3/12/2021 – In this Power Play Show, GM Daniel King looks at a game recommended by a viewer which features Vassily Ivanchuk playing with a double octopus knight. The game also features great positional judgement plus razor-sharp tactical vision and calculation. | Power Play is on air most Fridays at 17:00 UTC (18:00 CET, 13:00 ET). All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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An octopus on a tightrope
A few weeks ago I featured a Frank Marshall game where he succeeded in establishing an Octopus Knight in the heart of his opponent's position.
The game I am featuring was recommended to me by a viewer (thank you, Ali) and features Vassily Ivanchuk playing with a double Octopus Knight! It’s a game which I had overlooked, and I am delighted to look through. It features great positional judgement plus razor-sharp tactical vision and calculation.
For many moves Ivanchuk walks a tightrope (can an octopus walk a tightrope? Apparently so). But he eventually comes out the victor.
Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoir
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Daniel King is the prolific author of the Power Play series which numbers 28 volumes to date. The Tactic Turbo for the King’s Gambit is the subject of his most recent DVD.
Daniel King presents 50 puzzle positions in video format, all arising from the King's Gambit. They feature typical tactics from the opening, so this is a great way of becoming familiar with the tricks and traps that you can set your opponent.
Daniel KingDaniel King is a regular on playchess.com. Commentating on live events such as the World Championship or analysing themes for his monthly Power Play Show. He also produces a DVD series called Power Play for ChessBase in the Fritztrainer format.
Opening videos: Sipke Ernst brings the Ulvestad Variation up to date + Part II of ‘Mikhalchishin's Miniatures’. Special: Jan Werle shows highlights from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in the video. ‘Lucky bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, Illingworth et al.
In this video course, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov explores the fascinating world of King’s Indian and Pirc structures with colours reversed, often arising from the French or Sicilian.
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