CHESSBOOK REVIEWS


Latest book reviews of 1 May 2011
BOOKS REVIEWS BY JOHN ELBURG.

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
John Elburg



                                 Chess Books & Magazine's


Grandmaster Chess Strategy by Jurgen Kaufeld & Guido kern
2011
New in Chess
http://www.newinchess.com/
223 pages
Price € 22,95
ISBN: 978-90-5691-346-5


The two chess masters Jurgen Kaufeld {1976} & Guido Kern (1961} explain you at the hand of 80 Andersson’s games the secrets of positional play,where all material is readable selected into 15 thematic strategy lessons as:Playing against two weaknesses,An advantage in space,Control if the d-file,Prophylaxis,Playing against the isolated pawn,The bishop pair,An original exchange of bishop for knight,Fighting against the Hedgehog,The positional exchange sacrifice,The positional queen sacrifice,The art of defence,The Catalan endgame,Rook endings,Rook and minor piece and Minor piece endings.
Burgess,Nunn and Emms described Andersson’s play in there book: The World’s Greatest Chess Games;Ulf Andersson born 1951 became a grandmaster in 1972 and in the 1970s and early 1980s he won a number of strong tournaments; for much of this period he was one of the top dozen players in the world.Andersson has a unique and individual style involving the accumulation and exploitation of very small advantages, a strategy he conducts with phenomenal patience. In addition to his endgame skills.
Andersson has a preference for closed, strategic openings.So the theme of the bishop pair does not appear very often in his games.Neverless,like many other great endgames specialists,he is perfectly at home with the bishop pair,as the following example will show:
Andersson,Ulf (2590) - Chandler,Murray G (2450) [A09]
Hastings 8081 Hastings (3), 1980
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.0-0 d4 6.d3 e5 7.e3 Be7 8.exd4 exd4 9.Re1 0-0 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 Bg4 12.Qc2 Bd6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Na3 Rxe1+ 16.Rxe1 Re8 17.Rxe8+ Qxe8 18.Bxb7 Qe2 19.Ba5 Nd7 20.Qxe2 Bxe2 21.Nb5 Bf8 22.Nxa7 Bxd3 23.Bd2 Bxc4 24.a4 Bd6 25.Nc6 Kf8 26.a5 Nb8 27.Nxb8 Bxb8 28.b4 Ba7 29.Bc6 cxb4 30.Bxb4+ Kg8 31.g4 f6 32.Be8 g6 33.Kg2 Kg7 34.Bd7 Kf7 35.Kf3 Bd3 36.h4 h5 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.Bd6 Bc4 39.Bb4 Bd5+ 40.Ke2 Be4 41.Kd2 f5 42.Ke1 Kf6 43.Bd6 d3 44.Bf4 Ke7 45.Bb5 Bd4 46.a6 Kd8 47.Bc4 Kd7 48.Be3 Bc3+ 49.Kd1 Kc7 50.Bd2 Bd4 51.Bf4+ Kc8 52.Be6+ Kd8 53.Be3 Bf6 54.a7 Bxh4 55.Bb6+ Ke7 56.Bxf5 Bf3+ 57.Kd2 Kf6 58.Bxd3 Bg5+ 59.Be3 h4 60.Bxg5+ 1-0,both authors give as a better defence possibility 53…Bc3{prevents 54.Kd2}
54.a7 Bf3+ 55.Kc1 Be1 56.Bf7 d2+ the point,black gives up his passed pawn in order to exchange as many pawns as possible 57.Bxd2 Bxf2 58.Bxh5 Be4 with a draw.
Andersson has a typical way of fighting against the Hedgehog in his favourite fianchetto positions,as we can see in his game against Browne: Andersson,Ulf (2610) - Browne,Walter S (2590) [A30]Tilburg Tilburg, 1982
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Bg5 a6 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qf4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Ra7 13.Rfd1 0-0 14.Rd2 Rd7 15.Rc1 Qc7 16.b3 Rc8 17.a4 Nc6 18.Qxc6 Qxc6 19.Bxc6 Rxc6 20.Na2 a5 21.Rcd1 Kf8 22.Nc1 Ke7 23.e3 g6 24.Kg2 Bc3 25.Rd3 Bb2 26.Ne2 Rc8 27.R1d2 Bg7 28.f4 f5 29.Kf3 h6 30.g4 h5 31.gxf5 gxf5 32.Ng3 h4 33.Nf1 Rf8 34.Rd1 Bh6 35.Nd2 Rg8 36.Nb1 Rgd8 37.Nc3 Bg7 38.Nb5 Bh8 39.R3d2 Bg7 40.Rd3 Bf6 41.e4 fxe4+ 42.Kxe4 Bg7 43.R1d2 Bf6 44.f5 Be5 45.Rg2 exf5+ 46.Kxf5 Rf8+ 47.Ke4 Ke6 48.Rg6+ Rf6 49.Rxf6+ Bxf6 50.Rd5 Be5 51.Nd4+ Bxd4 52.Kxd4 Rg7 53.Rb5 Rb7 54.Rh5 Rf7 55.Rxh4 Rf3 56.Re4+ Kd7 57.Re3 Rf4+ 58.Kd5 Rh4 59.h3 Rh5+ 60.Ke4 Kc6 61.Rd3 Rh4+ 62.Kf5 Rh8 63.Kg5 Rg8+ 64.Kf4 Rf8+ 65.Kg3 Rg8+ 66.Kh2 Re8 67.h4 Re5 68.Kg3 Kd7 69.Kf4 Re1 70.h5 Rh1 71.Rd5 Rh3 72.Rb5 Kc6 73.Kg5 1-0,this game is well explained with nearly 3.5 pages of readable text.
Conclusion: A book that clearly explains you with readable words, the  exploitation of very small advantages! 



1.d4 - Ratgeber gegen Unorthodoxe Verteidigungen by Valeri Bronzik
2010
Schachverlag Kania
www.kaniaverlag.de
237 pages
Price €19,80
ISBN 978-3-931192-37-2


