ChessBase Reviews

| index |

CDs, DVDs, Software Part 39

The Sicilian with 3.Bb5 By Alexei Shirov

I never Considered myself a great chess player even when I reached the Scottish Master level. It always seemed as though a great deal of hard work was involved. That said there were certain lines which I instinctively enjoyed playing and this is one of them, as well as the Najdorf and some lines of the King’s Indian.

I used to spend hour upon hour reading books on the lines covered by this Shirov DVD. I don’t know if reading made me tired but I do know that watching this video seemed to make things clearer. Chessbase probably describe the DVD better:-

The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) is always an excellent choice with White if you want to avoid the deeply analysed main lines of the Open Sicilian (3.d4), in which the analysis frequently goes deep into the middlegame or sometimes even into the endgame. For that reason the move 3.Bb5 has a firm place in the repertoire of many grandmasters where it is welcome above all as an anti-Sveshnikov weapon.

Instead of getting involved in a theoretical duel, White logically aims for strategically complex positions, e.g. by exchanging on c6 and at the cost of the bishop pair degrading Black’s pawn structure (doubled pawns c6/c5). This results in positions in which positional understanding is more important than knowledge of specific variations - meaning that only players who are aware of the general plans and typical piece manoeuvres will be able to find their way through them. Alexei Shirov provides you with the requisite understanding of the subtleties of these positions, by annotating extensively his most important games in this variation. During his career he has played the 3.Bb5 system with both colours and he shares with you on this DVD his valuable experience in the form of video lessons which take up a total running time of more than seven hours.

The f4 Sicilian By Nigel Davies

This DVD by Grand Master Nigel Davies tackles the various lines of the Grand Prix Attack including the positions to Bb5 as well as the sharper lines such as for example the following game which is a nice example of how to win with Black against the move 5.Bc4.

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6 6.f5 Nge7 7.fxe6 dxe6 [7...fxe6] 8.0-0 Nd4 9.d3 Nec6 10.Bg5 [10.Be3 0-0 11.Qd2] 10...Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Bd4+ 12.Be3 [12.Kh1 Qxg5 13.Qxf7+ Kd8] 12...Bxe3+ 13.Qxe3 Qd4 14.Qxd4 cxd4 15.Nb5 Ke7 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Nc7 [17.e5 a6 18.Nd6 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Kxd6] 17...Rac8 18.Nd5+ Kd6 [18...exd5 19.exd5+] 19.Nf6 Ne5 20.c3 dxc3 21.bxc3 Ba4 22.Bb3 [22.Rb1 b6] 22...Bxb3 23.axb3 Nxd3 24.Rd1 Rxc3 25.Rf3 Ke7 26.Ng4 Rd8 27.Nf2 Nxf2 28.Rxd8 Rxf3 29.gxf3 Kxd8 0-1{ EU-chT (Men) 13th Leon (1), 06.11.2001}

GM Davies does not recommend the Bc4 move but simple suggests Bb5 but the whole game is model game of how to win with Black against it.

Davies prefers on this DVD the move order with 2.Nc3,to avoid the gambit line 2…d5!? 3.exd5 Nf6 where black gets a great deal of compensation for the pawn.

The ABC of the King's Indian By Andrew Martin

On this original and entertaining DVD, International Master Andrew Martin takes you on a guided tour of this fascinating and creative opening. Through the use of complete games, both classic and modern and some repertoire suggestions Martin paints a comprehensive picture of the current state of play and looks towards the future. In the new, expanded 2nd edition there are many recent clashes and some remarkable modern ideas are discussed.

The King’s Indian is as uncompromising and resilient as ever! This DVD will inspire all players and demonstrate that the King's Indian is very much alive on the modern master scene. Video running time: 5 hours.

