Martin: The ABC of the Benko Gambit

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! << />

"People did not take 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 too seriously until recently, when online chess started becoming popular due to the pandemic, as this opening was used frequently. I discovered how venomous this opening was when I was trying to find a way to play against it with black, and to my surprise this was not easy. Vincent Keymer uses this opening in a huge percentage of his games and gets great positions and results with them. With this opening, White avoids mainstream theory, and there is more than one possibility for each move. The opening is a mix of positional and attacking elements depending on what system black chooses. I think most club-level players would not know how to effectively counter this opening." This video course features the ins-and-outs of the possible setups Black can choose. You'll learn the key concepts and strategies needed to add this fantastic opening to your repertoire. An easy-to-learn and yet venomous weapon that will make your opening play more versatile. Moreover, this course enables you to practice the repertoire with the ChessBase Opening Trainer. Drilling the opening moves, guessing how a position arose or just replay the moves in your desired speed further reveal the ideas this opening has to offer. Start your journey now! • Video running time: 6 hours • With interactive training including video feedback • Extra: Model games database & Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels Including download & stream for iPad, tablet etc: can be unlocked with imprinted key   Luke Leon Mendonca (born 2006) is one of the amazing young talents from India who reached the Grandmaster title at the age of just 14 years. During the pandemic he gained 150+ Elo points and 3 GM norms. Resilience is his forte. Recently, he also crossed 2600 Elo at the age of just 17 years. His opening ideas are not just theoretical in nature, but are put to grave test in praxis against strong opposition.   System requirements: Minimum: Pentium III 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, Windows 8.1, DirectX9 graphic card with 256 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9 and internet connection for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel Core i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10 or 11 , DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 100% DirectX10 compatible sound card, Windows Media Player 11, DVDROM drive and internet connection for program activation.  

On this original and entertaining DVD, International Master Andrew Martin takes you on a guided tour of this fascinating and creative opening. Through the use of complete games, both classic and modern and some repertoire suggestions Martin paints a comprehensive picture of the current state of play and looks towards the future. In the new, expanded 2nd edition there are many recent clashes and some remarkable modern ideas are discussed. The King’s Indian is as uncompromising and resilient as ever! This DVD will inspire all players anddemonstrate that the King‘s Indian is very much alive on the modern master scene. Video running time: 5 hours IM Andrew Martin is 50 years old and is the manager of Coaching for the English Chess Federation. This is his 16th DVD for ChessBase. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher 64 MB RAM Windows XP ®, Windows Vista ® 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