CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 October 2025

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg

                                                                                                                   Chess DVD's

ChessBase Magazine issue 227
September  2025
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 21,90
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



I found on this ChessBase Magazine over 7 hour of video playing time with Felix Blohberger, Luis Engel Jan Markos, Mihail Marin,
Dr. Karsten Müller, Michael Prusikin, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris, Dorian Rogozenco and Ivan
Sokolov - Biel 2025: analyses by Aravindh, Dardha, Ma Qun, Hakobyan, Jumabayev, Navara,
Theodorou and Wojtaszek - Perfect attacking play: Dorian Rogozenco shows the "
modern classic" Kasparov vs. Kramnik (Novgorod 1994), in which the world champion used
a new concept with 15.Qd2 and long castling in the Sveshnikov Variation - Aggressive Sicilian:
Yago Santiago acts with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bc5!? on the black
squares - Opening trends in the video: Sicilian Dragon Variation, Slav Defence and Sicilian
Najdorf Variation - Endgame Basics Queen + Pawn vs Queen: A material constellation that
requires the most precise technique, explained in detail by Karsten Müller and much more.
Special: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Ivan Sokolov examines the new idea of 11.h4 in a variation of the Slav Defence, which was
 already discussed in the 1935 World Championship match between Alexander Alekhine and Max
Euwe. Felix Blohberger explains the ideas of the "Dubov Variation" (7...h5) in the Sicilian
Dragon, using, among other examples, the game Erigaisi-Nakamura from Norway Chess 2025. And
Luis Engel completes his analysis of the Najdorf Variation with increasingly popular move 6
.Bd3.

Openings:
Ivan Sokolov: Slav Defence
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.h4
Felix Blohberger: Dragon Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.f3 h5!?
Luis Engel: Najdorf Variation 6.Bd3 (II)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2
Petra Papp: Larsen Opening with 3...d5 and 4...Nge7
Sergey Grigoriants: Old Benoni 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5
Tanmay Srinath: Queen's Indian vs. London System
Evgeny Postny: Nimzowitsch Defence 3.e5 Bf5
Martin Lorenzini: Sicilian Rossolimo 3...e5 4.0-0 Bd6
Yago Santiago: Sicilian with 2...e6 and 5...Bc5
Krisztian Szabo: Anti Najdorf 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4
Alexey Kuzmin: French Advance 5...Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7
Lars Schandorff: Jobava London System 3.Bf4 c5 4.e4
Robert Ris: Queen's Gambit Accepted 2...dxc4 3.Nf3 c5
Balasz Csonka: Catalan 8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Rc8 10.Nc3
Plus a well made data file from 2362 entries!
In the introductory video, Dr Karsten Mueller presents the most important techniques. Then
it's your turn in two interactive training videos! Plus endgame highlights of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and much more!
This is must have material!

Fundamentals of Positional Play and Strategy
by  Lubomir Ftacnik
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2025
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


This impressive made 12 hour video course by no less than Lubomir Ftacnik, Grandmaster and experienced coach, covers a well thought chess strategy and positional play course in two languages English and German.There is a lot of explanations here but also exercises to see if you have learn from this great master of explanation.
Lubomir Ftacnik learns you to develop a rock-solid positional foundation and helps you to understand when to attack, defend, or manoeuvre around the edges.
 And even more important learn the strategic concepts to outplay opponents in no time.
This and more is well covered between these well made video files.
Conclusion: The perfect chess companion to become a better player in chess!

1.e4 the lazy way - An Opening Repertoire for the smart Player
by  Victor Bologan
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2025
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


It is a great pleasure to announce the following 3 hours 15 minutes repertoire coverage of the strong Victor Bologan (born 14 December 1971)who is a Moldovan chess player and author. He was awarded the title of Grandmaster in 1991.
Covered is a easy to remember  repertoire - but still powerful and rich in ideas.And that is exactly the concept behind these series: a repertoire for the “lazy” (but smart) chess player, inspired by the legendary coach Chebanenko, who believed in teaching his students openings with typical ideas and repeatable patterns rather than endless theory.
Covered is:
Contents
Introduction
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3
2...Nc6 3.d3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nbd2 d5
2...d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3
2...d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.c3 0-0
2...d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 e5/e6
2...e6 3.d3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 Nf6
2...e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0
2...e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 7th move options for Black
2...e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 g6
1.e4 e6 2.d3
2...d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Bd6
2...d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nf6
2...d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nge7
2...d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 7th move alternatives
2...d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0
2...d5 3.Nd2 Nf6/c5 - Minor Lines
2...d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Nc6/b6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
2nd move alternatives
2...Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 g6/Be7
2...Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 Bc5
2...Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 d5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3
2...d5 3.d3 dxe4
2...d5 3.d3 Qc7
2...d5 3.d3 Bg4
2...d5 3.d3 g6
Repertoire Training
1.e4 c5
1.e4 e6
1.e4 e5
1.e4 c6
Practice Positions
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 g6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.c3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 Nc6 6.d3 e5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 b6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 b6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3 g6
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Bd6
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nf6
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nge7
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 b6
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Be7
1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Nc6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 d6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 Nc6 7.h3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.c4
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 Bc5
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 d5
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 dxe4
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 Qc7
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 Bg4
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 g6
Interactive exercises with video feedback: the authors present exercises and key positions, the user has to enter the solution. With video feedback (also on mistakes) and further explanations.
All videos and additional tasks, tests and texts included in the CB books.
Sample games as a ChessBase database.
Conclusion: Very interesting!

1...d6 universal - Minimal Prep, Maximum Understanding
by  Victor Bologan
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2025
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


In this 3 hour 45 minutes video course Bologan focused on the Black side of the board, where the user leans to build a repertoire on the solid and compact d6–e5 structure.
Against 1.e4: You learn to play the Philidor set-up, offering rich positional play and quick piece development.
And against 1.d4 and other closed systems: The author aims for flexible development, with the dark-squared bishop either on e7 or g7, while keeping the eyes on the central break with ...e5.
As Bologan explains: This setup is not only effective but easy to learn, highly resilient, and surprisingly tricky for opponents unfamiliar with its subtleties. I’ve played it my whole life - in blitz, rapid, and even classical tournaments - and it has served me well.
With this course (and the upcoming companion repertoire for White), you won’t just get a practical, low maintenance opening solution. You’ll build a deeper understanding of chess that helps you:
React confidently in unfamiliar positions
Make better decisions based on ideas, not memorised moves
Save time while still staying competitive
Learn smart. Play smart. Let’s build your opening repertoire the lazy way - with lasting understanding, not short-term memory.
Conclusion: Highly recommended!