1 comments about Ruy Lopez Winning Chess With 1P K4.

1. This is an "Understanding the Ruy Lopez" type book for intermediate players. It is full of recommendations and excellent instruction. Barden knows how to communicate to chess students, and he takes on the large issue of trying to get you to decide which variations of the Lopez you will play and which defenses you will "allow." This is an outstanding book by one of the best chess authors.

2 comments about New Ideas in the Nimzo-Indian Defence (Batsford Chess Library).

1. For those of you that play the Nimzo-Indian Defense, this is a great game collection of 189 deeply annotated games. I would recommend first reading "Mastering the Nimzo-Indian With the Read and Play Method", also by Tony Kosten, first, and then when you have a feel for all the various lines and pawn structures, tackle these 189 games.



2. This 267 page volume published in 1994 is one of Kosten's finest works. It probably would be best though to get a more general work on the Nimzo-Indian before embarking on this one. The move order (1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4) is easy to understand and allows Black quick development. Invariably White is either saddled with 2 c pawns after Bxc3 bxc3 or if White chooses an early Qc2, the White Queen captures at c3, but this slows down White's development since he has made 2 Queen moves so early. One word of caution though. White decides on Move 3 if he will allow the Nimzo-Indian to be played by Black, or instead choosing 3.Nf3 which usually leads to the Queen's Indian defence (3.Nf3 b6). You really need both in your opening repertoire as Black if you're not a King's Indian or Grunfeld defence player (2.c4 g6). Of course if you're really ambitious you could try the Blumenfeld Gambit if White offers 3.Nf3 (3...c5, 4.d5 b5!?) but it's hard to find deeply analyzed material on that. Needless to say, the semi-serious to serious chess player needs to know this defence as Black against the Queen's pawn player. I would also suggest a book on the Benoni defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5, 3.d5 e6) and the Benko Gambit (3.d5 b5).

2 comments about Nimzo-Indian Kasparov Variation: 4 Nf3 as Popularized by Garry Kasparov.

1. Nimzo-Indian Kasparov Variation by chess grandmaster and former British Champion Chris Ward is an advanced guide designed for experienced chess players. Nimzo-Indian Kasparov Variation presents diverse ambitious ways in which to contest the Nimzo-Indian defense, based upon the strategies the legendary Garry Kasparov used in his World Championship games against Anatoly Karpov. With its detailed and technical examples, enhanced with tactics scrutinized for both sides, Nimzo-Indian Kasparov Variation is a superb addition to serious chess player reading lists and reference shelves.



2. With an interesting subtitle like '..as popularized by Garry Kasparov', one would expect a solid repetoire or a serious resource from this book. Unfortunately, that's not be the case. The variation in the discussion is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5, where the critical continuation is 5..h6 6.Bh4 g5. So far the current theory judges that black has a good chance to equalize from this position. Note that: this book does not change this assesment. However, the author insists that there are several interesting ways to complicate the positions. My opinion from these variations, none of them would deliver a serious theoritical debate on Nimzo Indian. They may be practical for playing in club tournaments, especially if your opponent is familiar with your normal response against Nimzo-Indian,

No comments about The Sicilian Scheveningen: Sicilian : ...E6 and ...D6 Systems (Batsford Chess Books).

No comments about The Vienna Game and Gambit.

No comments about Apertura En El Ajedrez Para Todos (Aperturas).

1 comments about Janowski: Indian Defense.

1. The Janowski Old Indian (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5) is a playable but infrequently used variation. It has not had the impact in club level play that it might have had. Eric Schiller's volume on this opening is tremendously useful for the B or below player (I am 1733, so I cannot speak for stronger players) who wishes to acquire a new defense to d4 (or, in particular, a new blitz weapon). The book surveys each of the key white systems, and contains suggested black lines which are easy to memorize and quite workable in practice. Have amazon find you this book if you are hunting for a simple, off the beaten path, response to 1. d4.

5 comments about Play the Classical Dutch.

1. The author begins this book with a discussion of the strategic ideas associated with the Dutch defense then shows a mix of older games and more recent games. Each strategic idea is supported by several games with annotations discussing that key strategic idea. One nice aspect of this book is that Simon Williams shows what can happen when Black goes wrong - some from his own games.

   The author discusses typical ideas that both sides are likely to want to execute in clear language: perhaps this is one of the benefits of the Dutch defense, it lends itself to clear strategic themes.

   One draw back so far is that many of the games are abbreviated. While this is ok for me, I know some people like having complete games to review. This is not to say the author doesn't include full games, but they are fewer in number than other titles offer.

   For folks that include the French in your opening repertoire this is an excellent book. The author shows numerous games beginning with 1...e6 to avoid anti-Dutch lines. For those that play the Nimzo Indian, you will recognize many of the themes discussed as well.




2. This work by Simon Williams is one of the better opening manuals I've seen. The buyers of most opening books are class players who do not have either the time or the need to go through a book jammed packed with variation analysis trees. Williams seems to understand this, and while his book does of course have variation analysis, it is not very cumbersome and is quite easy to go through. Most importantly, in each variation, Williams often explains the key ideas and moves clearly. That said, if you ARE looking for a very detailed book full of analysis trees, this is not the book for you.

