Alejandro Ramirez: The Tajmanov-Scheveningen

by Priyadarshan Banjan
7/21/2015 – Would you like to play a solid yet aggressive opening? Try the Sicilian Tajmanov-Scheveningen! In really critical games a lot of grandmasters rely on it. On his ChessBase DVD about this Sicilian GM Alejandro Ramirez shows you how to play and win with this line. His chess knowledge and his eloquent, smooth style of presentation make this DVD a pure pleasure to watch!

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Alejandro Ramirez: The Sicilian Tajmanov-Scheveningen

A Review

The Sicilian Defense is the most popular defense against 1.e4. It often leads to sharp fights with attacks on opposite wings - a tempo may win or lose the game. But, as GM Alejandro Ramirez points out in his DVD on the Tajmanov-Scheveningen, things do not always have to be so razor-sharp.

The Tajmanov-Scheveningen is a calmer Sicilian, but contains no less venom than the Najdorf or the Dragon. Unlike its sharper cousins, the Tajmanov-Scheveningen is a positional way of fighting a typical Sicilian battle. If you are looking for an opening that offers the adventures of a Sicilian but is less risky than the Najdorf, this might be the DVD for you.

Moreover, Ramirez’ eloquence, expertise, and the smooth and calm manner, in which he presents his material, make it a pleasure to watch the DVD. Ramirez shows what moves to expect from White and what moves to play with Black, all the while putting great emphasis on explaining why a certain idea or move is played. Here, his youthful attitude and his deep chess knowledge lead to a delectable mix.

GM Alejandro Ramirez

All games Ramirez presents are from recent tournaments. Most of them were played at the Tromso World Cup, 2013 – a strong knock-out tournament in which a single loss could be fatal and costly. As GM Ramirez points out, a lot of grandmasters resorted to this fighting yet solid defense to play the most important games of their careers – a certificate for the opening’s viability.

Structure of the DVD

The DVD offers Black a complete repertoire and covers all important variations and move-orders that arise after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 (or 3.g3) cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6. Now Ramirez’ main lines starts with 5.Nc3 After 5.c4 or 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 positions with a Maroczy structure arise. 5...Qc7 6.Be2 This leads to the Scheveningen. White can also try 6.f4, 6.g3 or 6.Be3 (the English Attack which Black counters with 6...a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0–0–0 Bb4.) 6...a6 7.Be3 Nf6 8.0–0 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Qe1 (or 10.a4 0–0 11.Kh1 Nxd4) 10...0–0 11.Qg3 d5 with an interesting position in which Black has achieved the strategically important break …d5.

Right from the start I was impressed by the clear and accessible structure of the DVD. After the Introduction follows an Overview of variations, a more detailed coverage of theory, and at the end you can test your knowledge with the customary “Test Positions.”

The individual lectures are also structured in a clear and accessible fashion. Ramirez starts each topic he is about to discuss with a short introduction and then proceeds to teach you the intricacies of the variation in question. He finishes each topic with a short summary in which he repeats crucial points and gives additional tips and suggestions. This is as refreshing as it is inspiring and reinforces the concepts in your mind.

GM Ramirez recommends to follow in the footsteps of model players who employ this opening regularly and successfully at the highest level. One such player is Russian GM Nikita Vitiugov – and here is one of his games.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.f3 Ne5 9.0-0-0 Bb4 10.Nb3 b5 11.Kb1 Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 13.Nc1 Rb8 14.Ka1 14.N1e2 0-0 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.Ka1 d6 14...0-0 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.N1e2 17.Nd5 Bxd2 18.Nxc7 Bxg5 17...d6 18.a3 a5 19.Qc1 19.axb4 axb4 20.Na2 Be6 20...h6 21.b3 21.c3 b3 21...c3 19...Be6 20.Na2 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Qb7 21...f5 20...f5 21.Nec3 Qb7 22.Rhf1 Bc5 23.Rfe1 f4 24.Re2 Rf7 25.Bh4 Qa7 26.Rde1 Rfb7 27.Nd1 Nc7 28.Bf2 Bxf2 29.Rxf2 Rxb2 30.Qxb2 Rxb2 31.Kxb2 Nb5 32.c3 Qb6 33.Kc1 Nxa3 34.Rb2 Nb5 35.Kb1 Qc5 36.h3 Bd7 37.Ree2 Kf7 38.Red2 Bc6 39.Nc1 Ke7 40.Ra2 Qa7 41.Ne2 Nc7 42.Nb2 Bb5 43.Nc1 Ne6 44.Ra3 Qb6 45.Nd1 Nc5 46.Rb2 a4 47.Rb4 Nb3 48.Ne2 Qc5 49.Ra2 d5 50.exd5 Qxd5 51.Nf2 Bd7 52.Kb2 Nc5 53.Ka3 Na6 54.Rab2 Nxb4 55.cxb4 Bf5 56.Nc3 Qd4 57.Nfd1 Kd8 58.b5 Kc7 59.Kxa4 e4 60.fxe4 Bxe4 61.Kb4 g5 62.Ra2 h5 63.Ra6 Bxg2 64.Rh6 g4 65.hxg4 hxg4 66.Ka5 g3 67.Rh7+ Kc8 68.b6 Bf3 69.Rc7+ Kd8 70.Na4 Qxd1 71.Nc5 Qe1+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Morozevich,A2755Vitiugov,N25940–12007B4860th ch-RUS Superfinal2

Nikita Vitiugov (Photo: John Saunders)

The DVD also contains a database of sixty-four model games which allow you to study the opening further to gain a better understanding of the arising positions. A very satisfying and pleasurable learning experience.

The DVD is tailor-made for the improving player, no matter whether you are an amateur or a seasoned tournament player. Everybody looking for a theoretically solid line that leads to interesting and complex positions that allow you to play for a win with Black will study this DVD with pleasure and profit.

It is difficult to find any short-coming of this DVD! And it is, in fact, one of the best DVDs I have ever studied. Highly recommended.

Sample video

Alejandro Ramirez:
The Sicilian Tajmanov-Scheveningen

€29.90
€25.13 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$27.29 (without VAT)

• Video running time: 4 h 39 min (English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Exclusive database with 50 essential games
• Including CB 12 Reader

This DVD can be be sent by mail or downloaded directly from the Internet

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Priyadarshan Banjan is a 23-year-old club player from India. He works as an editor for ChessBase News and ChessBase India. He is a chess fanatic and an avid fan of Vishy Anand. He also maintains a blog on a variety of topics.

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