COURSES
Includes a six-hour video series available for immediate streaming and twenty-two PGNs matching the games and positions discussed in the course
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS DEFENSE is an underrated yet proven system that will help you take your chess game to the next level. Top grandmasters have used it over the years with great success, including twice in World Championship matches. In this course, Solomon Ruddell walks you through the theory, strategy, moves, themes, and ideas of this comprehensive system. This is not a course filled with fluff or carried by entertainment or simple personality — after recently earning the Candidate Master (CM) AND National Master (NM) titles in tournaments where he used nothing but the Hippo, Solomon is prepared to answer your toughest questions and provide an expansive view of the entire system. We hope you enjoy this course and find it advantageous in your quest to improve as a player.
Includes almost four hours of video content available for immediate streaming and twenty-one PGNs matching the positions discussed in the course
Arguably the most underrated opening for white, the Ponziani is rare, sound, and dangerous — it takes a back seat in popularity compared to other e4 openings, leaving black players unsure of how to respond against it. The Ponziani provides a large number of winning traps for white, but it’s not an opening that leaves the e4 player "hoping" their opponent messes up, while risking a terrible position if their opponent plays correctly. If the opponent falls into a trap, we get an easy win; if they don’t, we still have great chess positions to work with!
In this course, CM Solomon Ruddell looks to give viewers a holistic view of the Ponziani — starting from the fundamentals and building to more complex concepts over the course of seven lessons. The Ponziani is dominated by good opening principles, sound middlegame strategy, strong attacking chances, and chess fundamentals that have stood the test of time, giving its players an advantage in preparation, comfort, and understanding as opening and middlegame positions are approached. Focus on what’s shared in this course and you will be well on your way to increasing your wins as white and increasing your ELO rating as a result. The Ponziani Opening is one of a kind, and Solomon is excited to share it!
Includes a six-hour video series available for immediate streaming and twenty PGNs matching the games and positions discussed in the course
The Czech Pirc Defense is a STRONG and UNDERRATED chess opening for black that can be reached against BOTH 1. e4 and 1. d4! There are many strong chess openings for black against 1. e4 including the Sicilian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, French Defense, and more! The potential disadvantage of these chess openings, however, is that your opponent will probably be well prepared for them. Why? Because they are played all the time. Something like the Czech Pirc Defense though? Not so much. By playing something your opponent barely ever sees, you will have the edge in preparation, comfortability, and overall understanding of the positions that arise. This can result in better play, easy wins, and increased ELO as a result of it.
In this 6+ hour course (with 20 PGNs to assist learning), NM Solomon Ruddell looks to share the theory, strategy, moves, tricks, traps, principles, and ideas of the Czech PIrc Defense. Solomon focuses on many responses you could face, so that you are best prepared for whatever comes your way. The Czech Pirc Defense takes time to learn, but it is well worth the investment. It can bring great results, better understanding of the game, and Solomon is excited to share it!
Includes over four hours of video content available for immediate streaming and twenty-six PGNs matching the positions discussed in the course
The Scandinavian Defense is one of the most difficult chess openings for 1. e4 players to play against, and it's the 3rd most popular for black in online chess!
How do most 1. e4 players respond? By capturing the pawn on d5, playing 2. e5, or going with the Tennison Gambit. The problem with these options is that your opponent is probably VERY familiar with the theory as they get these kinds of positions ALL THE TIME. (Not to mention that 2. e5 and the Tennison Gambit are both bad.)
What this course is all about 2. Nc3 AGAINST the Scandinavian Defense! This move is only played 6% of the time (so your opponent really won't see it coming) and there is so many amazing attacking ideas that come out of it. At first glance, the move of 2. Nc3 doesn't seem very dangerous, but because of the theory shared NM Solomon Ruddell's 4+ hour course, he believes it to be (easily) THE MOST UNDERRATED CHESS OPENING FOR WHITE AGAINST THE SCANDINAVIAN DEFENSE!!!!
NM Solomon Ruddell plays this underrated 1. Nc3 move exclusively, and for those of you that like playing (as black) the Nimzowitsch Defense Kennedy Variation against 1. e4 OR Hartlaub-Charlick Gambit against 1. d4, this course will show you how to play these chess openings but from the white side.
It's also worth mentioning that we look at many openings/gambits coming from 2. Nc3 INCLUDING the Dunst-Perrenet Gambit, Dougherty Gambit, Spielmann Gambit, Alekhine's Defense Scandinavian Variation, and Two Knights Attack AGAINST both the Caro-Kann Defense & French Defense.
NM Solomon Ruddell hopes you enjoy this course and have fun playing these lines AGAINST the Scandinavian Defense!
Includes over eleven hours of video content available for immediate streaming and twenty-eight PGNs matching the lines and variations discussed in the course
The Modern Scandinavian Defense is a strong and rare chess opening for black, and the possibilities for a fun chess game are second to none. The Modern Scandinavian starts with the following moves:
1. e4 d5 (Scandinavian Defense)
2. exd5 Nf6! (Modern Scandinavian Defense)
By bringing the knight out (instead of immediately capturing on d5 with the queen) we have so many fun chess gambits and chess lines available, such as the Geschev Gambit, Icelandic-Palme Gambit, Scandinavian Gambit, Portuguese Gambit, and Marshall Variation! Each of these is a ton of fun, achieving great results in online chess, and is covered in depth by NM Solomon Ruddell in this 11+ hour course — but what if white doesn't play 2. exd5?
White could try things such as the Tennison Gambit, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Ryder Gambit, Dunst-Perrenet Gambit, Closed Scandinavian with 2. Nc3, and 2. e5. These are ways white tries to take the Scandinavian Defense player by surprise, but this course provides refutations to all of these in the first four chapters.
This course is meant to be a LIFETIME REPERTOIRE, helping you master the Scandinavian Defense against no matter what white tries! NM Solomon Ruddell's Modern Scandinavian Defense is a strong and rare chess opening option that many of your opponents simply won't be prepared for. We hope you enjoy this presentation and find success in your games with it!