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£17.95
ChessBase Magazine Vol. 107 contains 1661 recent games, 550 with expert annotations. In addition there are 10,000 correspondence chess games, sections on tactics, strategy, endgames, and extensive theory articles all by great experts in the field. The multimedia section contains a full TV report by Indian producer Vijay Kumar, as seen by millions in 34 different countries.
£17.95/$25
CBM 106 contains around 1640 games, 506 with expert annotations. There are section on tactics, strategy, endgames, and extensive theory articles, all by great experts in the field. The multimedia section contains interviews with players at the Wijk aan Zee tournament, including Garry Kasparov's press conference announcing his retirement from competitive chess.
Dmitrij Oleinikov
£17.95/$27
The Budapest Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 is a popular surprise weapon of many top young grandmasters. If White holds on to the gambit pawn then Black gains a dangerous initiative. But also in the quieter lines there is a lot of scope for the imaginative attacking player. Dmitrij Oleinikov introduces you to the development of the Budapest Gambit and the current state of theory. In many database text articles and model games he explains the fundamental ideas of this opening. There are 60 training quizzes, sorted according to strategy, tactics and traps. They are ideally suited to test your knowledge after you have gone through the course. The CD contains teaching and training databases, but also a full reference database with over 13,000 games from the Budapest Gambit and a full position tree. This is a standalone program but will also work in conjunction with Fritz or compatible engines and ChessBase 7 or better.
Henrik Schlößner
£17.95/$27
Using a new 'multiple choice' format the author has provided 555 game fragments with training questions and divided the material into seven chapters:
Mate (find the first move or perhaps the number of moves till mate)
Attack (find the best moves for a decisive attack)
Defence (find the best defensive move)
Winning material (find the move that will win material)
Mistakes (avoid a decisive error)
Stress (you must make up your mind within 30 seconds)
Positional evaluation (you have to find the right assessment of the position)
Kasparov: How to play the Najdorf Vol. 1
Garry Kasparov
£24.95/$39.95
The Najdorf system in the Sicilian Defence has a legendary reputation as a defensive weapon for Black. It is an opening where people often strive for a full point, instead of simply defending the position with the black pieces. Many great players have contributed to the development of this complex opening. There were two world champions who formed much of their careers using the Najdorf system as their weapon of choice against 1.e4: Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov celebrated spectacular successes with it.
£24.95
Pocket CT-ART is the first training program on chess tactics for Pocket PC. Now you can solve chess combinations and improve your chess skills while on the move!
There are more than 1200 exercises, each classified by method, motif and difficulty. Material is suitable for players of all strengths.
While solving, you are shown refutations of wrong moves as well as other hints to help. Multiple user profile are possible, with independent ratings and statistics for each.
Norbert Sommerbauer
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
The Paulsen System in the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4), of two large subsections: the Paulsen (Kan)Variation (4…a6) and the Taimanov Variation (4…Nc6) both variations are given thorough coverage on this CD. In addition to this, Norbert Sommerbauer has also examined all the other sub-variations which . fit into B40-B49. The CD offers to black an almost complete repertoire against 1.e4, but is also well suited to the player with White, since the author also offers recommendations to play against the Paulsen.
• 34 database texts
• 330 games annotated by the author
• handy database prepared by the author containing 3725 games
• large database with 89,275 games
• training database with exercises of varying difficuly.
• database of all Sommerbauer‘s games
• reader based on ChessBase 9.0
This is a standalone product
Sid Pickard
£24.95
Updated for 2005! This CD comes with everything you need to become an expert at Bird's Opening, such as:
* A huge database of 50,443 games
* 615 main annotated games
* Nearly 1,000 further games with medals, critical marks, evaluations, etc.
* Detailed opening key with nearly 2,200 classification positions
* 4 text documents - even H.E. Bird essays and photos!
* A giant tree database, plus specialized Fritz books (From's, Stonewall, Leningrad)
* Bonus database of selected odds games with Bird's Opening
This is a standalone program - which includes a ChessBase Reader.
£42.99
Chess Informant 89-91 CD brings a selection of 1,487 fully annotated theoretically important games and 1,492 accompanying game fragments played between October 2003 and September 2004, in PGN format. Features major contributions from the Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, Leko, Adams, Svidler, Polgar, Shirov, Bareev, Ponomariov, Ivanchuk, Grischuk, etc.
