Publishing Schedule

Finally I dare the return to the most dangerous and difficult activity in my life – the inaccurate and fraudulent prediction of when we might be able to put some Quality Chess books your way…

Jacob Aagaard Attacking Manual 1 – German December
Jacob Aagaard Attacking Manual 2 – German December
Author Title 2013
Artur Yusupov Chess Evolution 3 January
John Shaw The King’s Gambit January
Romanovsky Soviet Middlegame Technique January
Victor Mikhalevski Grandmaster Repertoire 13 – The Open Spanish January
John Shaw Playing 1.e4 – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines February
Marian Petrov GM Repertoire 12 – Modern Benoni February
Ntirlis/Aagaard Playing the French FebruaryMarch
Danny Gormally Mating the Castled King April
Jacob Aagaard Grandmaster Prep – Strategic Play April
Tibor Karolyi Mikhail Tal’s best games 1 April
John Shaw Playing 1.e4 – Sicilian & French April
Ftacnik (Aagaard) GM6a – Beating the Anti-Sicilians May
Jacob Aagaard Grandmaster Prep – Endgame Play July
Emanuel Berg GM Rep – The French Defence 1 July
Emanuel Berg GM Rep – The French Defence 2 July
Ftacnik (Aagaard) GM6b – The Najdorf July

221 thoughts on “Publishing Schedule”

  1. Holy shit. Looks like you want all my money. Maybe I should rather count the books not helpful to me.

    When will you be communicating which lines John choses for the Playing e4 books? I would be specially interested in his intentions for e5 and for the CK.

    Will these books offer an as aggressive but solid repertoire as Playing d4? Or is the concept different?

  2. Can’t speak for the Classical Slav, but as for the King’s Indian, there are already a ton of recent books that are excellent, so they can wait. See Vigorito’s two books, which are excellent, and one I don’t own, but have heard good reviews about, is Bologdan’s book on the King’s Indian. If you are looking for White, Quality Chess has Beating the KID, which I’m sure is still valid analysis, and there’s also a book called “Kill KID”, so plenty out there. We could do without KID and Najdorf books for another 3 years! Maybe it’s time for Quality Chess to do books on the Gurgenidze (the hybrid of the Caro-Kann and Modern), Zukertort (b3 in the Colle) and Grob (1.g4)!

    1…e5 has already been announced, unless they changed it. It’s the Scotch. The rest I’m not sure about.

    I’d be more interested when the time gets closer as to what the previously unannounced middlegame books are geared towards. Like whether Soviet Middlegame Technique is similar to the Devoretsky (spelling?) books from the 90s, or geared more towards lower rated players? Also whether Mating the Castled King is just a glorified name for a book on Sacrifices specifically around the King (i.e. Greek Gift, Double Bishop, Alekhine’s Block, etc), or whether it would also explain the ideas leading up to the final blow, like if the final blow occurs at move 40, would it just show moves 35-onward, or would we get to see what White (or Black) did to prepare the attack back around move 20 (well after the opening of course), or what it was that Black (or White) did to allow it in the first place.

  3. Patrick :Maybe it’s time for Quality Chess to do books on the Gurgenidze (the hybrid of the Caro-Kann and Modern), Zukertort (b3 in the Colle) and Grob (1.g4)!

    There is already a QC book on the Modern, and the upcoming GM11 book will cover the Zuke. And remember the QC slogan: “Tired of bad positions? Try the main lines!” I don’t think that anybody could put that on a Grob book and keep a straight face!

  4. What does “Ftacnik (Aagaard)” mean? That this will be the first edition, expanded and revised by Jacob? What is Ftacnik’s involvement in the new edition?

  5. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Good to see Classical Slav, and also the GM12 and GM13 about which I almost forgot. Open Spanish should be interesting, although I know very little about it. Modern Benoni, I suppose will be quite tactical, so there will be many styles suited in the series.

    Playing the French will probably be the book about which I am most interested, and King’s Gambit–Is Nessie having Christmas in Inverness? 😀

  6. @Gilchrist is a Legend
    Maybe I miss something, but is it not the case that the Classical Slav is now omitted?
    Maybe not a motivation, but with chess star’s recent book on the Najdorf, the delay on the Ftacnik book is not something I will get upset about (though will buy the Ftacnik book when it comes out).

  7. The Lurker :

    Patrick :Maybe it’s time for Quality Chess to do books on the Gurgenidze (the hybrid of the Caro-Kann and Modern), Zukertort (b3 in the Colle) and Grob (1.g4)!

    There is already a QC book on the Modern, and the upcoming GM11 book will cover the Zuke. And remember the QC slogan: “Tired of bad positions? Try the main lines!” I don’t think that anybody could put that on a Grob book and keep a straight face!

    Obviously you completely missed the sarcasim in that. And also, Tiger’s Modern is dated (I’m going thru Lakdawala’s book on the Modern right now), and doesn’t cover the Gurgendize anyway (which I don’t think is good anyway), for the Zukertort, I wouldn’t recommend a book intended to give a single solution to beat it, I’d recommend David Rudel’s books, as we are talking White here, and the Grob is of course garbage.

    The main point was that there are other things much more in need than the King’s Indian Defense (like the Slav, hence why I said I couldn’t speak for the Classical Slav, though you might want to get Lakdawala’s book and read it first unless you truly are a seasoned Slav player, the GM Repertoire books aren’t exactly mean for newbies to the Opening at hand). Seriously, if you don’t have Vigorito’s books, get them! They are excellent. He also hosts the KID section of the Chess Publishing Website.

  8. @Patrick
    Fair point on the Zuke, my bad. Otherwise, I actually did pick up on sarcasm this time, and was agreeing with it. Damn. See how nuances don’t carry over well in print?

