It has been clear to us for some time that everything surrounding the King’s Gambit release has been jinxed. Latest, the KID and the Trompowsky have been two weeks delayed from Estonia due to DSV mucking about. They should arrive next week; once they have located them…
Meanwhile the King’s Gambit arrived this morning in our warehouse. It will be in a few shops and in our office next week and most places at the very end of that week/ start of the next. Hopefully this is the end of the jinx…
Obviously, as I pressed publish to this post, our Internet died. (Oh yeah; please no more requests for John’s blood. He read the comment and cut his finger three minutes later.)
If one had bought the King’s Gambit, King’s Indian, and Trompowsky all separately (with separate shipping costs for each book), does that mean that the King’s Gambit book, if it reaches the warehouse slightly earlier, will be posted earlier, and then the King’s Indian and Trompowsky shall be posted in one parcel?
I looked in the PDF of contents for The Trompowsky and noticed that the line:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.h6 which is often played is not covered.
Just wondering what people’s view on this line?
Pert in his book recommends lines from 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 which is also often played.
Is 3.h6 considered inferior to 3.Bf4?
@Jacob Aagaard
The book Mating the castled King by Gormally
Will this book be a series of endgames from games with annotation or will this book have exercises in it as well? Thanks
I like 3.h4, even though I’ve never gotten a chance to use it yet. Avrukh’s line against it seems to kill most of the fun though.
It was really exhausting experience for John and his work team friends! I bet John is going to have a rest (at least) to the end of the week! Publishing and finally having in his hands HIS OUTSTANDING King’s Gambit book (a few years baby comes to mind!) must have been really moving experience!
Once again congratulations to John Shaw for showing his perseverance and self-confidence! I would never laught or criticise an author for doing such a painful job! (I know how hard is to write a book – not to mention good or very good book, and I do not even want to think – how much energy is needed to publish it and sell as many copies as needed to pay all the necessary bills!). Hats off to You John for your dedication to this project and finally realizing it!
@Ed
3.h6 cannot be played by white, do you mean 3.h5?
as actors avoid saying the name of Macbeth – the shakespeare’s play is known to be… cursed! they refer to it as “The Scottish Play”… maybe something similar could be used for THIS book 😀
@Igor
Perhaps so, but in the case of my cut finger, there was barely enough blood for one decent signature.
Correct – if you are paying any shipping charge, then every book goes out as soon as possible, individually if need be. It is only if you get free shipping that the books go out in a combined package.
@Tomasz Chessthinker
Thanks Tomasz, but no breaks for me yet. I am on to Axel Smith’s book, then it will be Playing 1.e4 and then maybe a break.
Dear John,
nice to read that there will be soon the playing 1.e4 on the cards…I`am looking very very much forward to your next books! I think it is perhaps a bit more fun writing that ones….
Keep up the so good work!
Congratulations, John!
Can’t wait till the book arrives. I’ll bring out the bottle of 23 year old Port Ellen that has been waiting for a celebration!
@Igor
There is the name of a well-known Scottish lake monster that we could use…
I would like to ask what is the estimated date to publish this book? As far as I know this book might be very interesting to read. Expected Release is August 2013, but how much of the work (editing, corrections, etc.) to this book is needed? I am thinking of how much progress is the book (is it 60, 70, 80, 90% done?). I am looking forward to this book as this one seems to be written by strong chess passionate player!
PS. In 2013-05-27, The author (Axel Smith) on his blog said:
“My editor is busy, working on another project. The present goal is to publish the book in time for the Swedish Championship in July.
It means that I can still change things. And at every training session I hold or every game I see, I think about what I have written. Every day I change something.”
That is some seriously fancy whisky. Talking of which, when we went to the pub to celebrate sending the book to the printer, I bought the drinks. IM Andrew Greet went for Dalmore Cromartie and said it was great – and so it should be at £11 a drink.