International master Valeri Bronznik covers in this eye-catching hard cover book all kind of off beat lines that black is able to play against the move 1.d2-d4.
In this book you will find lines as Englund Gambit,Dutch Benoni,Marshall Defence,Snake,Der Geier,Fajarowicz,Budapest Gambit,Black Knights’s Tango etc.
For example in the Fajarowicz,Bronznik prefers for white moves as: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 b6 5.Nd2 Nc5 6.b4 Ne6 7.Ngf3 Bb7 8.Bb2 a5 9.b5 d6 10.e3 Nd7 11.Be2 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bxg2 14.Rg1 Bb7 15.Bf3,and Bronznik follows a interesting analyse from Knaak,that was published in the ChessBase Magazines:15…Qc8 16.Nb3 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 cxd6 19.Rd1 and white should be better here!
New for me is “Das Wusel” that runs with the move s:1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.Nc3 Qa5,yes here we can  taste the atmosphere of Stefan Bücker,but as we can read it is not easy to keep the “Wusel” alive.
One of the best alternatives here mentioned is the delayed Stonewall,and Bronznik gives as one of the model games, the following duel between Magnus Carlsen,Magnus and Vassily Ivanchuk,Leon 2009,
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Bd3 f5 6.Nge2 Nf6 7.Qc2 0-0 8.f3 Kh8 9.Bd2 a6 10.c5 Bc7 11.0-0-0 e5 12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.f4 Bc7 14.Nd4 Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Be2 b6 17.cxb6 Bxb6 18.Bb4 Rf6 19.Kb1 a5 20.Bc3 Ba6 21.g4 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Nd7 23.g5 Bxd4 24.Bxd4 Rd6 25.h4 Qf8 26.h5 Kg8 27.Qg4 Re8 28.Rhf1 c5 29.Be5 Rde6 30.Bc3 d4 31.exd4 e3 32.d5 Re4 33.Rfe1 Ne5 34.Bxe5 R8xe5 35.Rxe3 Rxf4 36.Qe2 Qf5+ 37.Ka1 Rd4 38.Re1 Rxe3 39.Qxe3 Rxd5 40.a3 Qd7 41.Qb3 a4 42.Qc4 Kf8 43.Ka2 Rf5 44.Ka1 Rd5 45.Rc1 Ke7 46.g6 hxg6 47.hxg6 Kf6 48.Qc2 Rf5 49.Rd1 Qc6 50.Rg1 Qd7 51.Rd1 Qc6 52.Rg1 Qd7 53.Qc4 Re5 54.Qh4+ Ke6 55.Qg4+ Ke7 56.Qh4+ Kd6 57.Rd1+ Rd5 58.Qf4+ Kc6 59.Qxa4+ Kc7 60.Qa7+ Kc6 61.Qa8+ 1-0.All together there 58 analyses and model games in this book, pleasant packed with readable words.
Fascinating is the English Defence with the move 4…f5: Browne,Walter S  - Miles,Anthony J
Tilburg Tilburg (7), 1978
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 f5 5.exf5 Bxg2 6.Qh5+ g6 7.fxg6 Bg7 8.gxh7+ Kf8 9.Ne2 Bxh1 10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Qh4 Nc6 12.Nf4 Kf7 13.Bg6+ Ke7 14.Nh5 Qf8 15.Nd2 e5 16.0-0-0 Nxd4 17.Rxh1 Ne6 18.f4 d6 19.Ne4 Nxg5 20.Qxg5 Bh6 21.Qh4 Bg7 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Rf1 Kd7 24.Nexf6+ Bxf6 25.Nxf6+ Kc8 26.Be4 c6 27.Qh3+ Kb7 28.Bxc6+ 1-0,as we can learn from Bronznik,5…Bb4+ is much stronger! But black’s best chances are more positional answers as 4….Nc6 or 4….Bb4.
Conclusion: Fascinating work!

Das Schara - Henning - Gambit by Valeri Bronzik
2010
Schachverlag Kania
www.kaniaverlag.de
142 pages
Price €15,80
ISBN 978-3-931192-38-9


Valeri Bronznik covers in this hard cover work, the Hennig-Schara Counter-Gambit,
That runs with the moves: 1d4. d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4!?,and to be honest black does not stand more worse as lines in the normal Tarrasch Defence with 4…exd5.
Bronznik has compiled this book at the hand of 29 analyses and model games and above all excellent use of sources as Kaissiber,specially with the use of issue 31.
But this work is more than a compiling of material, as we can see for example with the move 14…g5!?:
{1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qd1 Bc5 10.e3 Qe7 11.a3 0-0-0 12.Qc2 Kb8 13.Be2 Rc8 14.0-0}
Bücker and his gambit companion Wind don’t see much in it, but as we can see in the following game,black made here made a smashing win: Ruiz-Jarabo Pelayo,Francisco (ESP) (2084) - Sotirios,Stavridis [D32]
WS/H/087 ICCF server, 15.06.2007
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qd1 Bc5 10.e3 Qe7 11.a3 0-0-0 12.Qc2 Kb8 13.Be2 Rc8 14.0-0 g5 15.Nxg5 Rhg8 16.e4 Nd4 17.Qd3 Ka8 18.Bd1 Bc6 19.b4 Bb6 20.a4 Rcd8 21.Qb1 Ne6 22.Nf3 Nd4 23.Ng5 Ne6 24.b5 Nxg5 25.Bxg5 Rxg5 26.bxc6 Qe5 27.Qb5 Qf4 28.cxb7+ Kb8 29.Ne2 Qg4 30.Ng3 Rxd1 31.Qb4 Rd4 32.Qe1 Rd3 33.Qc1 Bc5 34.Rd1 Rxd1+ 35.Qxd1 Qxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Re5 37.Kf1 Nxe4 38.Nxe4 Rxe4 39.Rd5 Bb4 40.g3 Re7 41.Rb5 a5 42.h4 Bc3 43.Rc5 Rc7 44.Rb5 Rc4 0-1,this game is well analysed with support of GM Mohrlok.
Included is a chapter where white avoids
the Hennig-Schara with moves as 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 and 4.e3.
Conclusion: All together we have here a deeply study of the Hennig-Schara Counter-Gambit!


Chess lessons by Vladimir Popov
2011
Quality Chess
256 pages
Price € 21,99
ISBN 978-1-906552-82-4


The well known chess coach Vladimir Popov, who is responsible for the development of the Kosintseva girls, shows us in this book that you
don’t have to be a grandmaster to write a good trainings manual.
Many strategy books are for the most players unreadable, for example if you want to learn a opening than you are not interested to read first a introduction of 50 pages of more!
The secret of Popov lays in the subject that he is logical, and that he is able to explain strategies as prophylaxis with understandable game fragments and readable words.
Throw this book you will see a lot of game fragments of the two Kosintseva girls,they are not always brilliant but Popov reveals in this book how you can learn from there mistakes!
All material is classified in 21 chapters and if you are able to invest a week for every chapter than I can insure you these lessons will pay of!
Higly instructive is for example chapter 13 with,Too much calculation.
Popov writes: Many young devotees of the ancient game often have problems with taking intuitive decions.This is only natural.
Intuition is founded on knowledge and experience, and at a young age, where can these resources come from?
Included are a lot of self tests to see if you have understood  Popov lessons.
Conclusion: This book will really help you to become a better player!



Die Englische Eróffnung by Mihail Marin
Band Zwei

2011
Quality Chess
439 pages
Price € 27,99
ISBN 978-1-906552-94-7


In this second volume of Marin his English repertoire book based on lines as 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bg2 dxc4 Anti-Slavish,Barcza variations
 as 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3,Anti – Queengambit –systems 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Na3 Bxa3 6.bxa3,
Modern Benoni lines for white, which run with the moves: 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 d4 9.exd4 cxd4 10.Re1!.
But I also found Anti-Grünfeld lines 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 d5,Anti King’s Indian lines 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d3.
For all who are wondering what Marin has in mind against the Dutch: 1.c4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.e4 d4 9.Ne2 fxe4 10.dxe4 Nxe4 11.Nfxd4 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 c5 13.Be3 cxd4 14.Nxd4 and white has all the fun.
Better for black is the following line from the Stonewall specialist Viktor Moskalenko:
1.c4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 dxc4 7.dxc4 Qxd1 8.Rxd1 Nbd7 9.b3 Bc5 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Nc3 Re8 and now Marin gives the interesting novelty 12.Bh3!
Throw this book you will find a lot of these own thinking novelties and that makes this book from Marin very interesting to take up.
Repertoire books are a matter of taste but this well packed hard cover from Mihail Marin is certainly worth buying!
Years of chess enjoyment is insured!
Conclusion: Very high quality repertoire book!