  9. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Many books on defences to be published for 1. e4 next year: 2 French books, 1 Najdorf, and 1 Spanish. However please consider GM Repertoire: Breyer Spanish, or at least a Grandmaster Guide book. The opening is too interesting 🙂

  10. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Gilchrist is a Legend

    Actually technically it is three french books: Playing the French and the two volumes of GM Repertoire French (GM14/15 or GM16/17 I am unsure however). I think when GM40 is published, everyone should be able to have a repertoire by then 😀

  11. Lots of books here to look forward too, I look forward to GM6b on the Najdorf, I like many would like to see 6.Be2 e5 and 6.f4 e5 in addition to the e6 systems, but maybe that would be too good to be true.

    Would be truly amazing to see a GM Rep on the Nimzo/Queens Indian? Maybe a goal or 2014???

  12. Shurlock Ventriloquist

    Too Messy for Nessie (by: Donald Nelson)
    http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poetry/poems/too-messy-nessie

    There’s a terrible mess
    On the shores of Loch Ness
    Where the monster’s been chucking her bones.
    There’s bonnets and sporrans
    all tattered and torn
    And a pile of chewed up mobile phones.

    There’s socks and there’s shoes
    And bits of canoes
    And they’ve turned a bit slimy and green
    There’s flippers and goggles
    And venture scouts woggles
    And the fins from a small submarine.

    There’s camera gear
    Piled up over the years
    Rusting away on the shores
    And there once lived a man
    On the shores in a van
    Now all that is left are the doors.

    Now you might think that Nessie
    Is terribly messy
    With her rubbish and pile of old bones
    So stop trying to watch her
    And stop trying to catch her
    It’s her place, just leave her alone.
    ***********************************

  13. Jacob – why the (near) 6 month delay to your next Grandmaster Prep book? We have the one out next week, and then April until Strategic Play.

  14. Paul is right. It cannot be that hard to write a chess book!

    Even 6 weeks seem too much (and that includes the printing time).

  15. @Patrick

    Patrick :

    The Lurker :

    Patrick :Maybe it’s time for Quality Chess to do books on the Gurgenidze (the hybrid of the Caro-Kann and Modern), Zukertort (b3 in the Colle) and Grob (1.g4)!

    There is already a QC book on the Modern, and the upcoming GM11 book will cover the Zuke. And remember the QC slogan: “Tired of bad positions? Try the main lines!” I don’t think that anybody could put that on a Grob book and keep a straight face!

    Obviously you completely missed the sarcasim in that. And also, Tiger’s Modern is dated (I’m going thru Lakdawala’s book on the Modern right now), and doesn’t cover the Gurgendize anyway (which I don’t think is good anyway), for the Zukertort, I wouldn’t recommend a book intended to give a single solution to beat it, I’d recommend David Rudel’s books, as we are talking White here, and the Grob is of course garbage.
    The main point was that there are other things much more in need than the King’s Indian Defense (like the Slav, hence why I said I couldn’t speak for the Classical Slav, though you might want to get Lakdawala’s book and read it first unless you truly are a seasoned Slav player, the GM Repertoire books aren’t exactly mean for newbies to the Opening at hand). Seriously, if you don’t have Vigorito’s books, get them! They are excellent. He also hosts the KID section of the Chess Publishing Website.

    And let’s not forget ‘Complete Slav I’ by Sakaev (Chess Evolution), which I think is quite good (though advanced), and part II will hopefully follow soon.

  16. @Patrick
    Soviet Middlegame Technique is a combination of two old Romanovsky books in our Classics series.

    Mating the Castled King is based on a synopsis I wrote for Ari Ziegler in 2005. The book never got off the ground, but Danny proved to be quite willing to give it a good. It is quite systematic, showing a range of ideas.

  17. @Gilchrist is a Legend
    John’s aim is to finish the book before the London Chess Classic, but the printer will not be able to start till a few days before Christmas, when they finally get rid off all their Christmas catalogues for Finland and Sweden!

  18. @Jacob Aagaard
    No worries Jacob, or criticism intended. I just had it in my mind the plan for the series was for the books to be produced almost on the back of each other, as you had the material in your notebooks etc.

    Looking forward to your books next week and next year!

  19. To whom it may concern,

    is it true that the “Kings Gambit” was never intended to be published??!!
    You only want to fool the Kings Gambit Community because you all hate
    this opening and make their supporters crazy concerning the new publishing
    dates you tell us since years???

  20. Wolfgang Weiler :
    To whom it may concern,
    is it true that the “Kings Gambit” was never intended to be published??!!
    You only want to fool the Kings Gambit Community because you all hate
    this opening and make their supporters crazy concerning the new publishing
    dates you tell us since years???

    The King’s Gambit supporters were crazy long before we began this book project. But the book will exist. You will see it is real very early next year.

  21. But that’s too early! You should inform John about the cancellation after he has delivered the final draft.
    (“Sorry, we found out we can’t afford to print books >400 pages any more.” “But we could choose a bigger font and more diagrams and make it 2*300 pages !?” “A whole series on such an unimportant opening is too risky. You remember that old 4 books yellow hardcover thing on the KGA? … Yes, me neither, but after it came out everybody ran away screaming and played the RL.”

    “Okay, then let’s publish it together with a GM Rep on the RL! Then the money stays in the family.”)

  22. Andre :“But we could choose a bigger font and more diagrams and make it 2*300 pages !?”

    Great idea! Quality chess started up in the mid-2000s, I believe 2004. Many of us loyal supporters are getting old. All of us are losing our vision. I say how about upping the size of the diagrams to the width of the page. So on 8 1/2 by 11 paper, 1 inch margin, I say they should put 1 diagram per page, 6 1/2 inches by 6 1/2 inches. Leaves 2 1/2 inches for 2 or 3 lines of 20-point text per page. Enough for 1 move, maybe a move and a recapture when it’s obvious, then it will be time for another diagram! The total collection will be wider than your old World Book Encyclopedia from the early 1990s! 😀

  23. Gilchrist is a Legend

    A perhaps difficult question but just wondering: how many GM Repertoires are confirmed by writers, i.e. authors and opening for GM Repertoire officially confirmed to be published in the future? Could we see GM20 by the end of 2013?

