The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances.    Bologan was introduced to 3.Bb5 by Vecheslav Chebanenco. The merits of the famous coach in this opening are that he worked out a complete scheme for how to play against the doubled pawns after taking on c6. Time has proved the correctness of his theory and nowadays the best answer to 3…g6 is considered to be 4.Bxc6; also after 3…e6 one of the best replies is again 4.Bxc6. We should not be afraid of conceding the bishop pair to our opponent. In exchange we get very good coordination of our pieces, usually by placing the pawns on squares of the opposite colour to that of our bishop. Video running time: 5 hours   Viktor Bologan is a pupil of the top Moldavan trainer Vecheslav Chebanenko. For many years Bologan has been the number 1 in Moldava and has represented his country in eight chess Olympiads. His greatest successes were in 2003, when he first of all won the Aeroflot Open and then the famous Dortmund Tournament, ahead of Kramnik and Anand. The Moldovan has extensive experience as a trainer and has also published his first books.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

Collins: The Queen´s Gambit Accepted: A Repertoire for Black   In this DVD Sam Collins presents a repertoire for Black based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4. Rather than get involved in the heavy theory of the Classical Main Line, the lynchpin of the repertoire is the active development of the queen’s bishop, after 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3, with 4…Bg4, a system used regularly by several GMs including Miles and Kogan. The resulting positions have close similarities to the Nimzo Indian and Slav Defences, and Collins explains the way for Black to approach the middlegame with confidence based on a blockade and light square strategy. The popular 3.e3 is met with 3…e5 followed by active development. The most ambitious main option at White’s disposal, 3.e4, is met by 3…Nc6, a long time favourite of GMs Baburin and Stevic and one which gives Black rich tactical possibilities of breaking down the white centre. Finally, gambit lines with Nc3 and the positional approach with an early Qa4+ are also covered. The resulting repertoire is solid, reliable, and suitable as either a main weapon or an occassional surprise choice. Video running time: 3 hours 30 min   System requirements   Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

For players who lack either the time or inclination to study reams of opening theory the Closed Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 followed by 3.g3) is an excellent choice. The two great exponents of this method of play were World Champions Vassily Smyslov and Boris Spassky. These days it’s the top English Grandmasters Michael Adams and Nigel Short who are its leading exponents. During the early stages White quietly builds strong central fortifications and gains space on the kingside. Despite the quiet appearance of this plan, in the middle game this can lead to a ferocious onslaught against Black’s king. On this DVD Nigel Davies introduces the viewer to the different strategies and variations through a series of instructive games. His presentation caters mainly for players who wish to play White, but he also points out the best methods of defence for Black. This makes it essential viewing for players wishing to play either colour. Video running time: 4,5 hours   Davies has been an International Grandmaster since 1993 and is a former British Open Quickplay and U21 Champion. He has extensive experience with Closed Sicilian type positions having played them for most of his chess career.   The DVD also contains the whole training course in audio-format for Pocket Fritz 3.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard    

Chess is turning into a young man’s game. Time limits are faster, sessions last longer and computer databases and playing engines seem to dominate opening preparation. Add the fact that older players often have jobs and families that take most of their time and it’s no surprise they suffer painful defeats at the hands of spotty youths. Nigel Davies is no stranger to this situation; a more mature Grandmaster who refuses to grow old with dignity he is still slugging it out with young players in tournaments and matches. On this DVD he argues that an older player with very little time can nonetheless remain competitive, but only if he uses guile and common sense rather than bluster and machismo. There are several aspects to Davies’ plan, for example using ‘low maintenance openings’, seeking out particular types of position, making the endgame your hunting ground and looking after your health. He goes on to show how several great players have used such techniques to make outstanding results in their 60s and even 70s. Video runnig time: 3 hours.   Nigel Davies has been an International Grandmaster since 1993 and is a former British Open Quickplay and U21 Champion. He finished 3rd in the 2008 British Championships at 48 years of age.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

