Celebrating the 2018 US Chess Champion: An Interview with Sam Shankland

2018 US Chess Champion Sam Shankland Updates Lifetime Repertoires

In the world of chess, staying ahead of the game is crucial. That’s why 2018 US Chess Champion Sam Shankland has gone above and beyond to update his courses on Chessable, providing his students with the best information available.

Known for his brutally honest and objective approach, Shankland not only recommends variations he plays himself but also gives his evaluation of the arising positions. Whether it’s an advantage, an easier position to play, or potential danger, Shankland guides his students on what to do next.

Recently, Shankland added 58 cutting-edge variations to 9 of his repertoires, ensuring that his courses live up to the ‘Lifetime Repertoires’ name. When asked about his decision to update his courses, Shankland explained, “No opening course is ever perfect, and there will always be ideas missed or new ideas found later. By providing lots of updates, I help keep myself up to date with the current states and trends of opening theory.”

One of the variations that Shankland is particularly proud of is the line he found in his Semi-Slav course against the dxe5/Nh4 Meran. Describing it as a novelty at the time, Shankland recalls playing it against Anton Korobov and still regrets letting him escape with a draw. Additionally, he highlights his 8.Bc4 idea in the main line Benko Gambit, which has become one of the biggest main lines with numerous games played.

Despite facing health challenges in the past year, Shankland remains dedicated to his work. He plans to release a video alongside Dalton Perrine’s upcoming course and may re-release The Shankland Method as a Chessable Course with new features. Shankland’s philosophy on course creation is simple: “To make myself a better chess player.” He believes that this approach ultimately leads to creating great training material for others.

Aside from openings, Shankland also shares his training methods in courses like Total Board Vision for Beginners, Small Steps To Giant Improvement, Small Steps 2 Success, and Shankland’s Calculation Workbook. His strategic calculation course, The Shankland Method, teaches players how to make strategic moves work and build a winning position.

With his dedication to improvement and sharing his knowledge, Sam Shankland continues to inspire chess players of all levels to strive for excellence. Check out his updated courses on Chessable to take your game to the next level.