  24. Sportverlag Berlin already had a 24 volume opening series by Suetin, Polugaevsky and Taimanov in the early 80s. Since then the amount of theorie has exploded.
    There’s no reason to stop as long as the books sell. QC can continue pushing out GM Reps for the next 10 years without repeating themselves to a significant degree. They can always make a case that the Modern needs a GM Rep because Kramnik uses it as an aggresive weapon against strong GMs. Or that the XXX Sicilian, YYY Spanish or the Catalan need their own volumes.

  25. Andre :Sportverlag Berlin already had a 24 volume opening series by Suetin, Polugaevsky and Taimanov in the early 80s. Since then the amount of theorie has exploded.There’s no reason to stop as long as the books sell. QC can continue pushing out GM Reps for the next 10 years without repeating themselves to a significant degree. They can always make a case that the Modern needs a GM Rep because Kramnik uses it as an aggresive weapon against strong GMs. Or that the XXX Sicilian, YYY Spanish or the Catalan need their own volumes.

    Well, just keep in mind, they are limited to publishing another 84 GM Repertoire books after the French (assuming those are 14 and 15), unless they want to go back to publishing 500+ page tombs. Otherwise, the number wouldn’t fit on the side binder any more once they reach 100! 😀

  26. Jacob Aagaard :
    @gambiteer
    The plan is actually to have three of them.

    Three!!??
    As King Julien says “It’s Christmas in July. Wait! it’s not Christmas. Wait!! It’s not July.”
    Is there a theme in each book or just chronolgical coverage of Tal’s career? In my opinion, authors should pay publishers for writing a book about the magician. 😉 It’s a privilege.

  27. I don’t have GM6 in front of me at the moment and am wondering about an Anti line
    1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 the prins, can’t remeber how GM6 deals with this can anyone remind me?

    1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 a5 7. c4 a4 Looks interesting

    Looking at the databases

    1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be6 7. c4 Nbd7 is the most popular but is it the best.

    Any comments on the best way to meet this line.

  28. It’s actually one of the lines that the author ‘forgot’ to cover in the book.

    However it is covered very well in Experts on the Anti-Sicilian by QC.
    Check it out there

  29. GM Aagaard:

    Two quick questions:

    1) Scotch against 1 … e5, Nd2 against French/Caro, but what about the damn Sicilian???

    2) Is the Mating The Castled King book intended to be a precursor to your two Attacking Manuals?

    Thanks

  30. @Jeffrey “notyetagm” Hall
    I do not want to give it all away; but we have analysed some lines. But definitely we will go for the open lines.

    Mating the Castled King is about patters, while my books are about ideas. There is no overlap. My books are more complex, but both projects will help anyone.

  31. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard

    Seeing the Attacking Manual in German, I infer that you must obviously know German. But how about GM Repertoire or other books in Spanish? I know this was discussed before, but Spain, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the rest of Latin America chess is very popular, especially the first two mentioned. If you need a Spanish translator perhaps I should apply someday 😀

  32. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard

    Also, have the lines for Playing the French been finalised, with regards to 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 in addition to 4…Bb4, and 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 in addition to the main 4..Qxd5?

  33. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    @ Victor Mikhalevski: GM Repertoire 13 The Open Spanish

    How will this book differ in comparison with Marin’s “A Spanish Opening Repertoire for Black”?

    I ask this because you Jacob once mentioned that in 2013 there will be a second edition of Marin’s Ruy Lopez book. Will it be in GM Guide style, or another GM REP on Ruy Chigorin/Petrosian Variation.

    May I add that besides Mikhalevski’s GM Repertoire 13 you need also a GM REP book on Open Games 1.e4 e5 for Black. Will Marin wrote one? Why not? It could be a “plastic surgery” for “Beating the Open Games” 🙂

    If I’m right Open Spanish is more fighting and dynamic weapon in comparison with Chigorin/Petrosian Variation which are passive and solid.

    Thx for reply.

  34. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    Is there any chance to have Aagaard’s top-notch book “Practical Chess Defence” in HARDCOVER?

    The truly greats like Gelfand worked with it… so Jacob give your book a honor which deserves!

    Nobody wrote better book on given theme and nobody selected better exercises. That’s the achievement 🙂

  35. I can’t understand why people keep complaining about John Shaw’s King’s Gambit. I have the 2009 edition together with Ari Ziegler’s Mating the Castled King (2006). I wonder why you chose the same title for Danny Gormally’s book, this may cause confusion to say the least.

  36. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Is GM11 still due to be posted to London Chess Centre and ChessDirect this Friday, with websales posted Monday?

  37. Playing 1.d4: The Queen’s Gambit by Lars Schandorff, Quality Chess 2012… gets 6 stars! (maximum possible!). Carsten Hansen is quite suprised by the Quality of this book ;). He is amazed! 😀

    [QUOTE]
    I find this book to be amazing. The repertoire is ambitious, and, yes, there is plenty to remember and you will have to work hard to get through this volume. However, Schandorff has done most of the work for you by selecting the lines, handing you the key alternatives, analyzing everything, and providing you with countless new ideas in every single variation. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, and working your way through this book will be worthwhile! The result of your efforts will be to have an armory of weapons in all the lines of the Queen’s Gambit, and you will become a stronger chess player. It may even hand you some easy wins along the way.

    For the ambitious player, this is the best guide available against the Queen’s Gambit. It is very advanced, so I recommend it to those rated 2000 and up, unless you are working with a coach while studying these lines.
    [QUOTE]

    http://www.chesscafe.com/hansen/Checkpoint_by_Carsten_Hansen.asp

  38. Joeri :
    @Jacob Could you introduce Marijan Petrov to us?

    I think I know Marian Petrov better than Jacob, so here goes:

    Marian (the spelling of his first name varies but ‘Marian’ is what he uses in his emails) is a grandmaster who is the author of the soon-to-be-published GM Repertoire 12: The Modern Benoni. He is a former Bulgarian Champion, and a fanatical supporter of Arsenal F.C.