After the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 (D43) the Anti-Moscow Gambit arises on the board which currently is one of the most hotly contested openings in grandmaster practice. Ex-FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov gives an introduction into the youngest development of this variation, starting with the game Radjabov - Anand played in August 2006. His chronological presentation of the events is as exiting as a thriller, the ‘scenes of crime’ being the top tournaments of the last two years and the actors the players of the absolute world elite. At the tournament in Wijk aan Zee 2008 Topalov opened a completely new chapter of the variation by beating his archrival Kramnik in the style of the masters of the 19th century, sacrifi cing a knight with 12.Nxf7 early on. Don’t miss this chess thriller (3.5 hours of video) Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Born in 1979, the grandmaster from Uzbekistan has for many years been known as a very strong and imaginative player. However in 2004 Rustam Kasimdzhanov shocked the chess world by winning the FIDE world chess championship title, beating a string of world-class players like Ivanchuk, Grischuk, Topalov and Adams in the process.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard fritztrainer

Modern tournament practice has virtually surpassed the so-called „opening theory“. Thanks to a wealth of tournament games some openings and lines develop so rapidly that even the ambitious amateur has difficulties to keep his own repertoire updated. But experts help. Ex- FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimzhanov is considered to be one of the leading experts in the field of opening preparation. In three World Championship matches he was second of Viswanathan Anand and helped him to successfully defend the title. And with Kasimdzhanov’s help and excellent opening preparation the German team surprisingly became European Team Champion 2011. On this DVD Kasimdzhanov presents highly topical openings and shows their current state of „theory“. From the perspective of a top player he explains why certain openings are played while others more or less vanished from tournament practice. This DVD helps you to remain up-to-date in a number of important and popular openings and provides you with many ideas for your own repertoire. With tips and analyses for the Tajmanov Sicilian 7.Qf3 Ne5 8.Qg3 („Giri’s Variation“), the Russian Variation in the Grünfeld („Anand’s Db3“), Najdorf with 6.h3 („Caruana’s h3-Najdorf“), the Leningrad Dutch (7…Qe8) , the Modern Bogo-Indian (2…Bb4), the Classical King’s Indian with 6.h3. 18 videos and ten interactive video-tests. Plus database with analyses about the systems presented.• Video running time: 3 h 53 min• With interactive training including video feedback • Training database with over 50 essential games and analysis• Including CB 12 Reader   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 7 or Windows 8, DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 100% DirectX10 compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet connection for program activation.

Modern tournament practice has virtually surpassed the so-called „opening theory“. Thanks to a wealth of tournament games some openings and lines develop so rapidly that even the ambitious amateur has difficulties to keep his own repertoire updated. But experts help. Ex- FIDE-World Champion Rustam Kasimzhanov is considered to be one of the leading experts in the field of opening preparation. In three World Championship matches he was second of Viswanathan Anand and helped him to successfully defend the title. And with Kasimdzhanov’s help and excellent opening preparation the German team surprisingly became European Team Champion 2011. On this DVD Kasimdzhanov presents highly topical openings and shows their current state of „theory“. From the perspective of a top player he explains why certain openings are played while others more or less vanished from tournament practice. This DVD helps you to remain up-to-date in a number of important and popular openings and provides you with many ideas for your own repertoire. With tips for the Najdorf Variation, Caro-Kann, the Berlin Defense, Ruy Lopez Main Line with 6.d3, Ruy Lopez with 3…g6, Scotch Opening, Petroff, Queen’s Gambit Declined with 4…Nbd7, Main Line Slav, Ragosin Variation and Black Double Fianchetto against 1.d4. More than 20 videos with about four hours running time and interactive test at the end.   • Video running time: 4 hourss• With interactive training including video feedback • Database with analysis and 50 selected GM games• Including CB 12 Reader 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 7 or Windows 8, DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 100% DirectX10 compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11, DVD-ROM drive and internet connection for program activation.

