CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 March 2022

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg


 
                                                                                            
          Chess CD's
UltraCorr 2022
www.chessmail.com
E-mail hardingt@tcd.ie
The basic price for a downloaded copy is 55 Euro

The 2022 edition of Tim Harding’s  UltraCorr correspondence chess database is now available  for the bargain price of 55 euro, and if we may compare it with the latest ChessBase correspondence DVD with it's overwhelming price  €189,90!
Than the choice is easy made!
I am aware that Tim Harding has no video entertainment but in place this download  covers a small 300.000 extra games!
Lockdown gave Tim Harding the opportunity to do a lot of extra work on this download as historical game research, improving the mega data quality and even
adding many more games from the 19th and the 20th centuries.
UltraCorr2022 also includes all the games from the series of England-USA cable matches between 1896 and 1911.
What I like on the UltraCorr correspondence chess database is the high quality of references to the games.
Believe I can say that Correspondence chess players with there fast engines and powerful computer play provide the user of this DVD with the best of chess!
For example check out The Poisoned Pawn Variation  of B97 of the latest Chess Informator issue 149 and compare it with the games of this download!
This will impress you as it did to me.
And this download holds uncountable  annotated games, as from Harding former ChessMail publications, and this and more makes it all even more interesting to have.
Conclusion: This is a must have database!



ChessBase Magazine issue 205 Extra
February  2022
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

The main file on this ChessBase Magazine is good for 44240 entries!
Included as always is a interesting lucky bag file with 74 entries where all of them are more than excellent analysed.
As the following game from Topalov,Veselin (2730) - Salimova,Nurgyul (2364) [C55]
Cap d'Agde Karpov Trophy Cap d'Agde (6.2), 31.10.2021
[Edouard,Romain]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.a3 If 4...h6, why not 5.a3? 5...d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Be3 Ne7 Many other moves have been played here: 8...Qe7, 8...0-0, 8...Nd7, 8...a6, 8...Be6... 9.Ba2 b6 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxd4 Bb7 12.Qf3 0-0? [12...c5! 13.Nde2 Nf5! was Black's best.] 13.0-0-0 a6 14.g4 White is now basically attacking for free. 14...Nd7 15.Rhg1 Kh7 16.Nf5!? Sticking to his style, the former World Champion makes a typical piece sacrifice. 16...gxf5 17.gxf5 Ng8 18.Kb1? White takes his time to enjoy nice compensation - but this is too slow. [18.Rxg7+! Kxg7 19.Rg1+ Kh7 20.Bd5!! was a brilliant win! 20...c6 (20...Bxd5 21.Qg4! Qf6 22.Nxd5 followed by 23.f6, winning the game.) 21.e5!! Just doing everything to face ...Qf6. 21...Nxe5 (21...f6 22.Qh5+-; 21...cxd5 22.Qg4+-) 22.Qg3 Qf6 23.Ne4 Qh8 24.Bxh6! (24.Ng5+!? hxg5 25.Bxg5 wins as well.) 24...Nxh6 25.Ng5+ Kg8 26.Nxf7++-;
18.Bd5 first would allow 18...Bxc3 which is less clear.] 18...Qe7 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.Bd4+ [20.f6+ Ngxf6 21.Bxh6+ would only lead to a perpetual check: 21...Kxh6 22.Qf4+ Kh5!!=;
20.Rg1+ Kh8 21.Bd5! was best again: 21...c6 22.Qg3 f6 23.Be6 followed by Ne2-Nf4.] 20...f6 [After 20...Ngf6 it isn't easy to see how White would continue his attack.] 21.Rg1+ Kh8 22.Rg6? [22.Qh5 first was necessary to prevent Black's next move.] 22...Rf7! And again White doesn't have enough compensation. 23.Bd5 c6 24.Bxf7 Qxf7 25.Qh5 Ne5 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Nd1 Rd8 28.Ne3 c5 29.f3 Bc6 30.b3 Be8 31.Ng4 Being under pressure, Black blunders! 31...Qh7? [31...Qg7! and White is close to lost.] 32.Rxg8+! Kxg8 [32...Qxg8 33.Qxh6+ Qh7 34.Qxf6++-] 33.Nxf6+ Kh8? [33...Kg7 34.Nxe8+ Kf8 35.Nf6 Qg7 36.Ng4 was bad for Black but more resisting - after the game move Black is completely paralyzed and her position is hopeless.] 34.Nxe8+- c4 35.bxc4 Rd1+ 36.Kb2 Rd8 37.f6 Kg8 38.Ng7 Rf8 39.Qxe5 Qg6 40.Qe6+ Kh7 41.e5 Rd8 42.Qe7 Rd2 43.Nf5+ Kh8 44.f7 Rxc2+ 45.Kb3 Rb2+ 46.Kxb2 Qg2+ 47.Kc3 Qxf3+ 48.Kb4 a5+ 49.Kb5 Qb3+ 50.Qb4 1-0.
Included are two smashing video files from Christian Bauer and Mihall Marin: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3 - video playing time: 15:29 min and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 – video playing time: 28:24 min.
Conclusion: Mass of material for a bargain price!

