CHESSBOOK REVIEWS
Latest book reviews of 1 August 2009
BOOKS REVIEWS BY JOHN ELBURG.
Wilhelminalaan 33
7261 BP RUURLO
The Netherlands.
John Elburg
Win
with the Stonewall Dutch by Sverre Johnsen,Ivar Bern and Simen Agdestein
2009
Gambit Publications Ltd
http://www.gambitbooks.com
E-mail info@gambitbooks.com
223 pages
Price $ 29,95
ISBN 978-1-906454-07-4
The Dutch Stonewall is a opening that is characterized by a pawn chain
with the pawns on f5,e6,d5 and c6, this brand new work from Sverre
Johnsen & Simen Agdestein covers a
compressive, move to move openings book where all modern lines of the
Dutch Stonewall are getting a important turn.
And that is quite unique in the world of the Dutch Opening, I also have
in my book collection the work
from Aagaard,but he prefers strategies above latest developments!
All material is divided in lessons and well after the moves:{1.d4 f5
2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 d5 5.0-0 Bd6 6.c4 c6 7.b3}
Lesson 1. 7.b3: Introduction
Lesson 2. The Critical 7.b3 Qe7 8.Ne5!
Lesson 3. 7.Qc2, 7.Nc3 and Rare 7th Moves
Lesson 4. 7.Bf4
Lesson 5. Lines with a Delayed Bf4
Lesson 6. Early Deviations
Lesson 7. 4.c4 with Nh3
Lesson 8. 2.c4: Non-Fianchetto Lines
Lesson 9. 2.Nf3: Non-Fianchetto Lines
Lesson 10. 2.Nc3 and 2 Bg5
Lesson 11. The Staunton Gambit and Rare 2nd Moves
Lesson 12. 1.c4, 1.Nf3 and 1.g3
All material is explained at the hand of 64 well analysed
model games where all chapters cover extra theory sections and
exercises to see if you have understood it.
I enjoyed in this book the unorthodox idea as: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6
4.Bg2 c6 5.Nf3 d5 6.b3 Bd6 7.0-0 Qe7 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Qc1 b5 {model game
4,Quan Zhe-Alexander Moiseenko,Guelph open 2004,or 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3
f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Bf4 Bd6 6.Be5!?
This is the idea of the creative Ukrainian GM.6.Bxd6 cxd6 gives black
good control over e5 while other moves will probably transpose to
standard lines.It is however a bit surprising that 6.e3 has been so
slightly tested,as black would hardly like to take on f4,allowing white
to open the e-file.
Exciting is chapter 11 with the Staunton Gambit but it seems that black
has all the fun: 1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nc6 5.d5 Ne5 6.Qd4
Nf7 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.Nxe4 f5 9.Ng3 g6 10.0-0-0 Bh6+ 11.f4 0-0 12.Nf3 Bg7
13.Qd2 b5 14.Bd3 c5 15.c3 Rb8 16.Ne2 Qa5! And white has a difficult
position.
The forward to this book comes from the great Simen Agdestein who wrote
interestingly:
Is the Stonewall still an opening where you can find new ideas and
develop your personal style? I would definitely say yes! During the
2008 Chess Olympiad in Dresden, I propagated the opening with the rest
of the Norwegian team and was happy to see Magnus Carlsen score a
enterprising win with it against Rowson,while Leif Johannessen used it
to secure a useful draw.A few months later Jon Ludvig Hammer too was
playing the Stonewall with great effect.
Conclusion: A very important reference
work of the Dutch Stonewall!
Counterattack!
by
Zenon Franco
2009
Gambit Publications Ltd
http://www.gambitbooks.com
E-mail info@gambitbooks.com
239 pages
Price $ 29,95
ISBN 978-1-906454-09-8
Grandmaster Zenon Franco provides you in this book a useful course how
to transfer difficult positions in to dangerous counterattacks.
The master of defence and counter attack was the great Lasker and it is
pleasant that Zenon Franco starts with this chess genius. who played so
many
second best moves but managed to become for over 27 years world
champion in chess.
Tarrasch once wrote that Lasker was simple lucky in chess but as we can
learn from Zenon Franco it is more a matter of technique! Funny enough
Bobby Fischer found Lasker a coffeehouse player but that is a other
story!
The material is divided into the following chapters: Lasker, the Master
of Defence and Counterattack,Refuting Premature Attacks,Fighting Blow
by Blow,Regrouping,
Prophylactic Thinking and Simplification.
The list of modelgames is impressive under regrouping I found some
great games from the legandary Tigran Petrosian the master of
manoeuvring,Olafsson,Fridrik - Petrosian,Tigran
V [C16]
Bled Bled (11), 19.09.1961
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7 5.Qg4 f5 6.Qg3 b6 7.h4 Bb7 8.Bd3 Nc6
9.Nge2 0-0-0 10.Bd2 Nh6 11.a3 Be7 12.Bb5 Rdg8 13.Qd3 Nf7 14.0-0-0 Kb8.
But first some instructive words from our instructive teacher Franco:
One look at
the position shows that white has more space thanks to his
pawn-wedge on e5,although there isn’t any immediate crushing plan in
sight. This gives black a certain freedom of action, he has placed his
pieces apparently with the idea of expanding on the kingside.
Nevertheless after 14…g5 15.hxg5 Nxg5 16.f3!,preventing..Ne4,followed
by 17.Nf4,it doesn’t look at though opening the g and h files has
been a good deal for black.
