Top US CHESS Deals & Price Drops for December 2025

Master the French Defense with a world champion's guidance. US CHESS presents "Beating the French - Volume 1" by former FIDE World Chess Champion Grandmaster Rustam Kasimdzhanov. This clearance-priced DVD offers over 3.5 hours of elite instruction, providing a powerful and practical White repertoire built on the 3.Nc3 variation. Kasimdzhanov focuses on the critical position arising after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5. He expertly demonstrates how to leverage the powerful e5 pawn to secure a lasting space advantage in the center and queenside. You will learn to transform this positional edge into a decisive kingside attack or a favorable endgame. Through 13 detailed video lessons, the Grandmaster analyzes contemporary games from top-level play, distilling complex strategies into clear, actionable plans. Known for his deep understanding and engaging teaching style, Kasimdzhanov makes advanced concepts accessible, blending instructive content with a touch of humor. This DVD is perfect for players seeking to confidently combat the French Defense without memorizing dry, endless theory. Visit US CHESS at uscfsales.com to add this valuable resource to your training library and start beating the French with authority. System requirements: Pentium Processor 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP/Vista, DVD drive, mouse, and soundcard.

Master the art of winning with the black pieces alongside one of the most creative grandmasters in chess history. In this exclusive clearance video course from US CHESS, Alexei Shirov personally guides you through the critical strategies and psychological decisions required to triumph as Black. Discover how to choose between aggressive, risk-taking play and patient, positional maneuvering to exploit White's mistakes. Shirov answers the essential questions every competitive player faces, drawing directly from his own legendary career and his deep run in the 2007 World Cup. Learn how his approach evolved over time and how you can apply these powerful lessons to your own games, especially in high-pressure situations like knockout tournaments where a win with Black is mandatory. This 6 hour and 45 minute DVD presentation is packed with original and amazing ideas that have delighted chess fans for decades. Shirov, often compared to the legendary Mikhail Tal for his dazzling style, shares the insights that propelled him to the world's elite at a young age. You will gain a profound understanding of opening preparation, strategic choice, and the winning mindset needed to secure victories from the more challenging side of the board. Visit USCHFSALES.com to add this invaluable resource to your training library at a special clearance price. Elevate your game with proven strategies from a world-class competitor and start turning your black pieces into a formidable weapon.

Master the art of the ambush with "Tricks and Traps: 1. d4 Openings, Volume 2" by Grandmaster Nigel Davies, available now at US CHESS. In competitive chess, the opening phase is fraught with hidden dangers and clever deceptions waiting to ensnare the unprepared player. This essential DVD transforms you from potential victim into a strategic hunter, arming you with the knowledge to both avoid pitfalls and launch your own devastating attacks. Grandmaster Davies meticulously catalogs a wide array of surprises that can emerge after 1. d4, from brilliant sacrificial ideas to cunning move-order tricks. He organizes these traps into clear categories, making the complex material accessible and immediately useful for players at every skill level. You'll not only learn classic opening snares but also discover rare and little-known ploys that can catch even experienced opponents off guard. Beyond mere memorization, Davies provides crucial psychological insights into the trapping mindset. He evaluates the practical likelihood of each trap's success in real tournament play, teaching you when to spring the perfect ambush. This deep understanding will sharpen your overall strategic vision and tactical alertness. With four hours of expert video instruction, you gain a powerful edge. Nigel Davies, an International Grandmaster since 1993 and a renowned coach, has a proven talent for explaining sophisticated ideas in a clear, engaging manner. Elevate your game and start turning the tables on your opponents. Visit US CHESS at uscfsales.com to add this invaluable resource to your training library and begin playing with more confidence and cunning today.

Master one of chess history's most revered and enduring opening systems with Grandmaster Nigel Davies' in-depth DVD, "Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation." This essential instructional guide, available now at US CHESS, explores the strategic battleground favored by legends like Kasparov, Botvinnik, Karpov, and Spassky. Characterized by an early resolution in the center, this opening leads to rich, asymmetrical pawn structures brimming with strategic possibilities for both White and Black. On this comprehensive four-hour DVD, GM Davies meticulously breaks down the core plans and ideas that have defined this champion's opening. You will gain a deep understanding of classic strategic weapons like the powerful minority attack, as well as sharper approaches involving central pawn advances and daring kingside storms. Davies presents these concepts through a series of highly instructive master games, providing you with a complete strategic roadmap. This training goes beyond a single opening. Davies expertly demonstrates how the strategic principles learned here apply to other critical systems like the Gruenfeld Defence and the Caro-Kann. This makes the DVD an invaluable resource for any player seeking to fundamentally improve their overall positional understanding and middlegame strategy. Whether you play the white or black pieces, this course equips you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of the Exchange Variation with confidence. Add this cornerstone of chess strategy to your library and learn from an International Grandmaster with decades of top-level experience. Visit US CHESS at uscfsales.com to secure your copy and advance your game with the wisdom of champions.

