ChessBase Reviews

| index |

CDs, DVDs, Software Part 21

Once again disks covered in this article come on either DVD or CD, so make sure you have the appropriate disk drive in your PC before purchasing them.

The Basics of Winning Chess By Andrew Martin

This CD is based on the new instructional Fritz8-Chess Media System. All of the lectures are presented in their entirety with video pictures and synchronised chess graphics.

This is the latest DVD video course from English IM Andrew Martin. Andrew is a highly respected chess coach and many players will benefit from this excellent coaching DVD. Although probably aimed at beginners, I would think that players up to the Major level of Scottish CCA events would find something to benefit their play from this DVD.

Through the use of classic games and game fragments, Martin charts a survival course through the competitive minefield. The DVD material is divided into three areas:- opening, middle game and endgame tips. Each of these areas contains some very useful insights.

System requirements: PC 233, 64 MB RAM, CD-ROM drive, sound card, mouse, Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98 SE, Windows Media Player 9. This DVD package also includes the latest ChessBase 9.0 Reader.

My Life For Chess By Viktor Kortchnoi

I must admit that Viktor Kortchnoi has always been one of my heroes of Chess. If nothing else his fighting spirit should have earned him the title of World Champion. It wasn’t to be but his great chess skill enthralled chess players from all over the world. Indeed even today at the age of 73, he continues to play top notch chess which leaves a good number of his younger GM compatriots in the shadows.

Those of you who already have some of Kortchnoi’s books will be pleased to know that these DVDs contain some previously unpublished games.

In Volume 1, he presents eight of his most brilliant effort from the years 1949-1979, among them games against Smyslov, Geller, Tal, Huebner and Karpov.

Volume 2 features about four hours of "Kortchnoi live". The great chess legend portrays the second part of his eventful career, presenting among other things his games against Kasparov (1986), Spassky (1989) and Short (1990) in his typical gripping style. Embedded in the game commentaries are many details of Kortchnoi’s biography.

Kortchnoi speaks candidly about his opponents. He is not afraid to criticise or deal praise where it is due. Sold separately, I would urge you to buy both DVDs for a fascinating insight into the heart of chess.

System requirements:- Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.

The Van Geet Opening By Don Maddox

An interesting CD for those who want their opponents to have to work hard rather than follow their known opening theory. The Van Geet Opening (1.Nc3) should do the trick. The CD has over 9000 games with 156 annotated games. 130 of these were specially annotated for this CD. Those of you who like aggressive ideas might like 1.Nc3 c5 2.Ne4 which is covered on this CD. Don Maddox, is a strong correspondence player and chess coach, so I would imagine there may be possible advantages for Correspondence players in learning this offbeat opening. Also included is an Opening Tree and a database of 100 training positions to whet your appetite and test your skills. I also found a game involving our own George Pyrich:

J Azevedo - G Pyrich [C00] EU-chT5 corr9498, 1994
1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 e6 3.g3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ Qxf6 6.d4 c5 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Nxc6 Bxe3 11.fxe3 bxc6 12.Qd6 Qf3 13.Rd1 Qxe3+ 14.Be2 Qb6 15.Rd4 f6 16.Rb4 Qd8 17.Qxc6+ Bd7 18.Qd6 Qe7 19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 20.Rb7 Rhb8 21.Rxd7+ Kxd7 22.Bf3 e5 23.Bxa8 Rxa8 24.c4 ½–½

System Requirements:- Pentium PC 300, 64 MB RAM, WindowsXP, 2000, Me, 98 SE, CD-ROM drive, mouse.