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Most chess players are naturally talented, but do not have the time to devote to chess theory, such is the pace of modern life. Yet it is human nature to want to do things well and to achieve good results. To make the right choice of opening system is therefore of crucial importance for these players if they want to make the most of what they have. Below master level and especially with Black, the most crucial thing is to strive for the initiative. It is absolutely no good trying to gradually equalize. Leave that to Karpov, Kramnik and the world championship matches, where we can admire the defensive technique from afar. Try this style at club level and one ends up exhausted and frustrated. Pressurizing the opponent means getting on to the attack and this is where the fiery Budapest Gambit comes into play. After 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e5 Black immediately takes the fight to White at the cost of a pawn. Active piece play is the predominant theme. Tactics abound. White can lose in a few moves if he or she does not know what they are doing. A life and death struggle is rarely what the White player wants at such an early stage of the game. At the very least the position will be laced with interest. Study of the Budapest Gambit will place an extremely dangerous weapon into the hands of the club player. Video running time: 4 hours 20 min.

The Grünfeld Defence is a very dynamic opening with an excellent reputation and the list of players ready to defend it reads like a who's who in chess. It is rather remarkable, that one variation still retains the position of main line and that after hundreds of games played with it some questions still remain open. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 promises White a very compact and solid pawn centre well supported by the pieces. Black is unable to destroy this main asset of the opponent, but can certainly try to undermine it with clever play.