gwnn wrote on 07/08/12 at 16:09:02:

That's an interesting idea. My first reaction was to dismiss the possibility as very unlikely, but having now bought the DVD and started working through it, I'm wondering if you might be right, as there are a few signs that a little more care could have been taken in putting the product together. I've already noticed a few irregularities in the first couple of sections (on the Ruy Lopez). For example, it's clear that the running order of the sections on the Smyslov Defence has been changed around, as Mikhalchishin at one point briefly refers back to a section that the viewer hasn't yet seen (assuming the sections are watched in the order in which they appear). Also slightly odd is the fact that the Delayed Exchange Variation is covered separately in two different places. Neither of these issues constitutes a serious problem, perhaps – the omission of the line referred to by gwnn is much more of an issue – but they do make the whole enterprise seem a little shoddy. Surely a DVD needs to be worked on by an editor in the same way as a book does, and I suspect the problem is that this process has been bypassed – or at least 'streamlined', shall we say...

ghenghisclown wrote on 07/08/12 at 20:29:03:

I reckon you might well have hit the nail on the head. 

10...Bd6 is a personal preference, and I don't believe it matters much to Black's.chances whether 11.d4 or 11.f4 is played.

Actually the old book also preferred 10...Bd6; it and other books have the position after Black's 12th occurring in the order 10...Bd6 11. d4 ed 12. Nxd3 Qc7.

While you're awaiting their reply, here's a fun-looking game given in an old book I recalled as favoring 11. f4 ...


[Event "Budapest ch-HUN"]
[Site ""]
[Date "1965.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kovacs, Laszlo M."]
[Black "Kluger, Gyula"]
[Result "0-1"]
[NIC "KP 12.11"]
[ECO "C59"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5  c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2
h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Qc7 11. d4 exd3 12. Nxd3 Bd6 13. b3 O-O 14. Bb2 Bf5 15. Bxf6 (15. Nd2 [unclear, Gligoric] Rfe8 [unclear, Nunn])
gxf6 16. Nc3 Rad8 17. Qd2 Rfe8 18. Kf1 Kh7 19. Nd1 Be5 20. Rb1 c5 21. f4 Bd4 22.
c3 c4 23. cxd4 Rxe2 24. Kxe2 Bxd3  25. Kf2 Bxb1 26. Nc3 Bd3 27. d5 Re8 28. h3 Qc5 
29. Kf3 Qd4 30. Rd1 Be4  31. Nxe4 Qxe4  32. Kg3 Rg8  0-1

I had a recollection from long ago of 11. f4 as being the main line, but I notice a book from about four years ago having a higher regard for 11. d4.  Ah, DVDs ...

I suppose we should discuss which variation GM Mikhalchishin goes for in the main line Two Knights...after 8.Be2 and the pluses and minuses...

Fair enough. And I can check the chesspub ebook too

There are a few interesting lines and good explanations for most openings. I don't overall regret buying this. Anyway I never really understood black's compensation in the 2 knights but his presentation helps me in this regard so I will probably give it a try in the near future. It seems like the Italian is the most common opening at my level (~1700) so it is good to be prepared against it.