Experts on the Anti - Sicilian by Jacob Aagaard & John Shaw
2011
Quality Chess
440 pages
Price € 24,99
ISBN 978-1-906552-80-0


Experts on the Anti-Sicilian is a collection of 25 surveys from players as GM Boris Avrukh,GM Jacob Aagaard,GM Tiger Hillarp Persson,GM Christian Bauer,GM Milos Pavlovic,GM Matthieu Cornette,GM Colin McNab,GM John Shaw and IM Andrew Greet all on the Anti –Sicilian.
For example Aagaard goes for a classical set-up: 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 c4 6.Bc2 Nc6 7.Nf3 d6 8.exd6 Qxd6
9.0-0 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Re1 0-0-0 12.b3 Qf6 13.Be4 Ne5 14.g4 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Qxf3 16.Bxf3 Bg6 17.Na3 e6
18.Nxc4 Nxc4 19.bxc4 Bd3 20.Re5 Bxc4 21.d4 b6
22.Kg2 Bd6 23.Re1 Kd7 and white drew comfortably in the correspondence game,Jozefini – Kürten,e-mail 2009.
The greatest expert Sveshnikov prefers 7….Qc7,but Aagaard comes with the new 9.Na3!
For all who have or want to spend not to much time on chess openings,try the 10 –minute repertoire line from Milos Pavlovic against the
Closed Sicilian, 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6,Pavlovic writes: I want to offer a sound fighting line for black with just enough detail to play it with confidence.
For all fans of GM Tiger Hillarp Persson he goes for 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Nd7 4.c3,Tiger Hillarp Persson:
This move is only the third most popular alternative for white, but I believe that it is more dangerous than is common thought.
And on 2…Nc6.Tiger Hillarp Persson goes for the good old Rossolimo!
And Peter Heine Nielsen tries to beat 1.e4 c5 2.b3 with 2...g6!?
Conclusion: We have here a very exciting Anti-Sicilian work!



The Scotch game by Yelena Dembo & Richard Palliser
2011
Everyman Chess
http://www.everymanchess.com
336  pages
Price €21,95
ISBN 978-1-85744-598-5


Yelena Dembo and Richard Palliser come with a move to move coverage of the Scotch game,
there are in this book no excuses from I would need to add another 30 pages to the book to satisfy myself that I had looked closely at all the various complicated suggestion as Lane wrote in his book: Scotch Game Explained,Batsford 2005.
No there is in this book for example a compressive coverage of the line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3.
As both author explain in this 380 page heavy weight:after 9…g5!? Black’s most ambitious approach and a move which still seems slightly shocking some fifteen years after Anand introduced in his 1995 World Championship match with Kasparov.
Black reasons that he can get away with weakening his kingside with white’s bishop seemingly bound for b2 and so takes control of the important f4-square,while preparing to increase the pressure e5 with …Bg7.
A latest game that I found between the lines of 9…g5 is the following one where Morozevich holds the white side of the board.: Morozevich,Alexander (2751) - Mikhalevski,Victor (2631) [C45]Jubilee Open  Zürich (7), 13.08.2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g5 10.g3 0-0-0 11.Bb2 Bg7 12.Bg2 Rde8 13.0-0 Bxe5 14.Qxe5 Qxe5 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.cxd5 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 cxd5 18.Nc3 c6 19.Rc1 Kd8 20.Ne2 g4 21.f3 h5 22.Kf2 Rhe8 23.Rc2 Kc7 24.h4 gxh3 25.Bxh3 h4 26.g4 a5 27.Bf1 Rb8 28.Nf4 Kd6 29.Nd3 Re7 30.Rc1 f6 31.Rd1 Kc7 32.Nc5 Rh8 33.Bd3 h3 34.Bf5 h2 35.Rh1 Kd6 36.Nd3 a4 37.Nf4 axb3 38.axb3 Ree8 39.Nh5 Rb8 40.Bc2 f5 41.Rxh2 fxg4 42.fxg4 c5 43.Kg3 Ra8 44.Rd2 d4 45.Bd1 Ra1 46.Rd3 Re8 47.Bf3 Rg1+ 48.Kf2 Rb1 49.Nf6 Re3 50.Rxe3 dxe3+ 51.Kxe3 Rxb3+ 52.Kf4 c4 53.g5 c3 54.Ne4+ Ke7 55.Bd1 Ra3 56.Nf6 Ra1 57.Nd5+ Kf8 58.Bc2 Rf1+ 59.Ke3 Rg1 60.Nf6 Kg7 61.Ne4 d5 62.Nxc3 Rxg5 63.Kd4 Kf6 64.Nxd5+ Rxd5+ 65.Kxd5 ½-½.
Included throw this book is a lot of latest game as the extremely rare move: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 0-0-0 10.g3 Qb4+,
Known from the game Carlsen,M - Sulskis,S
39th Olympiad Men Khanty-Mansiysk RUS,2010.
This work is written as a classical theory book and is not based at a collection model games and that makes it all really super!
For the good order the mainline with 8…Ba6 is covered but also the 4…Bc5 variation where white can go for 5.Nxc6 or 5.Be3.
Interesting to mention are early 4….Bc5 alternatives as Magnus Carlsen aggressive sideline:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Qe2,this move
which was introduced at the GM level by Ivanchuk. However, Carlsen played it no less than 4 times in the recent World Blitz Championship in Moscow. The idea behind it is to prepare the move Be3.
A old favourite of the late Tony Miles was 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4+,this is all well covered in  chapter 11with 22 pages of text!
N odds and ends I found the interesting alternative 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 d6 but never thought about the idea 3…f5?!
The main work of this book is done by Yelena Dembo,and Richard Palliser is responsible for update and new ides.
Conclusion: The most important reference work on the Scotch Game that money can buy!