His weakness on h7 is more important than the one on g2,which can be
economically defended with Nf4,incidentally hitting the other weakness
on e6.
14…g6 and 15…h6,preparing…g5 in a more leisurely way,in order to take
with a pawn on g5,is not to be recommended either. There would
follow 15.Nf4 and when ….g5 comes the knight jump to h5 would be very
strong.
What other ideas does black have at his disposal?
Note that the position resembles a mirrored Benoni Defence, and
thinking of the position in these terms can help clarify some
possible plans.
For the good order it are not only classic games in this book,for
example the following one from Topalov is also included:
Topalov,Veselin (2780) - Aronian,Levon (2739) [E20]
Morelia/Linares 25th Morelia/Linares (1), 15.02.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Ne4 7.Qd3 Bxc3+
8.bxc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 10.Bg2 e5 11.Qe3 0-0 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.0-0
Nd7 15.f4 exf4 16.Rxf4 a5 17.Qe7 Qe5 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Be3 Nd7 20.Re4 Ra6
21.Rb1 Rg6 22.Re7 b6 23.Bf4 h5 24.Be4 Re6 25.Rxe6 fxe6 26.Bd6 Rf6
27.Rd1 Kf7 28.Bf4 Kg8 29.Bc7 Rf7 30.Bg6 a4 31.Bxh5 Nf6 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7
33.Bxb6 Ba6 34.Bxc5 e5 35.a3 Bxc4 36.Bb4 e4 37.Kf1 1-0,{under
supplementary game 9.1}
Conclusion: A book that learns you as
no other to
strike back!
Fighting the Ruy Lopez
by Milos Pavlovic
2009
Everyman
Chess
http://www.everymanchess.com
174 pages
Price $25,95
ISBN 978-1-85744-590-9
Fighting the Ruy Lopez is a interesting repertoire book from Serbian
Grandmaster Milos Pavlovic, based on a selection lines of the Marshall
Gambit.
Pavlovic’s aim is to provide the black player with a comprehensive
repertoire for black against all lines of the Ruy Lopez.
For example against the Exchange variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0,Pavlovic suggests 4…Bd6 and on 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7
6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d4 Pavlovic comes with the move 8…d6 and that
chapter is good for twelve pages of text.
Pavlovic prefers in the main line of the Marshall the move from
Spassky,although Marshall himself had recommended it back in 1943,just
one year for his death in 1944: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5
c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6.
Pavlovic writes: I believe that 17….Re6! is far better than the pawn
push 17…f5,which I have played many times as black.
After: 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rxa4 f5 20.Qf1 Qh5 21.Rxa6 f4 22.Bxf4 Rxe1! I
really don’t see any danger for black here.Simply taking on e1
practical secures a draw,and perhaps more if white plays imprecisely.
I think this is better than 22…Bh3 which was played in V.Ivanchuk –
N.Short ,Tal Memorial,Riga 1995,and is considered better for white
after 23.Rxe6 Bxf1 24.Rxc6 Bxf4 25.Nxf1 Qf3 26.Bxd5 Qxd5 27.gxf4.Having
said that,even here I’m not convinced that white has any advantage.
23.Qxe1 Bxf4 24.Rxc6 Bxd2 25.Qxd2 Re8! {Tim Harding only gives 25…Bf3
on his Total Marshall CD}26.Rc5 Bf3 27.Bc4 Qf5 28.Bf1 Qb1 and the
Serbian Grandmaster ends with the words:Black is certainly better
here,and maybe even winning.
For the good order all modern lines as: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5
11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 and even 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Qe2 are
getting all, a very important turn from the author.
Included is a introduction with the classic game Capablanca – Marshall
from New York 1918 but I am missing the bibliography!
Conclusion: Truly a good and
original repertoire book on the Marshall Gambit!
7 ways to smash the Sicilian by
Yury Lapshun & Nick Conticello
2009
Everyman
Chess
http://www.everymanchess.com
190 pages
Price $24,95
ISBN 978-1-85744-595-4
This book features a collection of 109 well analysed model games all
divided in the tactical themes of the Sicilian Defence.
Some readers will recognize this idea from Levy’s book: Sacrifices in
the Sicilian,Batsford 1974,but this book from Yury Lapshun & Nick
Conticello go much further!
First of all they don’t work with game positions but prefer complete
games complete games with a lot of text to provide the reader with all
the tactical themes, as for example the following game from the
phenomenal Velimirovic who invented together with his mother the
move 8.Qe2 in the opening that carry his name :Drabjub
Velimirovic - Jovan Sofrevski,YUG-ch Titograd (7), 1965.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Be7
8.Qe2 a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bb3 Na5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 Nd7 14.Nf5
exf5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.exf5 0-0 17.f6 gxf6 18.Bd4 Ne5 19.gxf6 Bxf6 20.Rhg1+
Bg7 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 f6 23.Ne7+ Kf7 24.Qh5+ 1-0.
Both authors give after 16…0-0? Fatal. Praxis has shown the correct
defence to be 16…Bb7 17.f6! gxf6 18.Rhe1 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Rg8!{an idea of
Larsen’s,first played in F.n frce a Gheorghiu – S.Hamann,Vrnjacka Banja
1967}when Yrjola gives 20.gxf6 Nxf6 21.Rf5 Ng4 and now white can force
a draw with 22.Bg5 or play in risky fashion for a win with 22.Bd4!?
