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Gambit play and the joy of sacrificing is an important part of the improving process. In order to become a strong player you must learn to attack and make combinations. Many continue to play in an aggressive style throughout an entire chess liftetime! So on this allnew ChessBase DVD FIDE Senior Trainer and IM Andrew Martin will show you how to go about this in the right way. There are several foolproof ways to improve at chess. They are: 1) Working hard at targeted subjects. 2) Analysing one’s own games. Studying master games. 3) Playing a lot to gain experience. 4) Taking good advice from a coach and thereby saving time. This is where the ChessBase DVD comes into its own. There are many modern brilliancies and fascinating ideas on this DVD. Comprehensive notes are provided to most of these games for your later enjoyment. Gambit play is still alive! we hope you embrace it. Video running time: 3 hours 21 min.

On the ABC of the Classical Dutch, IM Andrew Martin gives the student a thorough grounding in the ways of this unconventional opening. The positions that are reached after 1...f5 are always sharp and unclear, suiting the chessboard warrior very well. You cannot play the Dutch with a faint heart! The ABC of the Classical Dutch will analyse systems where predominantly Black plays with an early ...d7-d6. There are discussions of all the key ideas and opening themes, as well as repertoire suggestions for Black. The Classical Dutch does not enjoy an especially good reputation at the highest level, but from time to time the great players have employed 1...f5 when fighting outright for the win. It would not have been a good idea to tell Alekhine, Botvinnik, Bronstein or Larsen that 1...f5 is a weak move! The world of the Classical Dutch is a rather unusual one. If you are looking for a winning weapon as Black and you are an uncompromising fighter, then this opening is for you! Video running time: 3 hours 45 minutes

A good game of chess is made up of three phases; the opening, the middlegame and then the endgame. However, if you do not play the opening well, you will not get to see the other phases! ‘First Steps in Opening Play’ attempts to equip the viewer will all the information he or she needs to tackle this tricky area and to emerge into the middlegame with a good, playable position. Players below 1500 will benefit from this basic advice. Players above 1500 will enjoy the detailed examination of many current master games. This is an enjoyable tour of opening play from which everyone can learn. Video running time: 3 hours

In 2007 we viewed Alekhine’s Defence as an excellent opening to play if Black wants to go for the win and four years later this has not changed. If anything, more Grandmasters are using the opening today. Black gets a tough and resilient position with ample opportunity for counterchances. With 1...Nf6 he immediately throws down the gauntlet to the pawn on e4 and tries to take the initiative from the very first moves.  This is a particularly effective game-plan at club level, where knowledge of exact theory is sketchy and where a passive response to immediate aggression is commonplace. So in the fully updated ABC of the Alekhine, we take a look at how the opening stands in 2011. 1...Nf6 seems to have a bright and enduring future. IM Andrew Martin provides sound, active recommendations for Black, modified if necessary to account for the passing of time and which can be used at all levels of play. To underestimate Alekhine‘s Defence would be a big mistake indeed! Video running time: 7 h 30 min!

On this original and entertaining DVD, International Master Andrew Martin takes you on a guided tour of this fascinating and creative opening. Through the use of complete games, both classic and modern and some repertoire suggestions Martin paints a comprehensive picture of the current state of play and looks towards the future. In the new, expanded 2nd edition there are many recent clashes and some remarkable modern ideas are discussed. The King’s Indian is as uncompromising and resilient as ever! This DVD will inspire all players and demonstrate that the King‘s Indian is very much alive on the modern master scene. Video running time: 5 hours.

Old fashioned? Certainly! Infrequent ? Definitely! Underestimated ? Without doubt! Dangerous? You must draw your own conclusions...... The Vienna Game deserves a place in the repertoire of all players. With 2 Nc3 White prevents the freeing thrust ...d7-d5 and keeps open the option of f2-f4, hoping to transpose to a superior King’s Gambit For the Grandmaster, the Vienna can be used as a surprise weapon. At club level, everyone will be ready for 2 Nf3, but have they the same level of preparation against 2 Nc3? This is very doubtful. On this new ChessBase DVD International Master Andrew Martin argues that the Vienna is a good practical choice. White can steer the game into all manner of interesting positions according to Black’s response. He may play sharply or positionally. Black must respond very accurately to demonstrate equality.Video running time: 3 hours 42 minutes

In the all new ‘ABC of Chess Openings‘ International Master Andrew Martin explores the diverse possibilities available to everyone in the opening phase of the game. The material is broken down logically into Open Games, Semi-Open Games, Closed and Semi- Closed Games, Flank and Irregular Openings. Invaluable advice is given about what to look for and how to play each specific category, and the instruction is enhanced by the use of recent, thematic master games to compliment this advice. General instruction about how to play the opening is also included. Running time: 5 h 09 min. There is something here for everyone. Strong and even very strong players will enjoy the investigations into some excellent modern novelties, whereas the average player or even beginner will pick up a wide range of interesting ideas for use in their games. The author‘s love for the game comes through in this work, which he tries to communicate to the listener. The 2009 edition includes some repertoire suggestions for White using 1. e4 to get the average player started. Video running time: 5 h 09 min + 1 h 15 min (Update) = 6 h 24 min.

The venerable Ruy Lopez is one of the most interesting of chess openings. In this diverse and instructive DVD, International Master Andrew Martin explains how the opening works, with the help of mostly recent, complete master games, although there are some classics too! The most important ideas are highlighted and there are some repertoire suggestions, all presented in the light, easy, relaxed style for which this author is noted. Note that this edition includes a 2009 update featuring a signifcant contribution on how to play against the Berlin Defence amongst other new ideas. Video running time: 3 h 32 min + 1 h 22 min (Update)= 4 h 54 min