  39. @Jacob Aagaard
    Will GM 13 be a reportoire of the open spanish for white or black?
    Which variations of open spanish will be covered?
    Could you please provide a table of contents if available?

  40. @Ed

    GM Repertoire 13 is a repertoire for Black with the Open Spanish. It’s too early for a table of contents – at least one rather significant line is still being analysed.

  41. Just wanted to point out a move order issue in GM6 that I think might be easily addressed in the revised edition. Against 6.Bd3, Ftacnik recommends 6..g6 and a Dragon-like set up. But after 6.Be3 e6 7.Bd3, the Dragon option is no longer available to Black. The logical sequence 7..b5 8.a3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.f4 Rc8 11.Qf3 Be7 transposes to the 6.f4 chapter, but you might point that out for the reader and also give some coverage of 7..b5 8.0-0 Bb7 9.f3. Black should, of course, be fine here, but having faced this in a game recently, I think 9..Be7 and 10..0-0 might have been a bit safer than my incautious 9..Nbd7 10.Qe1 Be7 11.a4 b4 (11..bxa4was played in B.Larsen-R.Byrne, Lugano 1970) 12.Nce2 d5 13.Qg3 0-0 14.e5 etc.

  42. John Shaw :
    @Ed
    GM Repertoire 13 is a repertoire for Black with the Open Spanish. It’s too early for a table of contents – at least one rather significant line is still being analysed.

    Any chance to see the Riga Variation ?

  43. Shurlock Ventriloquist

    Michel Barbaut :

    John Shaw :
    @Ed
    GM Repertoire 13 is a repertoire for Black with the Open Spanish. It’s too early for a table of contents – at least one rather significant line is still being analysed.

    Any chance to see the Riga Variation ?

    One of my favorite busted openings to play as black!

    I’m hoping there is some good coverage of the vastly underrated 5. Re1 lines including some of the sac/gambit lines white has after 5. …Nc5. Black is considered to be fine theoretically here but I’ve found that otb against strong players, white keeps a pretty good pull (or at least a good initiative) and black seems to be grovelling for the half point as good moves that generate serious counter play are hard to find here for the dark side.

  44. Franck Steenbekkers

    What lines will John recommend in the tarrash French versus 3…-Nf6 or the 3…-c5 variation with Qxd5?
    And what variation will he recommend versus the Sicilian..(i think 2 c3)

  45. Franck Steenbekkers :What lines will John recommend in the tarrash French versus 3…-Nf6 or the 3…-c5 variation with Qxd5?And what variation will he recommend versus the Sicilian..(i think 2 c3)

    I’m almost certain I recall them saying it would be the Open Sicilian, but not as detailed or granular as Aagaard’s upcoming book in the 1.e4 GM Repertoire series.

    I can’t say for certain, as I’ve, at least for now, pretty much retired from playing 1.e4. It’s a stupid move, and Fischer was off by 1 letter.

    1.d4 – Best by Test! (And seriously, it is! It scores about 2% better than 1.e4 in most large databases!)

  46. @biber

    It never was that funny to begin with. The problem is the same as always: the author – me – is busy with many other things including running a publishing company. In the last 3 weeks I think the King’s Gambit has had about 2 hours of my attention.

  47. @RWL I don’t think you have the right to judge John.
    He doesn’t owe you something.
    If you can’t wait – write your own book on the Kings’s Gambit.

  48. @werner
    John runs a business, and has been at least implicitly promising his customers that he will produce a book on the King’s Gambit for about four years now. Does that mean he owes his customers that book? I would think that question is at least open to debate.

    My other question would be, how many other books did John work on recently (as opposed to the necessary administrivia of running a business)? If the answer is greater than zero, my next question would be, will the King’s Gambit book ever be put on the front burner? Or is everyone so burnt out on the book that this will never happen?

  49. @RWL
    Perhaps the name of the book should be changed to “The Complete King’s Gambit”, as one of those little jokes that the QC crew seem to love so much? That could possibly reduce “perfection anxiety”, and allow QC to put the book out before it’s perfect?

  50. @RWL No, you rather made an assumption. Otherwise you wouldn’ have used the words ‘I think’.
    John told us his reasons, there is no need to call this ‘deflection’. O.K., maybe it was meant as a joke. Maybe you didn’t mean it personally.
    I just don’t like some people’s behavior on this blog, as if they had the right to get their books in time – although the publisher always say, that the schedule is not definitive. Four years may be a little too much, but anyway…

  51. @werner
    I think you should take less offence on our behalf, as we find it all rather amusing, with the exception that we really would like to get this book out. We have done so much for it; but of course we also need to put the other books finished out!

  52. Jacob a question regarding your GM Prep series. After 20yrs or so of playiong average club level chess, I have made a concerted effort to improve!

    Firstly which book do you it is better to start with Positional Play or Calculation?
    I have started reading calculation and I have found it quite intimidating. My ECF rating is about 160-165 and have always found this the most challenging part of the game (I feel my strategy/positional play is quite far better). Do you think the book is a little too advanced for me. I have read you quotes like “This is easy to see”, I have not even give it a thought! :-(.

    Also in the calcultion book do you think it is better to read the all the introductions first then do the probems or do the problems straight after the chapter, or is it just a matter of taste?

    I feel that to improve my game it will be a long-long road as I can see the calculation book taking me about 2 years to read through! Is it advisable to read more than obe of the GM Prpe books simulataneously or is it better to stick and get through one book first?

  53. Jacob Aagaard :
    @werner
    I think you should take less offence on our behalf, as we find it all rather amusing, with the exception that we really would like to get this book out. We have done so much for it; but of course we also need to put the other books finished out!

