by Rustam Kasimdzhanov

 

Many chessplayers consider Albin’s Countergambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5) nothing more than a relict of romantic chess, connecting with it – at most – the names of the old masters like Lasker, Alekhin, Janowski, Marshall and Keres. Even many tournament players don’t really know much more about this opening than the following nice trap with the sub-promotion of a pawn into a knight: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3 6.Bxb4 exf2+ 7.Ke2 fxg1N+ with a winning position for Black. Fortunately enough, from time to time certain world-class players are willing to reconsider the old and connect it with new ideas. Thus Albin’s Countergambit experienced a revival in 2004 when top-ten player Alexander Morozevich repeatedly employed in tournament practice – with success. Fascinated by the possibilities of this opening, also Kasimdzhanov followed Morozevichs example – and was successful too. Now Rustam Kasimdzhanov presents to you the experience made in top chess in the last years, in nearly 3.5 hours of video.

 

Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Born in 1979, the grandmaster from Uzbekistan has for many years been known as a very strong and imaginative player. However in 2004 Rustam Kasimdzhanov shocked the chess world by winning the FIDE world chess championship title, beating a string of world-class players like Ivanchuk, Grischuk, Topalov and Adams in the process.

 

System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard