CHESSBOOK REVIEWS
Latest book
reviews of 1 January 2022
Wilhelminalaan 33
7261 BP RUURLO
The Netherlands.
John
Elburg
Mega Database 2022
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price €189,90
System requirements (Minimum): Desktop PC or Notebook, Windows 10, 8.1,
2 GB RAM, and Fritz 14, 15, 16, 17 or ChessBase 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and
DVD drive for DVDs / for Downloads no DVD drive required.
The new MegaDatabase 2022 holds over 752.400 more games than it’s
previous issue from 2021,all together you will find over 9,2 million
games
where a 100000 of them are analysed by some of the best players in the
world. Included is a Mega Update Service 2022 but that only works
with ChessBase 15 and 16,but then you are insured for a small plus 5000
new games in the week!
Further more there is enlarged tournament menu, interesting to mention
is the direct access to all the games of all the World Championships
that ever where played.
But there is more as a direct aces to all Top Tournaments, with Games,
CrossTable and more, plus a player lexicon for download with over
600,000 player names and more than 40,000 player photos but again only
with ChessBase 15 and 16.
Pleasant to read are the tournaments text information’s, and it only
takes seconds to find the games of your next opponent! The repertoire
overview shows you which lines your opponent likes to play and
statistics reveal eventual weaknesses in his or hers repertoire.
There is also a direct acees to Top Tournaments, Games, CrossTables and
more,
plus a player lexicon for download with over 600,000 player names and
more than 40,000 player photos (only with ChessBase 16 or 15)
Included is a Mega database search booster in the installation files
but again it is only nice for the owners of ChessBase 15 and 16!
The new Mega Database menu makes it very easy to prepare for your
games, to search for tournaments, to find annotated games or to access
all the games from a special player.
Conclusion: A must have top ChessBase
product!
Corr Database 2022
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price €189,90
System requirements (Minimum): RAM,
Windows 11, 10 or 8.1, DVD-ROM drive (if ordered with Postal Delivery),
ChessBase 16 or 15, Internet access (downloads).
The new Corr Database comes with a new design and menu,which makes
access and navigation easier and above all much faster.
The Correspondence Database 2022 offers more than 400,000 new games
compared with the Corr 2020 edition who had to do with 1.6
million games, the new Corr 2022
database offers over 2 million games but that is still less than
Harding’s Ultra Corr2021 download.
The modern chess player has discovered these correspondence games often
played by correspondence chess master with there fast engines and
latest theory lines,which results in high level chess.
This Correspondence Database comes with 20 high-class videos covering
selected games from the 29th-32th Correspondence Chess World
Championship cycles presented by popular ChessBase authors such as GMs
wie Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Markus Ragger, Vidit Gujrathi, Christian
Bauer, Romain Edouard, Yannick Pelletier, Mihail Marin and more.
Interesting to mention are the 9 videos from GM Karsten Müller
who provides fascinating insights into the endgame from selected
world-class Correspondence games.
GM Simon Williams once wrote “There is a lot of things you can learn
from correspondence chess, I learnt a lot by looking at the games –
basically Correspondence Chess involves you’re allowed to use computers
nowadays to help you process along, but also to guide the computer with
human intellect, so a combination which should lead to the strongest
factors out there. The level of chess we see in the Correspondence
World Championships is the highest out there.”
Conclusion: High value gift!
Fritz 18
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price €79,90
Minimum: PC Intel i3 or i5 or Ryzen 3, 4 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 (32- or
64-Bit), DirectX11, graphic card with 512 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive,
Windows Media Player and internet access. Recommended: PC Intel i7, i9
or Ryzen 7/9, 8 GB RAM, Windows 11 or 10 with 64-Bit, Windows Media
Player, graphic card with 1 GB RAM, RTX graphic card for real time
Raytrace board, DVD-ROM drive and internet access. For ChessBase
ACCOUNT: Internet access and up-to-date browser, e.g. Chrome, Safari.
Runs on Windows, OS X, iOS, Android and Linux.
The new Fritz 18 is not only more eye catching but programmers have
managed to create a wonderful chess machine that organises its play and
leads you through the game with the help of subtle tips.
As soon as Fritz comes under pressure, as a defender it will
prefer variations which provide for you, the attacking side, good
chances of a sacrifice or other genius tactic.
Life has also become more easier for the local chess players who has
enough of loosing games against engines, In general in the “Evolving
Genius” mode on the “Club player” level, Fritz does play in a
restrained manner, but nevertheless strongly. The games should not be
too simple. Nevertheless, it is possible to win very often. For that
there are considerably improved subtle hints. You determine the major
part of the game yourself, but when you are facing a headwind you can
summon help. Imagine an E-Bike: according to how good your performance
is you can switch on the support of the motor, but it is still cycling.
Examples of subtle hints from Fritz18: “Attack a minor piece”, “Occupy
a strong square”, “Threaten mate”, “Win material”, etc.
But there is more: Intelligent tips: Fritz provides subtle hints in
difficult positions
Visual evaluation: pawn structure, king safety, piece activity and
sharpness of the position
New chess board in Direct2D technology with a fresh look and improved
animation
New engine analysis: Interesting threats, appealing ideas and the game
continuation
Animated engine variations: Intuitive visual display of the best
continuation
Improved calculation training to give your Elo a quick boost.
Stronger Fritz 18 engine by Frank Schneider, optimised for short time
control.
If the engine is analysing in multi-variation mode, at the start of the
calculation additional information is provided which provides exciting
additional insights.
