Chessletter #22 October 2017

[Issue #22 October/2017](#) ChessBase Newsletter // Dear Chess Friends! Time to take a breath and rest after all the action – indeed many stars of the chess scene are treating themselves to a short break after the FIDE World Cup, the Isle of Man Open and the European Cup. But ChessBase has a whole host of new things on offer! Houdini 6, for example, is just about to prove its worth as the new top chess engine. There are also two new faces among the ChessBase authors: meet Grandmasters Yannick Pelletier and Christian Bauer! And last but not least, we have a new DVD about one of the greats of chess history, Paul Morphy. // [New #1: Houdini 6]( Houdini 6 continues where its predecessor left off, adding a solid 60 Elo points to an already formidable engine, once again making Houdini the strongest chess program currently available on the market. Houdini 6 has been put to the test in various areas and thoroughly refined in all the right places: Position evaluation, search, time management and use of the endgame tablebases have been improved, as has parallel processing. Houdini 6 delivers particularly exceptional results on systems with a large number of CPUs, and can use up to 128 threads on high-end hardware. The enhanced "Tactical mode" transforms Houdini 6 into the most ingenious position solver of all time and improves again on the records held by previous versions in tactical benchmark tests. In addition, "Tactical mode" can now also be assigned an exact number of CPUs threads, giving you additional flexibility. Despite all the detailed technical improvements, Houdini has kept his creative and imaginative style of play. Where other programs see no future or are locked into a draw, Houdini delivers surprise after surprise with hidden resources. Look forward to the new version of the true wizard among the chess programs! Houdini 6 is once again available in two versions, "Standard" and "Pro”. The “Standard” version supports up to 8 processors and can use up to 4 GB of RAM. The "Pro” version is the right choice for high-end hardware and can use up to 128 CPUs and 128 GB RAM. [Order "Houdini 6 Pro" from the shop...]( [Order "Houdini 6 Standard" from the shop...]( [read more]( // New authors: Yannick Pelletier and Christian Bauer Two new authors are making a start today: Yannick Pelletier and Christian Bauer. GM Yannick Pelletier will probably not be completely new to most you, as the great player from Switzerland has already commented live from Biel on several occasions. Yannick has an author entry in the [ChessBase Video]( Portal, so you can also get an idea of his presentational style there (ChessBase Premium account required) too. On his first DVD for ChessBase, the native Bieler presents the Hedgehog. One exciting detail is that Pelletier defeated none other than World Champion Magnus Carlsen in 2015 with this very system! The second one is the French Grandmaster Christian Bauer. We are happy to have him as an author for a DVD on the Scandinavian, because the three-time French national champion is considered one of the experts in this field. As another novelty of sorts, both DVDs were recorded in three languages - German, English and French! If you’d like to refresh your French, change the language of your ChessBase program (File - Options - Language) and download a video lesson for some Français! // [Yannick Pelletier: The Hedgehog – a universal system against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3]( The hedgehog is a special system characterized by a very specific pawn structure. Black’s setup may appear passive at first glance, but looks can be deceiving! This is because the Hedgehog is always waiting for a chance to pounce on an overstretched opponent with a counterattack. Black positions his pieces harmoniously behind a wall of pawns and waits until just the right moment for a breakthrough, which often unleashes the full potential of his position. A number of World Champions, including Kasparov, Karpov and Carlsen, have all played the Hedgehog. It’s suitable for all styles of play and can arise in many different opening systems. On this DVD, Yannick Pelletier presents a complete Hedgehog repertoire against the English and the Réti, so you’ll be well prepared for 1. c4 and 1. Nf3. The Swiss grandmaster explains many theoretical variations and thematic games in great detail. Of course, the middlegame is also of great practical importance. To excel here you, have to practice – interactively! In key positions, it's your turn to answer the author's questions. Yannick Pelletier comments on your move with video feedback, gives tips or, if you didn’t quite get it, asks you to try again. Another useful resource is the thematic game collection, which you can use to deepen your new knowledge of this system. A large number of these games have been annotated in detail by the author and will impart many a Hedgehog secret upon careful study. [Order "The Hedgehog" from the shop...]( [read more]( // [Christian Bauer: Scandinavian - solid and powerful against 1.e4]( The Scandinavian opening (1.e4 d5) gets opponents onto unfamiliar terrain compared to when trotting out the Sicilian, French or 1.e4 e5 systems. Since the opening is rarely used at the highest level, theory has only developed very slowly and a lot remains undiscovered. What you learn here will be valid for a long time, with Black fighting for the initiative right from the very first move. The Scandinavian may not enjoy the best reputation, as White can gain a tempo early on after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3. However, the author is certain that the Scandinavian is a sensible and often underestimated opening. Black can choose between a wild and a more positional game, or, after exchanging the Bb4 for the Nc3, achieve a solid position and excellent control on the white squares. Why wait? Make the Scandinavian your weapon of choice against 1.e4! [Order "Scandinavian" from the shop...]( [read more]( // [New MasterClass DVD: Paul Morphy]( Get to know one of the greatest geniuses in chess history! Paul Morphy’s career lasted only a few years and yet he managed to defeat the best chess players of his time. After his triumphant trip to Europe in 1858/1859, the American was celebrated as the unofficial world champion of his day. But how was it possible for Morphy to outplay his experienced rivals with such ease? What were his particular strengths? Get to the bottom of “mysterious Morphy” with our team of experts! Part of the five-hour video course is taken up by Oliver Reeh's "Tactics" section, with 20 interactive training videos that take a deep look at Morphy's legendary combinatorial skills at the board. But don't worry, the international master from Hamburg will help you solve the problems if you get stuck and is hand with tips and video feedback on your moves and ideas! In another part of the course, Jonas Lampert introduces you to Morphy's opening repertoire and explains the concepts that he used in his games. Grandmaster Mihail Marin has examined the American's strategic play and draws a surprising conclusion – his understanding of positions was in no way inferior to his tactical skills! Last but not least, endgame expert Karsten Müller takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Morphy's endgame technique. On the DVD, you’ll find all the games of the genius from New Orleans, as well as a detailed biography, put together by Thomas Eichhorn. [Order "Master Class 9: Paul Morphy" from the shop...]( [read more]( // An interesting read [50 games you should know: Morphy vs. Duke of Brunswick, Count Isoard]( That’s all for this time – good luck in your games and see you on the server! // You're a subscriber to the ChessBase newsletter. If you no longer want to receive the chessbase newsletter, [click here.]( © 2017 ChessBase Schachprogramme Schachdatenbank Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Registered: Osterbekstr. 90a, 22083 Hamburg Telephone: 040-63 90 60 0 - Fax: 040 630 12 82 Directors: Matthias Wüllenweber and Rainer Woisin HR Amtsgericht Hamburg HRB 40336 Value added tax identification number DE 118644875 Local tax office tax number 49/711/00031ChessBase, All rights reserved