This is a standalone product which includes Chess Informant Expert 6.0 (full version)
Dan Heisman
£17.95
Computer guru Dan Heisman returns, and this time he's cooked up a treat in the legendary Fried Liver Attack! This volume continues NM Heisman's examination of the Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6) with White responding 4.Ng5 - a "duffer's move" if you believe Tarrasch. This CD is here to convince you differently!
* 10 in-depth Surveys of the opening, plus 2 extensive ChessBase Reports.
* Over 500 games [but see below for 2005 update!], more than double the number found anywhere else.
* Detailed opening keys, so you can find the games you want instantly.
* 6 text documents to guide you through the book, explaining the important ideas!
* Annotations, commentary, analysis, medals...and many extras!
Plus:
* New database of 353 games, from 2001-2004.
* Tree database of all 875 games, which may be used as a Fritz family openings book.
This is a standalone program - which includes a ChessBase Reader.
The ABC of Chess Openings (DVD)
Andrew Martin
Running time: 5 hours 9 minutes!!
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
IM Andrew Martin explores the diverse possibilities available when opening a chess game.
The material is broken down logically into Open, Semi-Open, Closed and Semi-Closed Games, Flank and Irregular Openings.
Invaluable advice is given about what to look for and how to play each specific category, and the instruction is enhanced by the use of recent, thematic master games to compliment this advice. General instruction about how to play the opening is also included. Running time: 5 h 09 min. There is something here for everyone. Strong and even very strong players will enjoy the investigations into some excellent modern novelties, whereas the average player or even beginner will pick up a wide range of interesting ideas for use in their games.
System requirements: Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, Windows Media Player 9. Attention: this course is a supplementary program for Fritz8 / Chessbase9/ Shredder8 or 9/ Junior8 or 9/ Hiarcs9 or Tiger15 and can only be run if one of these chess programs is installed on your PC. No playing program is supplied with this training course.
IM Alexander Bangiev
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
The Bangiev way of thinking is a strategy based on squares. This means that before every move, the piece set-up is checked out against quite specific pre-defined criteria. The Bangiev-method does not develop your memory, but rather your thought processes: learn to understand the logic of the game by means of a few rules! In each phase of the game, you have to ask yourself the same restricted number of questions and then answer them. Once you have grasped the principle, you will be happy to realise how - after some practice - you can always find the best move yourself. You can test your progress by using grandmaster games; this is because grandmasters make use of the correct thought process, without perhaps realising that they are doing so!
The second CD with Bangiev‘s new method of training is dedicated to the opening. In a „Learning“ database, the new method of training is presented by means of 11 chapters and 162 annotated game fragments. After that, in an interactive Training database, there are practice questions to be answered in 27 game fragments, thus making the training method your own through practice.
With this CD chess training is fun:
* suitable for club players
* databases for learning the new method
* training database with 27 game fragments
* ChessBase-Reader on basis of ChessBase 9
The ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2005 features the complete coverage of all opening sectors, offering an optimal start for opening training. Many well-known specialists have made contributions in their field of expertise, such as Anand, Bareev, Dautov, Dr Huebner, Jussupow, Kortschnoj, Krasenkow, Nunn and Ribli. For each of 500 opening sectors according to ECO standard there is at least one opening survey, so that the database is the ideal tool for building up a complete opening repertoire. The game database includes 2.2 million games, about 72.000 of them with annotations. The new opening key has been considerably enhanced, providing even more depth (109.000 single keys) and clarity. Furthermore, the CD contains a separate directory with 179 special theory databases from the CBMs.
- more than 2.2 million games, all featuring ECO codes
- more than 72.000 of them annotated
- more than 3.600 opening surveys
- access to the games with the new big opening key
- 179 special theory databases
- big tree of all games for quick overview and statistics
- new reader with access to all databases
Chess Assistant
This disc contains all the games of the tenth world champion, one of the best masters of attack in chess history. Grandmaster Khalifman comments on 400 of the best games and attacks.Also contains 1,965 games with shorrt annotations, tournament and match cross-tables and 50 rare photographs. There is also a tutorial section, "Play as Spassky", which consists of 185 quiz positions in which you can try to find the combinations that were played by Spassky in his games.
£24.95
Chess Assistant
A fundamental program on chess tactics including more than 4000 training examples and exercises classified by more than 100 tactical methods and motifs. Within each section the problems are graded by difficulty, giving a challenge for all standards of player. Individual ratings are calculated on the basis of the user's performance and statistics are gathered for each user. Careful study of the exercises within each theme will see your tactical awareness increase dramatically.
