ChessBase Newsletter #3-2018: New DVD's by Wesley So

[#3 February/2018](#) ChessBase Newsletter // Dear Chess Friends! A lot of the world’s best chess players are very friendly and approachable. A good example is Wesley So. He was born in the Philippines and is the youngest Filipino of all times who played on the national team in the Olympiad – when he was just 12 years old. Later, So also became the youngest player of all times who reached the 2600 Elo-mark. Wesley So later moved from the Philippines to the USA where he found a foster family that took care of him. When the professional future of the new family member was discussed Wesley So revealed that he was pretty good at chess, and perhaps should try his luck in this field. The foster parents were not fully aware about this talent but happily agreed to the experiment. By now Wesley So is one of the best players in the world. Hitherto, his peak was place two on the world ranking list in March 2017 – with a rating of 2822. In March 2018 So will play at the Candidates Tournament in Berlin and he was also invited to play again in the Grand Chess Tour 2018. In December 2017, on his way from his home in Minnesota, USA, to the London Classic Wesley So stopped in Hamburg to visit the ChessBase offices. As a chess player you simply like it in this chess environment: “For a chess player this is the nicest and most friendly place in the whole world”, Wesley So felt. He also gladly accepted the invitation to share some of his chess knowledge with other chess fans. He analysed endgames with Karsten Müller and was a guest in Karsten’s [100th Endgame Magic Show](20Endgame%20Magic%20100%20with%20Wesley%20So). a good way to celebrate this jubilee. And: Wesley So recorded two DVDs about openings that currently interest him. So, who nowadays plays for the U.S.-Federation, is without doubt one of the world’s leading experts of the Italian Game, particularly with Black. On his DVD about the Italian Game Wesley So shows illustrative games and in a dialogue with Oliver Reeh explains the crucial points of the opening, plans for both sides and what you have to keep in mind in the Italian. On his second DVD Wesley So explains the so-called Larsen-Opening 1.b3. Currently a lot of strong players are looking for new ways in the opening and try to confront their opponents with lesser known, fresh ideas. Wesley So had a close look at 1.b3. Developing the bishop to b2 is always useful and often leads to positions which you usually get with colours reversed – but here White is a tempo up. Well, world class players know a lot of tricks. Let Wesley So show some of them to you. [A few days after recording the DVD Wesley So showed how well he understands the Italian and won an instructive game in the Italian against Viswanathan Anand at the London Chess Classic.]( // NEW: DVD's by Wesley So [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! [Order "My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian" from the shop...]( [Watch trailer...]( [read more]( // [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! [Order "My Secret Weapon 1.b3" from the shop...]( [Watch trailer...]( [read more]( // [Opening package: 1.b3 and Black Secrets in the Modern Italian]( Wesley So published two new opening DVDs: 1.b3, the so called Nimzo-Larsen-Attack, for White and his black secrets in the modern Italian. Get them in a package and save money (62,90 € instead of 69,80 €)! [Order "Opening package by Wesley So" from the shop...]( [read more]( // You're a subscriber to the ChessBase newsletter. If you no longer want to receive the chessbase newsletter, [click here.]( © 2018 ChessBase Schachprogramme Schachdatenbank Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Registered: Osterbekstr. 90a, 22083 Hamburg Telephone: 040-63 90 60 0 - Fax: 040 630 12 82 Directors: Matthias Wüllenweber and Rainer Woisin HR Amtsgericht Hamburg HRB 40336 Value added tax identification number DE 118644875 Local tax office tax number 49/711/00031ChessBase, All rights reserved