Ask The Pieces - Mueller / Becker

How should systematic chess coaching be structured so that students are able to use their freshly acquired knowledge in their own games? Author Stefan Becker came to an astonishingly simple answer. The solution to every chess problem lies on the board. So it's quite logical that we should ask our pieces what they think about their future. But what do these discussions sound like, and what happens if the pieces have different or conflicting interests? This DVD provides the answers to these questions and more by working through a number of selected masterpieces. Suddenly it becomes clear how world-class players come up with their brilliant ideas. Stefan Becker illustrates his concept, talking to the pieces, by taking the role of the player in a number of games. German Grandmaster Dr. Karsten Muller lends his voice to the pieces and tries to express their feelings, aims, plans, wishes and fears. Becker then demonstrates how this feedback, together with calculation and new questions, leads to the right decisions over the board. Becker's didactic concept can also be used by teachers to explain the inner workings of chess to their students.

Review
When a new product on chess instruction stands out, it is usually based on quality and clarity, but rarely originality or humor. However, the latest "Ask the pieces" does just that, by dissecting the positions via a dialogue that helps uncover seemingly mysterious brilliancies giving rich ideas to both the student and teacher.

System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard