Alexei Shirov's 'Best Games in the Sicilian Najdorf'

• Intro (01:58)  
• Najdorf with 6.Be2 (29:56)
• Najdorf 6.Be3 Ng4 1 (21:52)
• Najdorf 6.Be3 Ng4 2 (15:09)
• Scheveningen System (45:45)
• Keres Attack 1 (14:03)
• Keres Attack 2 (20:45)
• Keres Attack 3 (23:01)
• Keres Attack 4 (29:46)

Total playing time: approximately 3 hours.
Total DVD size: approximately 790 megabytes.

Installation of the ChessBase Reader, necessary for viewing ChessBase media files, starts automatically.

After the 1-minute installation is complete, you’re prompted to restart your computer.

This DVD comes in a colorful DVD box. The system requirements are the same as for the previous two Shirov DVDs - pretty low, ensuring all users benefit from experiencing the sessions.

Here is a screenshot of where you start. One click will open a video. I unsuccessfully tried “crashing” the ChessBase media system by simultaneously opening two videos, only to find out that I would need another pair of eyes and ears to focus well.

Alexei Shirov starts with “In this DVD I will try to present my best games against the Najdorf Sicilian defense… I hope you will enjoy them…”.

Among many other, you have a useful Reader option of pausing the video and continuing later, during the lessons. Pressing the “play”, or even the “pause” again will do the job.

While annotating his best games, Shirov explains the ideas behind each and every important move played, adding and commenting numerous lines, with short explanations, which are useful for the user to try to understand the labyrinths of the Najdorf Sicilian.

His continuous honest approach to game annotations has to be highly respected. Self-criticism is something that doesn’t bother Shirov at all, adding to the unique commentary, which cannot objectively be seen or heard much, other than in private GM analysis rooms. Shirov reveals that he is a human, just like anyone else.

'My best games in the Najdorf' (click to replay sample in reduced quality)... 

Shirov’s comments on the opening theory are not as detailed, as are for example in his Spanish DVD, here he uses these only to warm up for the impressive tactical and strategical struggles to come.He seems not be as sure of his assessments as in the previous two DVDs I have reviewed, using “probably” and “maybe” ‘maybe’ a bit too often.

Just when I was ready to harshly criticize one of the games Shirov selected as his best, as it contained a lot of errors on both sides, Alexei ends his commentary by justifying his choice, explaining what gives the necessary quality to this game. He even goes further to qualify his game against Gelfand as one of the best fighting games he ever played!



Below are only a few of hundreds of questions, you might have wanted to ask, that Shirov comments, in his own unique way, while annotating his best games in the Sicilian Najdorf:

• Did Shirov ever beat Gary Kasparov in the Sicilian Najdorf?

• Has super GM Luke Van Wely changed his Sicilian opening repertoire after trying it out on Shirov?

• Can exact conclusions in most of the Najdorf variations be made today?

• What is the flexibility of Black’s setup in the Najdorf?

• Who influenced Shirov’s early opening choices against the Sicilian defense?

• Is White’s compensation enough for more than equality in the “Poisoned Pawn” variation?

• What does Shirov think of Kasparov’s lectures in some lines of the Najdorf Sicilian?

• What is the difference between the Sicilian Scheveningen and the Sicilian Najdorf?

• If Shirov were Black in the Sicilian Najdorf, would he be afraid of his own attacking ideas as White?

• Can “funny moves” create favorable complications?

• Hours, days or months? How much time has Shirov spent on investigating the mysteries of the 6.Be3 system against the Najdorf?

• Has the Be3 system brought excellent results to Shirov both as White and Black?

• Which is the most complicated line in the Najdorf Sicilian?

• What is the secret behind Shirov’s 5.5-0.5 victory over Judit Polgar in their match in Prague 1999?

• One line in the Najdorf shocked the chess world! Was it played by Shirov?

• What is a “Two Knights advantage”?

• Which lines in the Najdorf does Shirov recommend for people who don’t wish to spend too much time on opening preparation?

• Is move order important in the “Scheveningen system”?

• Which position has been “a pain in the neck” for Shirov in some periods of his carreer?

• Does Shirov feel like arguing Kasparov’s assessments in the Sicilian lines?

• What are the extremely important qualities of world leading chess players?
  

Conclusion

A major drawback of all chess videos is that you cannot ask the author questions. Well, at least not yet, who knows what the near future may bring? Until then, Shirov here tries as much as possible, and in my opinion - succeeds, in sensing the possible questions an average user may ask at any given moment, and – answers them! 
To borrow his phrase, I, too, can honestly say that this approach just came naturally, as do many of his spectacular combinations and intuitive sacrifices. Triumphs of strategy, surprisingly enough, have left an impact on Shirov’s choices on his best games in the Sicilian Najdorf. At the end of each annotation, Shirov reflects back on the critical positions which have left lasting impressions on him. 
You will not become an expert on the Sicilian Najdorf by watching this DVD, but your chess will certainly come a bit closer to understanding the moves and ideas behind a chess geniuses mind. 
Much more is waiting for you to see and hear. Shirov insists on the quality of his explanations, which is undoubtedly on a very high level, “forcing” me to recommend this DVD to all chess friends and professionals alike.