During XtraCon Open in Helsingor, Denmark, I got to spend some time together with Boris Gelfand, face to face, for the first time since the Tromso Olympiad. Since then we have written two books together.
The most important thing we did was of course to get around to answer all of your questions. It took a little longer than we expected (Boris refused to be effective, wanted to be generous with his time instead), but anyway, here are the two videos.
I was not sure if I should mention people by name. I decided against it, as it gave me the freedom to rephrase the questions at time. Hope getting them answered was the main thing!
Qualitychess – Thank you!
This is why I hang around your blog, because suddenly it provides a lot of value. Like today, I log in and find close to 4 hours of instructive videos with Boris Gelfand – how am I ever gonna get around to working today huh?
Simply fantastic!
That you also make good chess books is just a bonus 🙂
Of course, a big thanks to Boris himself too.
@Jimmy
Thank you.
The book has maybe 50+ hours worth of Boris instruction; and none of it is in the videos. So worth those €29.99…
Great job!
Thanks
Wonderful videos you recorded with Boris, especially the lesson. Thanks a lot!
Maybe you could work a bit on the audio next time though. There must be ways to make the voices clearer by simple means. I sometimes had problems understanding everything. The result was that I had to turn the volume to max, which isn’t exactly ideal here. 😉
Hi jacob! ,It is one idea ,please , maybe post the answers (for those who do not fully understand English and can translate with the automatic translator?) 🙂
Thanks again for this! The answer to my question was unexpected and illuminating.
Which was you question? 🙂
I asked which of Jacob’s shortcomings was most surprising to him when working together (because I am always interested in the difference between very strong players and super-strong players) and Gelfand’s answer (paraphrased) was that he focused overly much on concrete sequences at times that it was better to concentrate on the positional aspects. Sorry to make you ask that, Jacob, hopefully you got something out of the answer too 🙂
I finally got the time to watch the videos – they are great! Thanks a lot for this excellent service 🙂
@dfan
Actually, it is a trick question. A lot of the time when we work together, I have the engine on and Boris does not. A lot of my ideas are personal ideas, but some of them are computer moves. As the machine is very concrete, this is what Boris has picked up. If you look at the final books and compare them with Boris’ own book, you would actually find the opposite pattern. But in neither case I think it is accurate.
@Jake
We are an English publishing house, so we presume that people speak English. I know not everyone do, but I do not have a day or two to type all of this up in order to make it available for google translate. Sorry.
@Andre
You should focus on work when you are at the office. Besides, I was not in charge of the video and only knew what they looked like after we had done them. I am very grateful to Tom for recording them and don’t think they are so bad.
Wow, thought this may have been forgotten about. Great job Jacob and thank you Boris for answering them.
Thanks, really an interesting question.
@Jacob, would be nice if you can also give us your perspective about it (I’m sorry if you already done it in the video. I still had not time to watch it).
Dear Jacob,
Since youtube.com is not available in some Asian countries, do you mind posing the videos on youku.com as well … ?
Or, could you please give the short answers for my two questions … ? That is, why 1. b3 and 1 … b6 is not popular ? And, if one likes to play endgame and queenless middle-game, which openings should be played … ?
Thanks …
@Leaf
1.b3 and 1…b6 does not promote kingside development and does not fight hard for the centre. 1.b3 however is reasonably popular with original players still, for example Jobova.
No, I cannot put it on youku, as I did not make the recording. It was a collaboration with xtracon chess festival. Sorry.
@Fer
But I answered it here already…
Thank you very much for your advice, it helps a lot …
Also, could you please have any opening suggestions (or opening books) for players who love endgame and queen-less middle game … ?
@Leaf
The Berlin for Black of course. There is an old book, from the opening to the endgame by Mednis, which might interest. I only remember the exchange spanish from it…
From this book there is
* the gruenfeld with 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 d5 4.e4 Nc3 5.dc
* The KID with an exchange on e5
The book is quite thin for the number of openings covered, but it may be an interesting starting point (or suitable for <2000 elo).
Thank you very much for your precious advice …
Dear Jacob, Boris, and Tom,
Thank you so much for this. It is a pleasure to get the thoughts of a world championship finalist.
Your company continues to push the boundaries of chess publishing. Quality.
Regards,
Johnathan.