Review: ChessBase Extra 187

by Davide Nastasio
2/27/2019 – The Chessbase Magazine Extra packs a lot of content, useful for tournament preparation. It's an easy way to update one's own opening repertoire. There are videos to give us new ideas, and a new "lucky bag", with many top master level games. The quality of the annotations rival all top chess magazines, but the electronic format gives more space to the authors than the paper version, giving the readers plenty of material to study. Reviewer DAVIDE NASTASIO takes a look...

NEW: CBM Extra now comes with a "Lucky bag"! Peter Heine Nielsen comments on the WCh deciding games. Plus video training with Christian Bauer and Yannick Pelletier, and 53,900 new games for your database!

Extra useful, Extra fun

Chess is a sport...for the young. This is clear from the Top 100 list in which those over a certain age are quite rare, and clearly a minority. Yes, we can have some outliers like Anand or Ivanchuk, but the truth is: age makes a difference, especially when a game lasts several hours, and in the endgame, one must summon any and all reserves of energy. Hence, the need to train and prepare as much as one can, even if as an adult one surely other competing obligations.

Extra 187If you're serious about competing in tournaments you'll need to prepare, and that takes the right tools (ChessBase 15? Check!). One to consider is the subscription to ChessBase Magazine and CBM "Extra". The Magazine has generally 3-4000 games played by top players in top tournaments.

The Extra, by contrast, contains all the games played every couple of months by everyone. This means between 30,000 and 50,000 games which reach our computer on a regular basis. Actually, this latest issue, Extra 187, had over 53,000 games, so don't try to watch them all kids. Instead, smart studying would involve filtering them for our needs.

The first thing one should do about a week ahead of a tournament it's to look for games based on one's own opening repertoire.

So let's say someone plays the Pirc against 1.e4 then he could look for all the games played with the Pirc.

There are a few ways to do this. One is to click on filter go to advanced and insert in the ECO codes: B07-B09 that should cover all the games you need.

Filter for Pirc

Click or tap to enlarge image

But if one doesn't remember the ECO code, then another way is to open a board, play the moves 1.e4 d6 and then returning to filter click on the position tab and click on copy board. Now, one will see the moves played on the big board inside the filter mask.

Click or tap to enlarge image

Either way, I quickly go over the games found, and eventually make some notes on the most interesting ones, like the following:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Bxd4 dxe5 9.fxe5 Nc6 10.e6 Nxd4 11.exf7+ Kxf7 12.Nxd4 Ne5 13.Qd2? We can immediately see Black playing Qxd4 and then a discovered check with Nf3. 13.Be2 In the beginning I don't use engines to analyze a game, I try to find the moment where things went wrong. I feel this was probably the right move, because it could bring the Rh1 into play immediately, while developing and controlling better F3. Qxd4 Now this move doesn't work. 14.Rf1+ Kg8 15.Qxd4 Nf3+ 16.Rxf3 Bxd4 17.0-0-0± Black has the Rh8 out of the game, and the Ra8 blocked by the Bc8. 13...Qxd4! 14.Qxd4 Nf3+ This game proves we need to do our tactics every day! 15.gxf3 Bxd4 16.Bc4+ Kg7 17.0-0-0 Be3+?! Very interesting, Black prefers to keep the bishop pair, than damage White's pawn structure exchanging on C3. 17...Bxc3 With the knowledge from having watched the entire game, also if Black won, I still think this move was more appropriate to the needs of the position. 18.bxc3 Bf5 19.Rhe1 Kf6 18.Kb1 Bf5 19.Rde1 Bc5 20.Ne4 Rac8 Now Black accept the idea of losing the bishop pair, but tries to gain activity for his rooks on an open file. The Ra8 was out of the game for 20 moves, so it makes sense. 21.Nxc5 Rxc5 22.Rxe7+ Kf6 23.Rf7+ Kg5 Steinitz: the king is a powerful piece. Repeat this mantra 20 times a day! 24.Bd3 Bxd3 25.cxd3 Rf5 26.Rxb7 a5 27.Rd1 Kf4 28.d4 Rd5 29.Rb3 Re8 30.Rc3 Red8 31.Rcd3 g5 32.Kc2 h5 33.Kc3 Rc8+ 34.Kb3 Rb5+ 35.Ka4 Rxb2 36.d5 Rxa2+ 37.Kb5 Rb2+ 38.Ka4 Rcb8 39.d6 Rxh2 40.d7 Ra2+ 41.Ra3 Rxa3+ 42.Kxa3 Rd8 43.Rd3 h4 44.Ka4 h3 45.Kb5 h2 46.Rd1 Rxd7 typical tactic in the endgame. 47.Rxd7 h1Q 48.Rf7+ Kg3 49.Kxa5 Qxf3 Now that the game is over, one should return to the beginning and analyze it with an engine, to see what was missed, and if one's own analysis are correct. 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Pershin,D2400Teske,H24830–12018B09Wch Blitz16

