New: Master the Sicilian Kalashnikov by Fabien Libiszewski
What to do against 1.e4? Many players choose to open with the Sicilian to play for a win with Black and get interesting positions, but they are afraid of the long forced variations in the Najdorf, the Dragon or the Sveshnikov. The Kalashnikov Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6!?) is an interesting alternative. The positions offer a wealth of tactical and strategic possibilities, but the theory is straightforward. In a new course, French GM Fabien Libiszewski shows how to score in the Kalashnikov Variation. Grab this new Fritztrainer and strengthen your theoretical arsenal. Photo: ChessBase
Master the Sicilian Kalashnikov
By Fabien Libiszewski
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Sicilian Kalashnikov! We will unravel the secrets of the explosive opening arising from 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5.
Black willingly makes long-term strategic concessions, but in return forces White to lose valuable development time. This versatile opening will appeal to lovers of dynamic play while providing a solid strategic foundation. You will learn the key ideas and crucial strategic plans so that you feel more comfortable navigating the sharp variations.
Introduced in 1834 by one of the greatest players of his time, Charles de La Bourdonnais, this opening has stood the test of time and continues to be used by top players at the highest level. Modern heroes of this opening include Teimour Radjabov, Alexei Shirov and, more recently, Parham Maghsoodloo and Hikaru Nakamura, who used the Kalasnikov in the decisive last round of the Grand Swiss 2023, qualifying for the Candidates Tournament in the process!
Expand your repertoire with innovative variations to surprise your opponents. Explore the modern perspective of this opening with French GM Fabien Libiszewski, an expert on the Kalashnikov for almost two decades.
• Video running time: 5 hours 7 minutes
• Interactive video training with feedback
• Extra: Training with ChessBase apps – Practise the opening repertoire
System requirements
Minimum:
Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM, 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% DirectX 10-compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11 and internet access for program activation.
MacOSX
Minimum: MacOS "Yosemite" 10.10
Streaming
iPad, Tablet, Desktop, Laptop etc.
About the Author
Fabien Libiszewski was born on 5 January 1984 in St Etienne, France. He is a GM since 2009. His peak Elo rating was 2547. While Fabien continues to play actively, he now also has a solid experience as a coach, notably as the captain of the French mixed team. By producing Fritztrainer, he adds a new dimension