The present Windows variations have available with Direct2D a powerful
interface for rapid on-screen representations. There was the
opportunity to use it to realise a new graphic chess board. The fresh
new look of the pieces is obvious, but the new technique allows other
subtleties e.g. highlighting the pieces by having them glow or decent
animation of captures.
Playing around with Fritz18 in my ChessBase program I get the feeling
Fritz has become massively better!
Experts say it has become around 40 points stronger but personal
I like the high speed of the engine.It gives so much fun!
Conclusion: Highly recommended!
Understanding Material
Imbalances
by Svitlana Demchenko
2021
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price Euro 29.90
Windows 7 or higher
Minimum: Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM,
DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 14/Fritz 16 or
included Reader and internet access for program activation.
Recommended: PC Intel i5 (Quadcore), 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX11,
graphics card with 512 MB RAM or more, 100% DirectX10-compatible sound
card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet access for
program activation.
MacOSX only available as download! Minimum: MacOS "Yosemite" 10.10
Svitlana Demchenko (born October 4, 2003) is a Canadian chess player,
who holds the title of Woman International Master (WIM).
She competed in the 2021 Women's Chess World Cup, where she pushed 35th
seed Karina Cyfka to tiebreaks in the first round despite being rated
more than 300 points lower, losing in the second set of rapid tiebreaks.
IM Svitlana Demchenko explains in a impressive 4 hours and 30 minutes
video time the techniques of understanding material Imbalances or
better said the power of the pieces this all well educative explained
in perfect English.
It comes with interactive training plus video feedback
Fun to do is the extra training with ChessBase apps,just play key
positions against Fritz on various levels.
There is simple no better way to get involved with techniques of chess!
Conclusion: Highly recommended!
Power openings:
Grünfeld Defence Volume 1 and 2
by Markus Ragger
2021
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price Euro 54.90
Windows 7 or higher
Minimum: Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM,
DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 14/Fritz 16 or
included Reader and internet access for program activation.
Recommended: PC Intel i5 (Quadcore), 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX11,
graphics card with 512 MB RAM or more, 100% DirectX10-compatible sound
card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet access for
program activation.
MacOSX only available as download! Minimum: MacOS "Yosemite" 10.10
The top one from Austria and Grünfeld expert Markus Ragger
provides the user of this download or DVD all the necessary knowledge
to play and understand the Grünfeld.
This all and more is packed in over 10 hours video coverage
(volumes 1 and 2), where I found the most important main and side
lines. This all can be tested in highly instructive
interactive video format, where it is up to the user to find the
right moves.
In big lines I found: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5
- 5.Bd2, 5.g3, 5.Na4, 5.Qb3/Qa4
5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7
- 7.Ba3, 7.Bc4, 7.Be3, 7.Bb5, 7.Qa4, 7.Bg5
7.Nf3 c5
- 8.Rb1, 8.Be2, 8.h3, 8.Bb5, 8.Be3
Part two:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
- 3.f3, 3.g3, 3.h4, 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3, 3.Bg5
3.Nc3 d5
- 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4, 5.Qb3, 4.Bg5, 4.Bf4, 4.e3, 4.Qa4+/Qb3
Plus extra databases and extra: Training with ChessBase apps just
memorize the opening repertoire and try to play the key positions
against Fritz on various levels.The Grünfeld has always been a
popular choice with players who aim to go for counterattack with the
black pieces, as played by world champions as Fischer,Smyslov,Botvinnik
and Alekhine.Included are killing exercies to see if you have learned
from Markus Ragger!
Conclusion: Very instructive!
The Barry Attack
by IM Andrew Martin
2021
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
Price Euro 29.90
Windows 7 or higher
Minimum: Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, DirectX11, graphics card with 256 MB RAM,
DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 14/Fritz 16 or
included Reader and internet access for program activation.
Recommended: PC Intel i5 (Quadcore), 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, DirectX11,
graphics card with 512 MB RAM or more, 100% DirectX10-compatible sound
card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet access for
program activation.
MacOSX only available as download! Minimum: MacOS "Yosemite" 10.10
The master of explanation Senior Trainer and IM Andrew Martin
provides you with the dangerous Barry Attack that runs with the moves:1
d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 Nc3!? d5 4 Bf4 Bg7,where white has the choice in the
following four moves, 5 e3, 5 Qd2, 5 Nb5 and 5 h3,which are all
covered here. It is simple a matter of taste.
Must say that the Barry Attack is quite old and Andrew Martin
references to a old game of Tartakower in 1922.
Please see the extra bonus file!
This all is well packed in 5 hours Video running time (English)
It comes with interactive training including video feedback
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire
and play key positions against Fritz on various levels.
Included are instructive exercise.
Conclusion: Highly
instructive!
ChessBase Magazine issue 204
Extra
December 2021
ChessBase
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail
info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 12,99
System requirements:
Minimum: Pentium III 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, Windows Vista, XP
(Service Pack 3), DirectX9 graphic card with 256 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive,
Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 12/Fritz 13 or included Reader and
internet connection for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel Core
i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, DirectX10 graphic
card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 10
This heavy loaded December issue comes with 51304 entries plus
a lucky bag with 27 heavy
analysed games, plus an extra brilliant well worked out game from
Magnus Carlsen.
Plus smashing Video trainings by Christian Bauer and Mihail Marin,with
a total playing time
from over 45 minutes!
There is so much information on these files!
Conclusion: There is no better way to keep abreast of latest
developments!