Rustam Kasimdzhanov: Strategy - Step by Step
Review by Sean Marsh
‘Making the
right strategic decisions belongs to the most difficult tasks at the
chessboard. But how can one enhance one’s strategic understanding and
methodical play?’
Another of
Chessbase’s regular (and popular) DVD presenters, former World Champion GM Kasimdzhanov,
must spend a significant amount of time recording his thoughts.
This time he presents several of his own games and pays particular attention to
the strategic and positional aspects of play. This is tricky territory for most
players. Most understand the need for tactics and in some ways can understand a
tactical Grandmaster slugfest better than a strategic masterpiece. This is one
reason that a collection of Tal’s games will generally be more popular than a
similar assortment of Petrosian’s.
Six of his own
games are analysed in great depth. The analysis is split into different parts,
with the Istratescu game being the longest with no less than five video
lectures.
The analysis is
through and deep, beginning with the very first moves. There is a discussion
after 1 e4 c5 (in a game against Anand)
highlight the basic aims of both colours; White has the makings of grip on the
White squares and Black quite the opposite. This breaking down of material to
the very basic strategical level will be very helpful to those who like to
follow moves blindly, with little thought as to the reasons behind them. This
is truly a step-by-step approach.
Click here for replay a sample video from the Kasimdzhanov-Anand lectures.
The openings
covered are:
- 2 x Sicilian
Defence (One Najdorf, one Scheveningen)
- Semi-Slav Defence
- 2 x Queen’s Gambit Declined (one featuring 5 Bf4 and the other 5 Bg5)
- Ruy Lopez
‘The Spanish
Torture’ against Ivan Sokolov was particularly instructive for me as it’s the
opening I have played the least out of all of them (I know, I know! I would
have been a much better played if I’d tried it more as a youth).
I found the
explanations of the plans and strategies to be extremely illuminating and
instructive. From the very basic points - discussing why 3 Bb5 is not indirectly
threatening the e5 pawn, despite appearances - GM Kasimdzhanov builds the plot
up to the key positions, with plans and ideas for both sides clearly
highlighted along the way.
This is a key
position and the nuances are very well explained. The former World Champion
also discusses the reasons he now definitely prefers White, when he used to be
to play either colour.
This position is judged to be better for White, based on the extra space
granted by the d5 pawn and the lack of prospects for the a5 Knight. At this
point GM Kasimdzhanov invites the reader to imagine they are playing a
tournament game and the task is to mull over the plans before proceeding with
the next video lecture.
The concluding
part of the game is then given and the student can compare what they would have
played with what actually happened.
It’s not so easy
for a strong player to break things down into easily absorbed chunks of chess
instruction (try it ‘down the club’!) but GM Kasimdzhanov makes the task look
very easy, with a relaxed yet thoroughly professional approach.
In his ‘Outro’ the presenter quickly runs over some basic points and then explains
why this DVD focussed mainly on openings and early middle games. Volume 2, he
says, will be on Endgame Strategy. But that, dear readers, is another story…
It’s hard to
believe that anyone who carefully studies the material presented on this
month’s Chessbase DVDs won’t increase their understanding of chess and
eventually improve their over-the-board results. Highly recommended!
Click here
for the full original review.
More video training with GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov:
