FreeRepublic - I've had similar experiences with Chessable. Like you, I don't want to be restricted to just Chessable as my only source for a particular line. This way of working isn't especially compatible with Chessable, which seems to want its users to remain on the platform. So far I haven't found good ways to integrate information from other sources (such as ChessPublishing) or adding engine analysis.

I've adopted an approach of transferring the Chessable lines into ChessBase, but the lack of PGN files turns move input into a tedious process. As you note, at least copy/paste works for the Chessable text comments. I can understand why Chessable is reluctant to provide PGNs - they likely feel it's too easy for unauthorized sharing of their content to occur. On the other hand, Modern Chess freely provides PGN files, so the sharing is apparently less of a concern with them. (One big plus for Chessable is the opportunity to communicate with the course author. On a couple of occasions, the author has added a line or comment as result of our exchange. I don't believe the Modern Chess PGNs are updated in response to user input).

You might be interested to hear that I tried the spaced repetition several years ago. It was in the early days of the pandemic when I was stuck at home with time on my hands. This approach definitely helps with learning the lines, but it's time-consuming for something like a Lifetime Repertoire course where there can be several hundred lines. Because I'm mainly interested in the lines themselves and not memorizing them flawlessly, I dropped the spaced repetition soon after my free time dwindled down.   

I should also note that I access Chessable almost exclusively on my desktop PC. I did use a tablet a few times without much trouble, but that was on an 11" iPad. Perhaps the larger size compared to your tablet reduced the awkwardness you experienced.

You didn't mention it, but Chessable and Modern Chess have become two of the main sources of opening works in recently years.  Thus, using with their material (despite certain limitations) becomes desirable for opening fans like us. The traditional print publishers like Quality Chess, New in Chess, and Everyman (now Popular Chess) have all decreased their production of opening books to varying degrees. As an extreme example, Quality Chess doesn't have a single opening book on its list of upcoming publications. That's quite a contrast from the days when the company had multiple Grandmaster Repertoire volumes on the list. Thinkers Publishing seems to be the last holdout in terms of publishing traditional opening monographs, and they've apparently tweaked the established model by only offering expensive hardcovers with presumably higher profit margins.

I went ahead and bought The Killer Löwenthal Sicilian, by GM Simon Williams & by IM Richard Palliser.

Palliser previously analyzed the Lowenthal for Dangerous Weapons - Sicilian. I bought this updated and thorough course out of interest and a bit of nostalgia. 

I've started going through some of the many lines. It's a tactical opening and the authors took full advantage of modern computing to avoid tactical oversights. I think they pushed beyond initial computer judgment in some cases to find better lines. In one critical line, I decided against their first and second choice, and chose their third option to get the line that suited me. I find that some work is required but it's worth it. It's a very interesting variation of the Sicilian defense. Although I haven't finished the course yet, it looks like the Lowenthal remains viable.

With best play, black may be slightly worse in a few lines, but always within a drawing range. Actual play should lead to all three results.

Thank you. I will check these sources. I'm surprised that there is no single book about such interesting variation.

Thank you! I didn't knew this option!

I did not found anything on chessbase www. Is there any book about it? I know DW, but maybe something else?

Hi guys! Is there any chessbase DVD about this system?

Glenn Snow wrote on 11/12/11 at 07:08:19:


3...e5 is a very solid, if somewhat commital/boring answer. I do believe that white has some dim chances of an opening advantage in the opening sequence 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2!? e5, where hae can easily switch both knigkts against the d5 square, but with the knight already on f3 the whole concept has less punch.
I was sceptical about puncturing d5 that early, but after discussing the variation in to some detail with GM Stratos Grivas (who is using 3...e5 regularly when White tries to avoid his pet "Grivas Sicilian" with 3.Nc3) I was convinced that Black should be OK.
The other option to avoid bulk mainlines is of course 3...g6, where black has avoided the worst of the Accelerated Dragon bulk of theory (which is the dreaded Maroczy Bind, of course).

From the position shown in #9, 20...Bxf5 21.gxf5 Ne7 22.Rd1 Kc7 23.0-0 Rd6 24.Rde1 and I prefer White. Only the last move is original to me (so far as I know).

I will stand by for some hoop-jumping analysis by Black's partisans.