CBM #147: Commended for the ambitious player

ChessBase Magazine # 147 (DVD+Booklet)

Review by Prof. Nagesh Havanur

ChessBase Magazine is the flagship of the company. With its database of recent events and presentation on every aspect of the game it provides both the arsenal and field manual to the ambitious player.

The issue we are reviewing includes games from elite tournaments like the Wijk aan Zee and Gibralter 2012, not to mention other events like Aeroflot Open and Bundesliga 2011-2012. The Wijk aan Zee event was won by Levon Aronian ahead of Teimour Radjabov and Magnus Carlsen.

In round three Carlsen beat his most dangerous rival Levon Aronian

But I cannot help feeling that Magnus was the moral victor with his imaginative play. He also beat the tournament winner, Aronian in a stirring battle. The game is beautifully annotated by Igor Stohl in this issue.

Magnus Carlsen (right) graciously congratulates Levon Aronian on his victory

The highlight of the tournament was Carlsen’s eleventh round encounter with Topalov...

...a game that had connoisseurs like Vladimir Kramnik and Dirk Poldauf...

... and John Nunn (seated) quite engrossed.

In this issue the game is annotated by GM Alvarez Ramirez. I have added my own comment wherever necessary.

The Gibralter event was won by veteran Nigel Short, above left with Tradewise CEO James Humphries.

“How could you call me a veteran? That makes me feel like a grandpa!” The icing on the cake was beating Hou Yifan, Women’s World Champion, in a tie-break. Nigel is on his way to make it to Guinness Book of Records with a record run of first prizes in 29 countries.

The tournament also saw the participation of old-timers like Judit Polgar and Alexie Shirov, not to mention Viktor Korchnoi, who shows no sign of retiring from active play.(“He only wants to make our life miserable,” complained a youngster). When you are looking at the games from this event here, don’t miss Shirov’s win against Yusupov. He knows how to stir the pot, win or lose.

This brings me to the other sections of the Magazine. There are 13 detailed opening surveys ranging from the Sicilian to Slav. These opening surveys are crystal clear in presentation with a handful of thematic games. Even a novice would be able to learn from them. However, one particular variation that is yet to appear for analysis in CBM is the Aronian line in the QGD. In this issue it is shown in the game, Ernst-Harikrishna (Wijk aan Zee B Tournament).

Perhaps the opening experts on CBM could come up with an improvement for Black. Apart from these surveys, there are the regular exercises in opening traps, middle game tactics and endgame technique.

Overall, this DVD has 2097 games of which nearly 100 are annotated. This looks like a small number. Hopefully, we shall see more annotated games in forthcoming issues.

Recommended.

• Full information on ChessBase Magazine 147 (which you can order for €19.95)
• Half and one-year subscription are also available (€49.90, €99.70) in the ChessBase Shop