    With all due respect Mr. Aagaard, this Shaw fellow has clearly been lollygagging. Coddling him will hardly produce the desired results. There are still a few days left before Christmas. I suggest a firm talk centred around the amount of coal he can expect to find in his stocking.

  54. Why do I have to wait 7 months for a book?? I have been waitting since May 25th for Chess Evolution 2, when it was published. I like your books, but not if I have to wait this long. I read you blog on the problems with sending books, but I thing & months is too FUCKING LONG. Not a single chess publishing company has this problem with me, even the fact that I am form the states.

  55. I do not want to stop getting books from you, they are well written and high quality, but if it takes this long, I would rather get my books fron another publisher.

  56. By the way, Jacob Aagaard, I have your Excelling AT books from Everyman Chess and really enjoy them. I hope to see more of your work form Quality Chess, and other authors.

  57. I did not order it directly from the Quality Chess website, I ordered the book from a book store in Batesville,Indiana-USA, which they went thru the distributers of Quality Chess and the time of delivery kept going up, first from the month of July, then September, then November, and now the distributer has no date, so I do not know what to do, but thanks for the concern and advice anyway.

  58. I clicked on Claire Scott website and got zoominfo asking me to download information, first what is zoominfo anyway and what am I downloading, I wanted to talk to Claire directly without downloading anything. I typed in Claire@Quality Chess.co.UK. Need advise on how to get my book, help.

  59. @scott warren
    Hi Scott. I fully understand your frustration, but have you thought about the problem being that the shop you have bought it through has let you down? We sell to shops that then sell them on, but we cannot be responsible for them. My recommendation would be to cancel the order with those guys and start buying your chess books from the specialists like Chess4Less, USCF Chess Sales, ChessCafe, Chess Books from Europe, who generally get the books one day BEFORE the European publication date.

    If you want to get the book through this book store still, please tell them that Quality Chess are now distributed by Globe Pequot in the US. Hopefully this will resolve all the problems.

    I hope you are successful in getting the book soon and will have a great 2013!

  60. @Nick
    Dear Nick, Thank you for your questions.

    Your rating is about 2000, as far as I understand the English system. This is probably the lower level of where you can work seriously with my books. The problem is not so much that some of the exercises in Calculation will be beyond you at this point – when you hit a roadblock, go to the next chapter. The problem is probably more that there will be knowledge inferred that you do not have. The “obvious” is not so.

    This does not mean that the books are not useful. I have tried hard to make the explanations very simple, with the knowledge that simplicity is the engine of just about anything that works.

    My suggestion is to mix these two books (stay away from STRATEGIC PLAY, it will be a very difficult book) with a few other good training books. Here I am thinking specifically about Yusupov’s books (http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/docs/14/artur_yusupovs_awardwinning_training_course/), CHESS TACTICS FROM SCRATCH and QUALITY CHESS PUZZLE BOOK.

    About mixing and matching. Well, I already indicated that I am in favour. Basically, I would like you to look at these parametres instead:

    1) What do you enjoy most. Make sure that you feed and follow your enthusiasm.
    2) Make sure you spend a good deal of your time training concentration. Training concentration is ESSENTIAL. The methods are useful, the knowledge is great, but without concentration, it is all theoretical.

    Hope it helped. If you have more questions, please ask.

  61. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    Is GM13 to be released before GM12 then? I got confused at first, but then saw that GM13 is Open Spanish and GM12 is Modern Benoni.

    Would you expect GM Rep Open Spanish to be in UK shops around 22 January?

  62. Strange I thought my post asked a genuine question, and I did say it was a question for Jacob regarding your books on GM prep series? Not o worry I have decided not to read them anyway.

  63. @nick
    If it helps I would persevere with Calculation – my ECF grade is very similar to yours, and I have been working through Calculation for a couple of months. Of course a lot of it is difficult, or we are just too lowly graded BUT I can’t remember the last time I not only enjoyed such a challenge but also felt good about my chess when I solved an exercise – I still have the puzzles at the end of the book to look forward too. As to which book to read first? I am going to read them in the order they are being published, which seems sensible but I am certain that players of our level will greatly benefit from working through the books, either individually or in any which order. Good luck with your chess in 2013
    @Scott Warren
    I too get frustrated awaiting books, I am looking out for the postman as we speak but please remember that women and children also play chess and read chess blogs:
    I understand that we should not expect the Queen’s English from across the Pond but please try and refrain from the use of foul language.

  64. @Nick
    It was and I answered it. Sometimes however people do write things here that are not directed at us and then we do not comment. Best of luck whatever you choose to do.

  65. @Jacob Aagaard
    Thanks for all the advise, I just heard today that the book is in. I will use what you have listed next time if any trouble comes up. Sorry about the foulness, I have no excuse for that. I will look forward for more books that you have. Thanks.

  66. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    I anticipate the book, I think it will be a new subject, as there have been many Spanish books recently, especially repertoire books, but the Open Spanish is probably not as played as frequently as the currently extremely popular Berlin Wall, Marshall Gambit, Neo-Arkhangelsk, maybe even Breyer (hopefully someday QC publish a book on this variation :D), so it will be interesting to see the repertoire. I have played in several tournaments in which Viktor Mikhalevski has played and saw him play a few times. Given his experience in the Spanish I am sure this will be an excellent book. Also I do not receive any Christmas presents, so perhaps my buying this book will be a late Christmas gift..

  67. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    @Gilchrist is a Legend
    Dear friend,

    Lately I’m reading Kasparov’s “My Great Predecessors Part I” where I found many good games on Tarrasch against 1.d4 and Open Spanish against 1.e4. Since I have Aagaard & Ntirlis’s “Grandmaster Repertoire 10 – The Tarrasch Defence”, I’m looking forward to Mikhalevski’s “GM Open Spanish”.

    My other concern is what to play: King’s Inidan or Grunfeld. I’m 2100 and must decide 🙂

  68. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @LE BRUIT QUI COURT
    I have seen Mikhalevski play both the Spanish, and Grünfeld in person. I remember in the 2008 Canadian Championship in Montréal he was consistently on the top three boards, so the games were broadcast and also the top boards were on the stage. Two good openings, and he will be writing a GM Repertoire book on the former.