Play the Spanish by Timothy Taylor
2011
Everyman Chess
http://www.everymanchess.com
288  pages
Price €20,95
ISBN 978-1-85744-637-1


Timothy Taylor comes in this latest Everyman book with a interesting black repertoire line based on the Modern Steinitz Defence, that runs with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6.Black delays for a moment the decision with the flexibility of the move …b5.
For all who think that the Steinitz Defence,than I can say in this black repertoire book I found hot lines as the Siesta,with a model game from the great GM Yandemirov:
Simonov,Stanislav (2297) - Yandemirov,Valeri (2515) [C74]
Nezhmetdinov Memorial 29th Kazan (3), 03.06.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 f5 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.0-0 Bd3 8.Re1 Be7 9.Bc2 Bxc2 10.Qxc2 Nf6 11.d4 e4 12.Ng5 d5 13.f3 h6 14.Nh3 0-0 15.Nd2 exf3 16.Nxf3 Rf7 17.Qf5 Bd6 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Nxf4 Nh5 20.Qxh5 Rxf4 21.Re6 Qd7 22.Rae1 Raf8 ½-½,Taylor explains that 8.Qb3 is the only serious alternative: Then 8….Bxf1?! is too risky due to 9.Qxb7 Bb5 10.Bxb5 axb5 11.Qxc6 Kf7 12.d4 with a strong attack.But black can equalize with 8…b5!
Taylor has named the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bg4 6.h3 h5!? to the Yandemirov Gambit who play this variation for over 38 times!
Unlike the Siesta,there are no boring drawish lines against this line! White is forced to fight back immediately.
Taylor covers in this book all important lines that occur after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6,5.c3,5.0-0,5.Bxc6,5.c4 and 5.d4 but chapter nine holds some interesting alternatives as 5.Nc3,5.d3,5.Qe2 and 5.h3.
Pleasant to mention is chapter 10 with the Spanish Exchange where Taylor prefers the sharp
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.0-0 Bg4 which was once described by Bobby Fischer as black’s most ambitious continuation.
Black meets the threat to his e-pawn with a pin on the white knight,just like the Yandemirov Gambit!
Included is a chapter with Larsen’s pet line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 bxc6,for a long time this move was only rarely played at master level but the Norwegian IM Sahl has specializes in this move.
All material is explained at the hand of 85 well explained move to move model games where I would like to remark that Taylor is a very strong player!
Conclusion: A very surprising work!


Chess Informant 109
2011
Beograd
http://www.sahovski.com
301pages
Price  £ 20.50


Informator issue 109 comes with 371 annotated games and 540 game fragments all taken from May till August 2011.
The best game of the preceding volume goes to: Topalov,V (2805) - Anand,V (2787) [D87]
Sofia (m/1) 108/124, 2010 and where the comments come from Sasa
Velickovic.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Rac1 Qd6 [16...Bb7 - 103/(334)] 17.f4 f6 18.f5 Qe5 19.Nf4 g5 20.Nh5+!!N [20.Nd5? Rf7 21.h4 h6µ] 20...Kg8 [20...Kh8 21.h4 Rg8 22.Qe1! . ¤f6 Khalifman,A(22.Nxf6! Qxf6 23.e5! Qxe5 24.f6 Be6 25.f7 Rgf8 26.Rce1 Qd5 27.Be4 Nc4 28.Qf2 (28.Qd3 Qc5 29.Bxa8 Ne3 30.Rf6) 28...Rxf7 29.Bxd5 Rxf2 30.Bxa8 Rxf1+ 31.Rxf1 d3 32.hxg5 d2 33.Rf8+ Kg7 34.Rd8 Kg6 35.Bf3 b5 36.Kf2 Kxg5 37.Be2 Kf4 38.Bxc4 Bxc4 39.Rxd2 Ke4 (Sutovsky,E) 40.Rd7 a5 41.a3 b4 (41...a4?? 42.Rxh7 Kd3 43.g4 Kc2 44.g5 Kb2 45.Rh3+-) 42.axb4 axb4 43.Rxh7 Kd4=) ] 21.h4 h6 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Rf3 [23.Nxf6+!? Qxf6 (23...Rxf6? 24.Qxg5+ Kf7 25.Qh4 Nc6 26.g4!+-) 24.Rc7 Re8!? (24...Rf7 25.e5 Qxe5 26.Qxg5+ Qg7 27.Qd8+ Qf8 28.Qg5+= Sutovsky,E) 25.Rf3© .Re7 26.Rxe7 Qxe7 27.f6 Qc5 28.Rf5!? (28.Rg3 g4 29.Qh6 Kf7 30.Qg7+ Ke6 31.Rxg4 Bb7) 28...Bxf5 29.Qxg5+ Kf7 30.exf5 (30.Qg7+ Ke6 31.exf5+ Ke5) 30...Rg8 31.Qh5+ Kxf6 (31...Kf8 32.Qh6+ Ke8 33.f7+ Kxf7 34.Qe6+ Kf8 35.Qf6+ Ke8 36.Qe6+=) 32.Qh6+ Kf7 (32...Ke5? 33.Qe6+ Kf4 34.Qxg8 Qc3 35.Qb8+! Kg5 (35...Ke3 36.Qg3+ Kd2 37.f6+-) 36.Qg3+ Kf6 37.Qg6+ Ke5 38.Qe6+ Kf4 39.f6 Qxd3 40.f7 Qd1+ 41.Kf2 Qd2+ 42.Qe2+-) 33.Qe6+ Kf8 34.Qf6+ Ke8 35.Qe6+=] 23...Kf7?? [23...Bd7! 24.Rg3 (24.Rh3 Rac8 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.e5 Qxe5 28.Qxg5+ Kf8 29.Be4!? (29.Rh7 Qe3+ 30.Qxe3 dxe3 31.Rxd7 Rc1+ 32.Kh2 Rd1 33.Rd8+ Ke7 34.Rd4 Kf8=) 29...Be8 30.Bd5 Qe1+ 31.Kh2 Qe5+ 32.Kg1=) 24...Kf7! (24...Rac8 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 26.Re1 Rfe8 27.e5 Rxe5 28.Qxg5+ Qxg5 29.Rxg5+ Kf7 30.Rxe5 Kf6! Khalifman,A) 25.Bc4+ Nxc4 26.Rxc4 Rh8 27.Rxd4 Be8 28.Rd7+ (28.Rh3 Kg8 29.g4 Bxh5 30.gxh5 Re8=) 28...Kf8 29.Nxf6 (29.Qb4+ Qc5+ 30.Qxc5+ bxc5 31.Nxf6 Bxd7 32.Nxd7+ Ke7=) 29...Qxf6 30.Qb4+ Kg8 31.e5 Qxf5 32.Qc4+ (32.Rc7 Bf7 33.Rxf7 Kxf7 34.Rf3 Qxf3 35.gxf3 Rh6=) 32...Kf8 33.Qb4+= Sutovsky,E] 24.Nxf6!!+- Kxf6 [24...Qxf6 25.Rc7+ (25.Rh3 Nc6 26.Rxc6! Qxc6 27.Qxg5+- Khalifman,A) 25...Ke8 26.Bb5+ Kd8 27.Rfc3! (Sutovsky,E) 27...a6 (27...Rb8 28.Rc1 a6 29.Qb4 axb5 30.e5+-) 28.Ba4 b5 29.R3c5 Nb7 (29...Nc4 30.Rxc4! bxc4 31.Qa5+-) 30.R5c6 Nd6 31.Qa5 Ke8 (31...Bd7 32.Rxd7+ Kxd7 33.Qc7+ Ke8 34.Rxd6 Qxd6 35.Qxd6 bxa4 36.e5+-) 32.Qb6 d3 33.Bd1 Qa1 34.Rc1+-] 25.Rh3 Rg8 [25...Qf4 26.e5+! Qxe5 (26...Kxe5 27.Re1+ Kd5 (27...Kf6+- - 26...£e5) 28.Be4+ Qxe4 29.Rxe4 Kxe4 30.Qe2+ Kd5 31.Qf3++-) 27.Re1 (27.Rh6+ Kf7 28.Rh7+ Kf6 29.Re1 Qf4 30.Qb4 Rf7 31.Rxf7+ Kxf7 32.Qe7+ Kg8 33.Qe8+ Kh7 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Re8#) 27...Qf4 28.Qe2+-] 26.Rh6+ Kf7 27.Rh7+ Ke8 28.Rcc7 Kd8 29.Bb5!! Qxe4 [29...Qxc7 30.Qxd4+ Bd7 31.Rxd7+ Kc8 32.Rxc7+ Kxc7 33.Qd7+ Kb8 34.Ba6+-] 30.Rxc8+! 1-0.
The most important theoretical novelty of the preceding volume goes to: Anand,V (2787) - Topalov,V (2805) [E04]
Sofia (m/4) 108/134, 2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3!N [Wojtaszek,R] [10.axb5 - 108/(134)] 10...Bd7 [10...Ba6 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.axb5²] 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 Be8 15.d5 Qd6 16.Ng4 Qc5 17.Ne3 N8a6 [17...Ra7 18.dxc6 bxa4 19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Nd6 Rd7 21.Rac1©] 18.dxc6 bxa4 [18...Bxc6 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.Naxc4 Bxc4 21.Rac1²] 19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Rac1 h6? [20...Na2? 21.Nxa5 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Qb4 23.Qxb4 Nxb4 24.Nxc6 Nxc6 25.Rxc6±] 21.Nd6 Qa7 22.Ng4 Rad8? [22...Kh7 23.Rxc6 Nxc6 24.e5 Ne7 25.Be4+ Ng6 26.h4 Nc5 27.Bb1 (Giri,A) (27.Bxa8 Rxa8 28.h5 Nf8 29.Rc1! (. ¦c4-f4) 29...Nb3 30.Qd3+ Kg8 31.Rc4±) 27...Nb3 28.Qe2 Kg8 (28...h5 29.Nh2! Kg8 30.Qxh5 Nd4 31.Ng4) 29.h5 Ne7 30.Qd3+-;
22...f6 23.Rc4 (. e5, ¤h6, ¦g4) 23...h5 (23...Rad8 24.e5! Bxg2 25.Kxg2) 24.Ne3±;
22...Nc5 23.Rc4! (23.Nxh6+ gxh6 24.Qxh6 Ncd3) 23...f6 a) 23...Nb3 24.Nxh6+ Kh7 25.Qf4 gxh6 26.e5! Bxg2 27.Nf5 exf5 28.Qxf5++-; b) 23...Rad8 24.e5 Bxg2 25.Nf6+ Kh8 (25...gxf6 26.Rg4+ Kh7 27.Rh4+-) 26.Rh4+-; 24.e5 f5 (24...Bxg2 25.exf6!) 25.Nxh6+ (25.Bxc6 Nxc6 26.Nf6+ gxf6 27.exf6 Ne4 28.Nxe4 Ne5 29.Qxh6 Nxc4 30.Ng5 Ne5; 25.Nf6+ gxf6 26.exf6 Rxf6 27.Bxc6 Rd8) 25...gxh6 26.Bxc6 Nxc6 27.Qxh6 Nxe5 28.Qg5+ Qg7 29.Qxg7+ Kxg7 30.Rxc5²] 23.Nxh6+ gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 25.e5 [25.Bh3 Qe7 26.Rc4 Nc7÷ (26...Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Qxd6 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.e5 Qd1+ 30.Bf1+-) ] 25...Bxg2 [25...fxe5 26.Qxe6+ Kh7 (26...Kh8 27.Qxe5+ Kg8 28.Rd4+-) 27.Rxc6 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 . ¥e4] 26.exf6! Rxd6 [26...Qh7 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Rc4+-] 27.Rxd6 Be4 [27...Bd5 28.Rc4! Bxc4 29.Rd4!! Rxf6 30.Rd8+ Kf7 31.Qh7#] 28.Rxe6 Nd3 [28...Qh7 29.Qg5+ Kh8 (29...Bg6 30.f7+ Kxf7 31.Re7+ Kg8 32.Rxh7+-) 30.Rxe4] 29.Rc2 Qh7 30.f7+ Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0,and the comments come from Anand,please also see the extra included survey from Br.Tadic.
Other modern theory surveys are: B12,1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6,B19 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qd3: e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13,Qe2 0-0,D76,1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 Nb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 Re8 10.Re1 and E04:1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Rc8 10.Nc3 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bc5 12.Qh4.
All written in the language –less figurine algebraic chess notation.
The best of Chess Informant is this time divided to the impressive Levon Aronian.
A strong point of the Informator is that all games are arranged by openings so only a quick turn of the pages enables you of all the latest developments!
And the comments comes from the best players in the world!
Conclusion: These Informators really belong to the best of the world!  

