Attractive and ambitious:
Queen's Indian by Jacob Aagaard
With "The Queen's Indian – The easy way", IM Jacob Aagaard
presents a new DVD which, together with his previously published work on the
Nimzo-Indian Defence, forms an almost complete black repertoire against 1.d4
and 2.c4.
The variations proposed and explained by Aagaard on this DVD are not designed
to give the second player merely equality. The author strives for positions
which always grant sufficient potential for more than half a point –
and these are by no means always the main lines. In his review, IM Hedinn Steingrimsson,
who became vice championion of Iceland this year, emphasizes that Aagard has
succeeded in presenting an ambitious repertoire while "minimizing the
theoretical burden which the viewer has to shoulder in order to be able to
play the variations."

Review by IM Hedinn Steingrimsson
"This DVD offers a repertoire for Black based on the Queen's Indian Defence
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6, also examining the Catalan with 3.g3.
I like the DVD. The variations recommended by Aagaard are based on his own
repertoire. In some cases he doesn't choose the variations which are currently
en vogue. Since the most important thing is to know more about the played variation
than the opponent, this is a good idea – as long as healthy lines are
selected.
In previous reviews I have already recommended that the most important ideas
should be explained in Chess Media Format – to enable the viewer to first
watch the videos and afterwards study the variations in detail. Aagaard follows
this conception. His repertoire is based on the "easy way” idea,
meaning that he is trying to minimize the theoretical burden which the viewer
has to shoulder in order to be able to play the variations.

Aagaard shows the most important variations, aiming to direct the spectator
to a playable position where then his own chess mind needs to take over. This
he has managed quite well. He concentrates on the ideas Black has in the positions
and possible antidotes against the various white continuations.
The
only thing to criticize is that the repertoire given and the positions which
Black can reach according to Aagaard seem almost too good to be true. I suspect
that here or there White might be able to examine his repertoire a little bit
better in order to find "more uncomfortable" positions for Black.
However, it is of course motivating for Black to see that the repertoire enables
him to obtain good positions. An additional, quite well worked out chapter
concentrates on the important motifs and plans for a pawn structure which you
frequently meet in the Queen's Indian.
The DVD gets 4.5 out of five stars. It leaves a good impression.
The half star is missing because White could have put the set-up a bit more
to the test. Then, on the other hand, the opening theory would have become
more difficult.
The Nimzoindian Defence – The Easy Way
26,99 |
€ incl. VAT |
23,27 |
€ without VAT (for Customers outside
the European Union) |
29,32 |
US $ (without VAT) |
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it now!