Opening Radar – Editions 1 and 2 + PGN March 16, 2026

Opening Radar – Editions 1 and 2

Modern Opening Trends Explained by Two Grandmaster Minds

Opening Radar – Editions 1 and 2 brings together the January and February 2026 Opening Radar sessions into a single structured digital course.

This project is built around video discussions between GM Ivan Cheparinov and GM Petar G. Arnaudov, where modern opening ideas are explored, explained, and placed in their practical context. While GM Cheparinov provides the core analysis and theoretical insights, the conversational format with GM Arnaudov makes the material especially instructive and engaging, allowing ideas to be developed naturally through discussion.

Originally delivered as part of Modern Chess Academy, these two editions are now available as a standalone digital product that includes video discussions, annotated PGN files, and a full training section with test positions.

The goal of Opening Radar is simple: to keep players connected with modern opening practice without overwhelming them with excessive theory.

From Academy Sessions to a Structured Course

The Opening Radar sessions were originally designed as live Academy discussions about modern opening developments. For this digital product, the material has been reorganized into a clear training structure.

Each edition includes:

• Video discussions between GM Ivan Cheparinov and GM Petar G. Arnaudov

• Annotated PGN files with detailed analysis by GM Cheparinov

• Model games from recent elite tournaments

• 40 carefully selected test positions to reinforce the key ideas

The result is a course that allows you not only to follow modern opening trends, but also to actively train the ideas and structures that arise from them.

January Edition – Creative Opening Experiments

The January Opening Radar focuses on recent high-level games featuring fresh and unusual ideas in well-known openings.

Among the highlights are:

• A rare Queen’s Gambit Accepted line with 6.Qb3, where Black must play very accurately to equalize.

• A dynamic English Opening structure with an early …g5 advance, creating complex compensation ideas.

• A modern Sicilian setup with 3.Bc4, popularized by players such as Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian, where White builds a flexible setup similar to the Italian Game.

The emphasis of this edition is on creative move orders and practical surprises, ideas that can be particularly effective against well-prepared opponents.

February Edition – Modern Ideas in the Sicilian

The February edition focuses on three recent high-level Sicilian battles, with important ideas appearing in both the Najdorf and the 2…e6 Sicilian.

Key themes include:

• A creative 3.c3 approach against the 2…e6 Sicilian, demonstrated in the game Suleymanli – Mamedyarov, featuring the surprising 5.a3 idea and the concept of c4 instead of recapturing on d4.

• A theoretical battle in the Najdorf between Murzin and Bacrot, highlighting subtle move-order nuances in the Be3 and Be2 systems.

• A modern attacking concept with Bg5 and Qf3, where White prepares long castling and kingside pressure.

These examples show how small positional details and move-order nuances can completely change the character of familiar openings.

What You Will Learn

Opening Radar – Editions 1 and 2 is not designed as a repertoire course. Instead, it serves a different purpose.

By studying this material, you will:

• Understand the latest opening trends from elite tournaments

• Learn how top players introduce novelties in practical play

• Recognize strategic ideas behind modern move orders

• Train your pattern recognition through 40 instructive test positions

This approach helps players stay current with modern theory while strengthening their overall opening understanding.

Course Features

Opening Radar – Editions 1 and 2 includes:

• Video discussions between GM Ivan Cheparinov and GM Petar G. Arnaudov

• Detailed opening analysis by GM Cheparinov

• Annotated PGN files

• 40 training positions