The 7 chapters in this book hold the following sacrifices: The knight
sacrifice on d5,
the knight sacrifice on e6,the bishop sacrifice on e6,the knight
sacrifice on f5,the knight sacrifice on b5,the bishop sacrifice on b5
and miscellaneous sacrifices,where I found this beautiful queen
sacrifice: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7
7.Nb3 Nc6 8.0-0 Be6 9.f4 Rc8 10.f5 Bd7 11.g4 Ne5 12.g5 Ng8 13.Nd5 f6
14.Be3 b6 15.Nd4 Kf7 16.c3 Qe8 17.Ne6 Bxe6 18.fxe6+ Kf8 19.Nxf6 Nxf6
20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.Rxf6 exf6 23.Qxd6 Rc6 24.Qxe5 fxe5 25.Rf1
Rc8 26.Bd1 Rc4 27.Bb3 b5 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.b3 a5 30.bxc4 Qe7 31.Kg2 Qa3
32.Rf2 Qe7 33.Rf1 g5 34.Rf5 g4 35.c5 Qd8 36.c6 Qe7 37.c7 1-0, Gusev –
Averbakh Moscow 1951 and found in the book Die Sizilianische
Verteidigung from Rolf Schwarz.
Included is a impressive bibliography from around 28 items.
Conclusion: All games in this book are
well illustrated with a lot of instructive text!
The King's Indian by
Victor Bologan
2009
ChessStars
356 pages
Price € 23,95
ISBN 978-9-548782-71-5
GM Victor Bologan provides the reader with a complete repertoire book
for the black side of the board, and Bologan is ambitious and has
included extra for the ambitious chess student all kind of King’s
Indian related lines.
I would like to begin with a brief view of the repertoire lines of this
book: part one starts with the minor lines as 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7,part two with the Averbakh,Part three with the
Sämish,Part four Four Pawn Attacks,Part five,Classical
variation,Part Six,Fianchetto Systems and other Fianchetto Systems
where I even found by transposition The English Defence:1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3
g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.d3 e5 8.Rb1 a5 9.a3 Nd4
10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 c6 12.b5 Bg4 13.Bg5 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 15.exf3 h6
16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Rb7 Ra3 19.Qc2 Bg7= Donaldson –
Nijboer,Hertogenbosch 1999,where Bologon writes:white has no targets to
attack in black’s camp,therefore the opponents agreed to a draw on the
next move.Bologon is a expert of the King’s Indian himself and that
makes this book more than interesting,for example in the Sämisch
Bologan goes for a quick ..c5: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
0-0 6.Be3 c5 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 c5
7.d5 e6 8.Ng3 exd5 9.cxd5 here Bologan offers the reader choice out of
3 possibilities: 9…Nh5,9….a6 and 9…h5:This is the contemporary
approach to the problem.Black does not wish to wait until his
opponent completes his development and begins a kingside attack and
instead,he starts active operations on the same side of the board.The
move h5 is prophylactic, because black wishes to impede his opponent to
deploy calmly his forces before the beginning of the decisive assault.
In the classical variation Bologan prefers for black the move
11…Kh8{1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6
8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.Bd2 Kh8}and after 12.Rc1 he prefers the
blocking move 12….c5 and after 13.f4 exf4! 14.Nxf4 Bd4 15.Kh1 Nf6
16.Bd3 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxb2 19.Rb1 Be5 20.Ne6 Rxf1 21.Qxf1
Bxe6 22.dxe6 Nf5 and black is holding this position to his wonderful
bishop on e5.
Conclusion: One of the finest
repertoire books on the King’s Indian Attack that I ever have seen!
RO-ABC
Romania- A
Bibliography of Chess by Marian
Stere
2009
Gambit
Bucuresti
302 pages
Price
ISBN 978-973-85337-6-9
Usual price: 62.49 Euro + 5 Euro handling and shipping = 67.99 Euro.
KWA members have 20% discount à 49.99 Euro + 5 Euro handling and
shipping = 54.99 Euro.
For information:Marian Stere marian_stere@yahoo.com
This chess bibliography from Marian
Stere, well known from the book on Wolfgang Pauly, Challenge of a
Legacy, has managed to create a colorful biography of the Romanian
chess scene.
It is not a dry work because nearly every possible print is covered
with an original image of the cover from the mentioned book, bulletin
or magazine and these all make this book really special.
Included are all kind of miscellaneous items that have seen no
catalogues before.
Some technical information from the author: there are around 800
entries, of which 663 numbered (613 being distinct items), with around
550 images: ca. 385 are covers of books/magazines, 40 signatures, 10
photos of authors etc.
This book is a limited edition of 222 copies printed, all on high
quality 115 grams white paper and where each copy is numbered and
signed by the author!
Many photos in this book have seen no daylight before. The following
one is a rare photo of the young Boris Spassky, taken from the
international chess tournament of Romania, Bucharest 1953.
Under the chess miscelleanea, I found scoresheets, headings, stamps,
visiting cards and art!
I would like to end with the following image:
Conclusion: One of the most
interesting bibliography books that I have ever
seen!
British
Chess Magazine No.7
Volume
129
July 2009
Price: £4,05
This issue starts with the Mtel Masters which was won by the great
Alexei Shirov but what has happened with Vasyl Ivanchuk?
