CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 August 2010
BOOKS REVIEWS BY JOHN ELBURG. 

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
John Elburg

                                 Chess Books & Magazine's
Play the Najdorf Sicilian by James Rizzitano
2010
Gambit Publications Ltd
http://www.gambitbooks.com
E-mail info@gambitbooks.com
143 pages
Price $ 22,95
ISBN 978-1-906454-16-6


The American international master James Rizzitano, explains at the hand of  25 model games all the strategies and latest developments of the Najdorf Sicilian.
Once the Najdorf was the favourite of Bobby Fischer and as Nick de Firmian writes in his Modern Chess Openings Book,it could have been called the Fischer Variation instead of taking its name from the Polish/Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf.
James Rizzitano had to make choices in this book but he guides the reader in readable words throw various lines of the Najdorf ,as for example  the Poisoned Pawn variation,which is explained by the hand of two instructive model games where the following game from Shirov is good for around six pages of text: Shirov,Alexei (2745) - Wang Hao (2696) [B97]
RUS-chT 16th Dagomys (2), 05.04.2009
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Bc5 16.Nxe6 Bb4+ 17.c3 Qxe6 18.cxb4 0-0 19.Rd6 Qxe5 20.Bc4 Nc6 21.0-0 Qh5 22.Qf4 Nde5 23.Rxh6 1-0.
James Rizzitano even sees some hope for black in the line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5 12.0-0 Ra7 13.Qd3 Rd7 14.Ne4 Qe5 15.Nf3 Qxb2 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.a4 Qb4!? And it look sthat black has no forced way for any advantage.
The model game continues with the game: Leko,Peter (2739) - Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan (2513) [B96] WchT 5th Yerevan (7.1), 18.10.2001
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5 12.0-0 Ra7 13.Qd3 Rd7 14.Ne4 Qe5 15.Nf3 Qxb2 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.a4 b4 18.Rab1 Qxc2 19.Nfg5 Qc7 20.Rxb4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxb4 22.fxg7 Rg8 23.Nf6+ Kd8 24.Nxg8 Bc5 25.Nf6 Bxe3+ 26.Kh1 Kc8 27.Nxd7 1-0,and good for 4,5 pages of instructive text.
Also mentioned in this book are Fischer Attack,English Attack,Fianchetto Variation,Classical Najdorf,The aggressive 6.f4,Gelfand Variation with 7.f4 Nbd7,Kasparov Variation 7.f4 Qc7,
Main Line and some white sixth –move alternatives as 6.h3 and 6.a4.
Conclusion: Highly recommend! Also for the more experienced Najdorf


Beating 1.e4 e5 by John Emms
2010
Everyman Chess
http://www.everymanchess.com
223  pages
Price $26.95
ISBN 978-1-85744-617-3


Grandmaster John Emms,a expert on the Open games provides the reader in this book with a complete repertoire line for white on the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4.
Emms prefers the set-up with the quiet Italian than run with  the moves 3…Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3,the move 5.d3 is enriched with a lot of new ideas and can not be compared with the old games from Blackburne and Chigorin that we saw some hundred years ago.
Still tricky today is Blackburne’s idea with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4,the so called Blackburne – Shilling Gambit,a line that made Blackburne famous under shilling players.
But white does not have to play 4.Nxe5?! Qg5! 5.Nxf7?? Qxg2 6.Rf1 Qxe4 7.Be2 Nf3 mate!
On 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5,Emms suggests the move to 4.d4 yes some times the white player must be prepared in this repertoire book to play d4.
All material in this book is based on  46 instructive loaded  model games where some games as for example, Frois – Korneev,Malaga 2005, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.Bb3 Ba7 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.h3 h6 10.Re1 Nh5 11.Nf1 Qf6 12.Be3 Nf4 13.Ng3 g6 14.d4 Na5 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.Bc1 c5 17.b3 Na5 18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.g3 Qxf3 21.Qxf3 Bd7 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Rad1 Be6 24.Rd6 Rae8 25.Red1 Bb8 26.R6d2 Nc6 27.Kg2 Kg7 28.Bd3 b5 29.Bc2 b4 30.Qe3 Rc8 31.cxb4 cxb4 32.Bd3 Ba7 33.Qe1 Nd4 34.Bxa6 Rc3 35.Rd3 Rc2 36.R1d2 Rc7 37.Rb2 Rb8 38.Rd1 Rc3 39.Rc1 Nf3 40.Qd1 Ng5 41.h4 Nxe4 42.Bc4 Rc8 43.Rxc3 bxc3 44.Re2 Bxc4 45.bxc4 Nd2 46.Rxe5 Rxc4 47.Qc2 Bd4 48.Rd5 Bf6 49.Rd7 Rb4 50.Qd3 Nc4 51.Rc7 Nb6 52.Qd6 Rb5 53.Qe6 1-0,is good for nearly seven pages of text.
Against the two Knight Defence Emms goes again for the quite move 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 which can easy transpose into the above mentioned lines with 3…Bc5.
But more fun is model game 34,where Wittman goes against Emms,in the London league with the move 4…d5!?
5.exd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3 Nb6 9.Bb3 h6 10.Nc3 Re8 11.Ne4 Bf8 12.Nfg5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Re6 14.Qh5 Bc5 15.Qxf7+ Kh8 16.Qh5+ Rh6 17.Nf7+ Kh7 18.Bxh6 g6 19.Ng5+ Kh8 20.Qxg6 1-0.
7.Ng5! is a interesting alternative ,although black can equalize if he defends accurately: 0-0 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Nce4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Be7 11.Qh5 and 11… Qd7 which is not really something new: Bosboom,M - Timmerman,G [C24]
Netherlands tt, 1991
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Ng5 0-0 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Nce4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Be7 11.Qh5 Qd7 12.f4 Qg4 13.Qxg4 Bxg4 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Bb3 Ng6 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.Rae1 Be8 18.Bc3 Kh8 19.Ng3 f6 20.Rxe7 Nxe7 21.Bb4 Ng6 22.Bxf8 ½-½
Included is a chapter on the Bishop’s Opening but again white goes for a quite system as against the Italian game: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 0-0 6.Nbd2 c6 7.Bb3 Bb6 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Re1 Re8 10.Nf1 Nf8 11.Ng3 Ng6 12.h3 h6 13.d4.
Al together we have here a very reliable repertoire book and if you can live with these quite moves, than this system is for life!
Conclusion: Emms offers you in this book a very reliable openings repertore!
The Field 1907 Chess Column edited by Leopold Hoffer
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
544 pages
Price €29,95
ISBN 978-80-7189-609-8