@Tomasz Chessthinker
“Pump Up Your Rating” should be published in August. Editing work is all but finished, but that leaves typesetting, proofreading, printing, shipping…
Progress might have been quicker this week if the temperature in the office was not 90 degrees Fahrenheit – that’s 32 degrees Celsius. Scots are not designed for such temperatures.
@John Shaw
In Scotland is there no air conditioning?
A question we will ask again of our building manager. In theory, we have air conditioning, but it just circulates air of a similar temperature to the room. No real cooling.
### Aagaard: GRANDMASTER PREPARATION – POSITIONAL PLAY ###
Dear Jacob,
Few seconds ago I finished your excellent book. My current Elo is around 2030.
I achieved following results in solving exercises based on 3 points difficulty level (1 point for first move, 2 points for second crucial move or idea, 3 points for full solution):
CHAPTER results:
1. Weaknesses -24 exercises – success 22%;
2. Pieces – 24 exercises – success 18%;
3. Prophylaxis -24 exercises – success 38%;
4. Exercises – 150 exercises – success 36%.
OVERALL success ratio: 33%.
What do you think about my results and rating strength? With which GM Preparation book should I proceed? I have them all 🙂
PS I find one possible diagram error. It’s on page 304, chapter Solutions, diagram 148. Tikkanen – Leko. Shouldn’t bishop on b7 be the worst placed piece for Black? You made a square sign for bishop on e7 though?
Actually 3.h4
I’ll have to try that one. since I visited your beautiful country the first time 25 years ago, I have a weak spot for Scotch – the drink that is, not the opening 😉 drop by next time you’re in Copenhagen, I’ll save some of the Port Ellen for you.
For the 1.e4 book I hope you find something suitably aggressive against the people who only push that e-pawn one square.
Hi Jacob! I have one question for you: The grandmaster repertoire series or grandmaster guide series by John Shaw Play 1.e4 will contain The EVANS Gambit against 1…e5?
P.S. Is my favorite opening against 1…e5!!
If I’m good remebering it will cover the Scotch vs 1…e5.
The gambit has always been covered in Alterman book. 😉
Holding “Kotronias on the KID – Volume 1” in my hands I´m as much overwhelmed as I´m delighted. This is a really massive book which could have easily been published in two parts. I admire your decision not to do so and hope this book will get high salesnumbers.
This book is certainly extremely useful to any KID practitioner since even if one doesn´t intend to play his main recommendation with 6…Nbd7/9…Qb6, a substantial part of the book deals with lines without c4.
Obviously I wasn´t able to read any substantial part of the book so my words are not a review but I can tell that the production quality is as high as usual. My impression is that the author has written a lot of explanatory text which makes the complex lines more digestible.
Therefore alone this book is highly recommended!
I presume the second volume will cover the Classical KID with 7…Nc6 and I don´t dare asking when we can expect this but after this great looking start I really hope Kotronias will share his experience in the other lines with us readers as well.
Thanks a lot to both the author and the publisher!
@Tom Tidom
From where did you buy the book? I ordered from the QC warehouse, but I think they said it was delayed or something. Perhaps the printer wss on schedule if you have it so early?
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Niggemann – it came together with Playing the Trompowsky. The King´s Gambit I expect for next week.
@Tom Tidom
Thank you for notifying that. I suppose that means that all the books must have been distributed, as I have seen King’s Gambit on New In Chess, De Beste Zet, etc. as well. Perhaps tomorrow could the three books arrive at QC warehouse for posting. That King’s Indian book is probably QC’s largest opening book–anticipating that one most of all.
@Daniel Peter
Neither, sorry.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
What happened is that the books going from the printer to our warehouse were lost by DSV, but the books going to Niggemann from the printer arrived. This is not how it will normally be; usually Niggemann gets the books the same day as a lot of other shops around Europe. This time around they got it earlier because of this mess.
