2/5/2016 – Former FIDE-World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov enjoys the reputation of being one of the world's best theoreticians. A lot of top players and federations are very keen to hire him as opening trainer. For ChessBase users things are more easy: they only need to get hold of one of his DVDs. For instance about the Main Line of the Classical French. Review...
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The Classical French - Main Line: A Review
By Robert Klenk
Rustam “Kasim” Kasimdzhanov, former FIDE-World Champion, is known as one of the strongest opening experts in the world. After his DVD on The new McCutcheon this is his second ChessBase DVD dedicated to the French Defense.
Content
Kasimdzhanov gives an overview about currently popular variations arising after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3, and now 7. ... a6 or 7....cxd4. The lines beginning with 7. ...Be7 and 7. ... Qb6 are not treated. Kasimdzhanov does not propose a repertoire, but in 26 video-clips he discusses the chances and possibilities the various lines offer both sides. At the end of each clip he offers an evaluation how the line might develop and where best to look for future novelties. Fifteen exercises finally allow the reader to test and to solidify what he or she has learned.
The four main lines are treated in four separate databases which (after adapting them to your personal preferences) might form the basis of a repertoire database. Added to this are 112 illustrative games.
Every sub-variation is given the name of a current top-player: Illustrious names such as Karjakin, Nakamura, Caruana, and many more, show that the world's best players still play and research this ageless opening.
Assessment
Depending on the character of the position „Kasim“ has a very different approach: in some lines he is very concrete and discusses the critical variations in considerable detail. In more strategic positions he first shows the basic ideas and plans and then goes into more detail.
The DVD is indeed geared to „Tournament player/Professional". If a world class player shows analyses that go 20 moves deep or even deeper, the average punter of course has a lot of questions. Without analysing on your own with the help of an engine or with a strong trainer you just scratch the surface. Personally, it worked quite well for me to have a look at everything first and then pick a variation which I would analyse in more detail - followed by some thematic blitz games with Fritz or an interested club member, and then off we go to test the line in tournaments - the others, after all, put their pants the same way on as you ...
To finish, a word about Kasimdzhanov's presentation: one can only compliment the author whose style gets more fluid and more natural with every DVD. You positively notice his routine and experience.
Summary
An ambitious, in-depth work of a world class player, which provides the target group with a lot of general ideas and even more concrete topical lines. And for French aficionados - no matter how strong they are - it is an absolute must-have anyway ...
Sample Video
Rustam Kasimdzhanov: The Classical French - Main Line
• Video running time: 5 hours 05 min (English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Exclusive database with over 50 essential games plus analysis of variations by Kasimdzhanov
• Including CB 12 Reader
€29.90
€25.13 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$27.14 (without VAT)
This DVD can be purchased as a hard copy or it can be downloaded directly from the Internet, that way sparing you the few days needed for it to arrive by post.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
Videos: Nico Zwirs examines two Petroffs from the 2026 Candidates. Robert Ris has a tip against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3…c5. Fiona Sieber reveals a surprise weapon against the Najdorf. ‘Lucky Bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, L'Ami et al.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this powerful new course, endgame expert Karsten Müller teams up with rising star Leon Mendonca to deliver what truly matters: 10 essential rules that every player must know.
In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
From the 2026 Candidates Tournament, featuring a video review by Dorian Rogozenco, to Jan Werle’s opening video on the French Tarrasch Defence, and Oliver Reeh’s tactical column ‘Top Grandmasters at Work’. Analyses by Giri, So, Wei Yi and many others.
You will learn how Black's dynamic piece activity and structural counterplay more than compensate for White's extra tempo in the colour-reversed setups.
€39.90
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