The country gentleman's newspaper' was published weekly in London from on 1853,
publishing House Moravian chess under leadership of the chess historian Vlastimil Fiala is compiling these weekly chess columns from Leopold Hoffer in book form.
This hard cover issue from 544 pages hold all columns from January 5,1905 till December 28,1907.
Every week there was a chess problem or game position to solve,but now and than there was even some chess theory as the MacCutcheon Variation.
On page 244 I found two games of the youthful Russian master Aaron Nimzowitsch,in the book Niemzowitsch who was below the recognised age for admission.Althrough his games have attracted very little notice because played outside the pale,he drew attention by quietly adding point after point to his score,so that he is now considerd a dangerous rival.
On page 348 we can read: Tournament at Paris.-We learn from La Strategie that a tournament has just been concluded at the Café de la Regence,Paris,in which Marshall and Tartakover joined the leading amateurs of the famous café.
It is noteworthy that a young amateur,M.Antoniadi,of Greece,tied with Marshall for first place,having beaten both Marshall and Tartakover.
Antoniadi became later well known for his observers on the planets Mars and Mercury.
Please also see http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_M._Antoniadi
Included in this book are cable matches as the Inter/University Cable Match,sponsored by the well known Professor Isaac L.Rice.
Conclusion: A fascinating view of  chess news throw  the years 1905 –1907!
The Westminster Chess papers
A monthly Journal
Volume one
1868-1869
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
143 pages
Price €25,00

The Westminster Chess papers
A monthly Journal
Volume two
1869-1870
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
143 pages
Price €25,00


Publishing House Moravian Chess, has managed to reprint in fine cloth binding the forgotten Westminster Chess Papers Monthly from the years 1868 till 1870.
On the first page we can read: The Westminster papers can now be obtained at all the Railway Station Book Stall belonged to Messrs.Smith and Son.
Yes chess popular those days,and the Westminster Chess Papers gave a good view of latest games and enjoyable problems. The notation was in those days in the English descriptive notation, with the moves tabulated and annotations appended as footnotes.
On page 138,I found the following game between De Vere and Mr.Blackburne,where we can read on a footnote: Mr. De Vere being dissatisfied with the result of the encounter, has challenged Mr.Blackburne to play a match. the challenge has been promptly accepted. The winner of the first seven games.
The stakes are ranged at 100 GBP a side, and we trust these young champions will produce some games worthy of there acknowledged skill.
In part two I found the review of The book of chess,a popular and comprehensive guide to all players of that intellectual game.
One page 99 there is a small survey on the Allegaier-Kieseritzky Gambit that runs with the moves:  1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Nxg4 Nxe4 7.d3 Ng3 8.Bxf4 Nxh1 9.Bg5.
Conclusion: Fascinating material!               
Quarterly for chess history 15
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
468 pages
Price € 39,00