Discover the secrets of chess strategy with "What Grandmasters Don't See, Volume 2: Discovered Attack" by renowned commentator Maurice Ashley, available at US CHESS. This essential DVD from USCFsales.com moves beyond the vague idea of "chess blindness" to provide a deep psychological understanding of why even top players miss critical tactical opportunities. Maurice Ashley expertly argues that the discovered attack is the most frequently overrated and misunderstood tactic in the game. Through his engaging and effervescent teaching style, Ashley clarifies this crucial concept using a selection of well-chosen, practical examples from both classic and recent games. He demonstrates why traditional chess books often fail to prepare players for how discovered attacks truly unfold in real competition. The first half of the DVD features insightful and entertaining instruction, breaking down the tactical themes with clarity. The second half is dedicated to reinforcing your learning with a progressive series of exercises, testing your growing understanding of discovered attacks. With over three and a half hours of video content, this training tool is designed to sharpen your tactical vision and prevent costly oversights. Please note that software and DVDs from US CHESS can only be returned or exchanged if the original shrinkwrap is unopened and the product is unused. Visit USCFsales.com to add this invaluable resource to your chess library and start seeing the board like a grandmaster.

Master the strategic complexities of the French Defense with "Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol. 8: The Winawer Variation" from US CHESS. This comprehensive Fritz Trainer video course, now available at a special clearance price, is your key to navigating one of Black's most proactive and challenging systems. GM Ivan Sokolov expertly guides you through the critical plans and ideas that arise after 3...Bb4, where Black immediately targets White's pawn structure. You will learn how to handle the dynamic tension of this popular line. Black gains pressure against the weak d4 square, while White often seeks counterplay with a kingside attack and spatial advantage. Sokolov's curated game selection demystifies whether the position becomes closed after ...c4 or opens up with dxc5, giving you the strategic understanding to make the right decisions. This package includes nearly four hours of high-quality video instruction where GM Sokolov explains the most important plans. Reinforce your learning with interactive training featuring video feedback and a dedicated database of 30 practical exercises. As an exclusive bonus, you can train directly against Fritz using the included ChessBase app, allowing you to practice authentic Winawer positions at various difficulty levels. Visit US CHESS at uscfsales.com to add this powerful training tool to your library. Elevate your middlegame understanding, learn from a world-class grandmaster, and gain confidence in handling the French Defense's rich strategic battles. This clearance offer makes expert-level instruction more accessible than ever for the serious player.

Defend to the End! One of the most important skills a chessplayer needs is the ability to defend a position that is under siege. In this third volume in the highly acclaimed, best-selling ChessCafe Puzzle Book series, International Grandmaster Karsten Mueller, along with International Master Merijn van Delft, examines and expounds upon the vital defensive concepts and techniques used to repulse enemy attacks. Major topics include (1) Principles and methods of defending; (2) Defending against a direct attack on the king; (3) Countering the initiative; (4) Saving the draw; (5) Passive versus active defense; and (6) Use and development of counterplay. Many of the world's greatest players - Steinitz, Lasker, Petrosian - were famous for their legendary defensive skills. Now International Grandmaster Karsten Mueller along with International Master Merijn van Delft will show you how you can Test and Improve Your Defensive Skill.

Roeland Pruijsses/Nico Zwirs - How to slay the Sicilian Vol.3 - 2...e6 3.d4 and others Do you struggle against the Sicilian? And would you like to play the Open Sicilian but shy away from it because you fear the many lines you might have to learn? Then this video is a must for you! Dutch Grandmaster Roeland Pruijssers and International Master Nico Zwirs created a complete repertoire against the Sicilian that is based on the Open Sicilian and that is easy to learn. They recommend the Maroczy set-up (e4-c4), the English Attack (Be3,f3 and Qd2) and set-ups with Be3/Qf3. Fighting the Sicilian with one of these three setups makes the Open Sicilian much more easy to play. Sometimes this opening approach will lead to transpositions that will baffle players with Black, e.g. if they wanted to play the Najdorf but suddenly find themselves in a line of the Taimanov! This video offers a strong and safe repertoire against the Sicilian and comes with a lot of new and fresh ideas. It is ideal for club players and titled players alike! The whole series is divided in three parts that deal with 2…d6, 2…e6 and 2…Nc6 respectively. The entertaining presentation of Pruijssers and Zwirs help to understand this powerful recipe against one of the most popular openings against 1.e4. Watch the video and get ready to slay the Sicilian! Vol.3: 2…e6 and others Taimanov, Paulsen/Kan, Hybrid System, Pin-Variation, Nimzowitsch 2…Nf6, O‘ Kelly 2…a6, Hyper-Accelerated Dragon 2…g6 • Video running time: 10 hours (English) • With interactive training including video feedback • Extra: Further Training chapter with repertoire and play features