@Jacob Aagaard
I see, hopefully they reorganise over the weekend and the books arrive tomorrow. I see that the hardback version of the King’s Indian book is listed as weighing 1,3 kg, 720 pages. Enough reading for the entire year..
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I think the books should arrive today in Poland. Those who ordered all three books from our website will have them sent out then. The other books are a few days on the way.
Again, sorry to everyone for this mess, but between printers and DSV letting us down, we have done what we could to get the books out.
Via ups you can follow the delivery progress live – the jinx is still on:
Wesel, Germany 22/07/2013 8:20 Missorted to an incorrect location / Delivery rescheduled
To add to Jacob’s comments, there can be differences between what is said in shops’ emails and on their websites, compared to when they really get the books. For example, the King’s Gambit books will arrive at New in Chess today.
The books are delivered by lorry or aeroplane rom Estonia to Glasgow? The former would be quite slow if they only are in Germany by now..
It looks as if De Beste Zet updated their links. King’s Gambit seems to be in stock.
For the King’s Indian book, as well as the Trompowsky for in stock this week; it shows: Dit artikel zal op vrijdag, 26 juli 2013 op voorraad zijn. So I suppose as confirmed before, King’s Gambit arrived earlier, and shops get the other two this week.
No reply?
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
Hello, LE BRUIT QUI COURT.
Just one question do you use yussupov’s serie before ?
If yes what’s were your results?
If no why ? LOL
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
I do not think this is an error, but you can choose it your way around as well. What matters is that it sparks good ideas.
Calculation is the next one and then Strategic Play.
I think you will find these books difficult. I hope you will enjoy them.
I have just been so busy lately and a few people made me not want to be focusing much on the blog at the moment. So, I have decided not to reply to everything; because there are quite a lot of posts (which is great).
My advice is of course guesswork as I do not know you and have not analysed your games.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Sounds right. Was sent Thursday and take two working days. Should have arrived in England as well and be on its way to Chess4Less in the US.
1. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1500 Band I – 73%
2. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1500 Band II – 69%
3. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1500 Band III – 83%
4. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1800 Band I – 77%
5. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1800 Band II – 72%
6. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 1800 Band III – 56%
7. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 2100 Band I – 58%
8. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 2100 Band II – 49%
9. Jussupow Tigersprung auf DWZ 2100 Band III – 41%
And what are you results?
Official Nessie sighting in North Florida! Looks very comprehensive.
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
Thank’s for the answer.
It’s interesting to note that you (2030 if I remember well), you have about 70% on the 5 first books despite that they are supposed to be grouped by level (123/456/789) with 300 elo points beetween then, and your % decreases at 41% at the book 9 and less with GRANDMASTER PREPARATION – POSITIONAL PLAY (22%-36%). It’s supposed to be more and more difficult, it’s normal.
I intend to begin the youssopov’s in september (I don’t play anymore but was 17xx), and will check my results with yours and I will be not puzzled if I don’t have a high % due our elo difference.
I hope to finish the first one during october and will be back with my %.
Annoyingly, Book Depository “Cancelled and refunded” my order of King’s Gambit on 3rd September with no reason given other than they were “unable to fulfil” it. They say the book is “Currently unavailable”. Guess I’ll have to wait a bit longer…
Maybe Amazon didn’t receive stock yet?
@Francis Burton
I guess cheap isn’t always better :-).
@Ray
I guess not! Is that the reason they cancelled? Oh well, not to worry – I’ll look for it elsewhere. Amazon list are offering the paperback for £34.33(!) and list the publisher/date as Gazelle Book Services (Dec 2011). Does Quality Chess have a Glasgow outlet? If so, I could pop in and get a copy next time I’m in town.
Francis, The Book Depository is Amazon. If one doesn’t have it, chances are the other can’t fulfil it either.
@Francis Burton
Amazon should have it; but because of various restrictions, they run out of books. The best place is of course to buy the books on our website :-).