Quarterly for Chess History has been founded at the end of 1999, and with this issue number 15/2007 we reach the total of fifteen well presented hard cover heavyweights.
This issue holds 466 pages of chess research as for example the forgotten tournament of Mexico City, hold from 6 till 18 October of the year 1932.
Games from less strong tournaments are usually not very well presented in chess magazines or chess columns and this was also the case of the Mexico City 1932 tournament.
But strange enough this tournament was won by no less as the legendary  Alekander Alekhine!
The last game to be played was between Dr.Alekhine and Meduna,which was adjourned until the 17th because of the champion’s absence at Puebla the day before, while the ninth round was on.There he gave an exhibition of blindfold play against twelve opponents, winning seven games, drawing three and losing two.
Yes that was the life of Alekhine full time,day and night chess player.
Many sources show minor discrepancies in the dating of this event but Quarterly for Chess History has made it all very clear for the interested reader of this tournament.
This book is overloaded with less known material as in 1928 Alekhine played in Montreal a blindfold séance against 21 opponents at the National C.C.Where Alekhine made 12 wins,4 losses and 5 draws.The following day Alekhine called of the whole 21 games to a chess reporter without error,recalling the exact sequence of over 1500 moves!
Alekhine also loved the cigarettes, since his students days in St.Petersburg this expatriated Russian has been  a devout worshiper at the shrine of lady nicotine.
For the interested reader the index of the book holds: Salo Flohr in 1930 part 2 by V. Fiala. Chess Biographies: M Chigorin V. Fiala, O. Barda by O. Brekke, N. van Lennep by V. Fiala. Forgotten Chess Tournaments: Mexico City 1932 by V. Fiala. Classical Chess Matches: Wallace - Hodgson 1896. Great Chess Players; Correspondence Chess; Womens Chess: Elaine Saunders/Pritchard by T. Gillam. Chess Research; Chess Miscellany no.351-375; Chess Reviews etc.
Conclusion: Overloaded with unique historical  chess material

The collected works of William Lewis Volume I.
Edited by Vlastimil Fiala
A treatise on the game of chess
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
300 pages
Price € 29,00

The collected works of William Lewis Volume II.
Edited by Vlastimil Fiala
Stamma on the games of chess
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
337 pages
Price € 29,00

The collected works of William Lewis Volume III.
Edited by Vlastimil Fiala
The match at chess played by the London and the Edinburgh chess clubs.
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
141 pages
Price € 25,00

The collected works of William Lewis Volume IV.
Edited by Vlastimil Fiala
Fifty games of chess by William Lewis
2010
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
108 pages
Price € 25,00

Flastimil Fiala comes with some fine reprints from William Lewis 1787 – 1870 who was one of the leading English chess players and chess authors of the first half of the 19th century.
Fiala starts these series of the book with the rare book from  Pietro Carrera,that was even in the time from Lewis a rarity:
A Treatise on the Game of Chess, etc., first published in 1617 by Pietro Carrera, translated from the Italian by W. Lewis. London 1822.
The second work holds a other rare work : Stamma on the Game of Chess; Containing Numerous Openings of Games, and One Hundred Critical Situations by William Lewis. London: Printed for W. H. Reid, Whitehall, 1818.
Part three holds a own work from Lewis which is really a must for all correspondence chess players between us : The Games of the Match at Chess Played by the London and The Edinburgh Chess Clubs between the Years 1824 and 1828 with Numerous Variations and Remarks by William Lewis. London: Printed For J. F. Setchel, 1828.
Strange enough London only had in one game the white pieces,Tim Harding once wrote in Chess Mail: This was the only game where London had White because of the peculiar rules of the match. It began on April 28, 1824 and ended February 23, 1825. Victory gave Edinburgh the right of the move in the "third" game (fourth by date of starting)
For the interested reader here is the complete game:
London,London CC - Edinburgh,Chess Club [C44]
First intercity match 1824-8 corr (2), 1824
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Qe7 6.0-0 dxc3 7.Nxc3 d6 8.Nd5 Qd7 9.b4 Nxb4 10.Nxb4 Bxb4 11.Ng5 Nh6 12.Bb2 Kf8 13.Qb3 Qe7 14.Nxf7 Nxf7 15.Qxb4 Ne5 16.f4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Qf7 18.Qc3 Be6 19.f5 Bc4 20.Rf4 b5 21.e5 dxe5 22.Qxe5 h6 23.Re1 Rh7 24.f6 g5 25.Rf5 a5 26.Qc5+ Kg8 27.Rxg5+ hxg5 28.Qxg5+ Kf8 29.Bd4 Be6 30.Qc5+ Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kf8 32.Bc5+ Ke8 33.Qd5 Ra6 34.Qb7 Qh5 35.f7+ Kxf7 36.Rf1+ Kg6 37.Qe4+ Bf5 38.Qe8+ Rf7 39.Qg8+ Kf6 40.g4 Ra8 41.Qxa8 Qxg4+ 42.Kh1 Rd7 43.Ba3 Kf7 44.Qc6 Rd1 45.Qxb5 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Kg6 47.Qb2 Qg4+ 48.Qg2 Qxg2+ 49.Kxg2 Bh3+ 50.Kxh3 Rxf1 51.Be7 a4 52.a3 Rf5 0-1
Part four holds Lewis famous most famous work: Fifty Games at Chess which Have Actually Been Played, most of which occurred between the Author and some of the best Players in England, France, and Germany by William Lewis. London: Published by W. Simpkin and R. Marshall from 1832.
All these book are also available in luxury rendering, printed on versatile business paper in 50 copies and will have  a special hand made binding.
In addition to this luxury edition there will be another 100 copies unnumbered.
So if you are interested in these lovely and excellent reprints in hard cover,than I would not wait  to long!
Conclusion: A beautiful series of rare chess books!  
Philip Richardson
The Stormy Petrel of Chess by John S.Hilbert
2009
Moravian Chess
http://www.moravian-chess.cz
146 pages
Price € 29,00
ISBN 978-80-7189-607-4