This disk is a perfect tool for players looking for a complicated battle against 1.d4. The author suggests the King’s Indian Defence and shows with a number of examples how realistic Black’s chances are in this opening to get a complex structure with the most serious attacking potential. Apart from theoretical information, the disk also contains structural insights and an array of ideas which will enable you to include this opening into your repertoire – immediately and with tangible success! The extended 2nd edition is based principally on games which have been played in the last three years with, as Black, either the author himself or top King’s Indian expert Teimor Radjabov. This has resulted in the creation of a work on the King’s Indian which not only gives deep insights into the variations and plans but also presents the most up–to–date state of affairs in this dynamic and active opening. Video running time: 7 hours Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Born in 1979, the grandmaster from Uzbekistan has for many years been known as a very strong and imaginative player. However in 2004 Rustam Kasimdzhanov (pronounced "Kah-zeem-jha-nov") shocked the chess world by winning the FIDE world chess championship title, beating a string of world-class players like Ivanchuk, Grischuk, Topalov and Adams in the process. Kasimdzhanov is a very deep player, who is able to explain chess ideas in an eloquent, lucid style, with a fine touch of humour. His lessons are both entertaining and instructive – perfect for students who seek to avoid "dry" theory. A World Champion's Guide TO THE KING’S INDIAN System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

#html-body [data-pb-style=CHE74U2]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll} A Truly Unique Chess Book The chess triumphs of the Polgar sisters are legendary. Now, in this very special book, Sofia Polgar tells her own exceptional story: from her development as a prodigy and remarkable tournament successes to her eventually settling down, with chess occupying a lesser role as she raised a family. Sofia presents many of her games, each with her own brand of fireworks. Clear, straightforward annotations allow the reader to appreciate her accomplishments on the board, while away from the board, her many personal memoirs complete the picture. There are many photographs, many of which haver never been previously published. They nicely complement the chronicle of both her meteoric rise in the chess world and her loving family who encouraged her at every turn. What is not generally known is that Sofia Polgar is also a gifted artist – a talented painter. Dozens of examples of her brilliant creativity on canvas are featured throughout this large format book. These paintings are presented in full color and on special matte paper to enhance the reader’s viewing enjoyment. Two editions of this truly unique book will be offered: (1) a large format (7x10) softcover edition; and (2) a large format (also 7x10), signed and numbered hardcover edition. This special hardcover edition will be limited to 200 numbered copies. Each will be signed and dated by Sofia. From Susan Polgar’s Foreword: You are invited to enjoy the experience of the wonderful legacy of Sofia’s amazing chess career and art. From Judit Polgar’s Foreword: I wish the readers a pleasant journey on this artistic excursion that provides great chess lessons while also offering nourishment for the soul. Sofia Polgar: Amazing Artist – Dangerous Tactic

#html-body [data-pb-style=H6OEBPC]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-attachment:scroll} Forging New Paths in an Ancient Opening The Queen’s Gambit Accepted is one of the oldest known openings in chess. It was first mentioned in chess literature in the late 15th century. Over 500 years later, American Grandmaster Max Dlugy demonstrates in this groundbreaking work that the QGA is still a fighting, uncompromising opening that allows Black to play for a win from the very first move. But his comprehensive coverage is something players who face the QGA with White will also want to study. Dlugy not only carefully maps out Black’s best strategy, but also gives ample consideration to how White should play. The positions analyzed are a blend of the tactical elements and the key positional considerations such as space, time and pawn structure to be assessed when choosing your lines. This book will teach you not just the QGA, but chess strategy in general. It will teach you how to play solid yet lively positions and allow you to take something away from Maxim Dlugy’s classical style and lucid explanations. If you want to improve your chess while learning a reliable opening with Black, you are now reading the book you need. – From the Foreword by GM Alex Fishbein Max Dlugy has great experience with the QGA, having played it successfully for over 40 years. In this book, he presents new analysis in established lines and rehabilitates many variations, turning existing theory on its head. Whether you play White or Black, this creative, cutting-edge treatment of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted will be indispensable.