   For the curious folk, here are the chapters of this book:
   1. The Ilyin-Zhenevsky System with 7...a5
   2. The Ilyin-Zhenevsky System with 7...Qe8
   3. The Ilyin-Zhenevsky System with 7...Ne4!
   4. Ilyin-Zhenevsky System: Deviations for White
   5. Classical Dutch with ...Bb4(+): White Avoids Fianchettoing
   6. Classical Dutch with ...Bb4(+): White Fianchettoes
   7. Alekhine's Variation: 6...Ne4!?
   8. The Staunton and Other Gambits after 1. d4 f5
   9. Early Deviations for White after 1. d4 f5
   10. White Avoids d4 - the English Set-Up
   11. 1. Nf3 Without c4 or d4, Including the Lisitsyn Gambit
   12. Other Lines
   Followed by an index of variations

   Basically, this book is a short but informative read at 128 pages, and it should leave you prepared to begin playing the Classical Dutch with confidence.




3. Let me say that the Dutch is an excellent, but risky, system that should appeal to people who like to "burn their pants" early. In the dutch, there is no such thing as as a loss that is based on one static factor. All losses are SLAUGHTERS. It doesn't matter if your on the white side or the black side. The reason I give this book 1 star is because the Classical Dutch is not the best system to play. When you play the dutch, you want the full point. The Classical dutch doesn't do that. It usually leads to quiet positions where you have good chances in the endgame. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. That leaves to other systems. The Stonewall Dutch and The Leningrad Dutch. The Stonewall is OK. Black is extremely solid and his defense is hard to break down. But the one major problem with it is that there are gaping holes in blacks position, so white usually has the better chances. Now we have the Leningrad. This it it! This system is the most riskiest, newest, and most blood thirstiest system in the dutch. Both sides have to play on there toes , as one slip could cost the game for either side. Endgames are hardly never reached in this sytem for game usually last 30 moves. You have to be on your top at tactics. I wouldn't recommend weak players to play the dutch and especially the leningrad. However, if you are tacticaly good and accurate with your moves and love blood thirsty battles and hate endgames. Then I seriously recommend you get the book "The Dutch for the Attacking Player" by Steffen Pedersen. It provides you with a full repertoire against any thing that white can throw at you using the Leningrad system. All of whites major replies and sidelines are covered in detail with complete games and provides the logic behind the moves. But let me remind you.... The Leningrad is extremely risky. I hope this review has aided you in which system to play. Keep in mind that this is my opinian. If you like a rock-solid wall of pawns then play the Stonewall. If you like endgames and quiet play, then play the Classical dutch by all means. If you decide to play the Stonewall, please keep in mind the gaping holes you are letting white have.



4. Short but concise with good information about the Classical Dutch in it. I would play the Classical Dutch combined with the Stonewall Dutch. Depending on what white does. If white develops his Queen Bishop quickly to f4 let's say. Than play a Nimzo Classical Dutch and don't play the Stonewall. If white plays g3, Nf3 stuff and does not touch the Queen Bishop till later. Than I like the Stonewall.



5. This is a great book to learn the Classical Dutch from. Unlike most books, in which the "ideas over variations" theme is marketing dross, this book actually delivers a manageable number of concrete positional and tactical benchmarks for analyzing positions. Williams writes very clearly and his discussions are focussed and purposeful.
   
   There are plenty of options to choose from, but not too much depth of lines in the analysis. You can treat this as a good or bad thing as you please - it was fine by me. So it is a "minimal" coverage of theory.
   
   But the biggest oversight was the lack of guidance over which lines to choose and how to combine them in a cohesive way. It takes a fair bit of work to work out how to handle the early move orders (although the obvious divergences are handled well). So I dropped a point for this lack of guidance. Overall the book is very well written and rewards study.
   
   And the Classical Dutch is a nice opening. It is widely applicable (against all but 1.e4, 1.g4, 1.Nc3), has a fairly routine development model, and only a few sharp lines to memorize after early deviations (eg. Staunton gambit) which aren't too bad.

2 comments about The Ruy Lopez Main Line.

1. This is a very good book on the closed Ruy Lopez. For the positional player this is an excellent choice, as this opening demands a good strategic understanding and can lead to a lot of different pawn structures. White players are usually not so experienced with it, as it is rare on amateur level. With Flear's excellent selection of mostly current games you can try to find your way through all the different sidelines.
   
   Flear does not take a "repertoire approach" and does not clearly indicate always, which variations he recommends. As they are all played by top players, this approach is understandable. But you need to look a little bit behind the annotated games to develop your own repertoire.
   
   Needless to say that playing 1.e4 e5 you will have to study many other openings as well, not to mention other Ruy Lopez variations, where white avoids the main lines.



2. Firstly, I'd like to say that this this one of the best books on my shelf. It does an excellent job of showing the main moves in the Ruy Lopez, and shows all of black's main 'anti-main lines' from moves 9-12. However, a few words of warning are necessary. Firstly, this book doesn't cover the whole Ruy Lopez. It covers the Chigorin, Smyslov, Zaitsev, Karpov, and Breyer defences, the anti-Marshall (though not the Marshall) and 9.d4. It does not cover the Open Ruy, any non-3...a6 alternatives, or any other exceptionally strange defences you may encounter. As well, this is a book for the advanced player. Other than those two problems, this book is an excellent one and well recommended.

No comments about The Fighting Fajarowicz: Budapest Gambit.