John S Hilbert describes in this beautiful produced hard cover book the life of the forgotten chess master
Philip Richardson 1841-1920, who belonged in the middle of the 1860s  to one of the strongest chess players of the United States.
It was Steinitz who praised Richardson’s talents in his pages of his International  Magazine.
John S Hilbert has managed to collect in this book 193 games and game fragments, 24 chess problems and two fascinating endgames.
From profession Richardson was a photographer,in those years,and for many afterwards,photography needed the presence of good natural light,and so it was that Richardson’s business required him to devote his greatest labours when the weather was pleasant.
Richard composed chess problems throughout his lifetime,although his output,at least its published portion,was never great.
1n 1902 Philip Richardson even played a short correspondence match with William de Visser,who was best known to the chess world for his strength in crossboard play and as an organizer.
Here follows the first game: Richardson,Philip - De Visser,William M [A00]
Richardson-De Visser match corr USA (1), 1902
1.h3 e5 2.e4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.Na4 f5 6.Nxc5 dxc5 7.Bb5 Qd6 8.Qe2 Nge7 9.d3 0-0 10.Bg5 Nd4 11.Bc4+ Kh8 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.exf5 Nxf5 14.0-0-0 Bd7 15.Rhe1 Rae8 16.g4 Qg6 17.Qd2 Nd6 18.Bd5 c6 19.Bb3 Rf3 20.Rh1 a5 21.Bh4 b5 22.a4 bxa4 23.Bxa4 Nb7 24.Bg3 Nc5 25.Qxa5 Qd6 26.b4 Nxa4 27.Qxa4 Rb8 28.Qa7 Qxb4 29.Qa1 c5 30.Rhe1 c4 31.Bxe5 cxd3 32.Rf1 d2+ 33.Rxd2 Ra3 0-1.
There where only two players in the States who had a superior record against the Brooklyn photographer and that where only Mackenzie and Steinitz!
Conclusion: A lovely produced chess book!                     

British Chess Magazine No.7
Volume 130
July  2010
Price: £4,05

 This issue starts with the finale weekend of the 4NCL,where John Saunders reports on the fifth and finale weekend.
A fine Four Pawns Attack comes from  Paul Townsend against Mark Hebden:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.0-0 a6 11.Ng5 Qe7 12.Qe1 Nh5 13.g4 Bd4+ 14.Kh1 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rb8 16.Bd2 b5 17.cxb5 Nb4 18.Bb1 axb5 19.Nf3 Nc6 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.g5 Nh5 22.Be3 Bb7 23.Bd3 Nf5 24.Qf2 b4 25.Ne2 e5 26.Bc4+ Kg7 27.Bd5 Bxd5 28.exd5 Rbe8 29.Ng3 Nhxg3+ 30.hxg3 Qb7 31.Rad1 Nxe3 32.Qxe3 exf4 33.Qd3 Re3 34.Qd2 Qe7 35.gxf4 Qe4+ 36.Qg2 Rxf4 37.Qxe4 Rfxe4 38.Rf6 Rg3 0-1.
Other contribution are the Kavalek file,the Fide Grand Prix with a report of John saunders,Ruy Lopez Masters,Capablanca Memorialn and games Department from IM Sam Collins.
The regular columns are: Quotes and Queries, Endgame Studies,Spot the Continuation and  Reviews and New Books.
Conclusion: One of the best!                                      


Chess DVD's

Nigel Short Greatest Hits
Volume 2
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-175-1
Price € 32,90
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

