CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 November 2023

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg


 
Chess DVD's

Beat the French Defence with the Advance Variation by Jana Schneider
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2023
 Price Euro 32.90
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 German chess master Jana Schneider provides the user of this DVD with a impressive four hour coverage of the French Advance variation.
The main aim lays on the two most played systems with 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 and 5...Bd7.But there is more as we can see in the following index:
Introduction
Main Line 5...Bd7
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2
Deviations from black in the 6th move
6...Nge7 - Main Line
Main Line continuation after 6....Nge7 7.0-0 Ng6 8.g3 Be7 9.h4
Sideline 5...Nge7
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3
5...Nge7 6.Na3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nf5 8.Nc2
Main Line 5...Qb6
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6
6.a3 Sidelines
6.a3 Nh6
Continuation 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxb4 8.cxd4
6...f6 and Main Line 6...c4
Sideline 4...Bd7 5.Nf3 Qb6
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Bd7 5.Nf3 Qb6
Sidelines 5...a6 and 5...Qb6 6.Be2 Nc6/cxd4
6.Be2 Bb5 7.dxc5/Bxb5
Early Sidelines
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5
Variations with 3...c5: 4...Qa5/cxd4/Nh6/Nc6/Ne7
Variations without 3...c5: 2...c5 and 3...f6/Sc6/Bd7/b6
Summary
Everything you need to know
Plus a lot of exercises to see if you have learned from her impressive lessons!
She goes further than a through grounding of key ideas!
And provides all you need to start playing the French Advance variation!
Included ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels!
Conclusion: Very educative!

ChessBase Magazine issue 215 Extra
October  2023
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

Would like to start with the smashing Opening videos:
Luis Engel: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd2 c5 6.a3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 and Black targets the bishop on
c3 with 7...Ne4. White's most reply is 8.Rc1, but the new idea here is 8.Ne2!
And Romain Edouard: "Critical Lines in the Dragon" - Part IV: 9.g4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.g4.
The user will find here a fine combination of classical Dragon knowledge and modern engine play!
But we all buy these ChessBase DVD’s in the first place for the excellent game files as this one is good for 51653 entries.
This way we keep abreast of latest developments in the world of chess.
Worth mentioning is the extra Lucky bag with 55 excellent analysed games.
Where I would like to give the following game away: Kasimdzhanov,Rustam (2670) - Dgebuadze,Alexandre (2430) [C19]
Bundesliga 2223 Germany (15.2), 30.04.2023
[Edouard, Romain]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.Qg4 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbc6 [8...f5 is the main alternative.] 9.Bg5 Not the most frequent move. White usually plays 9.Qh5 or 9.Nf3. 9...Qa5 10.Ne2 Qa4 [10...Ng6 11.0-0 Qa4 12.f4 c4 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Ra2 Bd7 15.h4 is the main line.;
10...c4? 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Bxh7+] 11.f4 Ng6 12.0-0 a5?N [12...c4 13.Bxg6 fxg6 transposes to 10...Ng6.] 13.Qh5!? [13.c4! with a cute idea of trapping the black queen with Nc3 would have been a chirurgical punishment to Black's last move. 13...cxd4 (13...dxc4? 14.Nc3+-) 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Qg3 With a digusting position for Black. The game move is very strong as well, though.] 13...c4 14.Rf3! The point. White's attack is devastating. 14...cxd3 15.Rh3 f5 [15...h6 16.Bxh6+-] 16.exf6 Kf7 17.Qxh7 Rg8 18.f5! exf5 19.Nf4! This look like a game of Tal. It's wonderful to see how the white pieces keep moving forward and forward. 19...Nxf4 20.Bxf4 Nxd4 [20...Kxf6 21.Qxg8+-;
20...Be6 21.Qh5++-] 21.Qh5+ Kxf6 22.Bg5+! Ke5 23.cxd4+! Qxd4+ 24.Re3+ An important check. Now White even got his piece back. 24...Kd6 25.Qg6+ Kc5?! [25...Kc7 26.c3!+-] 26.Rb1 Ra6 27.Be7+ Kc4 28.cxd3+ Kc3 29.Qg3 No need ot say the black king won't survive very long. 1-0.
Conclusion: This is super material!

