Sylvester wrote on 08/04/10 at 11:53:34:


Just to clarify, how does the second video differ from the first? Are they both part of a series or is the second video an update of the first?

Katar....I wanted to read your blog but the link leads me to a page that says "This blog is open to invited readers only".  How do I access your blog on the Scandanavian?

Thanks, nest

Thanks for the reviews TopNotch.  I have just placed an order for Martin's Annoying d-pawn DVD.  (I wonder how Martin's suggestions compare to Cox's d4 Deviations book?)   

I'm going to hold back on Levitt's for the time being.

BTW, uschess.org has an entire page dedicated to these Foxy Opening DVDs with brief descriptions of the contents.  Some might find this helpful since the titles often don't reveal much about what's inside.

I agree fully that the Video and DVD Mediums are excellent ways to introduce newcomers and even old hands to Chess theory, I myself have quite a few.

However, these visual mediums have certain drawbacks, chief among them is the unavoidable superficiality of the analysis.....using these videos/DVD as a substitute for book and database preparation is the eqivalent of committing 'SILLYCIDE'. Perhaps these Videos are best used as a broad framework to building a tournament repertoire.

Ok now some recommendations based on my own collection:

So far the best ive seen in this medium is as follows:

The Dragon by Chris Ward - This one is an exception in that one can just about watch it and then go right out an use the opening confidently and successfully in tournament play, its not superficial at all. However there is a catch...this video is about 3hrs long I think, maybe more. Also for those thinking about getting it based on my endorsement, just bear in mind its a 1994 release which more or less follows the lines in chris' earlier book  'Winning With Dragon' Book 1. My suggestion, get em both.

Annoying D Pawn Openings by Andrew Martin - This is a fantastic video, and must rank among Martin's best work in my opinion. This is not a recent release but to be honest I much prefer Martin's earlier work than his later stuff, as his earlier work has a lot more depth. Ok, now before you rush to order this one, I should let u know it does not cover the Blackmar Diemer Gambit, but what it does cover is excellently done. He covers:

The Tromp; Torre; Stonewall Attack; Colle System; London System; Veresov and Barry Attack.

Particularly impressive is his reccomendation vs the London System, I like it a lot.

The Veresov also gets lovely treatment, he suggests 3...c5 and paints quite a convincing picture for black. I like this one a lot too.

The Tromp also gets neutralised nicely. Here he offers 2...e6 as Black's weapon of choice, and is angling for a good french type pawn structure with a later d5. For more details buy the Video/DVD.  

A Complete Defence to 1.d4 by GM Johnathan Levitt -  Here Levitt endorses 1...c5 and if 2.d5 then 2...f5!? which he christens the 'Clarendon Court' defence named after the block of flats where he resides. Don't let the silly name fool you, this defence/counter attack can pack quite a whallop, and Levitt uses his own instructive games to provide the blue print on how to play this defence successfully.  On this Video Levitt also covers all of White's side lines other than d5, including the infamous Smith Morra gambit, This is truly a complete defence to d4.  I enjoyed this Video and it should appeal to attacking players who like to get their opening on the board as soon as possible.

The above titles are all part of The Foxy Video series, which are the best and most professionally produced in this medium that Ive seen. Another bonus is that the Foxy Videos include a booklet of the complete games discussed on the tape, or at least they did when I got em, not sure if you'll get the booklet with the DVD's though.

I'll stop here with that small sample, but if these reviews prove useful and attract further interest I will continue to look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of this popular and rapidly emerging market.

Bye for now.

Topster  

Postscript: A small teaser before I go, did you know that Martin did a Video on the Scandinavian before these recent releases. Yup he did....it was entitled 'Centre Counter Carnage' and featured the once feard Portugeese Gambit and Iclandic Gambit.

Just thought I'd weigh in with my $0.02.

I bought Martin's Scandinavian DVD recently, and I think it's perhaps the best $30 I've ever spent.  After ONE viewing (okay, I did hit rewind a few times and made a few notes), I felt confident enough to roll this opening out in a tournament.  When you think about it, that's remarkable.  Previously I have spent days, weeks, months trying to learn the common ideas, themes, and piece placements for other openinings.  I buy books, I play over dozens of master-level games, I read this space, I test out the line on ICC -- and never have I felt so confident, so ready to play an opening, in such a short time as I did after viewing this DVD.  I literally spent only a few hours watching the DVD before trying it out.  This is terrific stuff if you are trying out a new opening.  I would put this DVD on roughly the same level as the Everyman Starting Out series.  The Starting Out books cost about $22, and it takes forever to slog through them.  This DVD is only slightly more expensive, you can get through it in 3 or 4 hours. You don't have to set up a board, all you have to do is sit back and watch.  No, it's not as in-depth as a book, but Martin has done a great job of organizing the material and he's very enjoyable to watch.   

I did not win my inagural game.  And I do not feel like I am prepared to refute every possible variation OTB.  Mastering this opening will take lots of time, lots of study, and certainly many defeats.  But I am enthusiastic about playing it.  I am confident that I will understand the positions that arise.  Martin has given me the compass -- now it's up to me to find my way out of the woods.  That's more than I can say about a lot of other positions I find myself in.

If you already play the Scandinavian, especially the 3...Qd6 line, and you are looking for the latest theory and novelties, then this DVD is not what you are looking for.  (You've got ChessPublishing.com for that.)  But if you have never played the Scandinavian before in your life and want to pick up the basics in a fairly painless 3 hours, this is in my opinion the only way to go.  If you are worried about value, consider this:  most titled players charge $25-50 an hour for a lesson on ICC.  Try to imagine how much they could teach an absolute 3...Qd6 neophyte in one hour.  Even in a one-on-one interactive session with an IM or GM, there's no way you could get as much as you would get from this DVD, at least to get up and running in an opening.   

Just one man's opinion.  I don't mean to offend anyone.

katar wrote on 06/15/06 at 04:06:19:


I was merely comparing & contrasting the quality of the writing and usefulness : one is a well researched, worthwile work, the other is a waste of paper. If you find it useful then the publishers will be pleased maybe. Where do you think the material for the  3..De5+ stuff came from: HJP?

jeupham wrote on 06/14/06 at 21:27:10:

Hmmm, i think you did the contrasting already yourself.

Plaskett has something to say about the Qd6 line; Wahls' book does not.  Seems like quite a contrast to me.  Another contrast is English vs. German which you also astutely noted.  Being that I'm interested in the Qd6 line and I do not speak German, I would have little use for Wahls' book.

For a person wishing to play the Qd6 line (and for purposes of this thread regarding A.Martin's Easy Way DVD) Plaskett's book is more useful.