Meeting Yannick Pelletier

by Nadja Wittmann
4/12/2018 – The unending stream of interesting visitors and authors coming to the ChessBase office in Hamburg, and frequenting our studio, continues. Often, we try to grab them for a few quick questions to see how they are and what's new. This time it was GM Yannick Pelletier who visited us in Hamburg in order to prepare a new FritzTrainer. Here's the latest, brief impromptu interview. | Photo: Pascal Simon (ChessBase)

The Hedgehog - a universal system against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 The Hedgehog - a universal system against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3

At first glance, the Hedgehog setup might appear somewhat passive but in fact Black is always waiting to launch a counterattack. Let Yannick Pelletier provide you with a complete repertoire against the English and the Reti!

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A short interview with Yannick Pelletier

Which is your favourite DVD (of your own) and why?

It is my fourth time in the Chessbase studio in Hamburg, but so far only one of my DVD has been published. This is the one about the Hedgehog. The others are still in the making, while I also contribute to Masterclass DVDs. Only one published, but I also know that this will be my favourite for a long time — the Hedgehog in the English Opening has been one of my favourite systems for about 20 years. This work comes from the heart, and it certainly transpires in the videos.

What is your all lifetime motto over the board (and maybe also in life)?

In life perhaps: "Don't waste time on people who don't like you". This can hardly be applied at the chess board, though, as one should pay attention to every piece and pawn.

What is it that you like most about playing chess?

Silence :)

Do you think that you have enough time to spare also on non-chess-related activities?

Nowadays, this question should rather be reversed! As the father of two little boys, I almost don't play tournaments anymore and work very little on my own training.

Which is the ChessBase program that you use the most (and what for)?

I've always tried to remain up to date and therefore work with ChessBase 14. 

Yannick Pelletier

Yannick Pelletier | Photo: Niklesh Jain (ChessBase India)

Chess-wise speaking: What is crossing your mind these days?

My answer above says it all! :) Let's say that my work for the ChessBase DVDs and for my few students is in the focus.

Magnus Carlsen 0-1 Yannick Pelletier

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 20th"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.11.17"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Pelletier, Yannick"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A30"] [WhiteElo "2850"] [BlackElo "2566"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2015.11.13"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ISL"] [SourceTitle "CBM 170"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.01.15"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Norway"] [BlackTeam "Switzerland"] [WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"] [BlackTeamCountry "SUI"] [WhiteClock "0:43:40"] [BlackClock "0:08:29"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2 d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Qc8 12. e4 Nc6 13. Rc1 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Qb7 15. Rfd1 a6 16. Ba3 Rfd8 17. Qd3 Rd7 18. Qf3 Bf8 19. Rd4 d5 20. Bxf8 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Kxf8 22. Rxd7 Nxd7 23. c5 bxc5 24. Nxc5 Qxf3+ 25. Kxf3 Nb6 26. Ke4 Ke7 27. f4 a5 28. Nd3 Nd5 29. Rc5 Kd6 30. Kd4 f6 31. a4 Ne7 32. Rb5 Kc6 33. b4 Nf5+ 34. Kc3 axb4+ 35. Kxb4 Nd4 36. Rh5 h6 37. Rc5+ Kb6 38. Rc4 Nc6+ 39. Kc3 Rd8 40. Re4 Rd6 41. Re2 Ne7 42. Rb2+ Kc6 43. Rb8 Nd5+ 44. Kb3 Kc7 45. Rg8 Ne7 46. Rxg7 Rxd3+ 47. Kc4 Rd7 48. Rf7 f5 49. Rf6 Kd6 50. Rxh6 Rc7+ 51. Kb3 Nd5 52. Rh8 Rc3+ 53. Kb2 Re3 54. a5 Kc5 55. h4 Rxg3 56. h5 Rh3 57. h6 Nf6 58. a6 Kb6 59. Rd8 Ne4 0-1

One of Pelletier's greatest chess memories is beating the World Champion

What are you currently working on in the ChessBase studio?

Chessbase has asked me to translate the DVD I've done last year in French only about the French Defense. It is a presentation and a classical repertoire for players who wish to start out with this opening.

Besides, I'm doing a part of the Masterclass DVDs about the World Champions Anand and Kramnik — the one which examines their contribution to the development of openings.

Interview: Nadja Wittmann (ChessBase)

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