CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 April 2025

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg

                                                                                                                   Chess DVD's


ChessBase Magazine issue 224
March  2025
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 14,90
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 Tata Steel issue has a master file of 210 entries where 40 of them are covered with 40 well loaded analyses.
But there is more as over 7 hours of video playing time with Felix Blohberger, Surya Ganguly, Daniel King, Jan Markos, Karsten Mueller, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris and Dorian Rogozenco.
Included are opening videos: Surya Ganguly: Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4 Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe3
Felix Blohberger: Anti-Queen's Gambit 3...h6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 h6
Daniel King: QG Exchange Variation
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bg4
From the English Opening to the King's Indian - ChessBase Magazine #224 offers 10 opening articles with;Tanmay Srinath: English 1.c4 e5 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3
Krisztian Szabo: Sicilian 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 and 5.Bd3
Yago Santiago: French 4...dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bd7
Balazs Csonka: Petroff 3.Nxe5 Nxe4
Alexey Kuzmin: Italian 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6!?
Petra Papp: London System 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2
Robert Ris: Queen's Gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.cxd5 Nf6
Evgeny Postny: QG Ragozin 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qb3 a5
Sergey Grigoriants: Gruenfeld 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 dxc4
Spyridon Kapnisis: King's Indian 5.h3 0–0 6.Be3 Nc6 But there is more as Viktor Kortschnoj extra with exclusive collection of 24 games, The great Karsten Mueller continues with his famous endgame column: Endgame basics episode 14 with minor piece in competition.And much more!
All in download!
Conclusion: This is must have material!

Mastering Chess Strategy Vol.2 - Take your piece play to the next level!
by  Robert Ris
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2024
 Price Euro 39.90
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 Dutch chess trainer IM Robert Ris in this second volume a little deeper in the world of chess strategies and explanations.
Not only the running time of 5 hours and 30 minutes is impressive but also his deeply understanding of chess.
Covered is:
Improve your worst piece – identify and activate under performing pieces to maximise their potential.
Exchanging pieces – learn when to trade, and when to keep key pieces for maximum impact.
King safety – understand how piece activity directly affects your king’s security.
Pieces out of play – recognise misplaced pieces and find ways to bring them back into action.
Yes this all about this is all about active chess play!
Throughout the course, you’ll face interactive challenges that put your strategic thinking to the test. Many examples include multiple questions, making the learning process more dynamic and reinforcing key concepts at every step.
Extensive training content and interactive exercises in ChessBase Books:
Solve exercises & and test your knowledge with the Fritz App.
Conclusion: Very educative!

The Art of Initiative - The key to Opening Success
by  Christian Bauer
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2024
 Price Euro 39.90
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

Grandmaster Christian Bauer also explains in a impressive 5 hours 30 minutes the key opening to success by going for the initiative.
Bauer learns the user to navigate throw the critical early phases of the game with confidence and precision.
From weird opening pushes as  g2-g4, to well thought strategic pawn sacrifices,learn when to disrupt your opponent‘s plans, control the centre, and manage the delicate balance between gaining space and creating weaknesses.
Through carefully selected examples, discover the secrets behind turning early advantages into lasting pressure, forcing your opponents into uncomfortable positions. You‘ll also delve into the art of positional sacrifices, using them to disrupt your rival’s development or accelerate your own. Designed for players of all styles, this course challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and sharpen your understanding of initiative driven play.
Videos can run in the Fritztrainer app or in the ChessBase program with board graphics, notation and a large function bar
Analysis engine can be switched on at any time
Video pause for manual navigation and analysis in game notation
Input of your own variations, engine analysis, with storage in the game
Learn variations: view specific lines in the ChessBase WebApp Opening with autoplay, memorize variations and practise transformation (initial position - final position).
Active opening training: selected opening positions are transferred to the ChessBase WebApp Fritz-online. In a match against Fritz you test your new knowledge and actively play the new opening.
Conclusion: Highly recommended!