I has only made a very quick look late yesterday. I enterred the disc into my computer and Media player started, it appears that the disc is therefore pure video with a advanced chapter meny systems but I has not hade time to confirm that. During the quick look I jumped a few chapters and made a quick check on chinese dragon and he seems to have some new ideas there in a critical line, but I has not had time to check other critical options there yet or computer double check. I can get a more detailed overview later this week, busy at work in an other town. I will check other critical lines to.

For my part, I prefere to play Solits defence combined with Topalov system but that me playing solid and fasing out the Dragon and I will probebly switch opening next seasons after playing to many games unless something develops in the Dragon in both some forced draw Soltis lines (Bh6) and in some 9 0-0-0 lines.

However, black has an other option that is intersting in the Ne5 12 Kb1 variation and that is Nc4 13 Bxc4 Rxc4 14 g4 b5 15 b3 b4!? line called Burnett variation leeding to pretty unclear sitruations.

About Chinese, I had a good score with it, including crushing a FM in a team match but there was some line I did not like.

ChevyBanginStyle wrote on 12/11/11 at 18:41:40:


It is usual to play after 10.Bb3...
a)10...Rc8 11.h4 h5
b) 10...Rc8 11.0-0-0 Ne5
c) 10...Rc8 11.0-0-0 Nxd4
d) 10...Nxd4
e) 10...Na5 is a move less trusted because it releases the pressure on d4 very early. White can start an attack via g4 and h4, or just h4 itself without castling long.

Yes, the value of 10.Bb3 does seems to depend on the assessment of 10..Nxd4, as I don't see a better independent option. If that is a problem, I need to look into the Topalov or go back to the 12.Kb1 lines (which I'm trying to avoid).

It appears one must learn three major systems against 9.Bc4 to play the most theoretically sound continuations! (Well OK, maybe two if you always aim for the Topalov system.)

The DVD recommends the Chinese and the Soltis, but I can't find mention of 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.Bb3. I suppose 10..Na5 would be the main attempt to reach the Chinese, but 11.h4 (recommended by de la Villa) looks annoying. I've often seen that 10.Bb3 Nxd4 has a decent reputation, but this move order seems to be a problem for staying within this repertoire. Or am I missing something? I'm studying the Yugoslav for Black again and this move order is a slight headache.

I meant 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 a6 (Bg7 = no longer accelearated Dragadorf since accelerated idea is to avoid Bg7 untill later. It can however became a regular dragadorf or a standard dragon) 7 Be2  (I checked hes book too, only given move is f3) with idea Qd2 and 0-0-0 without playing f3. No refutation but still a bit tricky to meet unprepared. Ng4 is of course possible later but in these types of position black does not want to play a6.

However in standard dragon 5 .. g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 Be2 line is completly different but still a bit tricky with the Qd2 0-0-0 plan. I asses that line as unclear if black plays Ng4 after Qd2.

Both discs looks interesting at first sight. I will probebly buy both.

In disc 2 he also seems to prefere to play accelerated Dragadorf instead of standard dragadorf.
However, he does not seem to cover the line line where white plays Be2 yugoslav like instead of f3 in accelereted dragadorf, he only covers it in standard dragon when then position does not transpose!
EDIT the line in the Shirov - Topalov sample game with Be3 Be2 yugoslav like is very good for white if he had play Kb1 instead of h4  /EDIT

Trailers are up:

http://www.gingergm.com/2011/10/06/the-killer-dragon-part-1-2-trailers/

Must say, GM Williams is a very capable presenter.
None of that chessbase DVD looking-at-chessbase-on-telly-throughout nonsense. Presenting to the audience.
Looks very much in command of the material, presents lucidly and confidently to the viewer.
Have ordered....

Actual release date now for Killer Dragon 1 & 2 is confirmed as 13th October 2011. Replicators are mega busy.

The e-books will definitely be out soon and at gingergm we can only apologise for the delay. Certainly in the next month everyone will receive them. They have proven to be a bit bigger than originally planned so everyone will get good value and enjoyment from them.

With regards to the upcoming release this is the blurb on the back cover the DVD cover

"DRAGON BLURB PART 1
The Dragon variation is considered to be one of the sharpest openings in chess. Made popular due to its aggressive nature, it is little wonder that the Dragon has attracted the likes of world number one Magnus Carlsen as one of its enthusiasts.

The first DVD in this two part series focuses mainly on the sharpest lines of the Dragon Variation, namely, the Yugoslav Attack. However, alternative lines are also given for those players wishing to shy away from the reams of theory associated with this opening.

Follow Ginger GM Supremo, Grandmaster Simon Williams, as he systematically explains the ideas behind this electrifying opening.

Warning: DVD not suitable for the fainthearted!"

The last comment is quite apt as in our opinion the DVD is best for players with some good Dragon knowledge already as some of the variations go very deep and would be a bit too complicated for someone who knows nothing of the opening.

The second DVD focuses mainly on the Dragodorf.

At the moment Simon is currently going over both DVDs error checking but being such a long running time takes a bit of time. I think he will finish error checking by tomorrow and if they are ok (they should be as this is the second error check run) then off to the replicators they go. This normally takes ten days or so.

Williams does tend to bite off more than he can chew.  He promised an e-book to accompany his Dutch DVD & has been advertising its forthcoming release on his websites for over a year now - I'm still waiting.  As well produced as the DVD was I feel a bit cheated & am unlikely to purchase other products.

Who is the author? Maybe Gawain Jones, who did the Killer Grand Prix video? Then we should get a regular dragon, not a hybrid Dragon/Najdorf.

The 2c3 dvd looks interesting as well.

Will have to check back at their site in a week or 2 once the details are posted.

Simon Williams has announced a forthcoming dvd on his website.

http://www.gingergm.com/