GM Nigel Short, considered as the strongest British chess player of the 20th century continues in this volume two with a collection of his greatest games.
Covered in this over five hour video entertainment DVD are the following games: Short - Miles: Chester, 1979,Short - Ye: Shianjin, 2004,Short - Gelfand: Brussels, 1991,Gurevich - Short: Manila, 1991,Short - Seirawan: Luzern, 1989,Short - Khalifman: Bundesliga 1991,Short - Ljubojevic: Belgrade, 1989,Kasparov - Short: London, 1987,Short - Pogorelov: Gibraltar, 2004,Epishin - Short: Malmö, 2002,Short - Timman: Reykjavik, 1987,Short - Adams: England, 1991,Illescas - Short: Pamplona, 1999,Korchnoi - Short: Luzern, 1989 and Gligoric - Short: London, 1980.
Short was only fifteen when he outplayed Gligoric in a fascinating attack: Gligoric,Svetozar (2565) - Short,Nigel D (2360) [E42] London BBC TV-A London, 1980
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 cxd4 6.exd4 0-0 7.a3 Be7 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5 Bc5 10.Nd4 d6 11.Be2 a6 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 Re8 15.Rc1 Nf8 16.b4 Ba7 17.Nb3 Ng6 18.Bg3 Ne7 19.h3 Nf5 20.Bh2 Bd7 21.Na5 Rc8 22.Kh1 Bd4 23.Na2 Rxc1 24.Nxc1 Ne4 25.g4 Nxf2+ 26.Rxf2 Bxf2 27.gxf5 Bxf5 28.Nd3 Qh4 29.Bf3 Bxd3 30.Qxd3 Qxh3 31.Be4 Qg4 32.Bg2 Re1+ 33.Bf1 Rd1 34.Qc4 Qf3# 0-1.
One of my favourite Short games in the one against Khalifman: Short,N - Khalifman,A
Bundesliga, 1991
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.h4 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.0-0-0 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.h5 Nxh5 15.g4 Nf6 16.Nb3 Re8 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Bg5 Qc8 19.Rh4 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Be6 21.Rdh1 Bg7 22.e5 dxe5 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Rxh7 Qc4 25.Kb1 Qf4 26.Qg2 Bg7 27.Qh3 f5 28.Nc5 Bc8 29.gxf5 Bxf5 30.Ne6 Bf6 31.Rg7+ Bxg7 32.Qh7+ Kf7 33.Nxg7 Kf8 34.Qh8+ Kf7 35.Qxe8+ Kxg7 36.Qxe7+ Kg8 37.Rd1 1-0.
Unfortunately Short did not include his other win against Khalifman, please see Igor Stohl Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces Gambit 2009.
Highly instructive is his game against Tony Miles,Short played his first game against the great Tony when he was only ten but please see how Short outplays Miles with his favourite French Defence. It is interesting to see how Short managed to temp Miles to play 2.e4.
Miles  was a great 1.d4 player and I guess he underrated the 14 year old wonderboy!
Miles,Anthony J (2560) - Short,Nigel D (2260) [C01]
BCF-ch Chester (8), 08.1979
[Nigel Short]
1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nf6 [7...Qf6 8.Rb1 Nge7 9.Ne2 Ng6 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4! Bf5 12.Bxf5 Qxf5 13.Ng3 Qd7 14.f5 Nge7 15.f6 Nc8 16.fxg7 Re8 17.Nh5 Re6 18.Qg4] 8.Bg5 [8.Ne2] 8...Qe7+?! [8...h6!] 9.Ne2 [9.Qe2!?] 9...Bd7 10.0-0 h6 11.Bf4 0-0-0 12.c4 Be6?! [12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 g5] 13.c5! [13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bd2 Nb6] 13...g5 14.Bd2 Ne4 15.Rb1 f5 16.f3?! [16.Be1! f4 17.f3 Nf6 18.Bf2 Na5 19.Qd2 b6? 20.Qxa5! bxa5 21.c6!] 16...Nxd2 17.Qxd2 f4 18.Bb5?! [18.Rb3!] 18...Bd7 19.Rfe1 Qf6 20.Qc3 Rde8 21.Qb3 Re3! 22.Bd3 [22.Qxd5? Be6] 22...Nd8 23.c4 Bf5! 24.Bxf5+ Qxf5 25.Qa2 [25.Nc3 Rhe8] 25...Rhe8 26.Rb2 [26.cxd5 Rxe2 27.Rxe2 Rxe2 28.Qxe2 Qxb1+] 26...g4! 27.Rf1 gxf3 28.gxf3 Rg8+ [28...Qd3! If  29.Rf2 (29.Nxf4 Qxd4) 29...Rg8+ 30.Rg2 Qd1+ 31.Kf2 Qh1! 32.Rxg8 Rxf3#] 29.Kh1 Qh3 30.Rf2 Rxf3 31.Ng1 Re3 [31...Rxf2 32.Rxf2 (32.Nxh3 Rf1+) 32...Qe3] 32.Rg2 [32.Nxh3? Re1+] 32...Qe6 33.Rxg8 [33.cxd5? Qe4!] 33...Qxg8 34.cxd5 f3 35.d6 Qg5? [35...Qg6! 36.Qd5!? c6! 37.d7+ Kc7!;
35...Qxa2 36.Rxa2 Ne6!] 36.d7+? [36.Qb1!] 36...Kxd7 37.Qb1 Ne6 38.Qh7+ Kc6 39.Qf7 Nxd4 40.Qc4 Qxc5 41.Qa4+ b5 42.Qd1 Qd5 43.Rf2 Re2 44.Qc1+ Kb7 45.Nxe2 fxe2+ 46.Rg2 Nc2! 47.Qxc2 e1R# 0-1
Please see also Short his 18 move win between the lines  against Beliavsky!
Conclusion: Facinating material!
Guide to the Tkachiev Ruy Lopez by Alexei Shirov
 2010
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-189-8
Price € 32,90
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