Williams-Hebden
British Championship, 2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Nf3 Na6 7.Bd3 e5 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 [9.Nxe5 Qxd4; 9.dxe5] 9...c6 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Bc2 cxd5 12.cxd5 b6 [12...Ne8 13.Be3 Na6 14.a3 Nd6 15.Bd3 b6 16.b4 f5] 13.b4 Nb7 [13...Na6 14.a3] 14.Bg5 Qd6 15.a3 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Rc1 a5 18.Qb3 axb4 19.axb4 Nh5 20.Nb5 Qf8 [20...Bxb5 21.Bxb5 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Nd8 23.Nd2 Bf8 24.Rb1 Nf4 25.Nc4] 21.Nc7 Rab8 [21...Ra7 22.Be3 Nf4 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.e5] 22.Ba6 Nf4 [22...Qd6 23.Nb5 Bxb5 24.Bxb5 Nd8 25.Nd2] 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.e5 Bg4 [24...Nc5 25.bxc5 bxc5 26.Nb5 Rxb5 (26...Rb6 27.Bxc8 Rxb5 28.Qc4 Qxc8 29.Qxf4; 26...c4 27.Rxc4 Rc5 28.Rb4 Rb6 29.Nd6 Rxa6 30.Rb8 Bc8 31.Ne4 Rc7 32.d6) 27.Bxb5 Rb8 28.d6 Rxb5 (28...Bxb5 29.Rb1) 29.Qd5] 25.d6 Rd8 26.Ng5 Rd7 27.Rxf4 Nxd6 28.exd6 Qxd6 [28...Rxd6 29.Rxf7] 29.Rxf7 Rxf7 30.Qxf7+ Kh8 31.Bc4 Qf6 32.Ne8 1-0

Andrew Martin explains instructively on this DVD where Hebden went wrong, yes with 12…b6 and 14…Qd6. Semko Semkov wrote in his terrific Kill KID after 9…c6: Knaak puts explanation mark to this move in his 2005 survey. It is hardly any better than the other options though. White obtains the better game with simple developing. Interesting to mention is that Semkov gives after 10.0-0 cxd5 11.cxd5 Ne8 12.Be3 Nd6 the novelty 13.Qa4! {Semkov: I have tested this novely several times in blitz.The queen is heading for a3 from where it will pressurise d6.

The Williams-Hebden game is also published in the latest British Chess Magazine where,John Saunders writes 12...Ne8 13.Be3 Na6 14.a3 Nd6 15.Bd3 b6 16.b4 f5 17.Rc1 Nc7 18.Bg5 Qd7 Fridman - Vovk,ICC International 2009,was won by Black. As a lover of the Kin’s Indian I found this a highly instructive DVD.

The Budapest Gambit By Andrew Martin

Most chess players are naturally talented, but do not have the time to devote to chess theory, such is the pace of modern life. Yet it is human nature to want to do things well and to achieve good results. To make the right choice of opening system is therefore of crucial importance for these players if they want to make the most of what they have.

Below master level and especially with Black, the most crucial thing is to strive for the initiative. It is absolutely no good trying to gradually equalize. Leave that to Karpov, Kramnik and the world championship matches, where we can admire the defensive technique from afar.

Try this style at club level and one ends up exhausted and frustrated. Pressurizing the opponent means getting on to the attack and this is where the fiery Budapest Gambit comes into play. After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5 Black immediately takes the fight to White at the cost of a pawn.

Active piece play is the predominant theme. Tactics abound. White can lose in a few moves if he or she does not know what they are doing. A life and death struggle is rarely what the White player wants at such an early stage of the game.

At the very least the position will be laced with interest. Study of the Budapest Gambit will place an extremely dangerous weapon into the hands of the club player. Video running time: 4 hours 20 min.

