Best of CLO 2010 #9: The Sicilian Slayed
By CLO   
January 20, 2011
JuditGreg.jpg
GMs Judit Polgar and Gregory Kaidanov, Photo Monroi.com
The #9 article in Best of CLO 2010 is The Sicilian Slayed by GM Gregory Kaidanov, an in-depth look at his Sicilian theme match against the strongest woman in the history of chess, Judit Polgar.

Kaidanov is one of America's most prominent Grandmasters and chess coaches. Gregory spoke eloquently about his own life and career to the BBC in a summer 2010 news segment.  

Gregory's accomplishments as a coach include leading the US Women's Olympic team to bronze medals at the 2008 Dresden Olympiad. He is also the head coach of the US Chess School,  founded in 2006 by IM Greg Shahade. You can enjoy a glimpse into his training methods in many CLO articles, including the US Chess School in Atlanta: A Student's Perspective by Daniel Gurevich and the US Chess School Comes to San Diego by Elizabeth Vicary.

GK010.jpgFind out more about Kaidanov, his lessons and events on his official website, http://kaidanov.org/. There is also a nice gallery of photographs on his website, including the fifth grade picture to the left.

Kudos also to FM Mike Klein, who assisted in the logistics and editing of this article. Mike also wrote the the January 2009 Chess Life Magazine cover story pictured below,  the Quiet Kentuckian. 

 

KaidanovChessLifeCover240x314.jpgThe Judges Sound Off
Read more about the judges here.

GM Gregory Kaidanov instructively annotates all four games of the Sicilian theme match that he played against GM Judit Polgar.  It is fun reading both for Sicilian theorists and amateurs- Michael "f-pawn" Aigner

A very entertaining article!  The inclusion of the four games with analysis is what I am looking for in a good chess article.  The background of the conditions and players was perfect ... not too much, not too little.  The inclusion of good pictures also helped this reader, although I know this is not in the author’s control.  ----Mike Cornett
 
Exciting match, sharp ideas- Damian Nash

Instructive in-depth analysis by a strong GM but nothing shocking- Arne Moll


Best of CLO 2010 Countdown
#8-???
#9-The Sicilian Slayed by GM Gregory Kaidanov
#10- Hilton on Not Winning the Pan Ams by Jonathan Hilton