DOWNLOAD - Chessbase Training - 1...d6 Universal - Minimal Prep, Maximum Understanding

In today’s fast-paced chess world, especially online, where blitz and rapid games dominate, the traditional approach of grinding through lines of opening theory can feel overwhelming, and even unnecessary. The real challenge? Striking the right balance in your opening preparation. How deep should you go? Where do you stop? This course is built on the timeless wisdom of my legendary coach, Chebanenko, who designed opening repertoires for his “lazy” students - not lazy in attitude, but smart in approach. His philosophy? Don’t memorise. Understand.

The concept is simple but powerful: choose systems for both White and Black that revolve around typical pawn structures and recurring piece setups. That way, you’re not learning dozens of different openings - you’re learning one flexible idea that applies across many positions.

In this first course focused on Black, we build our repertoire around the solid and compact d6–e5 structure:

• Against 1.e4: We play the Philidor setup, offering rich positional play and quick piece development.
• Against 1.d4 and other closed systems: We aim for flexible development, with our dark-squared bishop either on e7 or g7, while keeping our eyes on the central break with ...e5.

This setup is not only effective but easy to learn, highly resilient, and surprisingly tricky for opponents unfamiliar with its subtleties. I’ve played it my whole life - in blitz, rapid, and even classical tournaments - and it has served me well.

In fact, my recent success in a Fischer Random tournament was largely due to my comfort with pawn structures and strategic flexibility - not memorised lines.

With this course (and the upcoming companion repertoire for White), you won’t just get a practical, low maintenance opening solution. You’ll build a deeper understanding of chess that helps you:

• React confidently in unfamiliar positions
• Make better decisions based on ideas, not memorised moves
• Save time while still staying competitive
• Learn smart. Play smart. Let’s build your opening repertoire the lazy way - with lasting understanding, not short-term memory.

This is what is delivered:

• Fritztrainer for 4 platforms: App for Windows, App for Mac, ChessBase books and ChessBase Videostream
• Delivery as a download or by post (card with serial number)
• Video course with a running time of approx. 4-8 hrs.
• Repertoire database: save and integrate Fritztrainer games into your own repertoire (in WebApp Opening or in ChessBase)
• Interactive exercises with video feedback: the authors present exercises and key positions, the user has to enter the solution. With video feedback (also on mistakes) and further explanations.
• All videos and additional tasks, tests and texts included in the CB books.
• Sample games as a ChessBase database.

That's what the FritzTrainer App can do for you:

• Videos can run in the Fritztrainer app or in the ChessBase program with board graphics, notation and a large function bar
• Analysis engine can be switched on at any time
• Video pause for manual navigation and analysis in game notation
• Input of your own variations, engine analysis, with storage in the game
• Learn variations: view specific lines in the ChessBase WebApp Opening with autoplay, memorize variations and practise transformation (initial position - final position).
• Active opening training: selected opening positions are transferred to the ChessBase WebApp Fritz-online. In a match against Fritz you test your new knowledge and actively play the new opening.

Even more possibilities: Start FritzTrainer in the ChessBase program!

• The database with all games and analyses can be opened directly.
• Games can be easily added to the opening reference.
• Direct evaluation with game reference, games can be replayed on the analysis board
• Your own variations are saved and can be added to the own repertoire
• Replay training
• LiveBook active
• All engines installed in ChessBase can be started for the analysis
• Assisted Analysis
• Print notation and diagrams (for worksheets)
   

System requirements:

App for Windows: Windows-PC, Windows 10 or 11 and Internet

App for Mac: Mac OS X and internet

ChessBase books: Computer (iPad, Tablet, PC etc.), current browser, internet

ChessBase video stream: Computer (iPad, Tablet, PC etc.), current browser, internet