Andrew Martin: The Queen's Gambit Declined

Andrew Martin: The Queen's Gambit Declined

Review by Steven B. Dowd

The Queen's Gambit Declined (DVD) by Andrew Martin, ChessBase, Playing time: 4 hours 23 minutes. $35.95 (ChessCafe Price: $29.95).

International master Andrew Martin is a natural teacher, especially for those below 2200. This trainer is a hit with me for its ability to supply the club player, in slightly less than five hours, with a repertoire that can be used for the rest of one's chess-playing career. The material is organized so well, you could carry this one to your next tournament and review the opening suggestions before the next round. The analysis is clean, clear, and straight to the point, with only a few omissions.

The package insert notes: "The Queens Gambit Declined, Orthodox Variation is an opening choice for Black which will never be refuted. It perhaps has an unjust reputation of being solid and passive, but this all-new ChessBase DVD will challenge that perception. Basing his Black repertoire on the Cambridge Springs variation, Andrew Martin takes you on a tour of classic games, showing how Black may conveniently sidestep the dangerous lines with Bf4, whilst retaining good chances and providing comprehensive coverage of the lines where White captures early on d5. This is a repertoire which will suit all levels of player."

And it does just that. By the time I had finished the two short introductions, I knew exactly what was in store: coverage of the Cambridge Springs, coverage of the Exchange Variation, and coverage of lines where White decides to play Bf4.

The Cambridge Springs may seem surprising those who do not believe it is good in modern practice. Martin believes that the defense is as viable as any, and the only reason it is not seen much these days is simply a matter of fashion:

In the Exchange Variation, as in the Cambridge Springs, you have to be patient. I'd always thought that Black could counter-punch back to at least a slight advantage in the line. But this takes time, and well-timed counter-punches, and Martin provides them.

The most interesting variations these days are those with Bf4, where, if Black cannot prove the bishop to be misplaced, White gets a good game and Black has little ability to fight back. One encounters Bf4 quite often at the amateur level, and Martin considers this section one of the most important of the DVD. The following game was particularly instructive:

Other trainers may have greater depth of material, but this one is "just right" for the club player looking for a solid defense to the Queen's Gambit that offers chances of coming out on top. It is good enough to be used as an opening reference as well. It is incredible that Martin doesn't waste a single second here in presenting the material. Highly recommended for those rated below 2200, with a target audience of 1400-1800. The one caveat is that you have to be willing to accept a middlegame that might taper off into a draw, but if you are careful, patient, and know the main ideas, you have good chances to win.

My assessment of this product: Excellent (six out of six stars)

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Andrew Martin - The Queen's Gambit Declined

Andrew David Martin (born 18th May 1957 in West Ham, London) is an English chess player with the title of International Master. He has won various national and international tournaments and has been playing for years in the Four Nations Chess League, at present (July 2009) for Wood Green Hilsmark Kingfisher, previously for the Camberley Chess Club. Martin received his IM title in1984. He earned his first grandmaster norm in the British Championship of 1997 in Brighton. Martin was a commentator on the chess world championship between Kasparov and Kramnik in 2000.

On the 21st February 2004 Martin set a new world record for simultaneous chess. He faced 321 chess players at the same time. His result was: 294 wins, 26 draws and only one loss. Martin is known as a professional chess teacher and head trainer of the English youth team. He trains eight schools (Yateley Manor, Aldro, Millfield, Sunningdale, Waverley School, St Michael’s Sandhurst, Wellington College, Salesian College). Martin is a chess columnist, an author of chess books and the author of various instructional videos. He was the publisher of the series Trends Publications. Martin lives in Sandhurst, England, is married and the father of two daughters and two sons. His present Elo rating is 2423 (as of July 2009).

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