CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 March 2025

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg

                                                                                                                   Chess DVD's

The Surprising Black Knights' Tango - Unleash Winning Strategies as Black!
by  Andrew Martin  
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2024
 Price Euro 34.90
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,digs in a impressive small five hours into the fascinating world of the Black Knights Tango,a line where black hopes to play a soon…e7-e5.
As we can see on this DVD the whole is extremely interesting and not difficult to learn!
But first a view inside:
Contents
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 - Introduction
Introduction and Potter vs Benjamin - 3.d5 Ne5 4.e4 e6
3.d5 Ne5 4.e4/b3: Saemisch - Torre Repetto & Marshall - Torre Repetto
3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.e4 Bc5: Shahar - Szapiro
3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6: Spiller - Orlov
3.Nf3 e6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 h6: Wachtel - Yermolinsky
3.Nf3 e6 4.a3 g6: Kiselev - Pilavov
3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 g6: Martirosyan - Nakamura
3.Nf3 e6 4.g3 d6: Wagh - Caruana
The Repertoire - Introduction
The Repertoire
3.d5
3...Ne5 4.e4 e6 5.f4 Ng6 6.e5 Ne4: Lamaze - Vlassov
3...Ne5 4.e3 e6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0: Vasilevich - Kosteniuk
3...Ne5 4.Qd4 Ng6 5.e4 e5 6.Qd3 Bc5: Svela - Efimov
3.d5 Ne5 4.Qc2 e6 5.e4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qe7 - Maki - Yermolinsky
Summary
3.Nf3
3.Nf3 e6
Introduction
4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Nb8 10.b4: Silman - Orlov
4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 0-0: Mamedjarova - Naiditsch
4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.e4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Ne1 h5: Soln - Wahls
4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 a5: Krishnater - Karthikeyan
4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Bg2 Bxd2 7.Nxbd2 d6 8.0-0 a5 9.Nb1 0-0 10.Nc3 Bd7: Bosboom - Kasimdzhanov
4.a3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.e4 d6 7.Be3 0-0: Kiselev - Pilavov
4.a3 d6 5.Nc3 g6 6.d5 Nb8 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0: Donchenko - Kritz
3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3
4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bd2 0-0 7.a3 Bxc3: Docx - Hausrath
4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bd2 0-0 7.e3 e5: Konyshev - Bologan
4...Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Bg5 h6: Flear - Bologan
4...Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4: Turcan - Rozentalis
4...Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4: Turincio Garcia - Vlassov
3.Nf3 e6 4th move alternatives
4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 g5: Janik - Gajewski
4.Bf4 Bb4+: Antova - Pranav
Summary
3.Nc3
3.g3 and 3.Nc3 e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.h4 h5 7.Bg5 Bc5: Nesterov - Praggnanandhaa
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.a3 Ng6 6.h4 h5 7.Bg5 d6: Khegay vs Caruana
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.h4 h5 6.Nf3 Ng6 7.Bg5 Be7: Erdos - Bologan
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.h4 Neg8 6.Nf3 Ng4: Zujev - Gupta
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Be3 Bb4 7.Qc2 Bxc3: Parnali - Sadwhani
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Be3 Bb4 7.f3 Bxc3: Jelen - Dizdarevic
3...e5 4.d5 Ne7 5.e4 Ng6 6.Bd2 Bc5: Karttunen - Georgiev
Outro
Exercises
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
Exercise 10
Exercise 11
Exercise 12
Exercise 13
Exercise 14
Repertoire Training
3.d5
3.Nc3
3.Nf3
This flexible system allows Black to dictate the game’s direction and makes it a dangerous weapon for Black!
Extensive training content and interactive exercises in ChessBase Books:
Solve exercises & and test your knowledge with the opening trainer.
A CB booklet contains all the information you need to install your product on your computer.
The booklet does not contain a DVD! Nevertheless, it takes up a valuable place in your DVD collection.
It contains comprehensive installation instructions and a serial number that unlocks your product for use.
You do not need a DVD drive for installation.
The booklet is a valuable contribution to environmental protection, it was produced without plastic.
Conclusion: Super interesting!