  69. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    Is GM2 hardcover in the new paper (post-GM6 smooth)? GM2 hardcover was released in 2011 during use of the new paper, so I was wondering if the hardcover edition changed from the old paper used during the GM2 softcover March 2010 publication to the new, smoother paper.

  70. @Jacob – I want to order GM Rep 11 in hardcover, but I see it is currently Out of Stock. Do you plan to get back it in stock and when, so that I can order it. Thanks

  71. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    I ordered a copy of GM2 hardcover, and anticipate GM13 in a few weeks. I anticipate the excerpt, but I do not need to see it to order as I will pre-order anyway. I calculate that then if pre-order GM13 from the QC site it would be likely to arrive in Manchester on Tuesday 22 January if posted on Monday the 21st. Or at least I hope it arrives then.

    Godt Nytår!

  72. @Gilchrist is a Legend
    You will probably get it 10 days later. I am not sure when we put it on the website for pre-order. Basically we have to change the postage system, so that pre-orders are not free postage, unless all of the books are sent out together. The UPS rates have not gone up, but postage has increased and increased and increased.

    Happy New Year too!

  73. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    I thought websales will be posted on 21st, or are they going to be posted the 28th? Or is the UPS/Royal Mail new parcel service being chosen this time? Royal Mail marks and stamps are usually on the exterior of my QC parcel, and I think they usually take one day. And I never knew pre-orders previously had free postage, I should have pre-ordered in bulk 😀

  74. If you have bought three books and live in mainland EU, you get free postage. There are some bugs in our site, so a few more get it, but really they should not, as it costs us more. Will get them sorted when back.
    The printer simply had to push the finishing of the books a week.

  75. Gilchrist is a Legend

    If GM13 is received on 28th or 29th January by residents in England then I suppose that is good too. I have the parcel that was used to post my GM11 in front of me right now, and it says “Sauchiehall Street Glasgow, Post Office, 12 Nov 2012”, and I received GM11 on Tuesday 13th November, so I seem to be addicted to the GM Repertoire series. I thought Royal Mail was used, but first class mail should not cost more than £4 I thought.

  76. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    Is there any chance to see 2nd edition of Attacking the Spanish? Theory moves ahead very fast, and I’d like to have a hardcover edition!

  77. Hi- I notice if I place the Open Spanish book + new Yusupov book (presumably sent together) into checkout cart, and throw in one other book you have already published, I still get free shipping. Is this correct? Would you send all three books together (no issue from me if you do)?

  78. @Paul
    Yes, we will send them out together. In the future this will be the case; we will just make sure to make it absolutely clear, I think. Our webmaster is worrying how to do it in the best possible (easiest) way.

  79. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    I see GM13 Open Spanish on the Coming Soon section now. Nice excerpt, the book should be excellent. I am sure this opening will become more popular after the publication of the book, similar to the Tarrasch.

    I just pre-ordered, perhaps I am one of the first five to do so.

  80. Gilchrist is a Legend

    The Open Spanish purchase link says 31 January, so is it two weeks shifted from the 18th publication date?

  81. @Gilchrist is a Legend
    Yes, this is unfortunate, but the printer is busy and we cannot really argue with him. Everyone wants their book printed immediately and this time we have to wait two weeks. But with the book uploaded the 27th Dec, it will still be very up-to-date when published.

  82. I was wondering whether there is a notable surge in popularity of the Tarrasch among GMs since the publication of GM10. Or do most still think it’s not worth playing?

    1. There clearly were some people who took it up and got good positions. But obviously you still have to play well subsequently. We have described a bit of this in the newsletters. If you go to the PGN file, you can find them by sorting by ECO code. I personally think it is a great opening and have not regrettet taking it up, even if I can misplay this as easily as anything else!

  83. @Jacob Aagaard
    Thanks. In terms of ordering 3 books together, are you able to say at the moment if you are likely to publish anything in early Feb (like the Soviet technique or Modern Benoni)?

    1. Not early Feb, but I would guess both in February, yes. Obviously the King’s Gambit is a beast to kill, but John is getting a bit closer all the time.

  84. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    Unfortunate, I suppose, since it is sort of one of my Christmas presents (for myself, if that makes sense). But at least I am on the list for posting since I pre-ordered so quickly, although I unsure if that is the manner in which orders are posted.

    I apologise for inquiring so many times, but now with this new given publication date, when do you think a pre-order for the GM13 hardback should arrive at the residence of a customer who lives in Manchester? Is Monday/4 Feb or Tuesday/5 Feb a plausible estimate? At least after all of my questions, you can be assured that it is useful, I give you a lot of business with my pre-orders, and not only of the books, but the hardback edition of GM13 as well 🙂

  85. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Four more weeks then, this book should also go well with Marin’s Chigorin Spanish repertoire book.

    Is the QC office also a shop? Do customers go there to buy books in person as well?

  86. Hey,here’s an idea! Why not put off publishing the King’s Gambit!

    I really like the books Quality Chess puts out!

  87. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    Interesting, I was just asking, since I am sure there are customers who live closeby and would probably be eager to get their books more quickly without postage 😀

    Concerning King’s Gambit, I understand that it has been a long time since its announcement of existence, but the GM Repertoire books interest me more. GM12 Modern Benoni and the French book, how are those going?

  88. @Jacob Aagaard
    And what about a book on the open games as black to accompany the Open Spanish book (either in GM Reportoire format or the “Playing …” format), especially now that Marin’s book is sold out?

  89. Hi Jacob,
    are the publishing dates for Playing 1.e4 still valid. I remember you said Playing 1.e4 will be published after Nessy and who knows when Nessy shows up.? 😉
    I don’t care so much about Nessy but I’m very interested in the Playing 1.e4 books.