In this DVD the great Alexei Shirov digs in the Tkachiev Ruy Lopez that runs with the moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5!?
In some books it is named as the New Archangel,please see the Archangel and New Archangel from Emms and Panczyk, but our chess genius Shirov has bombed
this line as  the Tkachiev Ruy Lopez,named after the Kazakhstan grandmaster Vladislav Tkachiev,who played and won some important games with it.
This line is so good that Shirov has made it to his main weapon against the move 1.e4!
On this DVD you will find 9 games with this set-up,where I died get the feeling that Shirov is throwing all his secrets of the Tkachiev Ruy Lopez on the street!
As for example in his following win against Leko.
Leko,P (2739) - Shirov,A (2723) [C78] Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (1), 16.01.2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Qxd4 d6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qc3 Ne7 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Nc3 b4 15.e5 Bf5 16.Qxa6 Nd7 17.exd6 bxc3 18.dxe7 Qxe7 19.bxc3 Nc5 20.Qc4 Rfd8 21.Ba2 Bxc2 22.f5 Bd3 23.f6 gxf6 24.Qg4+ Kh8 25.Bh6 Rg8 26.Qd4 Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Rg6 28.Be3 Nxa4 29.Bf2 Nb6 30.Bb1 Rg7 31.Re1 Qd6 32.Bf5 Nd5 33.g4 Rgg8 34.c4 Nf4 35.Qxd6 cxd6 36.Bg3 Nh3+ 37.Kg2 Ng5 38.Bxd6 Rb2+ 39.Kg3 Ra8 40.Re3 Kg7 41.h4 Ne6 42.g5 Raa2 43.gxf6+ Kxf6 44.Bxh7 Re2 45.Rf3+ Kg7 46.Bd3 Re1 47.Be7 Rd2 48.Bf6+ Kg8 49.Kg4 Nc5 50.Bf5 Ne4 51.Bxe4 Rxe4+ 52.Kh5 Rxc4 53.Rg3+ Kf8 54.Bg7+ Ke7 55.Re3+ Kd7 56.Bf6 Rf2 57.Be5 Rf5+ 58.Kh6 Rxh4+ 59.Kg7 Rg4+ 60.Kf8 Rf1 61.Rd3+ Ke6 62.Bc7 Rc4 63.Rd6+ Kf5 64.Rd7 Kg4 0-1
Included as extra is a fine Spanish Exchange game where Shirov goes for the sharp:
Vachier Lagrave,Maxime - Shirov,Alexei
Bundesliga 2009-2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 7.d3 Qf6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Re1 Ng6 10.d4 Nf4 11.hxg4 hxg4 12.g3 gxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne6 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Qf5 Qb5 16.Nf3 g6 17.Qxb5 axb5 18.c3 b4 19.cxb4 Bxb4 20.Re2 Rd8 21.Be3 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Nxc5 23.Rc1 Ne6 24.Rcc2 Rd1+ 25.Re1 Rd3 26.Ne5 Rd8 27.Kg2 Ke7 28.f4 Rh5 29.Rf2 Nc5 30.Re3 Rd1 31.f5 Kf6 32.Ng4+ Kg5 33.Ne5 Kf6 34.Ng4+ Kg5 35.Nh2 gxf5 36.Rxf5+ Kg6 37.Nf3 Rxf5 38.exf5+ Kf6 39.g4 Nd3 40.Kg3 b5 41.g5+ Kxf5 42.Re7 Kg6 43.Rxc7 Rc1 44.b3 f6 45.Rd7 Line,by the way this game is not mentioned in the latest  MegaDatabase DVD!
Conclusion: One of those smashing Shirov opening’s DVD’s!
The advance Caro-Kann by Alexei Shirov
2010
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-188-1
Price € 32,90
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

