"We focused on two openings – the Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian defense and the Tarrasch defense in the Queen’s gambit.  We studied concepts – not specific lines, I must emphasize – which he demonstrated by illustrative games.  The idea was that by understanding the class of positions resulting from the Tarrasch, one learns how to manage an isolated pawn.  The positional knowledge helped me a lot and I believe even now that it should be an essential part of all young player’s studies, since in every game a position can arise where you either play against the isolani or defend it.  The other opening – the Sicilian Scheveningen – leads to the basic positions that you must understand to play almost any variation of the Sicilian."

and

""Without understanding the Scheveningen, you cannot play the Sicilian."

- GM Jaan Ehlvest in his book "The Story of a Chess Player", on the training he received as a young player. His coach at the time was Vladimir Yurkov, whose pupils also included Morozevich and former candidate Andrei Sokolov; the latter now lives in France and is still a real expert in the Scheveningen.

trw wrote on 05/13/09 at 03:36:47:


I believe you can get something out of it, if you play the Classical, Paulsen, or Najdorf systems.  That is if you incorporate certain transpositions in to your repertoire. I don't understand what a Dragon player would get from it.  On the other hand, some people like to claim by studying one system, it really helps to grasp other related ones. I, however, I tend to disagree with this if the opening presented is too theory-driven. In short, I share your skepticism.

If you play the Kan and avoid playing Nc6, what is the point in buying the DVD? I don't know, maybe someone could educate me. 

Also, I think the description of this title is misleading. Here's a screenshot:








There's another screenshot that also shows a non-a6 move order. That's the third screen shot. The first screen shot is the only one to include a6, but even that is only after Bc4 from White:









You can just about make out the score indicating that 6...a6 and then White plays 7.Bb3. 

Seems, given Nestor's comments on Ftacnik thread in the Open Siclian section, to me to be false advertising.