The Scotch Game
by  Svitlana Demchenko
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 young and famous IM Svitlana Demchenko comes with a impressive made nearly six hour English  coverage of the Scotch Game, where I even found a detailed coverage of the Mieses Variation that runs with the moves 1.e4 e5.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.f4 and now 10…d6 where Yelena Dembo and Richard Palliser wrote in there bible about the Scotch:10…d6 wastes no time  getting in a central challenge, but has been surprisingly rare here, despite from the strong German Grandmaster, Jan Gustasson.
Included is also the Scotch Gambit  with (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4.
But for the interested reader there is the following indexIntroduction
Sidelines
3rd and 4th Move Sidelines
4...Qf6/Bb4
4...Bb4
4...Qf6
Main Line 4...Nf6
5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.f4 d6
10...Bg7
Sidelines
Sidelines 4...Nf6
5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 - Setup 1: Immediate central attack 9...f6
Setup 2: Knight retreat 9...Nb6
Setup 3: The agressive 9...Qh4
Setup 4: The quick 9...0-0-0
Setup 5: The daring 9...g5
4...Bc5
Introduction and 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6
6...Nge7
6...Qf6
6...d6 Main Line
4.Bc4 - Scotch Gambit
Introduction
4...Bb4 and Sidelines
4...Bc5 Part 1
4...Bc5 Part 2
4...Nf6 Main Line
Model Games
Introduction
Kasparov - Karpov
Model Games
Tactics
Introduction plus a lot of exercises!
With interactive training including video feedback
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels
Database with model games.
Conclusion: Very interesting made and a must for all who want to get involved with the Scotch!

The Hippopotamus system of defence
by  IM Andrew Martin
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 great Andrew Martin comes with a five hour English coverage of the Hippopotamus system, a dangerous universal chess opening system for black.Tiger Hillarp Persson once wrote in his book on the Tiger’s Modern: The Hippopotamus is not so much a variation as it is a setup.For many it is the perfect opening that avoids the ever growing body of mainline theory, because it is so universal.
A first view of the index:
Introduction & General Ideas
Introduction
The Game Plan
Spoelman vs Hort
Jansa vs Jokic
Plaskett vs Martin
Petrosian vs Spassky
Nezhmetdinov vs Ujtelky
Nasuta vs Krasenkow
Klekowski vs Kamsky
Hippo vs Queen Pawn Systems
e4, d4, c4 and f4
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bf4 Ne7
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Ne7 5.Bg5
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.c4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bd3 e6
1.c4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.a3 g6 5.e4 Bg7
Hippo vs Austrian Attack
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Be2 Nd7
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Be3 a6
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Bd3 a6
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 b5 6.Bd3 e6
Hippo using 1…b6 as a move order trick
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Ne2 d6 5.0-0 Nd7 6.f4 g6
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 d6 5.Bd3 Nd7 6.0-0 g6
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 g6 4.Ne2 Bg7 5.h4 h6 6.c3 e6
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.Bg5 Ne7
1.d4 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bd3 g6 5.Nge2 Bg7 6.0-0 Ne7
Hippo vs an early Bc4
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Bc4 Bg7 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bb3 Ne7
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 Ne7
Hippo vs Be3 and Bg5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 Nd7
1.e4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 b5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bg5 a6 5.Qd2 b5
1.e4 d6 2.d4 a6 3.Be3 Nd7 4.Nc3 e6 5.Qd2 b6
Hippo vs quiet White Systems
1.Nf3 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.c3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.0-0 e6
1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 a6 5.Be2 e6 6.Bg5 Ne7
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7
Outro and Exercises!
With interactive training including video feedback
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - play key positions against Fritz on various levels.
Conclusion: Andrew martin provides the use a perfect opening system and it is much more than creeping around the edges!

The smooth Scandinavian Defence with 3...Qd8
by  Robert Ris
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 


IM Robert Ris comes with a impressive 7 hour coverage of the Scandinavian with 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8! It sounds strange that this modest move is played by 2700+ players!
As our world champion Magnus Carlsen!
But first to the index:
Introduction
4.d4 Nf6 5.Bc4 a6
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bc4 a6
Pawn on a4
Allowing b7-b5
4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4
Introduction
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Qd3
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3 e6 9.0-0-0 Bb4
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3 e6 9.0-0-0 Bb4 - c4 plans
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3 e6 9th move alternatives with 0-0-0
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Be3 e6 9th move alternatives with 0-0
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Ne2
6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Bf4 & 8.g4
4th move Sidelines
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8
4.Bc4 delaying d2-d4
4.g3
3.Nf3 & Sidelines
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5
3.Nf3 - Introduction
3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 0-0-0 6.Be3
3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 0-0-0 6.c4
3rd move alternatives
2nd move alternatives
Outro and 10 Exercises to see if you have understood the secrets of 3…Qd8!
With interactive training including video feedback
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels.
Conclusion: Smashing!