GM Alexei Shirov come here with a interesting made update of his Advance Caro-Kann,where I found the following new games,all well analysed and good for over 7.5 hours of highly chess video entertainment:
Shirov,Alexei - Mchedlishvili,Mikhail [B12]
Bundesliga, 20.03.2010
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nf5 8.g4 Nh6 9.h3 Ng8 10.Ne1 h5 11.Ng2 hxg4 12.hxg4 Ne7 13.f4 Nd7 14.Nb3 f5 15.g5 Bf7 16.Be3 Ng6 17.a4 Qc7 18.a5 Be7 19.c4 dxc4 20.Bxc4 Nh4 21.Qe1 Nxg2 22.Kxg2 c5 23.dxc5 Qc6+ 24.Kg3 Bxc5 25.Nxc5 Nxc5 26.Bxc5 Qxc5 27.Rc1 Qe7 28.Qd1 Kf8 29.Qd6 Rd8 30.Qxe7+ Kxe7 31.Bb5 Rc8 32.Rfd1 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Kd8 34.Rd1+ Kc8 35.Bd7+ Kc7 36.Rd6 Rd8 37.Bxe6 Bg6 38.Rxd8 Kxd8 39.Kf2 b6 40.Ke3 Ke7 41.axb6 axb6 42.Bc8 Kd8 43.Ba6 Bf7 44.Kd4 Ke7 45.Bc4 Be8 46.Bd3 Ke6 47.Ba6 Ke7 48.Bc8 g6 49.Kd5 Ba4 50.e6 Bb5 51.Bd7 Bxd7 52.exd7 Kxd7 53.b4 Kc7 54.Ke6 Kc6 55.Kf6 Kb5 56.Kxg6 1-0,
Shirov,Alexei (2730) - Solak,Dragan (2583) [B12]
EU-chT (Men) 17th Novi Sad (5), 26.10.2009
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nf5 8.g4 Nh6 9.h3 Ng8 10.Ne1 h5 11.Ng2 hxg4 12.hxg4 c5 13.c3 Nc6 14.Nf3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bc5 16.b4 Bb6 17.a4 Nxe5 18.f4 Nc6 19.f5 exf5 20.gxf5 Bh7 21.a5 Bxd4+ 22.cxd4 Nf6 23.a6 0-0 24.axb7 Rb8 25.b5 Na5 26.Bg5 Nxb7 27.Ne3 Nd6 28.Bd3 Qe8 29.Re1 Qd7 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Qh5 Kh8 32.Kf2 Rg8 33.Rh1 Rg7 34.Nxd5 Ne8 35.Bc4 Rxb5 36.Rag1 Rxd5 37.Bxd5 Qxd5 38.Rxg7 Qxd4+ 39.Kf1 Qd3+ 40.Kf2 Qd4+ 41.Kf1 ½-½,
Shirov,Alexei (2745) - Kamsky,Gata (2720) [B12]
Bazna Kings 3rd Bazna (6), 20.06.2009
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Rc8 7.b3 h6 8.c4 Bb4 9.Ba3 Qa5 10.Bb2 Qd8 11.Na3 Ne7 12.Nc2 Bxc2 13.Qxc2 0-0 14.Bd3 f6 15.a3 Ba5 16.Qe2 fxe5 17.dxe5 Bb6 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Nf5 20.Bc3 a5 21.Rac1 Nc5 22.Bc2 a4 23.b4 Nb3 24.Rcd1 Qh4 25.f4 Qe7 26.g4 Nh4 27.Be1 Rc7 28.Qd3 g5 29.Bxh4 gxh4 30.Qg6+ Qg7 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.g5 Re7 33.Qg4 hxg5 34.fxg5 -- 35.Rf6 1-0,
Jakovenko,D (2760) - Magem Badals,J (2522) [B12]
TOP 16 GpA Clichy FRA (3), 22.03.2009
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2 Nbc6 9.N2f3 Bg4 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 g6 12.Bf4 Bg7 13.Bd3 0-0 14.c3 a6 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.h4 Nc8 17.h5 Nb6 18.Rfe1 Nd7 19.Bg3 b5 20.Qe3 b4 21.Rac1 Qb7 22.c4 Nb6 23.c5 Na4 24.Re2 Rfc8 25.Ng5 Nd8 26.Bh4 Qa7 27.Nxh7 Kxh7 28.Qh3 Rxc5 29.Bg5 Rxc1+ 30.Bxc1 Kg8 31.hxg6 fxg6 32.Bxg6 Nf7 33.Qxe6 Rf8 34.Qh3 Rd8 35.e6 1-0,
Gashimov,Vugar (2740) - Mchedlishvili,Mikheil (2613) [B12]
EU-chT (Men) 17th Novi Sad (5), 26.10.2009
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2 Nbc6 9.N2f3 Be4 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 g6 12.Bd3 Bg7 13.Bf4 0-0 14.c3 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Bg5 Rf7 17.Re1 Qd7 18.Bb5 a6 19.Ba4 Raf8 20.Qe2 e5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Bb3 Qc5 23.Qe3 Qxe3 24.fxe3 e4 25.Ng5 Rf5 26.Ne6 Rc8 27.Rad1 Ne7 28.Nf4 Rc5 29.g4 Rg5 30.h3 Kf7 31.Rf1 Bf6 32.Rd2 h5 33.Rg2 Ra5 34.gxh5 gxh5 35.a4 b5 36.Bd1 Rxg2+ 37.Kxg2 bxa4 38.Bxh5+ Kg8 39.Ne6 Be5 40.Be8 a3 41.bxa3 Rxa3 42.Rf8+ Kh7 43.Rf7+ Kg6 44.h4 Rxc3 45.Nf8+ Kh5 46.Rxe7+ 1-0 and 
Cheparinov,Ivan (2671) - Bologan,Viktor (2692) [B12]
World Cup Khanty Mansiysk (2.4), 26.11.2009
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 c5 7.c4 Nbc6 8.Na3 dxc4 9.Nxc4 Nd5 10.Bg5 Qd7 11.Rc1 h6 12.Be3 b5 13.Na3 a6 14.dxc5 Be7 15.Nc2 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Be4 17.a4 Qb7 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd2 Bg6 20.Bf3 Rd8 21.Bxc6+ Qxc6 22.Qf3 Qc7 23.Rfd1 0-0 24.c6 Rc8 25.Nb3 Qxe5 26.Rd7 Bg5 27.Qe2 Be4 28.Rc5 Qb8 29.c7 Qa8 30.Nd4 Bf6 31.Nxb5 Bc6 32.Rd6 Bxb5 33.Qxb5 Qa2 34.Rd1 Qa7 35.Qc6 Bxb2 36.g3 Bf6 37.Kg2 Be7 38.Rc2 Bb4 39.Rd7 Ba5 40.Ra2 Qb6 41.Rc2 Qb1 42.Rc5 Rxc7 43.Rxc7 Bxc7 44.Qxc7 Qe4+ 45.Kg1 Ra8 46.Rc1 Ra2 47.Qb8+ Kh7 48.Qb1 Qxb1 49.Rxb1 g5 50.Kg2 h5 51.Rb5 Kg6 52.h3 Ra8 53.Nc4 f6 54.Rb6 Rc8 55.Nd6 Rd8 56.Ne4 Re8 57.Nc5 Kf7 58.Rb7+ Kg6 59.Rc7 g4 60.h4 Kf5 61.Nd3 e5 62.Rc6 Rd8 63.Ne1 Rd2 64.Nc2 Ke4 65.Rc4+ Kf5 66.Ne3+ Kg6 67.Rc6 Kf7 68.Nf5 Kg6 69.Nd6 Rd4 70.Ne8 1-0.
All together there are on this dvd 17 well analysed games from Shirov!!
For the good order Shirov digs in the lines with the moves: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5.
Conclusion: Well overloaded with instructive video explanations!!   