The Rossolimo Sicilian by Victor Bologan
2011
New in Chess
http://www.newinchess.com/
238 pages
Price € 22,95
ISBN: 978-90-5691-3458


Rossolimo was a creative chess player and one of the first players who understood the strategies of the move 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5.
Viktor Bologon does not only cover a lot of theory and explanations in his book on the Rossolimo Sicilian but also has the talent to keep a book readable with for example interesting back ground on the chess genius Nicholas Rossolimo,who was born on 28 February 1910 in Kiev,capital of the Ukraine,which was than part of the Russian Empire.
His father was a artist,Spiridon Rossolimo,A Greek by Nationality,and his mother Ksenia Nikolaevna {maiden name Skugarevskaya}a Ukrainian.
Nicholas’s uncle,Grigory Rossolimo,was a well known neurologist and psychiatrist who,with his own money,founded and run the first Russian clinic for nervous disorders in children.
In Manhattan,Rossolimo founded a chess studio,a dedicated chess café,where it was not only possible to eat and drink,but also to buy chess literature and play games against other quests and even,for a small fee,with Rossolimo himself.
Rossolimo was a man of many talents,he was fluent in five languages, was a judo expert, made a music record where the great Marcel Duchamp was responsible for the cover of his single.
But Rossolimo also worked as car washer, hospital porter, sang and played the accordion and worked for 15 years as taxi – driver!
Bologan writes in his introduction that this book is addressed in the first place to all those to use the Rossolimo System as white.However it schould also be of help to black players,since we examine all the most dangerous systems for white.
This book from Bologan is a pure classic theory book and is not based on easy read collection model games.
The old bishop move 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0-0 Bg4?! Is after Bologan quite risky,and after the moves: 5.h3 Bh5 6.c3 a6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 e6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Qa4 Qd7 12.Nd2 c5 13.dxc5 Qxa4 14.Nxa4 dxc5 15.f3 Rd8 16.Nc4 Be7 17.Be3 white stands already slightly better.
With the Rossolimo you can avoid a lot of chess theory but you must understand the strategies of it,don’t play as the old masters did in,as Bologan explains in a totally random way.
Bologan prefers 11.h3 above Bobby Fischer his {1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 f6 7.c3 Nh6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 0-0 10.Nc3 d6} 11.Qa4!?
Included in this book is Fischer his impressive knight jump to f5: Fischer,Robert James (2785) - Spassky,Boris V (2560) [B31]
Match Spassky Sveti Stefan/Belgrade (11), 20.09.1992
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 e5 7.b4 cxb4 8.a3 c5 9.axb4 cxb4 10.d4 exd4 11.Bb2 d6 12.Nxd4 Qd7 13.Nd2 Bb7 14.Nc4 Nh6 15.Nf5 Bxb2 16.Ncxd6+ Kf8 17.Nxh6 f6 18.Ndf7 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Ke7 20.Nxh8 Rxh8 21.Nf5+ gxf5 22.exf5+ Be5 23.f4 Rc8 24.fxe5 Rxc2 25.e6 Bc6 26.Rc1 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Kd6 28.Rd1+ Ke5 29.e7 a5 30.Rc1 Bd7 31.Rc5+ Kd4 32.Rxa5 b3 33.Ra7 Be8 34.Rb7 Kc3 35.Kf2 b2 36.Ke3 Bf7 37.g4 Kc2 38.Kd4 b1Q 39.Rxb1 Kxb1 40.Kc5 Kc2 41.Kd6 1-0.
Conclusion: The best book ever written on the Rossolimo Sicilian!