  90. Just wondering – I see that GM13 is on the way.. what happen(s)/happened to GM12 ? (and yes I’m a collector, and yes I’m going to buy :D).

  91. @ Aagaard
    Fantastic – is one wise to order GM13 already ? (I usually like to order a few volumes at the same time to save some shipping ;)). Or will there be plenty of each ?

  92. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Regarding the poll, I am looking forward to most of the opening books. I voted for GM13, since it is the first in that list to be published. But maybe an updated publishing schedule? It could help with the poll as well.

  93. @Aagaard
    Any chance we can get a sneak peak of the frontcover for GM Rep 12 ? And, perhaps even better if possible, a way to order it in advance ?

  94. @Aagaard
    Thanks. I’m “checking” your website more often than OTB, or put in another way – I can’t wait for them to be published and available 🙂

  95. Gilchrist is a Legend

    I see the Coming Soon section has GM12 Modern Benoni, with a nice cover, it looks like the flag of Italy, I think. But there is no price drop-down bar attached, is the price still not finalised?

  96. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    I understand. The book says publication due end of February. Thankfully February this year only has 28 days. It will be interesting since GM13’s publication this month and GM12 next month could essentially serve as two new repertoires for Black GM13 against 1. e4, then GM12 against 1. d4. I check periodically for the Coming Soon section, so I suppose when the price bar is added I will pre-order the hardback on that day. If there is any more information on GM12 please let us know.

  97. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Gilchrist is a Legend
    I checked right now, I see Playing the French has been added to the Coming Soon section. Nice cover layout, it reminds me of the cover of Experts on the Anti-Sicilians. It will be on my purchase list for this April. The line in the Tarrasch 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 with the main line and then I think the sequence with 12. Bb3 Bd6 13. Nf5 Bxh2+ 14. Kh1 0-0 15. Nxg7 is probably a very critical line.

  98. @ Jacob Aagaard
    The book Soviet Middlegame Technique: at what level/rating is the book targeting?
    Hence do you think that it would make a good introduction book or more of a companion book to your GM Prep Strategy book?
    When do you estimate that this book will be available?
    Thanking you in advance.

  99. @Jacob Aagaard
    The book Soviet Middlegame Technique: at what level/rating is the book targeting?
    Hence do you think that it would make a good introduction book or more of a companion book to your GM Prep Strategy book?
    When do you estimate that this book will be available?
    Thanking you in advance.

  100. With the soon to arrive GM Rep Open Spanish. Do you have plans for a complementary GM Rep ‘Open Games’ I believe this would be very well recieved!

  101. @Ed
    The book is a more general book than my strategy book and certainly a lower level. The strategy book is very very difficult. I expect to sell 15 copies tops!

    Soviet Middlegame Technique will probably be out at the end of February. My Strategy book hopefully in March in hardcover. In May we will then release the first three books in the Grandmaster Preparation series in paperback. The series will be six volumes in total.

    Yes, the attacking manuals are strategic books as well; they deal with using a dynamic advantage to attack the king. It is one area of strategy. Because there will be an Attack & Defence book in the GM Prep series, the Strategy book does not deal with mate to a great extent.

    Yes, we have plans for a new open games book.

  102. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    Jacob Aagaard :
    @Ed
    The strategy book is very very difficult. I expect to sell 15 copies tops!

    How come? Are you copying Dvoretsky’s “Dvoretsky’s Analytical Manual” which is excessively difficult, but possobly a good training book for Houdini 3 🙂 I don’t see a point in making ultra hard workbook, what had you in thought?

    The series will be six volumes in total.

    Excellent! But I have one outstanding idea, and my fellow bloggers would certainly agree with me.
    Why not make a wise twist in producing high end training books? Most of us here are rated as strong amateurs (Elo 1900-2200). You could make only one workbook for us, and I mean literary a workbook! It could comprise themes from Jussupow’s books and contain 1500 exercises dealing with 5 themes:

    1) tactics
    2) strategy
    3) positional play
    4) calculation
    5) endgame

    Yes I here you grumbling that we have enough exercises in Yussupow’s series. But we don’t want that! We want simple and efficient training book.

    After finishing GM Preparation series you could make such workbook for their level also!

    Make your employees really work hard for salary they become!e

    Yes, we have plans for a new open games book.

    In GM Guide format or GM Repertoire format? Why did you wait, you could sell it in pair with Open Spanish as a complete Black repertoire vs 1.e4.

  103. Jacob

    I am looking forward to Play the French and the Modern Benoni book.

    Can you tell us anymore about the KID book. Is that still expected in Spring this year and is it the first volume of a series or a stand-alone book on the KID?

  104. @Jacob Aagaard
    So if the Grandmaster Preparation series is going to be 6 in total instead of 5 (See message 192), what is the 6th book? You have the 5 you originally advertised, the last 3 in your coming soon section. What’s the 6th? The first 5 you had as Calculation, Poisitional Play, Strategic Play, Endgame Play, and Thinking Inside the Box. Oh, and I plan to be one of those 15 on Strategic Play! 🙂

  105. @Jacob Aagaard
    Hi Jacob,
    I’m very excited about the new book about Playing e4! When do you think is it possible to upload the contents or an pdf-excerpt for the first book!?
    Would be great, thank you.

    Cheers, Paul

  106. @Paul

    I think I can answer that one – no contents or excerpt on ‘Playing 1.e4’ in the immediate future – maybe in a couple of months it will appear. I have another book to finish before Playing 1.e4.

  107. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    Now I make my earlier post clearer, I wrongly used quotation.

    Jacob, here we go!

    “The strategy book is very very difficult. I expect to sell 15 copies tops!”

    How come? Are you copying Dvoretsky’s “Dvoretsky’s Analytical Manual” which is excessively difficult, but possobly a good training book for Houdini 3 🙂 I don’t see a point in making ultra hard workbook, what had you in thought?

    “The series will be six volumes in total.”