  Rustam Kasimdzhanov, the FIDE World Champion in 2004, is pre-destined to deal with the subject of the Nimzo-Indian with 4.Qc2, since he has been extremely successful with this opening both with White and with Black. The Usbek grandmaster has also gathered valuable experience on the subject when working as a second to world champion Anand. Right from his introduction, Kasimdzhanov emphasises that the Nimzo-Indian has a lot of advantages and that White is often left with a ruined pawn structure; that is precisely what the queen move avoids. Of course in his investigations the author offers much deeper insights into the opening. In over 4 hours of video Rustam Kasimdzhanov explains all the important ideas, strategies and tricks helped by sample games in which the white side is represented, e.g., by Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik and Ivanchuk as well as the author himself. Video running time: 3 hours 28 min.

Daniel King   Powerplay 3: Bauernsturm   Das Inszenieren eines erfolgreichen Angriffs ist eine anspruchsvolle Angelegenheit, die oft große Kreativität erfordert. Und wie die meisten Dinge im Schach lässt sich auch diese Fähigkeit schärfen und verfeinern. Auf dieser dritten DVD in der Power-Play-Reihe untersucht Großmeister Daniel King weitere teuflische Methoden, den rochierten König zu attackieren – diesmal mit Hilfe eines Bauernsturms. Doch welchen Bauern soll man nehmen? Und wann ist der richtige Moment, einen Bauern in Richtung gegnerischer König zu schleudern? Am Ende der DVD können Sie Ihre Angriffs- und Verteidigungsfertigkeiten mit einer Reihe speziell ausgewählter Teststellungen auf die Probe stellen. Die Power-Play-Reihe eignet sich für jeden, der sein Schach verbessern will, bietet aber auch fix und fertige Lektionen und Übungen für Trainer.   Der englische Großmeister Daniel King ist seit über 20 Jahren Profischachspieler und hat im Laufe seiner langen Karriere sein Heimatland in vielen Wettkämpfen vertreten, u.a. bei dem historischen Sieg gegen der englischen Nationalmannschaft gegen die Sowjetunion 1990 in Rejkjavik. Daniel King ist Autor von über 15 Schachbüchern und hat als Schachtrainer viele junge Spitzenspieler betreut. Er ist bekannt als Kommentator vieler großer Schachereignisse im Fernsehen, Radio und Internet.   Systemvoraussetzungen: Pentium Prozessor 300 MHz oder besser, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD-ROM Laufwerk, Maus, Soundkarte.

Do you like positional chess? Have you ever dreamed of playing the most stable openings that leave your tactical opponent with nothing but a cramped position? In this DVD, FM Valeri Lilov will present you with a complete opening repertoire for both White and Black, consisting of various solid opening systems leading to stable and flexible positions and providing many opportunities for intricate manoeuvring and creative planning! Some of these great openings include certain lines in the English Opening and the Queen’s Gambit, as well as whole opening systems like the Torre Attack for White. On the other hand, the Classical Variation and the Bronstein-Larsen Variation in the Caro-Kann are two of the many great lines FM Lilov has selected for Black. Let one of the best coaches on the internet guide you through the maze of positional chess where none of your tactical opponents’ tricks will work! Learn how to take advantage of your positional style of play with the help of the Tiger. Video running time: 4 h 00 min       System requirements   Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard    

Overall standards in chess have risen dramatically. Gone are the days of slow time limits and adjournments. The modern game is sportlike and usually demands completion in one session. This means that good endgame technique is more important than ever before. Nobody can help you at the board; you must help yourself! First Steps in the Endgame introduces a framework, which will assist club players to become better at chess. It is particularly suitable for players under 1600 or young players, wishing to make a mark. Key ideas are presented to guide the student in the right direction. If you wish to become a strong chess player, you must study the endgame. It really is as simple as that. Video running time: 3 hrs. 12 min System requirements Pentium-Processor at 1 Ghz or higher, 512 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

