PatzerNoster wrote on 02/12/10 at 14:30:13:

Zapata-Baburin already was in his "An attacking repertoire for White". Tiviakov-Aloma Vidal apparently replaces Grischuk Ponomariov and colling-Baburin replaces Ioardachescu-Wohl.

Tiviakov-Aloma Vidal features Qe2 in the Alburt variation, where Black played Nc6 and Na5. However, Black's d5 apperas not to be the good move for Black in that position.

I do not know the Collins-Baburin game.

Anyway, I am gald someone proposing a reportoire for White and not proposing a kind of "least cost solution" for White against the Alekhine, like the exchange.

Zapata-Baburin, 2002
Tiviakov-Aloma Vidal, 2009
Collins-Baburin, 2009

The main variation with 4.Nf3.
Being an exchange player myself, I know that white can't get much there, so perhaps it's time to switch to 4.Nf3. He gives one game for each of the important black sub-variations (4. ... Bg4, 4. ... g6, 4. ... de5:).

I think y'all are being a bit picky on poor Sam.

Actually for me this is one of the better Chessbase DVDs I own.

I do think that Collins explains the material in a committed way, he always points out what different repertoire books recommend for black and presents an antidote. How effective the antidote is is another question, but who can seriously expect the c3-Sicilian to give an advantage for white?!?
For example 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.ed5: Qd5: 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.a3 was a suggestion I found very interesting.

When I first read about the DVD I was very enthusiastic as it promised a complete white repertoire (I consider my main white repertoire strong, but it can never hurt to have some surprise options), particularly I was looking forward to his recommendation against the French.

This is the downside of the DVD:
I think the coverage of the c3-Sicilian and Gioco Piano is quite good, the part about the Alekhine is also interesting (short, but nice ideas, I think his contact with Baburin must have paid off in this opening), but the other sections were a disappointment.

Coverage there is very sketchy and won't at all suffice to play the variation at any level. My high expectations against the French (the scourge of all e4 amateur players!) were particularly shattered, because in my view the French is the 2nd most important opening against 1.e4 (last year I didn't have any 1.e4 e5 game at all, but lots of French). He shows some nice games in the pawn sacrifice variation, but there are so many important variations omitted that i wouldn't speak of holes, rather these are some example games covering selected spots of theory. 

The same accounts to the parts about the Caro, Pirc/Modern and Scandinavian.

Of course it is understandable, in my opinion Collins covers the c3-Sicilian and Gioco Piano very thoroughly (of course here are holes, too, but this is a DVD, even Kasim couldn't cover everything in a three-DVD series on the French!), and then there was simply not enough time left, otherwise the DVD would have gone for over 10 hours rather than 6.

So if you don't see it as an e4-repertoire, but a thorough introduction of the 2 openings mentioned above, this is a good effort, there are far worse DVDs on the market.
After watching the DVD, I felt confident using the c3-Sicilian and on the internet have had rather good success with it until now! 

Bibs wrote on 02/08/10 at 14:15:02:


Exactly. Why is this line recomended by so many authors? How do you think a Club player can improve with this kind of play? Play the exchange. Ok! there is not any kind of advantage but it's a game of chess. Please future chess authors: Avoid that technical and dry ending like a plague. Thank you very much.

Bibs and TopNotch - thanks for the tip, I was almost thinking of getting this, because on the surface the lines picked could make the basis of a solid repertoire. I will avoid doing so now since it seems to add little on existing sources, and I dont like the sound of that "haitch file" 

The way Collins kept saying haitch file and haitch eight and haitch this and haitch that got on my nerves way too much for me to listen to this DVD for any length of time. Frankly I would rather listen to Dzinz's broken english, at least even he knows how to say aitch.

Like Bibs I just checked his game selection and was surprised at his choice of Giuoco Piano over his previous preference of the Scotch Game, considering that the Scotch is the flavor of the month these days.

He also makes some unusual choices in The Universal line against the french.

Against the Sicilian he sticks with his usual 2.c3 line, but does not address Peter Wells antidote as outlined in Dangerous Weapons the Anti-Sicilians, which in essence renders his whole Sicilian chater redundant.

Interestingly he advises to castle early for White in the closed Giuoco Piano lines, suggesting that this way of playing is more reliable than the currently trendy delayed castling lines. I say interestingly because in  another thread on this board someone gave the advice that he who castles first in the Giuoco usually loses, and early castles particularly at club level usually indicates that White is a weak player. That advice was gobbled up to rave reviews, but in reality both approaches are equally valid provided one knows how to play the positions.    

The Pirc/Modern chapter was sketchy at best and will not equip even a club player to handle a pirc devotee with any confidence.

The Alekhine chapter was also brief but the lines well chosen and effective.

The Scandanavian chapter was once again brief but well considered, here Collins recognises White's difficulties in showing an advantage after the reflex 3.Nc3 and proposes the more subtle 3.Nf3 instead, nevertheless those wanting to play this line successfully with White will need to do some additional research, indeed I give some promising continuations right here on this forum, all you need do is dig em up.

All in all this DVD barely scratches the surface, and I honestly don't think the material presented will help you win many games. In fact I can barely think of a single novelty or original analysis offered on this DVD, other than perhaps the Gipslis - Ulibin game: 

Rating 3 out of 10

In the repertoire DVD genre I consider Bologan's work the benchmark of what this medium can offer. Both his DVD's on the Caro and the KID though far from perfect were very good, and represent the best currently availible on the market: 

Rating 8 out of 10

Tops

Hi 
I have not looked at the whole DVD, so far only the sicilian part.
I think this is one of the better DVDs, Collins is really trying to present an opening repertoire based on interesting lines with some poison. at least in the c3-section he is recommending lines which he covered in his good book "Attcking repertoire for white". 
If you need a quick e4 repertoire, I think this is an excellent source to start with
Hope it helps