Chess DVD's


ChessBase Magazine issue 141
2011
April
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 19.95
 


ChessBase Magazine issue 141 comes with some super tournaments as Wijk aan Zee and Gibraltar 2011!
Any way the tournament file is good for 825 entries where I would like to start with a annotated game of the hero of Wijk aan Zee,Hikaru Nakamura,which is well analysed by Mihail Marin:
Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2733) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2751) [B12]
Tata Steel-A 73rd Wijk aan Zee (11), 28.01.2011
[Marin,M]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 [In his days, Botvinnik preferred 4...h6 5.g4 Bd7] 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Ne7 7.Nge2 Bg4!?N Nakamura confessed that he had seen this idea in some comments of Karpov (specifically, they can be found in the notes for Informant to his game against Adams, where 7...dxc4 was played). [Nakamura had had the following unpleasant experience with this line: 7...dxc4 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Qd2 Qb4 11.a3 Qb3 12.Nge4 Nd5 13.Rh3! Svidler,P (2734)-Nakamura,H (2729)/Amsterdam 2010/CBM 138 (1-0, 37)] 8.f3 Bf5 9.Ng3 Bg6 Black's main achievement is to have forced the obstruction of the d1-h5 diagonal, which removes the danger against the h5-pawn after ¥e2. One more aspect will be revealed later.
 10.Bg5 Qb6 11.Qd2 Nd7 12.a3 Following Svidler's plan, without noticing an important difference. [12.Rc1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Rd8 14.Qf2 f6 15.Be3 Nd5= (Nakamura) This and the following variations were indicated by Nakamura during his press conference following to his win.] 12...f6 13.Be3 Qb3! It appears that the third rank was obstructed by the pawn, too, depriving White of the resource ¦h3.
 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 [15...cxd5 16.Rc1 fxe5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Rc3 Qa4 19.Rc7© Nakamura] 16.Rc1 Nb6 Black has a stable position and reasonable development. His position may be preferable already, so White decided to look for attacking chances.
 17.Ne2!? [17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bd3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 0-0-0 20.Ne2³ Nakamura] 17...fxe5 18.dxe5 Qxe5 [18...Qxd2+ 19.Bxd2 0-0-0 20.Nf4 Bf5 21.Be2÷ /² Nakamura] 19.Bd4 Qc7 20.Qg5 Bf5 [20...Bf7 21.Bxg7 Rg8 22.Be5 Rxg5 23.Bxc7 Rb5"] 21.g4 [21.Ng3 Be7 22.Qxg7 Rh7 23.Bxb6 Bb4+! (23...Qxb6 24.Qg8+) 24.axb4 Qxg7-+ Nakamura] 21...hxg4 22.fxg4 Be4 23.Rh3 Be7 24.Qxg7 [24.Qe3 Bd5 25.h5 0-0-0 26.Nc3© Nakamura 26...Bf6!?] 24...Rh7 25.Qe5 [25.Bxb6 Bxh4+! Nakamura;
25.Qg8+ Kd7 26.Bxb6 Rxg8 27.Bxc7 Kxc7 28.g5 Bf5 29.Rh1 Bxg5-+ Nakamura] 25...Qxe5 26.Bxe5 Bxh4+µ 27.Ng3 Nd7 28.Bd4 Bf3 29.g5 Bg4 30.g6 Rh6 31.Rxh4 Rxh4 32.Rc3 Bf3 33.Rxf3 Rxd4 34.Bh3 Ne5 35.Rf6 Nd3+ 36.Ke2 Nf4+ 37.Ke3 e5 38.Rf7 Rd3+ 39.Ke4 Rxg3 40.Bd7+ Kd8 41.Bf5 Nxg6 42.Rg7 Rb8 43.b4 b5 44.Bxg6 Rg5 0-1.
The theory files on this DVD cover: Keres Defence A40: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4 3.Bd2 a5 4.Nc3 by Mihail Marin, Scandinavian B01: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 by Martin Breutigam, Pirc Defence B06: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3 a6 5.a4 or 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.a4 by Tibor Karolyi, Caro-Kann B15: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 where Mihail Marin constructs a repertoire for black, Sicilian B33: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 7.Be2 by Efstratios Grivas,Two Knights Defence C57: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5 by Leonid Kritz, Slav D15: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 b5 6.b3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 by Igor Stohl, Queen’s Gambit D38: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 by Lubomir Ftacnik,
Semi-Slav D43: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 by Lars Schandorff, Semi-Slav D43: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6 by Michal Krasenkow, Nimzo-Indian E46: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.cxd5 part 2 by Alexy Kuzmin,Nimzo –Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Nge2 Re8 by Evgeny Postny, King’s Indian E89: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.d5 by Boris Schipkov and at last King’s Indian E94: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 Na6 7.0-0 e5 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Re1 by Dejan Bojkov.
Included are also extra Chess Media files: Adrian Mikhalchishin with the Sicilian Paulsen,
French Winawer by Leonid Kritz,Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation by Dejan Bojkov and Valeri Lilov digs in the King’s Indian Attack.
Other columns are: Telechess {with 8049! entries}King: Move by Move,Wells Strategy,Reeh Tactics,Müller Endgames and Knaak Opening traps.
Included is two language booklet!
Conclusion: A must for all! 


ChessBase Tutorials
Openings # 3
2011
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-184-3
Euro 29,90
 
System requirements:PC  Windows XP (SP3), Vista or Windows 7, Windows Media Player, DVD-drive.