Other important tournaments that are covered are Sigeman & CO won
by Nigel Short,Ruy Lopez,Zafra {won by Ivan Cheparinov} and the Chinese
Championship which was won by Ding Liren.
IM Sam Collins is responsible for the column Games Department and again
there are some fine analysed games from Collins himself.
Speelman on the Endgame is responsible for a fascinating endgame played
between Motylev – Gashimov,from Karpov Poikovsky 2009,
this is a classic example of how to stop with your rook two extra pawns!
Gary Lane handles in chess questions answered the secrets of the
Stonewall Attack for the white side of the board but Gary prefers a
similar position throw the Colle.
Conclusion: Smashing
issue!
Andrew
Martin The ABC of the Ruy Lopez
2nd Edition
2009
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price € 27,50
System requirements:
Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM,Windows XP or Windows
Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.
<>Andrew Martin provides you with this DVD with a
reasonable knowledge of the Ruy Lopez where he is not afraid to show
you some interesting novelties, largely based on latest played games.
Going throw this DVD your confidence of the Spanish Opening will grow,
specially with Martin’s clear and understandable
explanations.
Instructive and easy to learn is the Ruy Lopeze with a early move 4. d3
o5 5.d3 as we can see in the following model game: Jonkman,Harmen
(2425) - Nahutin,Yevgeni (1994) [C78]
Canadian op Kapuskasing (6), 14.07.2004
[Sustained Pressure]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.0-0 d6 8.c3
0-0 9.h3 Bb6 10.Re1 Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Nc6 14.Nbd2 Ra7
15.Nf1 Kh8 16.Ne3 g5 17.Bg3 Ne8 18.h4 g4 19.Nh2 h5 20.a4 Ng7 21.axb5
axb5 22.Rxa7 Bxa7 23.f3 f5 24.exf5 Nxf5 25.Nxf5 Bxf5 26.fxg4 hxg4
27.Nxg4 c4+ 28.Kh2 cxd3 29.Bxd3 Bxd3 30.Qxd3 Kg7 31.Rd1 Rh8 32.Kh1 Qg5
33.Nh2 e4 34.Qxd6 Qd8 35.Be5+ 1-0.
Magnus Carlsen even plays d3 against the dangerous
Schliemann Defence:
Carlsen,Magnus (2733) - Radjabov,Teimour (2735) [C63]
Morelia/Linares 25th Morelia/Linares (14), 07.03.2008
[Schliemann Defence]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Qd3 d6
8.Qc4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Nd4 12.Nxd4 [12.Bxd7+! Qxd7
(12...Kxd7 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Rhf8 (15...Raf8 16.Qa4+)
16.Qg4+ Ke8 17.Qa4+ Kd8 18.Rxf8+ Qxf8 19.Rf1 Qe7 20.Qe4 g6 21.Qb4 b6
22.Qg4) 13.Nxe5 Qf5 14.Nd3] 12...Bxd4 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.a4 a6 15.Be3
Bxe3 16.fxe3 0-0-0 17.Rf2 Rdf8 18.Raf1 Qe7 [18...Rxf2 19.Rxf2 Kb8 20.b3
Qe7 21.Qe4 g6 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.c4 c6 24.dxc6 Rxc6 25.e4 Qg5 26.h3 Qc1+
27.Kh2 Qe1 28.Rf1 Qd2 29.Qf8+ Rc8 30.Qe7± Topalov-Radjabov
Morelia-Linares 2008] 19.Qe4 g6 20.Rf3 Kb8 21.b3 Rxf3 22.Qxf3 Qg5 23.h3
Rc8 24.Kh2 Qh4 25.c4 a5 26.e4 Qh6 27.Qf2 b6 28.g3 Kb7 29.Kg2 Ra8 30.h4
g5 31.Qe3 Rg8 32.Rf5 Qh5 33.hxg5 Qd1 34.Rf7 Qh5 35.Qf3 Qxg5 36.Rxh7 Qf4
37.Rh5 [37.Qd3 Rxg3+ 38.Qxg3 Qxe4+;
37.Qxf4 exf4 38.Rh3 fxg3 39.Rxg3] 37...Rg7 38.Qd3 Qc1 39.Qf3 Qf4
40.Qxf4 exf4 41.Rh3 fxg3 42.Rxg3 Rh7 43.Kf3 Rf7+ 44.Ke3 Rf1 45.Kd4 Rd1+
46.Rd3 Re1 47.Re3 Rd1+ 48.Kc3 Rc1+ 49.Kd2 Rb1 50.e5 dxe5 51.Kc2 Rh1
52.Rxe5 Rh3 53.Re2 Kc8 54.Rd2 Kd7 55.Rd3 Rh2+ 56.Kc3 Rh1 57.Rg3 Rd1
58.Rg7+ Kd6 59.Rg6+ Kd7 60.Rc6 Rc1+ 61.Kb2 Rd1 62.Kc2 Rd4 63.b4 axb4
64.Kb3 Rd1 65.Kxb4 Rb1+ 66.Kc3 Ra1 67.Kb3 Rb1+ 68.Ka2 Rb4 69.Ka3 Rb1
½-½
After Martin, 4.d3 is a unpleasant choice for black because it is
difficult for him to mess up things.
Included in this second edition is also the Berlin Defence!,Andrew
Martin describes this openings as dry but this game is really very
up-to-date!
