...c5 4.d4 cxd4 5.exd4 exd4 - Analysis [16:41]
10. 09: 1.b3 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.Ne5 Bf5/Bh5 and 2.Bb2 Bg4 3.h3/f3 and 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bf5/Bg4 - Analysis [22:28]

Modern Italian with Black

1. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
2. 01: 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.a4 d6 7.Bg5 - Analysis [25:25]
3. 02: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4 d6 7.c3 a6 8.h3 Ba7 - Analysis [32:34]
4. 03: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4 a6 7.c3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 - Analysis [13:33]
5. 04: 4.d3 Nf6 5.0-0 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 a5 8.a4 Be6 - Analysis [20:08]
6. 05: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Re1 Ng6 - Analysis [23:06]
7. 06: 3...Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.0-0 d6 6.a4 g5 7.Nc3 Bg7 and 6.c3 g5 - Analysis [11:41]
8. 07: 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Re1 0-0 - Analysis [24:59]
9. 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]
10. 09: 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.Bg5 d6/h6/Be7 - Analysis [18:43]

Available: 2nd February 2018