Basic Opening Strategy
by  Robert Ris
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2023
 Price Euro 32.90
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 provides the user is a nearly four and a half hour coverage the first secrets of openings play.
Ris has managed to create a master trip in to the world of openings play with it all specific strategies and tricks. But above all Ris explains to acquire the understanding of sound play!
But first the contents:
Introduction
Section 1
The Center
Scholar's Mate
The "golden rules" of opening play
How to develop your minor pieces
The importance of the squares "f7 & f2"
What to avoid
Don't use your f-pawn
Section 2
Developing the Queen early
Think!
The Pin: Bg5
Lead in development
Small plans
Fianchetto
Pawns move one step at a time
Exercises "The Centre"
Description and of course all kind of exercises!
All With interactive training including video feedback plus extra
database with 50 exercises.
Conclusion: Educative and easy understandable!

Weapons against the Caro Kann Vol. 1: Panov and Two Knights
by  Daniel Fernandez
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2023
 Price Euro 32.90
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 chess genius Grandmaster Daniel Fernandez digs in this first volume with a grandmaster view on the Panov Attack (3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4) and the Two Knights (2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3)
This all is well covered in a four hours video package as we can see in the following video coverage:
Introduction
Panov Attack
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4
Introduction
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Qb3 Bg7 7.cxd5 0-0 8.Be2
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd3
Two Knights Variation 3...dxe4
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
3...dxe4 Intro
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Be6 7.b3 Nd7 8.Bb2 Qa5: Morris vs Fernandez
6...Be6 Analysis
6...Qa5 Analysis
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Qd5 7.Qh4
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Qd5 7.Qh4 Qe6 8.Be2 Qg6
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Qd5 7.Qh4 Qe6 8.Be2 Qg4
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Qd5 7.Qh4 Qe6 8.Be2 Qg4 9.Qg3 Qxg3 10.hxg3 Bf5
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Nd7 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Ne5 e6 9.Qf4
3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nxe4 6.Qxe4 Nd7 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.Ne5 e6 9.Qe2 b5 10.Bd3 - 14.Bb7
10.Bb3 Analysis
14.Be5: Ragger vs Donchenko
Analysis 18th move choices
Two Knights Variation 3...Bg4
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Sidelines
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nf6
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nd7 7.Bg2 d4 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qd3
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nd7 7.Bg2 d4 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qd3 e5 10.Qc4
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nd7 7.Bg2 d4 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Qd3 c5 10.Ng1
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d4: Erdos vs Firouzja
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Bc5
3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Nbd7
Two Knights Variation Sidelines
1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3
3...Nf6
Analysis Very Minor Moves
Analysis 3...g6 4.d4 Bg7
As we can see the material is impressive!
Having enjoyed the videos, you can practice your freshly acquired repertoire in the Opening trainer. This will make sure you remember the important lines - and you’re well prepared to use them in your own games
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps – Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various level
Including download & stream for iPad, tablet etc: can be unlocked with imprinted key.
Conclusion: A grandmaster view!


Weapons against the Caro Kann Vol. 2
by  Daniel Fernandez
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
2023
 Price Euro 32.90
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 volume two of  this video course Grandmaster Daniel Fernandez explains in nearly five video hours  the ins and out of his favourite systems as the Fantasy variation that runs with the moves 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3, 2.d4 d5 3.f3 – and the good old  Exchange Variation ,2.d4 d5 3.exd5.
But first back to the index:
Introduction
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 Sidelines
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3
Sidelines
3...g6 4.e5 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bg4
3...g6 4.e5 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bf5
3 ...Qc7: Alekseenko vs Karjakin
3...Bg4
1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d3 dxe4 - Endgame Variation
3...dxe4 4.dxe4 Qxd1 5.Kxd1
Introduction and 5...Bg4
5...Nf6 6.Nbd2
5...Nf6 6.Nfd2
5...Bg4: Alekseenko vs Pelletier
Fantasy Variation: 3.f3
Extra: Training with ChessBase apps – Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various level
Including download & stream for iPad, tablet etc: can be unlocked with imprinted key.
The Caro-Kann Defence is named after the English chess master Horatio Caro (1862–1920) who lived in Berlin and the Austrian player Marcus Kann (1820–1886)
The Caro–Kann is a common defence against the King's Pawn Opening. It is classified as a Semi-Open Game, like the Sicilian Defenceand French Defence, although it is thought to be more solid and less dynamic than either of those openings. It often leads to goodendgames for Black, who has the better pawn structure.
Conclusion: Grandmaster coverage!