Zude,Arno (2465) - Strache,Michael (2218) [C67]
GER-ch 80th Saarbruecken (2), 07.02.2009
[Berlin Defence]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5
8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.h3 h6 11.b3 Ne7 12.Bb2 Ng6 13.Ne4 Kc8 14.Kh2
Nf4 15.Rad1 Bf5 16.Rfe1 Bb4 17.c3 Be7 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.g4 h5 [19...Re8
20.Bc1 Ng6 21.Ng3 Bf8 22.f4] 20.Kg3 Ng6 21.Nf3 hxg4 22.hxg4 a5 23.Rh1
Rxh1 24.Rxh1 a4 25.c4 axb3 26.axb3 Ra2 27.Ra1 Rxa1 28.Bxa1 Kd8 [28...c5
29.Nfg5 Be8 30.f4] 29.Nfg5 Bxg5 [29...Ke8 30.f4 Nf8 31.Bd4 b6 32.f5 c5
33.Bc3 Bc6 34.Kf4] 30.Nxg5 Ke7 31.f4 c5 [31...Nf8 32.f5 g6 33.e6 fxe6
34.f6+ Ke8 (34...Kd8 35.Kf4 c5 36.Nf7+ Ke8 37.Ne5 Bc6 38.Nxc6 bxc6
39.g5 Nh7 40.Bb2 Kd7 41.Be5 Kd8 42.Kg4 Kd7 43.Bf4 Nf8 44.Kf3 Nh7 45.Ke4
Nf8 46.Ke5 Ke8 47.Be3 Kf7 48.Ke4 Nd7 49.Bf4) 35.Be5 Kd8 36.f7 Ke7
37.Bxc7 e5 38.c5] 32.f5 [32.e6 fxe6 33.Bxg7 b6 34.Bc3 Bc8 35.Kf3 Bb7+
36.Ke3 Nh4 37.Be5 Kd7 38.Nh7] 32...Nxe5 33.Bxe5 f6 34.Kf4 [34.Nf3 fxe5
35.Nxe5 Be8 36.Kf4 b6 37.g5 Bh5 38.Ng4 Be8 39.Ke5 Bh5 40.Ne3]
34...fxg5+ 35.Kxg5 Kf7 36.Bxc7 b5 37.Kf4 bxc4 38.bxc4 g6 39.Ke5 gxf5
40.gxf5 Ba4 41.Bd8 Ke8 [41...Bd7 42.Bf6 Ba4 43.Bg5 Bd7 44.Be3 (44.f6
Be6) 44...Ba4 45.Bxc5 Bb3 46.Kd4 Kf6] 42.Bh4 Bc2 43.f6 Bg6 44.Kd6 Bf7
45.Kxc5 Kd7 46.Kb5 Kc7 47.Bg3+ Kb7 48.c5 Be8+ 49.Kc4 Kc6 50.Bd6 Bg6
51.Kd4 Kd7 52.Ke5 Bh5 53.Kf5 Bf7 54.Bf8 Be8 55.Be7 1-0.
The video running time is: Video running time: 3 h 32 min + 1 h 22 min
(Update)= 4 h 54 min
Conclusion: All video games are
clearly explained with a lot of instructive explanations!
Andrew
Martin The ABC of Chess Openings
2nd Edition
2009
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price € 27,50
System requirements:
Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM,Windows XP or Windows
Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.
This ABC of chess openings is divided
into different sections as Open games, Semi Open games,Semi
closed games,Flank Openings and irregular Openings.
Jolly whisky is after Andrew Martin the move 3.Ng5 in the Two Knights
Defence,this all is well explained by the following model game on this
DVD: Sax,Gyula (2566) - Hector,Jonny (2513) [C58]
Hamburg-ch int Hamburg (4), 21.05.2002
[Two Knights Defence]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 [4...Bc5 5.Nxf7 (5.Bxf7+ Ke7
6.Bd5) 5...Bxf2+] 5.exd5 Na5 [5...b5 6.Bxb5 (6.Bf1 h6) 6...Qxd5;
5...Nd4 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5] 6.Bb5+ Bd7 [6...c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6
9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6] 7.Qe2 [7.Bxd7+ Qxd7] 7...Be7 8.d4 [8.0-0 0-0
9.Bxd7 Qxd7 10.Nc3 Nxd5] 8...exd4 9.b4 0-0 10.bxa5 Bb4+ 11.Kd1 [11.Kf1
Re8] 11...Re8 12.Qc4 Qe7 13.Bd2 Bxd2 14.Nxd2 c6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Qxf7+
[16.Ba4 Nd5 17.Nge4 Bg4+ 18.Ke1 (18.Kc1 Qa3+ 19.Kb1 Nc3+ 20.Nxc3 dxc3
21.Qb3 Rab8) ] 16...Qxf7 17.Nxf7 cxb5 18.Nd6 Rf8 19.f3 Nd5 20.Nb3 Ne3+
21.Kd2 Rad8 22.Nxd4 Nxg2 23.Nb7 Rc8 24.Rhg1 Nh4 25.Rae1 Rf4 26.c3 Rxd4+
27.cxd4 Nxf3+ 28.Kd3 Bc6 [28...Nxg1 29.Rxg1 Bf5+ 30.Ke3 Rc2] 29.Nd6 Rd8
30.Nf5 Kf8 31.Rc1 g6 32.Rxc6 [32.Ng3] 32...Ne5+ 33.Ke3 Nxc6 34.Rc1 Nxa5
35.Ng3 Nc4+ 36.Kd3 Ke7 37.Rb1 Nd6 38.Ne4 Nf5 39.Ng3 Rxd4+ 40.Kc3 Rc4+
41.Kd3 Nxg3 42.Rxb5 Rg4 0-1.