    Excellent! But I have one outstanding idea, and my fellow bloggers would certainly agree with me.

    Why not make a wise twist in producing high end training books? Most of us here are rated as strong amateurs (Elo 1900-2200). You could make only one workbook for us, and I mean literary a workbook! It could comprise themes from Jussupow’s books and contain 1500 exercises dealing with 5 themes:

    1) tactics
    2) strategy
    3) positional play
    4) calculation
    5) endgame

    Yes I hear you grumbling that we have enough exercises in Yussupow’s series. But we don’t want that! We want simple and efficient training book.

    After finishing GM Preparation series you could make such workbook for their level also!

    Make your employees really work hard for salary they become!

    “Yes, we have plans for a new open games book.”

    In GM Guide format or GM Repertoire format? Why did you wait, you could sell it in pair with Open Spanish as a complete Black repertoire vs 1.e4.

  108. @LE BRUIT QUI COURT
    “We don’t want that!” ? I have to say I’m very happy with the Yussupow books! What more exercises do you want besides 9 volumes Yusupow, 2 volumes Attacking Manual and 6 volumes GM preparation? And then I didn’t even mention the outstanding Quality Chess Puzzle book, Tactimania and Jacob’s book on defending.

  109. LE BRUIT QUI COURT

    @csaba
    I meant that I have it already, and even in German language and I went rough all 9 volumes!
    But some folks won’t buy Jussupow’s books for tuition, so they want just plain workbook. About this I was talking about. Sorry for misunderstanding.

  110. Looking forward to GM Open Spanish!
    Who’s gonna write the new open games book (in GM format)?
    I’ve used “Beating the open games” till now with great success, even in correspondence games.
    It’s a great book from Marin, I would say almost bullet proof, and I doubt there are novelties in those old lines.
    The only defects maybe are some very drawish lines, a more active repertoire would be welcome indeed.

  111. Franck Steenbekkers

    Are there new excerpts of new books?
    QC is nog by far the best publishing company…keep up the excellent job QC team!!!

  112. Farbror :
    I will visit 44 Baker St the first weekend in February. What are the odds that I will be able to buy a copy of the awaited King’s gambit book?

    Zero. Even if we printed today, it would probably take longer than that to arrive. As it is, there is still a small number of weeks work to go.

  113. Capodoglio :
    Looking forward to GM Open Spanish!
    Who’s gonna write the new open games book (in GM format)?
    I’ve used “Beating the open games” till now with great success, even in correspondence games.
    It’s a great book from Marin, I would say almost bullet proof, and I doubt there are novelties in those old lines.
    The only defects maybe are some very drawish lines, a more active repertoire would be welcome indeed.

    It is a little too early for detailed announcements, I think, but I can say we are thinking along similar lines to you on the new Open Games book. Of course we want a sound repertoire, but also one where Black might fight for a win.

  114. Jacob

    As per my earlier post can you tell us anymore about the KID book. Is that still expected in Spring this year and is it the first volume of a series or a stand-alone book on the KID?

  115. @Grant
    It will be incredibly detailed and deal with g3-systems only. We are hoping this is the beginning of a long series, but we have made no promises to the author and he has made no promises to us. We play it by ear.

  116. Gilchrist is a Legend

    Marin’s work was extended to three volumes unexpectedly, so more information for the King’s Indian similarly is not a bad thing; when I used to play the King’s Indian I had problems against the Fianchetto because it seems more difficult to generate counterplay than against, for example, the Mar Del Plata Classical. A remedy recommended to me by my coach years ago was to play the Grünfeld against 3. g3, i.e. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5, with the …Nxd5 variation, or for Avrukh’s repertoire by 3…c6 and then 4…d5 is possible, although a pure King’s Indian response is obviously more attuned for the book.

  117. Jacob

    Exciting news- lets hope a series eventuates- it will be a landmark in KI literature if it can be done.

    I very much appreciate your willingness to tell us about upcoming books on the blog.

    I hope you can also get other authors to answer questions on the blog or record a short interview. It was great hearing from Nikos and from Judit. Everyman try to do this for their books-but it is nice to hear from the actual author not just from the editor.

  118. @Grant
    We do it sometimes. Avrukh has done it in the past and probably others too. But you have to recognise that not all authors like this sort of scrutiny. We are not a billion dollar industry and cannot put the same requirements on our authors as you can put on best selling thrller writers.

  119. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    If it is g3-systems only, is it titled GM18 King’s Indian: Fianchetto Lines 1/3 or something similar then, assuming that preceding it is the GM12 Benoni, the two French GM Repertoires, and the two GM Repertoires for Najdorf 2nd Ed.?

  120. @Gilchrist is a Legend
    I thought the 2nd editions of the Najdorf were 6A and 6B. I seem to recall they aren’t getting new numbers. Of course, what number it’s going to be doesn’t matter anyway. It can be 18, 15, 27, or 83 trillion, the content will be the same either way.

    Hopefully the King’s Indian series will continue with, in addition to the Fianchetto, the Saemisch, Four Pawns, Nge2 lines, h3 lines, Averbakh, and all other offbeat lines, and then suddenly something happens to the author (preferably positive, like he gets married and has triplets) that makes it impossible to do the one on the Classical and all its offshoots (Petrosian, Gligoric, etc), so that the popularity of the King’s Indian will increase, and I can continue to be a King’s Indian Slayer because nobody is prepared for the Classical! 🙂

  121. Gilchrist is a Legend

    @Jacob Aagaard
    Unfortunately for me I stopped playing the King’s Indian and I play 1. d4 and the Fianchetto Variation like Avrukh’s GM2. But then I guess if GM12 is Benoni, GM13 Open Spanish, GM14 King’s Indian I, GM15 French I, GM16 French II, GM17 Slav (?), GM18 1. e4 I (?), GM19 King’s Indian II, maybe GM20s will have Breyer Spanish or Open Games someday.

    Is Mikhalevski planning to write more after GM13?

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