This Week's ChessVideos Show: Cheparinov Busts the Blumenfeld

It's too much to say that Ivan Cheparinov refuted the Blumenfeld Gambit in his convincing defeat of Ivan Salgado Lopez in the recently completed Aeroflot Open, but he probably did put an end to one of Black's standard ideas. Before this game, the Black plan of ...Rh8-g8-g4xe4 might have seemed viable; now, after Cheparinov's most convincing play, it looks so absurdly time-consuming that it's hard to believe anyone took the idea seriously. This is to the Bulgarian's credit, as was his efficient and energetic attack on poor Salgado's king.

It's thus not only a game with theoretical importance, but an attractive one as well. You can watch it with my commentary, here: as always, it's free of charge (free registration required), and will be available on-demand for the next month or so.

This Week's ChessVideos Show: A Second Look at a Crazy Game

Earlier on the ChessVideos server another presenter took a look at an exciting Blumenfeld Gambit from the Tucson Open. It was a long and thorough look, but the game was rich enough that it seemed worthwhile to offer a supplementary video of my own, filling in a few analytical gaps that caught my eye, along with one especially attractive but unnecessary tactical idea.

If you're interested in attacking play, attractive combinations and/or the Blumenfeld, you'll want to have a look, and you can do so here. (It's free, requires no special software and will be available on-demand for the next month or so.)