In 2007 we viewed Alekhine’s Defence as an excellent opening to play if Black wants to gofor the win and four years later this has not changed. If anything, more Grandmasters areusing the opening today. Black gets a tough and resilient position with ample opportunityfor counterchances. With 1...Nf6 he immediately throws down the gauntlet to the pawn on e4 and tries to take the initiative from the very first moves. This is a particularly effective game-plan at club level, where knowledge of exact theory is sketchy and where a passive response to immediate aggression is commonplace.So in the fully updated ABC of the Alekhine, we take a look at how the opening stands in 2011. 1...Nf6 seems to have a bright and enduring future. IM Andrew Martin provides sound, active recommendations for Black, modified if necessary to account for the passing of time and which can be used at all levels of play. To underestimate Alekhine‘s Defence would be a big mistake indeed!Video running time: 7 h 30 min! Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, mouse, soundcard

The venerable Ruy Lopez is one of the most interesting of chess openings. In this diverse and instructive DVD, International Master Andrew Martin explains how the opening works, with the help of mostly recent, complete master games, although there are some classics too! The most important ideas are highlighted and there are some repertoire suggestions too, all presented in the light, easy, relaxed style for which this author is noted. Intro 19:12 min. Sustained Pressure 12:54 min. Simplicity 08:36 min. Solidity 9:50 min. The Lopez Grip 12:58 min. Black tries to smash the Ruy Lopez 10:40 min. Intro to Theory and Berlin 11:38 min. Berlin 1 5:14 min. Berlin 2 6:15 min. Schliemann 16:55 min. Bird 9:19 min. Cozio 12:19 min. The Smyslov Variation 14:55 min. The Classical Variation 10:50 min. Berlin Classical 6:28 min. Chase Variation 8:57 min. Steinitz Deferred 9:28 min. Main Line 1 9:06 min. Main Line 2 7:09 min. Main Line 3 9:49 min. Outro 0:48 min. Total Running time: 3 hours 33 min. Andrew Martin is 47 years old and lives in Sandhurst, England, with his wife and four children. He has written several best-selling chess books, including the recent ‘King’s Indian Battle Plans’ and ‘Secret Weapons’. He writes for ChessPublishing.com and has several monthly columns at chessville.com, JeremySilman.com and for CHESS magazine. He is a noted trainer and coach. System requirements: PC 233, 64 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, sound card, mouse, Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98 SE, Windows Media Player 9. Attention: this course is a supplementary program for Fritz8 and can only be run if the chess program Fritz8, Shredder8, Junior8, Hiarcs9 or Tiger15 is installed on the PC. Neither Fritz8, ChessBase 9.0, Shredder8, Junior8, Hiarcs9 or Tiger15 is supplied with this training course. Nur auf Englisch lieferbar! << />

Great players always had and still have more than just broad theoretical knowledge. Every of them has some favourite methods, which simply help to score more points. The greatest even have favourite pawn structures! And they immediately exploited the knowledge of others - Alekhine invented some interesting structures, which were copied by his opponent in that game (Rubinstein), and later exploited by Botvinnik and then by Kramnik! The most popular type of central pawn structure is the isolated pawn. All classical players employed this structure at very high level, because it was and is considered a must for grandmasters. And the great Tarrasch said - “Who is afraid of the Isolani, those have to stop chess!” We can say the same about other structures! Video running time: 5 hrs.   Adrian Mikhalchishin, a Grandmaster since 1978, is currently among the top 5 world trainers and the Chairman of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission. He trained the team of USSR in 1980’s, national teams of Slovenia, Poland and the Netherlands, and was the trainer of Anatoly Karpov (1980-1986), trained Zsuzsa Polgar, Alexander Beliavsky, Maja Chiburdanidze, Arkadij Naiditsch and Vassily Ivanchuk.   This Fritztrainer is also running under Pocket Fritz 3 and Pocket Fritz 4.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