A good opening to start with is after Martin, the good old Bishop
Openings as we can see in the following well analysed video game:
Short,Nigel D (2675) - Fridman,Daniel (2526) [C55]
FIDE-Wch k.o. Las Vegas (2.1), 03.08.1999
[Bishop's Opening]1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 h6 [4...Be7;
4...Bc5] 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 g6 7.d4 Qe7 [7...Bg7 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 dxe5
10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Bxf7] 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 Qxe5 10.Nd2 Be6 [10...Bg7
11.Nf3 Qc5] 11.Qa4+ Nd7 [11...c6 12.Nf3 Qc5 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qb3;
11...Bd7 12.Qb3] 12.Nf3 Qf6 [12...Qxe4 13.Re1 Qxc4 14.Qxc4] 13.Be3 c5
[13...Bg7 14.Bd4] 14.Bd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 a6 16.Rfe1 0-0-0 17.c4 Bg7
[17...Qxb2 18.Rab1 Qf6 19.Rxb7 Kxb7 20.Qc6+ Ka7 21.Rb1 Rb8 22.Qxd7+ Ka8
23.Qc6+ Ka7 24.Qc7+ Ka8 25.Rxb8#] 18.Rab1 Rhe8 19.b4 Qc3 20.Rec1 Rxe3
[20...Qd3 21.Rb3] 21.Rxc3 Rxc3 22.Nd2 Nb6 23.Qd1 cxb4 24.Rxb4 Kc7
25.Qb1 Bd4 26.Ne4 Re8 [26...Rxc4 27.Rxc4+ Nxc4 28.Qd3;
26...Ra3 27.c5 Bxc5 28.Nxc5 dxc5 29.Rxb6] 27.Rxb6 Rxe4 28.Rxb7+ Kd8
29.Rb8+ 1-0.
After Martin the perfect openings move for white, straightforward,
direct, aggressive and sound!
Fascinating is also the old but spectacular game: Smirnow - Tichonov
[C37]
USSR,[King's Gambit]
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.0-0 gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5 Qxe5
8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.d4 Qxd4+ 10.Be3 Qf6 11.Bxf4 Ne7 12.Nc3 Bg7 13.Nd5 Nxd5
[13...Qd4+ 14.Be3+] 14.Qxd5+ Qe6 15.Bd2+ Kg8 16.Rae1 Qxd5 17.Re8+ Bf8
18.Bh6 [18.Bh6 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Qg7 20.Rfxf8+ Qxf8 21.Rxf8#] 1-0.
Video running time: 5 h 09 min + 1 h 15 min (Update) = 6 h 24 min.
Conclusion: All openings are clearly
presented!
Andrew
Martin The ABC of The Vienna
2009
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price € 27,50
System requirements:
Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM,Windows XP or Windows
Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.
Andrew Martin digs in this ABC of chess openings in the good old Vienna
Opening, where the bright Gary Lane once wrote the Vienna has a long
history and a bright future.
Martin starts with some basic ideas but it does not take long and the
first excitement starts with the inspiring game: Sheldrick,Kevin (2161)
- Rout,Ian Clive (1949) [C27]
Australian op Manly Sydney (9), 09.01.2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 0-0 5.f4 exf4 [5...d6 6.f5] 6.Bxf4 c6
7.Qf3 Bb4 8.Bg5 Be7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.e5 bxc4 11.exf6 Bxf6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6
13.Qxf6 gxf6 14.dxc4 Re8 15.Nf3 Na6 16.Rhf1 Nc7 17.Nd4 d5 [17...Kg7
18.Nf5+] 18.Rxf6 dxc4 19.Rxc6 Ne6 20.Rxc4 a5 [20...Ba6 21.Ra4] 21.Nd5
Rd8 22.Nc6 Rf8 23.Nde7+ Kh8 24.Nxa5 Ba6 [24...Rxa5 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Nxc8
Rxa2 27.Kb1] 25.Re4 Nc5 26.Re5 Na4 27.c4 f6 28.Re3 Rfb8 29.b3 Nc5
30.Rd5 Nb7 31.Nac6 Re8 32.Rh3 Nd8 33.Rdh5 1-0.
In many of these positions white has the opportunity to take the game
into a King’s Gambit with 3.f4,intending to sacrifice with 3…exf4 4.Nf3
g5 5.d4 g4 6.Bc4.
Spectacular is the classic game where Alekhine announced mate in four
moves: Alekhine,Alexander - Downman,J [C25]
USA , 1924
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Bc4 d6 [3...Nc6 4.d3 d6 (4...Nf6 5.Nge2) 5.f4] 4.f4
Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d3 0-0 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nd4 10.Qd1 Bc5 11.Kh1
exf4 12.Bxf4 Qd7 13.Bg5 Ne8 14.Nd5 Nc6 15.Qh5 Kh8 16.Rf6 Bd4 [16...gxf6
17.Nxf6 Nxf6 18.Bxf6+ Kg8 19.Qg5#;
16...Nxf6 17.Nxf6 gxf6 18.Bxf6+ Kg8 19.Qg5#] 17.Raf1 Bxf6 18.Rxf6 Ne5
19.Rh6 gxh6 20.Bf6+ Nxf6 21.Nxf6 Qe7 22.Qxh6 Qxf6 23.Qxf6+ Kg8 24.Bb3
Rae8 25.h4 Nd7 26.Qf5 Nc5 27.h5 Nxb3 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Qf6+ Kg8 30.h6
1-0,but Downman did not play the blackside after Skinner &
Verhoeven,Alexander Alekhine’s Chess Games 1902-1946,MacFarland 1998,it
was a player named R O’Malley and the game was a blindfold simultaneous
game!