These ChessBase Tutorials are the perfect companions for improving chess players, I personal believe there is no better way to learn chess as from video files.
Specially as this well filled DVD with a five hour running time!
This DVD holds 48 of them pleasantly divided in to the German and English language.
On this Queen’s Gambit & Queen’s pawn Game you will find video files based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted,Tarrasch Defence,Classical Variations as 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3,Tartakower Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6.
Cambridge Springs Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.Nf3 Qa5,
Ragozin and Vienna Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4,Variations with 5.Bf4 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3,Exchange Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 etc.
But also the Catalan,Slav Defence,Chebanenko Variation Semi –Slav 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7,Botvinnik Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4,Anti Moscow Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6.
Pleasant top mention  are the  less played lines as Chigorin Defence,Albin Counter Gambit,London System,Colle System,Veresov and Blackmar –Diemer Gambit.
Responsible for the English AVI files are GM Igor Stohl,GM Lars Schandorff,Grandmaster Daniel King,IM Sam Collins and Fide master Valeri Lilov.
For the German files:GM Uwe Bönsch,German master Niclas Huschenbeth,GM Jan Gustafsson,GM Daniel King,GM Rainer Knaak and IM Martin Breutigam.
The user does not only learn the key strategies but is well provided with an excellent coverage of variations and modern developments!
As we can see in the following game: Anand,Viswanathan (2787) - Topalov,Veselin (2805) [E04]
World Championship Sofia (4), 28.04.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 c6 9.a4 b5 10.Na3 Bd7 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 Be8 15.d5 Qd6 16.Ng4 Qc5 17.Ne3 N8a6 18.dxc6 bxa4 19.Naxc4 Bxc6 20.Rac1 h6 21.Nd6 Qa7 22.Ng4 Rad8 23.Nxh6+ gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 25.e5 Bxg2 26.exf6 Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Be4 28.Rxe6 Nd3 29.Rc2 Qh7 30.f7+ Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0. 
Conclusion: There is no better learning material!

Chess expertise step by step  by Efstratios Grivas
Volume 1:Unexpected Tactics
2011
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-240-6
Euro 29,90
 
System requirements:Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

The Greece Grandmaster Efstratios Grivas provides the reader on this Fritztrainer middle game DVD with a complete middlegame course based on attacking strategies as forks,batteries,pins,overloading,skewers and so on.
All material of this first volume is bases on blocks and even better complete games, as for example the following  game between Jan Timman and Cor van Wijgerden: Played back over 40 years ago in Rotterdam,when Timman was a upcoming Grandmaster and the black player a young chess talent,who later became a famous chess trainer.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.exd5 Re8+ 10.Be3 Bh6 11.0-0 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Kg7 13.Qd2 Ng8 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Qc3+ f6 16.Rf2 Bf5 (D)
rn2r1n1/pp2q1kp/3p1pp1/2pP1b2/2P1N3/2QBPN1P/PP3RP1/R5K1 w - - 0 0
 Black is suffering, as White's pieces are active and in attacking positions. So, it is not strange that there is a good continuation on the cards. 17.Neg5! [17.Nfg5! Qe5 18.Qxe5 Rxe5 19.g4!± was strong too.] 17...Bc8 [Black's options were limited: 17...Bxd3 18.Ne6+ Kh8 19.Qxd3 Nd7 20.Qc3±;
17...Qxe3?! 18.Re1 Qxd3 19.Rxe8 Qxc3 20.bxc3 fxg5 21.Nxg5+- .] 18.Raf1 The last white force joins the attack. 18...h6 (D)
rnb1r1n1/pp2q1k1/3p1ppp/2pP2N1/2P5/2QBPN1P/PP3RP1/5RK1 w - - 0 0
 White is in full action and a combination gives the solution. 19.Bxg6! Kxg6 [Maybe Black could try 19...hxg5 20.Bxe8 Qxe8 21.Nxg5 Qe5 although after 22.Ne4! Nd7 23.Qxe5 dxe5 24.Rf3 Kf7 25.g4 Kg6 26.h4+- , he would be plain lost.] 20.Qd3+ Kg7 [20...f5 loses to 21.Nh4+! Kg7 22.Rxf5!+- .] 21.Ne5! The white knights do not care about the black pawns controlling their entering squares; they just dance! Black has no defence anymore. 21...dxe5 [21...hxg5 22.Qg6+ Kh8 23.Nf7+ and;
21...f5 22.Rxf5 Bxf5 23.Qxf5+- .] 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Rxf6+! Nxf6 [23...Qxf6 24.Rxf6+ Nxf6 25.Qf7# .] 24.Qh8# 1-0.
As no other Efstratios manages to explain on this DVD the secrets of attack,and I hope you enjoyed his explanations of the dancing knights.
Here we can feel the touch of a experienced trainer and chess coach and if you have some cash to invest buy Efstratios book,A complete guid to the Grivas Sicilian from gambit 2005.
Conclusion: Great learning material!

Chess expertise step by step  by Efstratios Grivas
Volume 2:Mastering Strategy
2011
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-240-0
Euro 29,90
 
System requirements:Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

In volume two Grivas digs a little deeper in the world of the chess strategies and explains important techniques as useless isolani, emptying the queenside, the a7 forepost,small advantages, the weak d5 square, and the important f5 square.
Again there is a wealth of instructive material which is good for 4 hours video time.
A fine example of the useless isolani is the following game from Kortschnoi:
Kortschnoj,Viktor (2695) - Karpov,Anatoly (2700) [D53]
FIDE-Wch Merano (9), 24.10.1981
[Efstratios Grivas]
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.Rc1 dxc4 8.e3 c5 9.Bxc4 cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.0-0 Nh5 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Bb3 Nf6 14.Ne5 Bd7 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bc6 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 19.Rc3 Qd6 20.g3 Rd8 21.Rd1 Rb6 22.Qe1 Qd7 23.Rcd3 Rd6 24.Qe4 Qc6 25.Qf4 Nd5 26.Qd2 Qb6 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 (D)
3r2k1/pp3pp1/1q2p2p/3r4/3P4/3R2P1/PP1Q1P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 0
 White did not handle the position's requirements properly, as he exchanged all the light pieces without any benefit by it. As a result he has remained with a useless isolani and only defending chances in a worst position.
Black has a clear plan: treble his heavy pieces along the d-file (e.g. ...R8d7, ...Qd8) and then proceed with an eventual ...e5, winning the white d4-pawn. 28.Rb3 Qc6 29.Qc3 Qd7 [The rush with 29...e5? 30.Qxc6 bxc6 31.Rc1 exd4 32.Rxc6 d3 33.Rc1 would decrees Black's advantage to the minimum.] 30.f4 The only way to avoid losing the d4-pawn. But now the white king is further weakened. Although Black can continue with a straight plan involving ...f6 and ...e5 he decided to focus on the opponent king. 30...b6 [30...b5?! 31.Ra3! creates some counterplay and of course should be avoided!] 31.Rb4 b5! Threatening 32...a5!. 32.a4 bxa4 33.Qa3 (D)
3r2k1/p2q1pp1/4p2p/3r4/pR1P1P2/Q5P1/1P5P/3R2K1 b - - 0 0
[Not of a help is 33.Qc4 Ra5 34.Qd3 Rc8 35.Rd2 Qd6 36.Rc4 Rxc4 37.Qxc4 a3 38.bxa3 Rxa3 .
Now Black executed the final phase of his instructive plan:] 33...a5! 34.Rxa4 Qb5! Black's pieces become extremely active (compare them to the passive and inharmoniously placed White's pieces) and they are ready to penetrate into White's camp. 35.Rd2 (D)
3r2k1/5pp1/4p2p/pq1r4/R2P1P2/Q5P1/1P1R3P/6K1 b - - 0 0
35...e5! Black no longer is interest on the d4 isolani; the white king is the main target. 36.fxe5 Rxe5 Threatening 37...Re1+. 37.Qa1 [The alternatives are equally 'difficult' for White:
a) 37.Rf2 Re1+ 38.Kg2 Qc6+ 39.d5! Rxd5! (39...Qxd5+ 40.Qf3µ) 40.Qf3 Qe6 41.b4 Re3 42.Qf4 Rh5 43.h4 g5 44.Qf6 Qe4+ 45.Rf3 Rxf3 46.Qxf3 Qc2+ 47.Kg1 Qxa4 48.Qxh5 axb4-+ .; b) 37.dxe5 Rxd2 38.Rxa5 Qe2-+ .] 37...Qe8! Forcing White's hand as the threat 38...Re1+ remains deadly. 38.dxe5 [38.Kf2 Rf5+-+;
38.Rd1 Re2 39.Ra3 Qe4-+ .] 38...Rxd2 (D)
4q1k1/5pp1/7p/p3P3/R7/6P1/1P1r3P/Q5K1 w - - 0 0
39.Rxa5 [There are no chances left for White: 39.Qe1 Qd7 (39...Qd8 40.Ra1 Qd4+ 41.Kf1 Qd5-+) 40.e6 fxe6 41.Ra1 Qd4+;
39.Rf4 Qxe5-+ .] 39...Qc6 40.Ra8+ [40.Qf1 Qb6+-+ .] 40...Kh7 41.Qb1+ g6 [41...Rc2 is equally good: 42.Qf1 Rc1 .] 42.Qf1 Qc5+ [Black did not fall for the 'cheap' trap 42...Qxa8?? 43.Qxf7+= .] 43.Kh1 Qd5+ White resigned as the coming 44...Rd1 is decisive. 0-1.
Pleasant to mention is the use from Grivas of complete games.
Conclusion: This DVD will help you to reach master strength!