£24.95
Chess Assistant
From the very first moves, White must think creatively when responding to 1…Nc6!? and will likely to be playing some entirely strange positions. Grandmasters Alexander Kalinin and Igor Berdichevsky are true pioneers in developing theory on this rare and very interesting opening. They describe standard techniques of playing it after having collected and thoroughly analyzed all available chess material from tournament practice (more than 300 commented instructive examples plus 50 tasks for solving and 5000 additional games). After studying this program you will better understand and be able to implement methods of play in this opening.
Roman's Lab 23 - The Easy Way to Play Grand Prix and Reti Opening
£24.95
Grand Prix Attack (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4) – Roman's Favorite Opening to meet the Sicilian Defense. Roman will show you a clear plan which will give you a comfortable position, however, if your opponent makes a tactical or positional mistake, he will get crushed or wind up with at least a bad position. Roman has had great success with this opening and is passing his own ideas and concepts on to you.
Reti Opening White plays 1.Nf3 – Roman will give you easy to learn ideas and concepts on this positional opening. If you play the English, the Reti is a must because of the likelihood of transferring into it. So, if you don't want to remember a lot of theory, and like ambitious hidden attacks, the Reti is for you.
Total running time over 90 minutes
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
Vol 1: The Basic Principles of Chess (beginners) - GM Susan Polgar
£24.95 per DVD
First part of a 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes.
Vol 1: The Basic Principles of Chess (beginners)
Susan will take you through 8 easy to follow, highly instructive games covering the basic principles of chess. This will help your understanding of chess and is guaranteed to improve your chess game. She will show you how to avoid the most common mistakes made in chess and give your chess game a strong, fundamentally sound foundation. This DVD was designed to help the novice to intermediate player; so sit back and let one of the World's strongest players train you.
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
Vol 2: Learn How to Create Plans - GM Susan Polgar
£24.95 per DVD
Second part of a 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes.
Learn How to Create a Plan in the Opening, Middle & Endgame
Planning in chess is essential throughout the entire game. On this DVD, Susan will teach you the general ideas and concepts for short and long term planning in the opening, middle and endgame. You will come away with a better understanding and insight on all three phases of a chess game. Your moves will have more meaning and purpose, which will result in more wins. So, sit back and let Susan teach you the foundation of essential chess planning.
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
Vol 3: Essential Chess Tactics and Combinations - GM Susan Polgar
£24.95 per DVD
Third part of a 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes.
Essential Chess Tactics and Combinations
As the famous saying goes “Chess is 99% tactics.” What are chess tactics? Tactics are maneuvers that take advantage of short-term opportunities, often (but not necessarily) involving combinations or sacrifices. In this DVD, Susan will introduce the most common tactical elements in chess.
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
Vol 4: Learn How to Avoid Opening Traps and Pitfalls - GM Susan Polgar
£24.95 per DVD
Fourth part of a 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes.
Learn How to Avoid Opening Traps and Pitfalls
It is always nice to win a game quickly. But some opening traps are based only on hopes that the opponent will make a serious mistake. If the opponents play correctly, the trap could backfire. On this DVD Susan will take you through a number of opening traps & short games. By knowing what to do and what to avoid, you can turn the tables on your opponent, giving you the win instead of becoming the falling victim to a “cheapo”.
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
Vol 5: Bobby Fischer's Most Brilliant Games and Combinations - GM Susan Polgar
£24.95 per DVD
Final part of a 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes.
Bobby Fischer's Most Brilliant Games and Combinations
Susan Polgar will share with you her personal knowledge of Bobby Fischer. Susan answers some of the questions everyone wants to know like who would have won the Fischer – Karpov match in 1975; the impact Fischer had on chess; what she learned from Bobby and how he compares with today's best. Susan will also take you through 10 highly instructive chess games and combinations. So let one World Champion take you through another World Champion's timeless masterpieces, which will certainly enhance your chess knowledge and ability.
Winning Chess the Easy Way: The Basic Principles of Chess
£24.95 per DVD
5 DVD set £100
A 5 volume DVD set presented by 4-time Women's World Champion and Grandmaster, Susan Polgar.
Covering all aspects of the game split into 40 lessons over 5 separate DVDs. Average running time per DVD is two hours twenty minutes. Designed for the novice to intermediate player.