Conclusion: Overloaded with
instructive video explanations!
Alexei Shirov The Philidor Defence
2009
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price € 29,90
System requirements:
Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM,Windows XP or Windows
Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive.
Alexei Shirov presents the owner of this DVD a clear inside of the
Philidor Defence based on Shirov own experiences but than on the white
side of the board so all fans of the Black Lion are warned!
Specially with the Shirov gambit where the following game is a nice
example of Shirov his agressive play:
Shirov,Alexei (2726) - Cyborowski,Lukasz (2504) [C41]
Bundesliga 0809 Germany (1.1), 04.10.2008
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 [4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Bc4 Ke8]
4...Nbd7 5.g4 Nxg4 6.Rg1 Ngf6 7.Bc4 h6 8.Be3 [8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Be3 c6]
8...Nb6 [8...c6] 9.Bb3 exd4 [9...Bg4 10.dxe5 Bxf3 (10...dxe5 11.Bxf7+
Kxf7 12.Nxe5+ Ke8 13.Nxg4) 11.Qxf3 dxe5 12.Qf5 Nbd7 (12...Qe7 13.0-0-0)
13.0-0-0 c6 14.f4 Qe7 (14...g6 15.Rxg6 fxg6 16.Qxg6+ Ke7 17.Qf7#)
15.fxe5 Nxe5 (15...Qxe5 16.Bxf7+ Ke7 (16...Kxf7 17.Rxd7+ Ke8 18.Qxe5+)
17.Qf3 (17.Bg6 Qxf5 18.exf5 Kd8 (18...Ne5 19.Bc5#) 19.Bf7 Kc7 20.Be6)
17...Kxf7 18.Rxd7+) 16.Bd4 Nfd7 17.Bxe5 (17.Nb5! cxb5 18.Bxe5 Nxe5
19.Bxf7+) 17...Nxe5 18.Nd5 cxd5 19.Ba4+ Nd7 (19...Nc6 20.exd5 g6
21.dxc6 gxf5 22.cxb7+) 20.Rxd5 0-0-0 21.Bxd7+ Rxd7 (21...Kb8 22.Qf4+
Ka8 23.Rgd1 (23.Qc7 Rb8 (23...g5? 24.Re5 Qf6 25.Bc8+-) ) 23...g5 24.Qc7
Bg7 25.e5) 22.Rgd1 Qg5+ 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Rxd7 1-0 Shirov,A
(2726)-Hoffman,A (2425)/Leon ESP 2008] 10.Qxd4 Bg4 11.Rg3 [11.Nd2]
11...c5 12.Qd3 Rc8 13.e5 dxe5 [13...Bxf3 14.exf6 (14.Rxf3 dxe5 15.Qb5+
(15.Qf5 c4 (15...Qd7 16.Qxe5+ Qe7) 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 (16...axb6 17.Ba4+)
17.Qxc8+) 15...Qd7 16.Qa5 c4 17.Rd1 Qc6) 14...Qxf6 15.Bg5 hxg5
(15...Qe5+ 16.Kf1 hxg5 17.Re1 g4 18.Rxe5+ dxe5 19.Qf5 c4 (19...Rxh2
20.Qxf7+ Kd8 21.Qxf8+) 20.Ba4+) 16.Rxf3 Qe5+ 17.Re3] 14.Nxe5 Bh5 15.Qf5
Bd6 [15...c4 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Ba4+ Ke7 18.Re3;
15...Qe7 16.Ba4+ Kd8 17.Bf4 c4 18.f3] 16.Ne4 Qe7 [16...Bxe5 17.Qxe5+
Qe7 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Qxh5 c4 20.Qb5+ Qd7 21.Qxd7+ Kxd7 22.Bxb6;
16...Nxe4 17.Bxf7+ Ke7 18.Bxh5] 17.Nxd6+ Qxd6 18.Rxg7 Rc7 [18...c4
19.Bxb6] 19.Bxf7+ Bxf7 [19...Rxf7 20.Nxf7 Bxf7 21.Bxc5 Qe6+ 22.Qxe6+
Bxe6 23.Re7+ Kd8 24.Rxe6] 20.Rd1 Nbd5 [20...Qxd1+ 21.Kxd1 Bh5+ 22.Qxh5+
Nxh5 23.Rxc7] 21.Nxf7 Qxh2 [21...Rxf7 22.Qc8+ Ke7 (22...Qd8 23.Qxd8+
Kxd8 24.Rxf7) 23.Qxh8] 22.Nxh8 Rxg7 23.Qc8+ [23.Qc8+ Ke7
24.Bxc5+] 1-0.
But it was Oleg Dementiev who invented this move against Vladimir
Sergievsky at Moscow 1966.