Last week I learned more about the Bird-Leningrad thanks to the new DVD from IM Lawrence Trent. A good way to improve my knowledge of such opening is to check the latest games played with it. It turns out some big names used it quite extensively. For example, Anna Muzychuk used it in all her latest tournaments. Henrik Danielsen is a GM who has made the Leningrad-Bird his main weapon. The sample I chose has some pretty wild games, showing 1.f4 is a legit move to play if one wants to fight for a win!

 
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1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 g6 6.Ne5 Bg7 7.c4 0-0 8.Nc3 c5 9.Qa4 e6 10.d3 Qe7 11.e4 d4 12.Nd1 Nfd7 13.Nf3 f6 14.Nf2 Nc6 15.Bd2 e5 16.f5 Rfb8 17.h4 a6 18.Bh3 Nf8 19.g4 Nd8 20.b4 Nf7 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.g5 gxf5 23.Bxf5 Nd6 24.Bh3 Ne6 25.Ng4 f5 26.exf5 Nxf5 27.Nfxe5 Nxh4 28.Nf6+ Bxf6 29.gxf6 Qd6 30.Qd7 Qxd7 31.Nxd7 Nf8 32.f7+ Kg7 33.Nxb8 Rxb8 34.Rab1 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Danielsen,H2502Jorgensen,J22111–02018A03Aalborg Larsen Memorial4
Muzychuk,A2564Kosteniuk,A2543½–½2018A03World Women-ch k.o.4.4
Muzychuk,A2569Girya,O24541–02018A03Wch Rapid (Women)8
Nguyen,P2393Kunin,V25551–02018A02Vilnius Zavanelli Memorial op-A1
Paravyan,D2629Yagupov,I24031–02018B20Chigorin Memorial 26th9
Fernandez,D2461Pert,R2408½–½2018A03Telford 4NCL op8

Click or tap a game from the list to switch

There are also other important ways to parse through the games. One is to watch games where there is a big difference in rating — let's say more than 400 points — once more it's essential to learn how to filter the games in ChessBase 15, as it can give great benefits!

This issue of ChessBase Magazine Extra is special for its new layout and features. It's also the first to have the "Lucky Bag!" What is the lucky bag? It's a collection of 29 games, deeply annotated by top players. In his book "Applying logic to chess" writes at page 104: "Games collections are extremely useful to get an idea about how strong players think about the game..." Practically he says we can get a clear insight into the logic and thought patterns used by a top player at the board when we see many annotated games. And here we have tons of recently played games, annotated by top players, which give us that insight we need to grow as players.

The following one comes directly from the lucky bag! Take a moment to review the annotations, and to grasp the lessons one can receive from such collection of games.

