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Magazine Chess Book Reviews : May 2010Return to the Magazine Review Index
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This innovative and attractively priced DVD (which runs on all platforms – PC, MAC, games consoles and normal DVD players) features Simon Williams on the Classical Dutch (1 d4 f5 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 Be7 5 0–0 0–0 6 c4 d6). It is a splendid production, combining Williams’ down-to-earth and authoritative commentary (on an opening which he has been playing since he was a boy) with some excellent presentational features. The basic layout of the screen has Williams talking to camera whilst moving pieces on a board, with a two-dimensional board simultaneously showing the moves made, with the video director weaving in some footage from chess tournaments and changing camera angles to maintain visual interest.
Simon Williams is already known to be one of the most entertaining grandmasters around, with his direct attacking style. The revelation of the video is that he is equally entertaining and skilled as an onscreen presenter. He is articulate, relaxed and uses plain English to express his ideas with maximum clarity. He doesn’t waste time with gimmicks and anecdotes, and manages to pack in an extraordinary amount of material, making the disk very good value for money.
It helps greatly, of course, that Simon Williams is so at home with his subject, having been taught the Dutch by his strong chessplaying father Doug at a very young age. Perhaps the finest compliment that he can be paid is that one cannot tell whether his material was extensively prepared or whether he was working to a script. So natural and seamless is his delivery that the whole thing seems extemporised (though obviously it isn’t). If anything, the commentary may seem a little too rapid but of course that doesn’t matter at all because the viewer can always pause or rewind the video if the pace seems too fast.
As well as going through various games and variations, Williams slips in his own recommendations in positions, plus the occasional wild idea that might suit players he refers to as “crazy cowboys”. He displays good teaching skills, frequently summarising the main points of a game and determining rules of thumb, and then revisiting and reinforcing them in subsequent games.
You’ll have to buy the video to discover all his tips of the trade, but perhaps we can reveal four of his key things to know about the Classical Dutch. They are: (1) if White advances e2-e4 and Black cannot answer with e6-e5, then White is likely to be better; (2) if Black achieves e6-e5, he is likely to be equal, if not better; (3) Black should aim to be able to answer d4-d5 with e6-e5; and (4) Black should, where possible, play b6 and Bc8-b7. Of course there is a lot more to the opening than that (and the presenter is not above breaching his own stated principles, particularly in the chapter on the risky move 7...Nc6!?). * One curiosity: you will see that the video is advertised as being 6½ hours but actually it seems to be two or three hours longer! I’m not complaining. Highly recommended for all levels above elementary. Review by John Saunders.
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A grandmaster overview of openings after 1 e4 e5 (except for the Ruy Lopez), aimed at elementary and intermediate players. JS.
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The English grandmaster annotates 37 games, showing the differences between professional and amateur play. JS. (n.b. fuller review in the June Magazine)
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The Israeli GM looks at a selection of gambits for White, including the Evans, Morra, Max Lange, Milner-Barry, Panov Attack, etc. JS.
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The English IM analyses critical moments from his own games where mistakes occurred, and sets his readers tests based on the positions that occurred. Absorbing! JS.
Alekhine Alert! by Timothy Taylor, Everyman, 284 pages, £16.99; Open Sicilian 1 by Milos Pavlovic, Quality Chess, 168 pages, £18.50; Understanding the Marshall Attack by David Vigorito, Gambit, 190 pages, £14.99; Julius Finn by Olimpiu Urcan, McFarland, 271 pages, £39.95.