In the following game Shirov was not aware of his secret weapon
5.g4!! and played the weaker 5.Bc4 but uit is still a very interesting
game: Shirov,Alexei (2706) - Cifuentes Parada,Roberto (2522) [C41]
ESP-chT Cala Galdana (2), 14.10.2001
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 [4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8] 4...Nbd7
5.Bc4 [5.g4] 5...Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 b6 [8...a5 9.b3 -- 10.Bb2]
9.b3 [9.-- a6 10.-- (10.-- Bb7) 10...Rb8; 9.d5] 9...a6 10.d5 c5
[10...Bb7;
10...cxd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Rb8 13.-- Nf6] 11.Bd3 [11.Bf1] 11...Ne8
[11...-- 12.Nd2 -- 13.Nc4] 12.Nd2 [12.Qe2 -- 13.Nd1] 12...Bg5! [12...g6
13.Nc4 Ng7 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Bf6 16.Qd2] 13.Nc4 Bxc1 14.Qxc1 Rb8
15.Nd1 g6 16.Nde3 Ndf6?! [16...Ng7 17.Nxd6;
16...Qe7 17.Qb2 -- (17...-- 18.g3) 18.Rf1 -- 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 b5
21.Na5 Ne5] 17.Qb2 Bd7 [17...Qe7 18.b4 Nd7 19.c3] 18.b4 Qc7?! [18...a5
19.c3 (19.bxa5 bxa5 20.Qc3 Rb4; 19.b5 Nh5) 19...Qc7 20.Reb1 Ng7 21.Qb3
-- 22.Na3 -- 23.f3 -- (23...Nfh5) 24.Bb5] 19.Reb1 b5 [19...-- 20.bxc5;
19...Ng7 20.bxc5 a) 20.Qc3 Rfc8 21.bxc5 Qxc5 (21...bxc5 22.a5) 22.Qa3;
b) 20.Qa3 a5; 20...bxc5 21.Qc3 Rxb1+ 22.Rxb1 Bxa4 23.Rb6 Rb8 24.Rxd6
Nfe8 25.Qxe5 Nxd6 26.Nxd6 Rb1+ 27.Nf1 Ne8;
19...Ng7 20.f4 exf4 21.Qxf6 fxe3 22.Qxd6;
19...cxb4] 20.axb5 axb5 21.bxc5 Qxc5 [21...bxc4 22.Qxb8 Qxb8 23.Rxb8
cxd3 24.c6] 22.Qb4 [22.Nd2 Nc7 23.Nb3 Qb6;
22.Qa3! bxc4 23.Rxb8 Qxa3 (23...cxd3 24.Qxc5 dxc5 25.cxd3 Nd6 26.Rb6
Nfe8 27.Raa6 (27.Rc1) ) 24.Rxa3 cxd3 25.cxd3 Ng4 26.Nxg4 Bxg4 27.Raa8
(27.Rd8 Nc7) 27...Bd7 28.Rd8 Bb5 29.Rab8 Ba4 30.Kf1 -- 31.Ke2 -- 32.Rb4
Bc2 33.Kd2] 22...bxc4 23.Qxb8 cxd3 24.cxd3 Ng4 25.Nxg4 Bxg4 26.Qb6 Be2
[26...Qxb6 27.Rxb6 f5 28.f3 Bh5 29.Ra8 fxe4 30.dxe4 g5] 27.Qxc5 dxc5
28.Ra3 [28.-- c4] 28...f5 [28...c4 29.dxc4 Bxc4 30.Rc3 Be2 (30...Nd6
31.Rb6 Ra8 (31...Rd8 32.Rxd6 Rxd6 33.Rxc4) 32.h4 (32.h3 Ra1+ 33.Kh2
Nxe4 34.Rxc4) ) 31.f3] 29.Rb2 Bh5 30.f3 g5 31.Rc3 fxe4? [31...g4
32.fxg4 Bxg4 33.h3 Bh5 34.exf5 Rxf5 35.g4 Rg5 36.Rb6 (36.Rxc5 Bg6 37.--
h5) 36...Bg6 37.d6 Nf6 38.Rxc5 Nd7 39.Rc8+ Kf7 40.Rb7 Ke6 41.Rd8 Nc5
42.Re7+ Kd5 43.d7 Kd6 44.Rg7 Ne6 45.Rdg8] 32.fxe4! [32.dxe4 Nf6
(32...g4 33.fxg4 Bg6) 33.Rxc5] 32...Nf6 33.Rxc5 Ra8 34.h3 g4 35.Kf2
gxh3 [35...g3+ 36.Kxg3 Ra3 37.Rc8+ Kg7 38.Rc7+ Kg6 39.Kh4] 36.gxh3 Bg6
37.Ke3 Kg7 [37...Ra3 38.Rb7 Bxe4 39.Rc8+] 38.Rc7+ Kh6 39.Re7 Ra1
[39...Ra3 40.Rxe5] 40.Rb6 Rf1 41.d6 Rh1 42.d7 Rxh3+ 43.Kd2 Rh2+ 44.Kc3
Nxd7 45.Rxd7 Kg5 46.Rd5 [46.Rd5 Kf4 47.Rf6+ Ke3 48.Rxe5] 1-0.
All together we have here a unique DVD with annotations from one of the
best players in the world !
Running time is nearly six hours!!
By the way the white players can throw The Black Lion book away!
Conclusion: One of those killing
opening's
DVD’s!