 
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1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 First of all, I was very surprised with my opponent's opening choice, I think he never played it before. But fortunately for me, I have prepared this line for some other recent game, so I could remember some lines here 7.f4!? getting more space and preparing g4 The main line is 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.Qf3 Nb6 9.Bf4 Qd7 White's results are better here, but still position is not easy and many games were played in strong level 7...Nb6 8.g4 g6 8...Nbd5 9.Bg2 9.Bg2 Bg7 9...Nbd5 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.g5 10.0-0 0-0 11.f5 very important move. White is opening his dark squared bishop, the f file for the rook Rd8 black is attacking d4 pawn and it looks very principal move 11...Nfd7 12.Ne4 Qc7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.c3 Nd5 15.Qe1 Nf6 16.Nc5 Qe8 17.Qh4 b6 18.Nd3 Ba6 19.Rf3 Bxd3 20.Rxd3 Qd7 21.Rh3 Rfc8 22.Bh6 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Qd8 24.g5 Nh5 25.Rxh5 gxh5 26.g6 fxg6 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kh8 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Be4 Qd6 31.Qh7+ 1-0 (31) Atakisi,U (2380)-Milanovic,D (2461) Belgrade 2018 12.Ne2! not 12.Be3? because after Nfd5! Black is better 12...Nfd7 Black is continuing to play in a very concrete way but understimating strong sacrifice, after which it is much more easier to play with White and objectively speaking it is very dangerous and White is gonna be better 13.Nxf7‼ Kxf7 14.Bf4! Qb4 14...Qf6? 15.g5 Qxf5 16.Bc7+- 14...e5 15.fxe6+ Qxe6 16.Bc7+ Nf6 17.Bxd8 Qe3+ 18.Rf2!± 15.c3! Qxb2 16.fxg6+ 16.Bc1‼ I completely missed this very beautiful idea Qb5 16...Qxa1 17.Qb3+ Ke8 17...Nd5 18.Bxd5+ cxd5 19.Qxd5+ Ke8 20.fxg6 Ne5 21.Qg8+ Kd7 22.gxh7+- b6 23.Qxg7 Bb7 24.dxe5 18.fxg6+- 17.fxg6+ Kg8 18.gxh7+ Kh8 19.Nf4± Nf8 19...Nf6 20.Ng6+ Kxh7 21.Ne5 followed by g5 20.Nh5! 16...Kg8 17.gxh7+ Kh8 I calculated till here and thought that White has fantastic compensation. Yes, that's right, but I even didn't think for a few seconds before I took 16.fxg6.. This is pity 18.Bc7 Re8 19.Qd3! Nf8?? 19...Nf6! and still game would be on 20.Nf4 Qb5 21.Qc2 Bxg4 22.Be5∞ 20.Nf4 Bxg4 21.Qg3! e5 21...Bf5 22.Be5+- 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 22...Bxe5 23.dxe5 Be6 24.Bh3 Re7 25.Bxe6 Rg7 26.Bg4+- 23.dxe5 Bf5 24.Nh5 Ne6 25.Rae1+- and the rest of the game is not so interesting. White is winning Qc2 26.Rf2! Qd3 27.Rf3! Qc2 28.Rf2 Qd3 29.Rf3 Qc2 30.Ref1 Doubling on f file was not the only but the best and decisive plan Bxh7 31.Nxg7 Rg8 31...Nxg7 32.R3f2! Qd3 33.Rf8+ Rxf8 34.Rxf8+ Bg8 35.Qxd3+- 32.Nxe6! Rxg3 33.Rxg3 Nd7 34.Ng5 Nxe5 35.Rh3 Kg8 36.Nxh7 Ng4 37.Rg3 Kxh7 38.Rxg4 Qxc3 39.Be4+ Kh6 40.Rg6+ Kh5 41.Rf5+ Kh4 42.Rh6+ Kg4 43.h3+ 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Safarli,E2657Hera,I26201–02018B01FRA-chT Top 128.3

But the Extra issue also has two videos in which two top GMs tell us specifically about their opening preparation. In this issue, we find Christian Bauer, who was part of his country's team at the Olympiad and who needed to win against another super strong team: Hungary. He details in the video how he won in this key game, thanks to his opening preparation.

GM Christian Bauer

The other video is by GM Yannick Pelletier who is teaching us about a great anti-London line. Obviously, I don't want to go into detail for any of the two videos, because opening surprises do work, and can make someone gain easy points. The point here is, we get two top GMs teaching us for over an hour about their opening preparation, and this is quite invaluable.

Are the surprises in this great issue of ChessBase extra magazine finished? NO! We are also treated to a brilliant game by Mikhail Tal, the 'Magician from Riga'. IM Georgios Souleidis created an amazing video presentation for a game surely many don't know, enriching our chess understanding. Totally worth every minute!

IM Georgios Souleidis

Final thoughts

The extra magazine is a source of chess information we need to have for thorough preparation — more than 50,000 games coming from over 400 tournaments, 30 of which had an average rating of over 2500! That's a lot of quality games. As usual with ChessBase Magazine, the Extra has videos on openings novelties, or new interpretations, which can help in being the unforeseeable player we need to be at our local weekend tournaments!


NEW: CBM Extra now comes with a "Lucky bag"! Peter Heine Nielsen comments on the WCh deciding games. Plus video training with Christian Bauer and Yannick Pelletier, and 53,900 new games for your database!


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Davide is a chess aficionado who regularly reviews books and DVDs.

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