A powerful weapon in any player’s Black repertoire. However, many white players, fearing black activity and compensation, decide to avoid it altogether before Black has the chance to sacrifice his pawn. This DVD offers a complete repertoire for black players after 1.d4 in the case that White avoids the move 2.c4 or after 2.c4 c5 avoids the move 3.d5. Additionally, you will find good and aggressive black alternatives against 1.Nf3 and 1.c4, allowing you to have a full repertoire against any 1.d4 player, no matter what their move order is. The variations chosen in this DVD will be helpful not only to Benko players, but anyone that wants to battle systems such as the Zukertort, Colle, Trompowsky, the English and many others. The DVD was made with the spirit of the Benko in mind, so the lines chosen will suit positionally aggressive players perfectly. Alejandro Ramirez is the only Grandmaster from Central America and achieved his title at the age of 15. Since then he has played in top level events including the World Chess Championship in 2004, three Olympiads and he was the winner of the 2010 US Open.Alejandro is now a prolific chess writer and player who has been using the Benkö Gambit his entire life - including in his mini-match against former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov. System requirements Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or 8, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

Seit dem WM-Match Kasparov-Kramnik (London 2000) beißen sich die Weißspieler an der Berliner Verteidigung der Spanischen Eröffnung die Zähne aus. Zwar gab es hier und da auch Erfolge, aber ein ums andere Mal demonstrierte die Gegenseite überzeugend, wie man ausgleicht oder eine uneinnehmbare Festung errichtet. Die Lage aus weißer Sicht ist durchaus prekär – Kneifen kommt einer Kapitulation gleich, denn alle Alternativvarianten zum Berliner Endspiel bedeuten den Verzicht auf Eröffnungsvorteil. Was tun? Es gibt keinen anderen Weg, Weiß muss Mittel finden, die schwarze Verteidigung zu knacken. Vor diesem Hintergrund kommt diese neue DVD von Alexei Shirov genau richtig. Wie kaum ein anderer Großmeister seiner Klasse ist der Lette für sein kompromissloses und kreatives Schach bekannt. In über 3 Stunden Videospielzeit gibt er Ihnen eine Vielzahl strategischer Finessen, innovativer Ideen und konkrete Spielvorschläge an die Hand. Videospielzeit: 3 Std. 49 min   Englische Sprachversion   Systemvoraussetzungen Pentium Prozessor 300 MHz oder besser, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, DVD-ROM Laufwerk, Maus, Soundkarte

The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) is always an excellent choice with White if you want to avoid the deeply analysed main lines of the Open Sicilian (3.d4), in which the analysis frequently goes deep into the middlegame or sometimes even into the endgame. For that reason the move 3.Bb5 has a fi rm place in the repertoire of many grandmasters where it is welcome above all as an anti-Sveshnikov weapon. Instead of getting involved in a theoretical duel, White logically aims for strategically complex positions, e.g. by exchanging on c6 and at the cost of the bishop pair degrading Black’s pawn structure (doubled pawns c6/c5). This results in positions in which positional understanding is more important than knowledge of specific variations - meaning that only players who are aware of the general plans and typical piece manoeuvres will be able to find their way through them. Alexei Shirov provides you with the requisite understanding of the subtleties of these positions, by annotating extensively his most important games in this variation. During his career he has played the 3.Bb5 system with both colours and he shares with you on this DVD his valuable experience in the form of video lessons which take up a total running time of more than seven hours.   Alexei Shirov was born in Riga just like world champion Mihail Tal, and also his playing style reminds many chess fans of the young Tal. In the beginning of the 90ies, a comet-like rise brought the young Latvian to the world top within the shortest of time. Being no older than 22 years, he already had an Elo rating of nearly 2750 and belonged to the absolute elite. Since then Shirov has been one of the best players in the world, delighting all chess fans with original and amazing ideas on the board.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