Maurice Ashley
What Grandmasters don't see
Volume 1:Protected squares

2011
http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-240-0
Euro 29,90
 
System requirements:Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

Grandmaster Maurice Ashley is a very talented chess teacher who has the gift to explain chess in a very educative way of understanding.
For example Ashley works with the term protected squares, and a good understanding of this subject will help the user of this DVD to avoid mistakes.
Even grandmaster make simple mistakes as we can see in the game position where the Dutch chess genius Timman manages to loose the following game position.
In it is nearly unbelievable this is high level chess but it can even get worse as we can see in the following game from Karpov.
Yes Karpov saw the winning move Nf6! in a split second!
Ashley presents all this material in 19 instructive video files which is good for nearly 4.5 hours running time!
Conclusion: One of those DVD’s which really helps you to understand chess!

Opening Encyclopaedia 2011
2011
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-247-5
Price € 99,90
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

The new 2011 ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia holds now over 3.8 million games, exactly counted  3822755 games,the 2010 edition had to do with only
3671204 games and that means this DVD is updated with over one million games.
But there is more on this DVD as 580 specially made theory databases {where 74 of them are brand new} and a extra file from over
4900 excellent made opening surveys.
The theory surveys are impressive and often made by a filed of expertise as Marin,Postny,Ribli,Rogozenko,Stohl,Krasenkow,Kortchnoy,Húbner,Jussupow,Avrukh,Moskalenko and Anand!
And I did not even mention the 80.000 excellent annotated games,that are included on the over 3.8 million master file.
Access to all these games and files is  possible with the well known free included ChessBase 9 Reader,
but personally I would like to recommend one of the two latest ChessBase versions for a maxium use of all these fantastic files.
Included is German version of “Eröffnungslexikon 2011 and ofcourse a impressive over 2 Gigh Openingsbook!
Conclusion: There is simple no better way to keep abreast of latest developments than with these ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia’s!     

 The Queen's Gambit Declined by Andrew Martin
2011
  http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-240-6
Euro 29,90 
System requirements:Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

As no other Andrew Martin has the talent to explain openings in no time,
Invest a small 4.5 hour of your time with this DVD and I can insure you, that you  will be able to play and understand with black several repertoire lines of the famous Cambridge Springs Variation.
The secret is that Martin provides you with a cunning knight move order is 4…Nbd7 {1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5}
A fine example of play is the following win from Jan Timman,one of the few 4…Nbd7 heroes:Van der Sterren,Paul (2605) - Timman,Jan H (2635) [D52]
Donner Memorial-A Amsterdam (5), 1994
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Qa5 7.Nd2 dxc4 8.Bxf6 Nxf6 9.Nxc4 Qc7 10.g3 Bd7 11.Bg2 c5 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Rb8 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Ke7 19.Rhd1 b6 20.R6d3 Rhd8 21.Bd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Rd8 24.Re5+ Kd6 25.Re4 b5 26.Kc2 h6 27.Rh4 Re8 28.Kd3 Kc6 29.Rf4 f6 30.h4 Re5 31.g4 c4+ 32.Kc3 Kc5 33.b4+ Kd6 34.h5 Rd5 35.Kc2 Kd7 36.Kc1 Ke6 37.e4 Rd4 38.f3 Rd3 39.Rf5 a6 40.Kc2 Re3 41.Kb2 Re2+ 42.Kb1 Rf2 43.a3 Kd6 44.Ka1 Kc6 45.Kb1 Kd6 46.Ka1 Ke7 47.Kb1 Ke6 48.Ka1 Re2 49.Kb1 Re3 50.Kb2 Rb3+ 51.Ka2 Rd3 52.Kb2 Re3 53.Ka2 Rb3 54.Rc5 Rxf3 55.a4 bxa4 56.Rxc4 Kd7 57.Rd4+ Kc6 58.Rc4+ Kb6 59.e5 fxe5 60.Re4 Rf4 61.Rxe5 Rxg4 62.Ka3 Rg5 63.Re7 a5 64.Kxa4 axb4 65.Kxb4 Kc6 66.Kc4 Kd6 67.Ra7 Ke6 68.Kd4 Kf6 69.Ra6+ Kf7 70.Ra7+ Kg8 0-1.
Included are understandable ways to handle the Queens’s Gambit Exchange variation.
For a long time the Cambridge Springs Variation had a lack of active counterplay and the difficulty of getting any winning chances but Martin shows here quite some interesting ideas to archive dangerous counterplay!
Conclusion:Play and win with the Cambridge Springs!


Valeri Lilov
Tactics - From Basics to Brilliance Vol 1.
2011
  http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISBN 978-3-86681-233-8
Euro 27,90 
System requirements:Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

Valeri Lilov provides the user of this DVD with a wealth of instructive tactics, several themes and techniques are getting on this DVD a important turn.
I found on this DVD pins ray attacks, deflections, sacrifices, tactical operations, concrete goals, blockades and even bad combinations are well explained by the clearly speaking Lilov.
Running throw this DD will help you to develop your tactical pattern recognition,yes simple by watching these technical AVI files you will help you to recognise the feeling for a checkmate.
Running time is 5 hours and 30 minutes!
Conclusion: This DVD is an invaluable tool for all starters in chess!