Vol 1: The Basic Principles of Chess (beginners)
Vol 2: Learn How to Create Plans
Vol 3: Essential Chess Tactics and Combinations
Vol 4: Learn How to Avoid Opening Traps and Pitfalls
Vol 5: Fischer's Most Brilliant Games and Combinations.
1.Nc3... The Van Geet Opening
Don Maddox
£17.95/
$29.95
Opening repertoires generally operate by restricting your opponent‘s options. The dirty little secret, of course, is that you‘re limiting your own at the same time. The van Geet operates on the opposite principle – invite your opponent to play in an arena where literally anything goes, where variations matter less than understanding and agility, where experience with specific positions is earned and extended each time you choose to start a game with 1 Nc3. This CD represents both a basic van Geet openings manual and an up-to-date theoretical database, designed to serve both average and advanced players. This training CD also contains:
* More than 9000 games
* 156 annotated games, 130 specially annotated for this CD
* Introductory Texts, including a van Geet Overview * A database of 100 training positions
* An Opening Tree
* Reader based on ChessBase 9.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Pentium PC 300, 64 MB RAM, WindowsXP, 2000, Me, 98 SE, CD-ROM drive, mouse
Andrew Martin
£17.95/$27
ChessBase (Using the new Fritz Media System)
Modern chess is a tough relentless game, which demands that all chess players, regardless of strength, keep their command of basic technique in tip-top shape. On this instructive and entertaining DVD, International Master Andrew Martin takes you on a tour of the basics of winning chess, so that you never have to worry about this part of the game again.Through the use of classic games and game fragments, Martin charts a survival course through the competitive minefield. His firm conviction is that everyone is capable of great improvement, if the right mental attitude is combined with a strong grasp of essential chess ideas. This DVD will guide you in the right direction.The CD is based on the new instructional Fritz8-Chess Media System: all the lectures are presented in their entirety with video pictures and synchronised chess graphics. There is no better way to explain chess. Total running time: 3 h 39 min. This is how chess training can be real fun!
£17.95/$29.95
This CD contains around 4200 games (from tournaments such as the Chess Olympiad and Russian Championships), 544 with annotations from expert players such as Korchnoi. In addition you get over 1500 further games from high-quality correspondence tournaments. There are section on tactics (from the Olympiad), strategy (when the d5 square really matters), endgames (rook endgames and endgames from the Russian Ch), and extensive theory articles (Modern Benoni, Sicilian Rossolimo, Sveshnikov Sicilian, Sicilian Scheveningen, Anti-Marshall with h3), Catalan and Kings Indian, all by great experts in the field. The multimedia section contains over 100 minutes of high-quality multimedia interviews with participants at the Chess Olympiad in Calvià.
VIKTOR KORTCHNOI: MY LIFE FOR CHESS VOL. 1
on DVD-ROM with ChessBase 9 Reader
£17.95 / $29.95
video running time: 3 hours 30 min.
Viktor Kortchnoi is doubtlessly one of the most electrifying personalities of the chess world. Still playing successful and attractive chess, the 73-year-old former double
world championship finalist is also famous for his candid language. Kortchnoi was never one for mincing his words. Now you can experience this chess legend "live": with the new ChessBase DVDs "My Life for Chess", Kortchnoi has created a vivid memorial to himself and his great chess career. In Volume 1, he presents eight of his most brilliant effort from the years 1949-1979, among them games against Smyslov, Geller, Tal, Huebner and Karpov. In each case Kortchnoi describes in detail the story around the game, never beating around the bush, sometimes harshly criticizing his opponents, but also lavishing praise on them when this is warranted. A highlight is the game against Karpov from the match for the world championship in Baguio 1978. All in all, "My Life for Chess Vol. 1" offers more than three hours of first-class chess training, plus an extensive interview. A must-have for every chess fan!
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive
VIKTOR KORTCHNOI: MY LIFE FOR CHESS VOL. 2
on DVD-ROM with ChessBase 9 Reader
£17.95 / $29.95
video running time: 4 hours
Volume 2 features about four hours of "Kortchnoi live". The great chess legend portraits the second part of his eventful career, presenting among other things his
games against Kasparov (1986), Spassky (1989) and Short (1990) in his typical gripping style. Embedded in the game commentaries are many details of Kortchnoi's
biography. For instance, before commenting his game against Spassky, the veteran speaks extensively about his personal relationship towards the ex-world champion.
Throughout these lectures you can feel Kortchnoi's ever-enduring love for chess. Whenever the great master gets to the heart of an opening (King's Indian, English
and French) or shows an astonishing move, one can see the joy sparkling from his eyes. No wonder – hardly any other chess genius has lived chess as intensively as"Viktor the Terrible".