On this DVD Alexei Shirov shows that also in the endgame, it is possible to keep struggling for the full point to the very last - if you are creative and ambitious. Because even in objectively quite balanced positions, you can frequently find ways to sharpen up or complicate the fight. For the tournament player, often all that matters is to be able to pose practical problems which his or her opponent might finally fail to solve. Thus Shirov sees himself rather as an endgame practicioner, putting down his successes in this phase of the game less to concrete knowledge about theoretical positions than to the understanding of general principles, good intuition and exact calculation of variations. One main emphasis of the DVD is the endgame with rooks and different coloured bishops which Shirov finds particularly interesting, analysing five examples. Another important feature is the very complex and difficult setting with four rooks (three examples), where he works out most helpful general principles. All in all, Shirov examines 17 examples out of his own practice, among them his famous different coloured bishop ending versus Topalov which went around the whole world. Running time: 4,5 hours.   Alexej Shirov was born in Riga just like world champion Mihail Tal, and also his playing style reminds many chess fans of the young Tal. In the beginning of the 90ies, a comet-like rise brought the young Latvian to the world top within the shortest of time. Being no older than 22 years, he already had an Elo rating of nearly 2750 and belonged to the absolute elite. Since then Shirov has been one of the best players in the world, delighting all chess fans with original and amazing ideas on the board   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard

With this DVD on the Nimzo-Indian Defence (including the Catalan and the Queen‘s Indian) Alexei Shirov continues the successful and highly praised series about his best games. As in the preceding DVDs the Latvian super grandmaster succeeds in spoiling his public with analysis of a high quality and with exciting insights into his games, and he does so in his own reserved, pleasant and modest style. The DVD concentrates on the Classical Nimzo-Indian with 4.Qc2. But when playing against the very solid Nimzo-Indian, which the author faced most often as White, it is enormously important to be able to vary your opening lines and so the author himself often switches to 3.Nf3; this then leads to games with 3.b6 (Queen‘s Indian) or 3.d5 4.g3 (Catalan). Amongst the opponents in the games he presents are, for example, Topalov and Leko. Video running time: over 4 hours.   Alexej Shirov was born in Riga just like world champion Mihail Tal, and also his playing style reminds many chess fans of the young Tal. In the beginning of the 90ies, a comet-like rise brought the young Latvian to the world top within the shortest of time. Being no older than 22 years, he already had an Elo rating of nearly 2750 and belonged to the absolute elite. Since then Shirov has been one of the best players in the world, delighting all chess fans with original and amazing ideas on the board.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive

The Gruenfeld Indian is an active and dynamic reply to 1.d4 which can lead to complex and extremely sharp positions. So it’s no wonder that also Alexei Shirov included this opening – which at its début in tournament practice was called ”hypermodern” – into his repertoire. At the candidates’ fi nal against Vladimir Kramnik in Cazorla in 1998, he exclusively – and successfully – trusted the Gruenfeld Indian with Black; the victory over Kramnik gave him the right to play a WCh match versus Kasparov. In the first part of the DVD Shirov extensivly comments his five Black games from the Kramnik match, giving deep insights into opening preparation and match strategy on highest level. In the second part Shirov reveals, among other things, how in his opposite-coloured bishop endgame against Topalov in Linares in 1998 he found the amazing and unique move, which will secure the game a place in chess history forever. And this is not the only flash of inspiration the Super Grandmaster will present in his videos… Running time: 5:25 hours   Alexei Shirov was born in Riga just like world champion Mihail Tal, and also his playing style reminds many chess fans of the young Tal. In the beginning of the 90ies, a comet-like rise brought the young Latvian to the world top within the shortest of time. Being no older than 22 years, he already had an Elo rating of nearly 2750 and belonged to the absolute elite. Since then Shirov has been one of the best players in the world, delighting all chess fans with original and amazing ideas on the board.   System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard