Andrew Martin: Bundesliga Special

It's ... the Andrew Martin Radio ChessBase Show

How do they do it? This is the question we ask in England as we look in envy at the powerful Bundesliga weekends. Plenty of sponsors, excellent conditions, great players, great games.... one cannot really ask for more. So, the Radio Show pays homage to the strongest league in the world with three games from the latest bonanza.

Areshchenko,A (2644) - Shirov,A (2715) [C24]
Bundesliga 2006-7 Baden Baden GER (14), 31.03.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bd6 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5!?N

Shirov offers a pawn , but it isn't taken.

McShane,L (2615) - Anand,V (2779) [B50]
Bundesliga 2006-7 Baden Baden GER (14), 31.03.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4

In Game Two McShane tries his favourite 3 Bc4 against Vishy Anand, now the proud No. 1 on the rating list. This is a titanic struggle.

Loeffler,S (2448) - Levin,F (2510) [D16]
Bundesliga 2006-7 Muelheim GER (14), 31.03.2007
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nc3 c6 5.a4 Na6 6.e4 Bg4 7.Bxc4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 e6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Rg1 0-0 11.e5 Ne8 12.f4 Nb4 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.0-0-0 Nc7 15.Ne4 Ncd5 16.Qg3 Rg8 17.Nd6

In Game Three Loeffler and Levin battle it out in an unusual Slav. White seems to have a massive aattack after 17.Nd6; join the show to find out what happens next!

Finally, we will take a brief look at Chessbase Magazine no 115and 116, always a superb product.

This week's puzzle

The competition is really tough, but I make no apologies for that. I am very encouraged by the number and quality of entrants from all over the world every week, so keep on sending those answers in! The last three winners from the USA, Hong Kong and Sweden emphazise the international participation.

This week the answers need to be in by 18:00h GMT on 4th April to andrew@andrewmartinchessacademy.com.

Solution to last week's puzzle

Huschenbeth-Hebbinghaus, Hamburg 2005

White to move. Assess the position.

Solution: 1.Rxg5! The best move, forcing a draw thanks to the stalemating motif. 1...Kxg3 2.Rh5 Rg6 3.Rg5! Rh6 4.Rh5 and draw agreed, no doubt to Black's dismay.

The AMRS will take place at 18:00h GMT / 19:00h CET this Wednesday Note that next weeks show comes live from Hamburg at 15:00 CET, with video, and will feature an interview with GM Krasten Muller.

The Andrew Martin Chess Academy offers a personal game annotation service; a regular newsletter written by AMCA staff; the best online tuition in terms of value and quality; a series of tournaments for children aged under 14; all aspects of chess training, including specific opening preparation; an AMCA room at PlayChess.com, where lessons may be held in complete privacy with our expert tutors – all at a time that is best for you at any time of day or night, anywhere in the world. The motto: "Join us, Improve and enjoy your chess!"

Andrew Martin, chess trainer and teacher

He is not some unknown in the world of chess. Andrew Martin was the star commentator in the 2000 London match between Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik, and he gained recent international fame and popularity with his live audio commentary on Playchess.com during the FIDE world championship in San Luis.

Andrew is also a prolific chess trainer, not just live in British scholastic circles, but also in a series of training DVDs he has produced for ChessBase, taking full advantage of our Chess Media System. His lively, entertaining style, combined with a good dash of humour, makes any lesson with him a delight to follow.

Andrew Martin is 47 years old and lives in Sandhurst, England, with his wife and four children. His book King‘s Indian Battle Plans for Thinkers Press was an international best-seller.

Each week Martin will cast his eye over the contemporary chess scene, presenting a veritable pot-pourri of interesting topics. We look forward to the pleasure of your company.

Andrew Martin: The Trompowsky – The easy way