Rubinstein,Akiba - Vidmar,Milan Sr [A52]
Berlin Berlin, 1918
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 [4...Bc5 5.e3] 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Qe7 7.Qd5 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qa3 [8...f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Qd3 d6] 9.Rc1 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Qd2 d6 12.Nd4 0-0 13.e3 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Ne4 15.Qc2 Qa5+ 16.Ke2 Rxf4 17.exf4 Bf5 18.Qb2 Re8 19.Kf3 Nd2+ [19...h5 20.g3 (20.h3 h4) 20...Ng5+ (20...Nd2+ 21.Kg2 Be4+-+) 21.fxg5 (21.Kg2 Bh3+ 22.Kg1 Nf3#) 21...Be4+ 22.Ke2 Bc2+ 23.Kf3 Qf5+ 24.Kg2 Be4+ 25.Kg1 Qf3] 20.Kg3 Ne4+ 21.Kh4 [21.Kf3 h5 22.h3 h4 23.Rd1 Ng5+ 24.fxg5 Be4+ 25.Kf4 (25.Ke3 Bc2+ 26.Kf3 Qf5#) 25...Qf5+ 26.Ke3 Qxg5+] 21...Re6 22.Be2 Rh6+ 23.Bh5 Rxh5+ 24.Kxh5 Bg6+ [24...Bg6+ 25.Kh4 Qh5#] 0-1

This encounter was the first example of the Budapest Gambit in a Master's Tournament. 8…Qa3 came as a complete shock for Rubenstein but 8…f6 is a better alternative for black,as Martin explains with instructive words on this DVD. It is important to play active chess and no dilly dolly hanging around the edges with black, move and strike back!

There is a host of possibilities for white but Andrew Martin patiently explains on this DVD,with easy to understand lines. There are not only classic beauties on this DVD but a fine balance from classic till games from today as we can see in the following blitz game:

Ivanchuk,Vassily (2781) - Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2742) [A52]
Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz Moscow (10), 2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Nc3 Re8 10.Rb1 a5 11.a3 d6 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Ba7 14.Qc2 Be6 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.Rd1 Qf6 17.Bb2 Bf5 18.e4 Bg6 19.f3 c6 20.Nc3 h5 [20...Ba7+ 21.Kh1 Qh4 22.Ra1 (22.Bf1 Rad8 23.Bc1 (23.Ne2 Be3 24.Bd4 Bxd4 25.Nxd4 d5) 23...Bh5) 22...Bf2 23.Rxa8 Rxa8] 21.Ra1 Ba7+ [21...Rxa1 22.Bxa1 Ba7+ 23.Kh1 Be3] 22.Kh1 h4 [22...Bf2! 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Bf1 Qh4 25.Ne2 Ra2 26.Qb3 Rxb2 27.Qxb2 Nxc4] 23.Rf1 [23.Qd2!] 23...Qf4 24.Bc1 Be3 25.Bxe3 Qxe3 26.Qc1 Qd4 27.Rd1 Rxa1 28.Qxa1 Qf2 29.Rf1 Qd4 30.Rd1 Qf2 31.Rf1 Qe3 32.Qc1 Qd4 33.Rd1 Qf2 34.Rf1 Qd4 35.Rd1 Qf2 36.Rf1 ½-½

As Martin explains on this DVD, it is all a matter of active play!

The Scandinavian the Easy Way By Andrew Martin

It’s easy-to-learn and easy-to-play. Here is an opening for Black which will furnish good results in the shortest possible time. Which other opening could we be referring to apart from the Scandinavian or Centre-Counter Defence; 1 e4 d5!

International Master Andrew Martin has written extensively on the Centre-Counter and here he turns his attention to 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6!? Playing flat out for the win against 1 e4 is never easy, but here we encounter a variation where Black can do just that! All relevant second and third move alternatives for White are covered too.

This DVD will be a boon to all chessplayers,but particularly to the busy person with limited time for study or those who wish to incorporate a new defence into their Black repertoire with the minimum possible hassle. This really is the Scandinavian – the easy way!

Since the first edition of this DVD, the Scandinavian with 3...Qd6 has become very popular. Rightly so, because it ticks a lot of boxes for the competitive chessplayer. Important games are being played in this line frequently all over the world at all levels. In this new, updated 'Scandinavian, the Easy Way', Andrew Martin casts his eye over recent trends and offers solutions for Black in the critical lines. He reworks 3...Qd6 and modernizes the variation where necessary. Black can still play 3...Qd6 with confidence! Video running time: 4 hours.