System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive
The ABC of the King‘s Indian
Andrew Martin
17.95/$29.95
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, Martin paints a comprehensive picture of the current state of play and looks towards the future. This DVD will inspire all players and demonstrate that the King‘s Indian is very much alive on the modern master scene.
Covering : Classical Variation, 4 pawns attack, Sämisch variation, Fianchetto variation, Systems with an early Bg5, Other white systems and closing remarks.
Total running time: 3 hr 53 min.
System requirements: PC 233, 64 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, sound card, mouse, Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98 SE, Windows Media Player 9.
£29.95 / $56.90
Chess in the Black Castle. Jump into chess action, move by move, to rescue Chess from Deep within King Black's castle. Join Fritz and Bianca in a thrilling chess adventure as they enter rooms of the castle, where each challenge will help you sharpen skills and prepare for the ultimate showdown. Part two of the famous chess game 'Learn to play Chess with Fritz &Chesster'; Powered by Fritz, the world's leading chess software; Learn about tactics and strategy, the opening and endgame; Developed together with exerrienced children's chess coaches.
Shredder 9
£39.95/
$49.95
For computer chess experts Shredder is the number one choice. Nobody can ignore its amazing seven computer chess world championship titles, won at Jakarta 1996, Paderborn 1999, London 2000, Maastricht 2001, 2002, Graz 2003 and Tel Aviv 2004. You can configure the "engine" - the module that calculates chess move - and change the program parameters to actually improve its performance in practical games. After "tuning" your Shredder you can test the engine in Internet games played automatically on the ChessBase chess server playchess.com. Original Fritz interface: Included in the Shredder 9 package is the latest Fritz interface with extensive training and entertainment features for beginners, club players and grandmasters. Shredder9 also gives you full and free access to the ChessBase Playchess server (1 year), where you can play games against people all over the world. Naturally the Shredder 9 engine runs under the Fritz interface. Endgame database: Shredder 9 gives you perfect access to the endgame databases. These contain perfect play information on all three and four piece endings. Tournament openings book: The enhanced and extended Shredder openings book gives you full statistical information for every move that has been played in the current position. In addition you get a database with 500,000 historic and current games.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Pentium PC, 64 MB RAM, Win 98 SE, Me, 2000, XP, CD-ROM Drive, Mouse
£79.95/ $99.95
For computer chess experts Shredder is the number one choice. Nobody can ignore its amazing seven computer chess world championship titles, won at Jakarta 1996, Paderborn 1999, London 2000, Maastricht 2001, 2002, Graz 2003 and Tel Aviv 2004. You can configure the "engine" - the module that calculates chess move - and change the program parameters to actually improve its performance in practical games. After "tuning" your Shredder you can test the engine in Internet games played automatically on the ChessBase chess server playchess.com. Original Fritz interface: Included in the Shredder 9 package is the latest Fritz interface with extensive training and entertainment features for beginners, club players and grandmasters. Shredder9 also gives you full and free access to the ChessBase Playchess server (1 year), where you can play games against people all over the world. Naturally the Shredder 9 engine runs under the Fritz interface. Endgame database: Shredder 9 gives you perfect access to the endgame databases. These contain perfect play information on all three and four piece endings. Tournament openings book: The enhanced and extended Shredder openings book gives you full statistical information for every move that has been played in the current position. In addition you get a database with 500,000 historic and current games.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Pentium PC, 64 MB RAM, Win 98 SE, Me, 2000, XP, CD-ROM Drive, Mouse
£39.95 / $55
The Fritz Powerbook 2005 contains 20 millions opening positions, derived from 1 million highclass tournament games. Together with each position all relevant information is stored: all moves that were played in the position, by players of what average rating, with what success and performance results. The games from which the Fritz Powerbook 2005 were derived are also included on the DVD. This means that in any position of the openings tree you can load and replay the games in which the position occurred. The Fritz Powerbook 2005 represents the state of the art of current openings theory. Discover exciting and tricky new lines and practice them against Fritz. In addition the DVD has a small but very exclusive book with the strongest GM games from the past 100 years (900,000 positions).
System requirements:
Pentium PC, 32 MB RAM, Windows98, Windows2000, WindowsME, WindowsXP and Fritz8, DVD drive.