Countering the Ruy Lopez with the fighting Modern Steinitz
by  Tim Wall
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2024
 Price Euro 49.90
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 famous FIDE Trainer & Chess Master Tim Wall explains in a over eight hour coverage the secrets of  The Modern Steinitz (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 d6!?)the complicate Siesta Variation (5 c3 f5!) and the razor sharp Fishing Pole Attack (5 0-0 Bg4 6 h3 h5!).
But first the index:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6: Introduction
Historical Games
Historical Game 1: Reti-Capablanca
Historical Game 2: Euwe-Keres
Historical Game 3: Klavins-Mikenas
Historical Game 4: Parma-Keres
5th move alternatives
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6
5.d4: Shipley-Capablanca
5.c4 Duras Variation: Brkic-Short
5.Bxc6 - The Exchange Variation: Karjakin-Grischuk
Attacking Repertoire
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5 - The Siesta Variation
Introduction - 6.d3/d4: Storchak-Yandemirov
6.exf5 Bxf5 7.d4: Capablanca-Steiner
6.exf5 Bxf5 7.0-0: Tiviakov-Adhiban
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5 - Fishing Pole Attack
7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.hxg4 Nxb3 10.axb3 hxg4 11.Ng5 Qd7 12.c4 Rb8 13.Rxa6 f6: S. Jones-Trent & 7.hxg4 & 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.hxg4
7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.hxg4 Nxb3 10.axb3 hxg4 11.Ng5 Qd7 12.c4 Rb8 13.cxb5 axb5: Puranik-Willow
7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.hxg4 Nxb3 10.axb3 hxg4 11.Ng5 Qd7 12.c4 Rb8 13.Nc3 f6: Korneev-Yandemirov
7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.hxg4 Nxb3 10.axb3 hxg4 11.Ng5 Qd7 12.c4 Rb8 13.Qd5: De Firmian-Sokolov
7.d4 b5 8.Bb3 Nxd4 9.hxg4 hxg4 10.Ng5 Nh6 11.Bd5 c6: Cheparinov-Kovalev
7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.d3 Qf6: Smyslov-Yandemirov
7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.d4 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 exd4: Prraneeth-Azarya
Positional Repertoire
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3/0-0 Bd7 - Smyslov Variation
5.c3 Bd7 6.d4 g6 7.Bg5 f6 8.Be3 Nh6: Sokolov-Salov
5.c3 Bd7 6.0-0 g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.Re1 Nf6: Karjakin-Carlsen
5.c3 Bd7 6.d4 g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.d5 Nce7 9.Bxd7 Qxd7 10.c4 h6 11.Nc3 f5 12.Ne1 Nf6: Durarbayli-Khairullin
5.0-0 Bd7 6.Re1 Bd7 7.c3 g6 8.d4 Bg7 9.Nbd2 0-0: Bellahcene-Salinas Herrera
5.0-0 Bd7 6.c3 g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.Re1 Nf6 9.h3 0-0: Anand-Caruana
5.0-0 Bd7 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Qxd4 Nf6: Howell-McShane
5.0-0 Bd7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Re1 g6 8.d4 Bg7 9.Nbd2 exd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.h3 Nb4: Caruana-Naroditsky
Exercises
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
Exercise 10
Exercise 11
Key Moves
Repertoire Training
Fishing Pole Variation 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5
Siesta Variation 5.c3 f5
Smyslov Variation - 5.c3/0-0 Bd7
5th move alternatives
Practice Positions
Siesta Variation 1: Black to move
Siesta Variation 2: Black to move
Fishing Pole 1 - 12...Rb8: White to move
Fishing Pole 2 - 13.Rxa6: Black to move
Fishing Pole Variation 3 - 5.0-0: Black to move
Fishing Pole 4 - 7.Bxc6: Black to move
Smyslov Variation 1: Black to play
Smyslov Variation 2: White to play
Smyslov Variation 3: Black to move
Smyslov Variation 4: White to move
Bonus
Analysis
Repertoire
Key Moves
Each chapter focuses on Model Illustrative Games to demonstrate plans and tactics into the middlegame and endgame. Plus, test your skills with 10 Tactical and Positional Exercises to perfect your understanding!
Replay critical positions, solve exercises & find the key moves, test your knowledge with the opening trainer.
Conclusion: Highly recommended!