Jacob Aagaard: Queen's Indian – the Easy Way

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.