ChessBase Magazine extra issue 136
July  2010
Videos by Adrian Mikhalchishin and Valeri Lilov
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 12.99

ChessBase Magazine issue 136,the one with all the games comes with a impressive 20403 games,all played between Muensterland Championship 2/4 and Varna 20/6 2010.
The most games come from Zalakaros op-A29th with 429 games!
In these ChessBase magazines you will find games that are not presented anywhere else.
As for example this Latvian game: Romero,Daniela (1925) - Castro,Natalia Patricia (2011) [C40] COL-ch sf (Women) Medellin (3), 08.06.2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.d4 fxe4 4.Nxe5 Nf6 5.Bc4 d5 6.Bb3 Nc6 7.Ba4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Nb3 Qe8 12.Qe2 Bd6 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.h3 Qf5 15.Be3 Qg6 16.g4 Nd7 17.h4 Bf4 18.Bxf4 Rxf4 19.g5 Raf8 20.Rh2 Qf5 21.Rd1 Nb6 22.Na5 Qe6 23.Kd2 Qd6 24.c3 Rf3 25.Rdh1 Qf4+ 26.Kc2 Rxf2 27.Rxf2 Qxf2 28.Rh2 Qf4 29.Nxc6 e3 30.Kd1 Qe4 31.Kc1 Nc4 32.Nb4 Nd2 33.Qd3 Rf1+ 34.Kc2 Rf2 0-1.
Some like it wild but it does not always work out: Chalabi,Max (1465) - Wallerand,Konrad (1991) [C40]
Fourmies op 34th Fourmies (4), 23.05.2010
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5 Bc5 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Be2 d5 8.Bg5 Nc6 9.Ne6 Bxe6 10.fxe6 Bxf2+ 11.Kxf2 Ne4+ 12.Ke1 Qxg5 13.Qxd5 Qh4+ 14.g3 Nxc3 15.e7+ Rf7 16.Qxf7+ Kxf7 17.gxh4 Nxe2 18.Kxe2 Kxe7 19.a3 Nd4+ 20.Kd3 Nf5 21.Rae1+ Kd6 22.Re4 Rd8 23.Kc3 Kc6 24.Rf1 g6 25.h5 Rd5 26.hxg6 Rc5+ 27.Kb3 hxg6 28.Re6+ Kd5 29.Rxg6 Nd4+ 30.Ka2 Rxc2 31.h4 Rh2 32.Rh6 c5 33.Rh8 c4 34.Kb1 Nb3 35.Rd1+ Ke4 36.h5 Nd2+ 37.Kc2 c3 38.bxc3 Nc4+ 39.Kb3 b5 40.Rd4+ Ke3 41.Rxc4 bxc4+ 42.Kxc4 Kd2 43.h6 Rh3 44.h7 Rxc3+ 45.Kb4 a5+ 46.Kxa5 Rxa3+ 47.Kb4 1-0.
Yes black hoped as I once did against Hagen Tiemann: Tiemann - Elburg(NLD) [C40]
Privatpartie, 1994
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5 3.exf5 Bc5 4.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 5.Kxf2 Qh4+ 6.Kf3 b5 7.d4 Nf6 8.Nc3 Bb7+ 9.Ke2 b4 10.Nf3 Bxf3+ 11.Kxf3 bxc3 12.Qe2+ Kd8 13.bxc3 Re8 14.Qd3 Qg4+ 15.Kf2 d5 16.Be2 Ne4+ 17.Kg1 Qxf5 18.Be3 Nd7 19.Rf1 Qe6 20.h3 Rb8 21.Bf3 Ndf6 22.Bf4 g5 23.Be5 Nd7 24.Bg4 Nxe5 25.Qxe4 dxe4 26.Bxe6 Rxe6 27.Rf8+ Re8 28.Rxe8+ Kxe8 29.dxe5 Rb2 30.Kh2 Rxc2 31.Re1 Rxa2 32.Rxe4 ½-½
The video files on this DVD are from Adrian Mikhalchishin and Valeri Lilov,who discuss the great Milan Vidmar and two video files on the Closed Sicilian and Torre Attack.
Conclusion: The only CD that cost so little and offers so much!