Combinations Section (CD)
£29.95/$50
Boris Schipkov
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
People who play the Dutch are usually aiming for more than a draw and this is particularly true of the Leningrad System (involving the moves f5 and g6 against 1.d4). The author is even of the opinion that this system is better than the King’s Indian, because you have already achieved the pawn thrust f5. Includes 18 chapters covering all the strategy and tactics of the Leningrad Dutch, 142 model games - annotated by the author - a total of more than 15,000 games and a training database to practice your new found knowledge.
Jacob Aagaard / Esben Lund
£17.95/$29.95
ChessBase
Improve your decision making in chess! Five databases (Exercises to help you spot opportunities, Positions for calculation, Endgame studies, Pawn endings, Positions for playing out (play out against Fritz or compatible playing program!) provide the keen learner with an enormous amount of material. The number of training questions alone comes to approximately 4000! These are accompanied by valuable remarks and commentaries and also 30 positions taken from games, positions which are marvellously suited to being played out against a chess program such as Fritz8.
Jacob Aargaard
17.95/$29.95
On this DVD Danish IM Jacob Aargaard introduces you to the secrets of the Nimzoindian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4). In 15 lessons that last 4 hours and 4 minutes Aargaard shows you how you can successfully play this opening by understanding key ideas instead of memorizing long tedious variations. This need-to-know approach has served the Danish IM, who needs only a few more rating points to become GM, well over the years. His wins against GM Jonathan Tisdall and GM Alexander Shabalov are only two of the many inspiring games he presents on the DVD.
17.95/$29.95
ChessBase Magazine Vol. 103 contains 1400 games, about 400 with expert annotations, and additionally nearly 4000 high-quality correspondence chess games. There are section on tactics, strategy, endgames, and extensive theory articles, all by experts in the field. The multimedia section contains a high-quality multi media report on the Dannemann World Chess Championship in Brisago, including interviews with the players and visiting chess dignitaries.
$49.99 / £39.95
Junior9 by Amir Ban and Shay Bushinsky is the reigning computer chess world champion in all categories. Junior is different from all other programs in its search strategies and evaluation function. This gives the program a very distinctive style of play. The special strength of Junior is its understanding of compensation. The latest version is the culmination of a development that started with Junior7, the program that shocked Garry Kasparov with its famous bishop sacrifice on h2. Moves that looked purely speculative with Junior7 are proving to be perfectly sound in Junior9. This makes the program an extraordinarily effective tool for analysing sharp and dynamic positions, especially those involving the sacrifice of material. It is the program that is most likely to correctly understand the compensation involved, both in the execution of a sacrifice and the defence against it.
The CD contains a one-hour interview with the author of Junior, Amir Ban, who explains in clear and lucid terms the way his program works. Amir also tells us how a chess program is developed, and how Junior came about its unique playing style. His goal is to generate a new and better understanding of chess, not just a program that is more efficient at beating rival products.
Multiprocessor Version
£79.95/$109.95
Junior9 by Amir Ban and Shay Bushinsky is the reigning computer chess world champion in all categories. Junior is different from all other programs in its search strategies and evaluation function. This gives the program a very distinctive style of play. The special strength of Junior is its understanding of compensation. The latest version is the culmination of a development that started with Junior7, the program that shocked Garry Kasparov with its famous bishop sacrifice on h2. Moves that looked purely speculative with Junior7 are proving to be perfectly sound in Junior9. This makes the program an extraordinarily effective tool for analysing sharp and dynamic positions, especially those involving the sacrifice of material. It is the program that is most likely to correctly understand the compensation involved, both in the execution of a sacrifice and the defence against it.
The CD contains a one-hour interview with the author of Junior, Amir Ban, who explains in clear and lucid terms the way his program works. Amir also tells us how a chess program is developed, and how Junior came about its unique playing style. His goal is to generate a new and better understanding of chess, not just a program that is more efficient at beating rival products.
NOTE: Deep Junior 9 is optimised for dual processor machines.
