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Many thanks first to everybody who's sent games into the drop box in recent weeks. Two requests though: Please include an email address so that I can contact you. And please use either PGN or a compressed ChessBase database CBV. (In ChessBase, click Menu→Database→Backup database, or hit Ctrl+Z.)
The Queen's Gambit Declined + Queen's Gambit Declined Powerbook 2018
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.
A Happy New Year to all readers and please do keep on sending your games for me to dissect.
This week's pair of games are by Ayhan Anil, a Turkish sociologist who writes:
“I am 34 years old an amateur chess enthusiast from İstanbul Turkey.
I am a sociologist as well as a chess trainer of 3 kids who are in between 8 to 10 years old. (I sent already the photo of my students!)
Although I admire Alekhine's exciting attacking playing style, I can say that I am a positional player. I Learned a lot from Capablanca and Botvinnik's games. I like to study and improve endgame technics which is vital for every chess players I think. So I am trying to teach 20 years chess experience to my students who are already so successful in the age group tournaments in Turkey.
My highest rating so far was 1896 FIDE Elo and I hope to improve on this in the near future.
In both games, Ayhan is Black in the Queen's Gambit Declined and both are very complicated.
In the Agony game, Ayhan gained the advantage against a stronger opponent but then blundered decisively at the last. In the Ecstasy that follows, he lost a pawn in complications but kept on fighting well and got his reward when his opponent went wrong.
Ayhan sent introductions to both games but the annotations themselves are all mine.
Click or tap the second game in the list below the board to switch
A World Champion's Repertoire against the Queen's Gambit Declined
This DVD offers a complete repertoire for handling this solid opening, often featuring a dynamic approach to pose the opponent more practical problems. Both of the main continuations 3...Nf6 and 3...Be7 are covered in two separate parts.
ChessBase Account Premium annual subscription
At the airport, in the hotel or at home on your couch: with the new ChessBase you always have access to the whole ChessBase world: the new ChessBase video library, tactics server, opening training App, the live database with eight million games, Let’s Check and web access to playchess.com
Did you enjoy the column and instructive analysis by GM Jonathan Speelman? Do you wish you could have a world-renowned grandmaster analysing your play? You can!
To submit your games just upload a PGN or ChessBase file (.pgn or .cbv archive), along with your name and e-mail address. Send one success story (Ecstasy) and one loss (Agony).
Tell why you chose them, where or when they were played. Please do include your email address, so Jon can reply, and preferably a photo of yourself for our article.
If your game is selected Jon will contact you personally, and not only will you get free detailed commentary of your games by one of chess’s great authors and instructors, and former world no. 4 player, but you also win a free three-month ChessBase Premium Account!
A three-month Premium subscription to ChessBase Account means you get:
