11/6/2023 – „Easy to learn and easy to play.“ These are the twin pillars on which the Modern Scandinavian has been built and which club players have trusted and profited from over the past few decades. Which line should Black adopt after 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3? Here we focus on the sharp 3...Qd6 as opposed to 3...Qa5 or 3... Qd8. All the main responses aside from 3 Nc3 are shown in exemplary games and the result is an insightful overview for club players which will stand the test of time and not require too much burning of the midnight oil.

9/20/2023 – IM Andrew Martin recently produced his upcoming Fritztrainer on the Black Knight Tango opening at the ChessBase Headquarters in Hamburg. We seized the opportunity to chat with him and delve into his extensive chess journey. Born and raised in London, Andrew turned to chess as a solace during a challenging childhood. This passion shaped his entire life around the captivating game. He's done it all: from authoring multiple books, collaborating closely with ChessBase, competing in tournaments, mentoring students, to even setting a simultaneous play world record against 321 opponents. The conversation with Andrew is profoundly insightful, offering listeners a wealth of knowledge.

10/10/2022 – Do you have a fantastic memory and a liking for sharp positions, the evaluations of which can change with a few taps of a computer button? If so, then the main lines of the Open Sicilian are for you. But if you are one of the 99% of chess players who do NOT fall into this category, and open 1 e4, then the Closed Sicilian is a worthwhile option. The Closed Sicilian offers White a set of easy-to-understand plans, the chance of a kingside attack and little danger of being outgunned by tactics in the opening.

3/3/2022 – IM Andrew Martin and GM Nigel Davies are a good team of experienced trainers. In the 1990s, they formed the "Master Chess Roadshow" and toured England to help players all over the country to get better and to have fun with chess. Now, the band is back together: with the Chess Web Show, three weekly shows on Twitch and a YouTube channel!

2/7/2022 – What is the Hippopotamus system of defence? The idea is that, at the beginning of the game, Black develops within his own first three ranks. He constructs a solid, flexible and hopefully stable position, awaiting events. At the right moment, he will strike back! The Hippopotamus was given the name by an eccentric English amateur player JC Thompson, back in the 1950’s. It seems as good a name as any. Given the right conditions, Black will emerge from the chessboard swamp and crush all before them.

12/7/2021 – Not quite a London System and not quite a Veresov. The unusually named ‘Barry Attack‘ lies somewhere between the two. Yet another challenging queen pawn system that Black has to prepare for.

8/19/2021 – The Guildford Chess Club is one of the leading chess clubs in England, and it is also one of the oldest chess clubs in the country (and the world). On 11 September the club celebrates its 125th anniversary with a huge 125 board simul that is free for all. | Photo: The home of the Guildford Chess Club - since 1896

3/8/2021 – Andrew Martin is an International Master and a professional chess trainer with a lot of experience. In an interview Martin talks about The Grünfeld Formula, his new ChessBase DVD, his own career, and gives advice to help players who are new to the game. Enjoy! | Photo: John Upham

3/6/2021 – The story goes that a low-rated player once bravely asked Viktor Korchnoi his advice about what opening to play against a stronger opponent. “Play Grünfeld” was the grumpy reply. “Play Grünfeld against everything apart from 1 e4.” Andrew Martin has no way of verifying this story, but it certainly inspired him to think about whether this was possible, and the end result is this new ChessBase course. One of our most famous and beloved Fritztrainers finally strikes back, and presents great ideas to go for the Grünfeld.

2/18/2020 – International Master and prolific ChessBase author Andrew Martin returns to join Karsten in the ChessBase Studio. Live at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET; 9:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

5/2/2018 – CHESS Magazine reviewer SEAN MARSH finds Andrew Martin's "surprising Sicilian" quite persuasive, and "rife with dangers for both sides". Find out why, along with a sample game and video from Martin's latest DVD video series.

3/7/2018 – In the modern game, a player has to be ready to play almost any opening variation at short notice. The plan is to interrupt the preparation of the opponent at every turn. A knowledge of dynamic and slightly unusual lines could well score many,many points for the resourceful player. The Kveinys Variation : 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qb6! is surprisingly little-played, yet gives Black excellent chances and on this new ChessBase DVD, Andrew Martin explains how the system works.