How to play the Queen's Gambit
Garry Kasparov
£24.95/$39.95
Wherever he appears, chess fans gather in crowds. Garry Kasparov is the strongest chess player of our time – and a great personality who can represent the sport like no other chess professional. Now Kasparov comes into your home and shares with you his knowledge of one of the great openings in chess. Garry Kasparov took to the Queen's Gambit at a relatively late stage of his chess career, but then had the best training anyone could imagine: in his first match for the world championship against Anatoly Karpov, this opening appeared on the board no less than 19 times. Now he shares his knowledge with you. With great eloquence Kasparov speaks about variations and ideas of the Classical Queen's Gambit, the basics of which were laid by the champions of their times – Steinitz, Lasker, Rubinstein, Capablanca and Alekhine. Kasparov does not just work through the variations one by one – fluent transitions make the chess students understand the ideas and see new connections. Even people who don't actually play this opening will benefi t enormously from Kasparov's explanations, learning from this genius's vast knowledge of the game and his views on chess history. More than three hours of fi rst-class private tuition. The DVD can be played both on a PC and a DVD player, using your living-room TV set. It contains subtitles in English, German, Spanish and Italian. The package includes the latest ChessBase 9.0 Reader, a big reference database featuring more than 100,000 Queen's Gambit games, as well as a complete opening book that can be used to practice what you have learnt with Fritz.
System requirements: PC (minimum 233 MHz and 32 MB RAM, recommended 1 GHz, 256 MB), DVD drive, Windows98 SE, ME, 2000 or XP, Sound card, Windows Media Player 9 or higher (for the multimedia lessons). Alternately: standard DVD player and TV set (PAL)
Caro-Kann Panov-Attack B13-B14 (on CD-ROM)
Zoran Petronijevic
£17.95 / $27
The Caro-Kann opening (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5) is said, possibly unfairly, to be a bit on the tame side. But what is fascinating about it in any case is the number of totally different playing styles to which Black must adapt himself. One of these is the Panov Attack, (3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4), by means of which White immediately attacks the centre, but in doing so must also accept possible positions with an isolated d4-pawn. A second theme on the CD is the Exchange Variation, in which White exchanges on d5, but then does not play c4. It is considered to be harmless, but attained a fair amount of popularity after Fischer’s brilliant victory over Petrosian (Belgrade
1970). It is a favourite of players who do not wish to take risks. The author treats all the variations which come under B13 and B14 in great detail.
This is what makes chess training fun:
• 145 database texts
• approx. 800 model games annotated by the author
• more than 25000 games
• training database
• reader based on ChessBase 9
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
Pentium 166, 32 MB RAM, Win98 SE, WinME, Win2000, WinXP
Basic Positional Ideas
Jacob Aagard
£17.95 / $29.95
ChessBase
Positional chess is the basis on which success is founded. Of course material can be won and also points achieved by tactical measures, but first you have to bring the relevant positions up on the board. Aagard teaches in 6 lectures important principles of positional play. Weak squares, good and bad pieces, prophylaxis and pawn weaknesses are concepts which should be in the toolbox of every chess player. The lectures are followed by 50 exercises, in which you can also look for the solution yourself. In total there are more than 4 hours of high class video training on this DVD! Using the new ‘Fritz Media System' chess training has never been so accessible. Sit back and watch a Grandmaster talk you through his thought processes as the pieces move on the board. Much more interactive than any book as you can pause the lecture, fast forward or rewind, you can even stop the video and try out the position against Fritz. Each CD splits the material into bite size chapters for easy digestion.
System requirements: Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, Windows Media Player 9. Attention: this course is a supplementary program for Fritz8 / Chessbase9/ Shredder8/ Junior8/ Hiarcs9 or Tiger15 and can only be run if one of these chess programs is installed on your PC. No playing program is supplied with this training course.
The ABC of the Ruy Lopez
Andrew Martin
£17.95 / $29.95
ChessBase
The Ruy Lopez is one of the most interesting of chess openings. In this diverse and instructive DVD, IM 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. Running time: 3 hours 33 min. Using the the new ‘Fritz Media System' chess training has never been so accessible. Sit back and watch a Grandmaster talk you through his thought processes as the pieces move on the board. Much more interactive than any book as you can pause the lecture, fast forward or rewind, you can even stop the video and try out the position against Fritz. Each CD splits the material into bite size chapters for easy digestion.
System requirements: Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, Windows Media Player 9. Attention: this course is a supplementary program for Fritz8 / Chessbase9/ Shredder8/ Junior8/ Hiarcs9 or Tiger15 and can only be run if one of these chess programs is installed on your PC. No playing program is supplied with this training course.
