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Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5
First Impression: I was pleasantly surprised with the tempo and depth of the commentary in these videos. GM Murray Chandler does a wonderful job of keeping the viewer’s interest throughout, which is saying a lot since there is three and a half hours of video! I had always thought 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 (or 2...d6) 3 Bb5 was played for positional considerations, much like the Ruy Lopez, but GM Murray Chandler has done an excellent job of finding games, supplemented with his insights, to show this variation has some real bite. The “Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5” title is quite appropriate. Publishing Quality: The graphics (diagrams) are pleasant to look at, and audio is crisp and at a consistent volume. Murray Chandler narrates for both videos; his British accent is obvious, but his diction is good and the non-British listener soon forgets the accent. Subject Coverage: This first video runs for 90 minutes covering 16 games. The video covers 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 and then 3...Qb6; 3...Nf6; 3...e6; 3...g6 respectively. The second video runs 120 minutes covering 15 games. This video covers 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ and then 3...Nc6; 3...Nd7; 3...Bd7 respectively. Murray discusses the opening phase of each game in detail. Analysis lines are often played out on the board. All games are covered to conclusion, which I personally find very helpful in understanding the long-term objectives of an opening line. As noted above all the common options for Black (after Bb5) are covered. Although it is beyond the title of these videos I would have liked Murray to say a couple words about what he considers best for White after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6? If he gave an answer to that question, then the videos would be a complete answer for White against the Sicilian. An unfair criticism based on the video titles, but still an unfulfilled wish on my part. Since Murray did not suggest a system against 2...e6, I will. Within the videos Murray suggests against 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Bd7 4 Bxd7+ Qxd7 that White use a Maroczy Bind approach with 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Nc6 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 e6, etc. With this in mind I would suggest after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 White looks to play a quick c4 with Maroczy Bind play. Author’s Knowledge: Having played grandmasters and then done post-mortem analysis with them, I know first hand how grandmasters’ thoughts and views can be presented. And I have also sat in on analysis sessions/classes presented by grandmasters. With this in mind, I was very pleased with the level of detail Murray was presenting and the smoothness of his narration. Murray's abilities as a grandmaster are not in dispute, but I am happy to report that he was quite successful in sharing his knowledge through well-scripted analysis and commentary. Informative: The commentary and analysis is in sufficient detail for one to get a good working feel for playing this line. Watching the videos a couple times should be enough to prepare one for using this line against serious competition. I will share with the reader a habit of mine. While at the computer, answering email, working with Chessbase, or typing away at some chess project, I will pop in a chess video into the VCR for inspiring background noise (I only watch them out of the corner of my eye}. Towards this end, these “Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5” videos are an excellent addition to my collection. Murray’s commentary is simply fun to listen to by itself too. New Ideas: A few of the games were from 2003, e.g. the Kasparov-Leko game from Linares! So the videos cover new and recent ideas. But the newness of ideas might be more prevalent in the games found and chosen for inclusion in these videos. Accuracy: Murray’s analysis and appraisals are of high quality. With the rather bold titles of “Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5” one might fear biased appraisals, so it was nice to see some opening lines appraised with comments like both sides have their chances. Overall Appraisal: I have a new appreciation of the Bb5 Sicilian as an attacking line for White. And that might be the highest compliment one can pay any author presenting an audience with a new idea! Murray has impacted my thinking and improved my knowledge of this opening line. The following game (first in the first video) is a great advertisement for the Bb5 line: Smirin - Afek [B30], Israeli ch (11), 1992 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Qb6 4 Nc3! Nd4? 5 Nxd4 cxd4 6 Nd5! Qd8 7 Qh5 a6 8 Qe5 f6 9 Nc7+ Kf7 10 Qd5+ 1-0
Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5 continues Bad Bishop Ltd's string of VHS releases which include The Scheming Scandinavian, by Andrew Martin, Accelerated Dragon Assault! by Andrew Martin, and The Knockout Nimzo by GM Tony Kosten. I encourage the reader to check out their website, and of course, I highly recommend these “Bashing the Sicilian with Bb5” videos. Oh! Let me abuse this forum, Bad Bishop, please come out with a DVD version too! Some of us chess geeks travel with laptops to tournaments (and on work trips?), and a DVD version would be great to have.
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