1/4/2018 – Openings teach us the value of the pieces as well as tactics, patterns, and of course most important of all: pawn structures. They are really the backbone of a player's knowledge, because they open our minds to different middlegame structures, which in turn brings us into different endgames. Openings teach us how to play with different pawn structures — things like when one needs to open the game, and when it is better to keep it closed. The Veresov as taught by IM Andrew Martin can become a good weapon in everyone's repertoire, while helping the player to improve! Davide Nastasio has the review

3/13/2017 – What to do against 1.e4? The Caro-Kann offers good opportunities to reach (very) solid or, if you wish, quite sharp positions. On his DVD "The ABC of the Caro-Kann" Andrew Martin explains the ideas of this opening and offers a complete Caro-Kann repertoire for Black. Markus Hochgräfe had a critical look at the DVD.

6/24/2016 – The Nimzowitsch Defence (1.e4 Nc6) is an underestimated answer to 1.e4. But it is a fully valid line with possible transpositions to the French, the Scandinavian or the Pirc-Defence. On his new ChessBase-DVD IM Andrew Martin explains the chances this opening offers for Black. Markus Reinke, a Nimzowitsch expert himself, took a critical look at the DVD.

5/13/2016 – If you like to play original and unusual lines, which have a solid positional base and offer good winning chances, you might want to consider playing 1...Nc6 after 1.e4, a surprisingly strong line. On his new ChessBase DVD "Nimzowitsch Defence 1.e4 Nc6" FIDE Senior Trainer and renowned author Andrew Martin presents a complete repertoire for Black. More...

12/7/2015 – There's one question every chess player has to answer: what to play in the opening position? Experienced players and grandmasters might know what to do but if you are less experienced or do not have time to study the opening you might find it difficult to find an answer. Andrew Martin helps you to take the "First Steps in Opening Play". Review...

8/10/2015 – Have you ever wondered at the words "and the rest is a matter of technique" as if there were some magical formula that will take a winning position and inexorably end it in your favor? We often think of these words as applying only to top players, but IM Andrew Martin disagrees with this and proposes to not only show what technique is about, but how to develop it at all levels.

3/27/2015 – Players who play the Italian Game must obligatorily be ready to answer the most important deviation: the Two Knights, since it is a common reply from players with black who want to narrow down the theory they need to learn. While White chooses the line, the question is really which. Andrew Martin proposes to answer that question in just 60 minutes.

2/25/2015 – To improve your chess it helps to learn about pawn structures, the ideas behind the openings, the openings themselves, solve tactical tasks, and learn the basic and not so basic endgames. But it also helps to work on your thinking habits, to find and practice ways how to think properly and efficiently about chess positions. Andrew Martin shows you how.

2/4/2015 – Do you have "strong nerves and a thirst for battle"? And are you looking for a good answer to 1.d4? Try the Leningrad Dutch! Andrew Martin, experienced coach, commentator, and popular ChessBase author, shows the basic ideas of this interesting, sharp and double-edged opening, which is dangerous for both sides but in which you score if you know your way.

11/9/2014 – The First Steps series of Fritztrainer DVDs by ChessBase is originally aimed at players rated below 2200. Andrew Martin's First steps in Pawn Structures is a "heartily recommended" example, according to Priyadarshan Banja, who thinks the practical value of this DVD is immense. The latest interactive format enables you to study positionand recall all the plans and ideas you had learnt. Review.

5/26/2014 – He was noted for his attacking style and possessed a great gift for visualizing sacrificial possibilities. Whilst spectacular chess made him popular with onlookers, each game required a great effort and this handicapped his quest for international success. Dragoljub Velimirovi
died last Thursday. In his eulogy Andrew Martin honors the Master of Attacks with a beautiful annotated game.

5/3/2013 – "Modern Benoni crash and burn", "Undogmatic" and "A sharp Najdorf" are the titles of three video broadcasts by chess trainer IM Andrew Martin, who has recorded a mini-series of topical games from the top events of the last few weeks. Martin does not just provies analytical dissection, but explains in wonderfully instructive language the ideas behind the games and openings. Learn and enjoy.