Fritz Technique Trainer 2
Henrik Schlossner
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
Winning won positions – this vital chess skill can be acquired and improved with this excellent new ChessBase CD. The CD deals exclusively with examples from the play of Steinitz, who was the first to describe the fundamentals a promising attack is based upon. Thus most exercises are about showing how a successful attack is conducted. Each exercise starts with a won position from a Steinitz game which you are to play against Fritz. It is rarely about finding combinations to solve the problem. Usually the win can be achieved in different ways, but there are always a few obstacles to be swept out of the way! 121 winnable game positions - explanations as to how to go about things - a ppropriate examples of how to win - classified according to difficulty.
Requires Fritz 7 or Fritz 8/ or ChessBase equivalent.
Alexander Bangiev
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
The Bangiev way of thinking is a strategy based on squares. This means that before every move, the piece set-up is checked out against quite specific predefined criteria. The Bangiev-method does not develop your memory, but rather your thought processes: learn to understand the logic of the game by means of a few rules! Once you have grasped the principle, you will be happy to realise how - after some practice - you can always find the best move yourself. You can test your progress by using grandmaster games; this is because grandmasters make use of the correct thought process, without perhaps realising that they are doing so! The first CD devoted to Bangiev’s new training method is dedicated to tactics.
Thomas Henrichs
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
The Orthodox Queen’s Gambit is one of the most solid openings that can be employed against 1.d4. Indeed, the continuing popularity of the Exchange Variation can be explained by White’s unsuccessful attempts to break down the ultra-solid lines of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (Tartakower Variation, Lasker Defence, etc.). Besides the typical minority attack there are quite varied ways of playing the Exchange Variation, such as long castling for White and then an attack on the king, or else a build-up with e3, Bd3, Nge2, f3 and e4. Split into 16 chapters covering the various strategic possibilities. The CD contains over 31,000 games with approximately 800 annotated games. There is also a carefully constructed training database with almost 100 questions.
ChessBase (CD format)
£17.95
ChessBase Magazine Vol. 101 contains 1758 games, over 450 with expert annotations. In addition there are over 6000 high-quality correspondence chess games, section on tactics, strategy, endgames, and extensive theory articles, all by experts in the field. The multimedia section contains video footage of a press conference with Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko in Hamburg.
ChessBase 9 is released in the first week of October and all pre-orders will be dispatched on the day it arrives.
Renko
£17.95/$25
ChessBase
With 3000 training positions and 6300 training questions to be solved, the latest CD from ChessBase is not short on material. The theme of the exercises are: forced variations. These are known to be an important characteristic of combinations. An introduction is followed by six databases on the sub-themes: mate, mate or material, material, perpetual check, stalemate and miscellaneous. Additionally, all the material is categorised into 3 difficulty levels; intermediate, advanced and master.
Fritz Trainer Middlegame: Attacking Chess Vol
1
Jacob
Aagaard
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
Attacking chess - not only an important subject, but also a very important
one. Jacob Aagaard has chosen a very beautiful example for his introduction,
which illustrates important factors required for a successful. This is
followed on this CD by 10 more files in Chess Media Format; these constitute
an entertaining and instructive introduction to the art of conducting an
attack. In total there are more than three hours of top class video training
on the CD.
The CD
is based on the new instructional Fritz8-Chess Media System: all the lectures
are presented in their entirety with video pictures and synchronised
chess graphics. There is no better way to explain chess. This is how chess
training can be real fun!
System
requirements: PC 233, 64 MB RAM, CD-ROM drive, sound card,
mouse, Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98, Windows Media Player 9.
Attention:
this course is a supplementary program for Fritz8 and can only be run
if the chess
program "Fritz8" or "Fritz8-WCh Edition" is installed
on the PC. Neither Fritz8 nor Fritz8 WCh-Edition is supplied with this
training course.
Fritz
Trainer Middlegame: Attacking Chess Vol 2
Jacob Aagaard
£17.95/$27
ChessBase
For the second part of his work on the attack. Jacob Aagard has selected
more instructive examples, which he has analysed and presented on camera.
There are 12 files in Chess Media Format; thse show typical attacking methods,
In total there are more than three hours of top class video training on
the CD.
The CD is based on the new instructional Fritz8-Chess Media System:
all the lectures are presented in their entirety with video pictures
and synchronised chess graphics. There is no better way to explain
chess. This is how chess training can be real fun!
System
requirements: PC 233, 64 MB RAM, CD-ROM drive, sound card,
mouse, Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98, Windows Media Player 9.
Attention: this course is a supplementary program
for Fritz8 and can only be run if the chess program "Fritz8" or "Fritz8-WCh
Edition" is installed on the PC. Neither Fritz8 nor Fritz8 WCh-Edition
is supplied with this training course.