We have made some slight changes to the publishing schedule. Latest version looks like this:
| author | title | expected |
| Marin/Garrett | Reggio Emilia 2007/2008 | 11 November 2009 |
| Tibor Karolyi | Genius in the Background | 11 November 2009 |
| Jacob Aagaard | Attacking Manual Volume 1 | 25 November 2009 |
| Jacob Aagaard | Attacking Manual Volume 2 | 25 November 2009 |
| John Shaw | Quality Chess Puzzle Book | 02 December 2009 |
| Artur Yusupov | Boost your Chess 1 | 02 December 2009 |
| Boris Avrukh | Grandmaster Repertoire 2 | 09 December 2009 |
2010 |
||
| Boris Alterman | The Alterman Gambit Guide – White | 27 January 2010 |
| John Shaw | The King’s Gambit | 27 January 2010 |
| Lubomir Ftacnik | Grandmaster Repertoire 5 – The Sicilian | 03 February 2010 |
| Mihail Marin | Grandmaster Repertoire 4 – The English 2 | 17 February 2010 |
| Lars Schandorff | Grandmaster Repertoire 6 – The Caro-Kann | 17 February 2010 |
| Tibor Karolyi | Karpov’s Strategic Wins 1 – 1961-1985 | 03 March 2010 |
| Tibor Karolyi | Karpov’s Strategic Wins 2 – 1986 – 2009 | 03 March 2010 |
| Boris Alterman | The Alterman Gambit Guide – Black | 17 March 2010 |
| Artur Yusupov | Boost your Chess 2 | 01 May 2010 |
Ahh! I want to buy all of these but don’t have time time to read them all. 😀
So…extremely sure GM Rep 2 is to release 09/12 (of this year)?
I have just ordered it I really hope so!!
Me too…been craving this book for five months (and counting)
Nic,
No reason to think it won’t be, but it is always a prediction rather than a guarantee. The uncertain factor is when Boris will complete his analysis.
By the way, it took me a moment (and another cup of coffee) to realise that Nic and Nick are 2 different people. At first I thought one guy was talking to himself.
I hope Avrukh won’t be rushed because the kind of work he does takes time to do well. If he misses some line it will take me 10x more time to find the right solution anyway. For example. after countless hours of studying the 4. e3 Bg4 line I’m still at a loss about how to obtain an advantage. One line I thought was promising seems to no longer be and again it’s just equal. I’d be very pleased if Avrukh could find something in these lines because Bg4 is the only problem. Although, I’d be very impressed since I just don’t think there is anything to find. For now, I’ve gone to the normal lines with Nc3 and Nf3 earlier.
I showed the line John gave the other day (which was essentially mine) to Boris Gelfand. He found the notion that Black was equal quite amusing. White can play on both sides of the board and in the centre, and Black has no active plan. It is plus-equal, but it is also the Slav, and this is what you get. I personally would not like to be Black in this position.
Well, great but I need variations. Moreover, I agree that there is a tiny edge if Bg6 is played instead of Nb4 but not after that because of g5 if Ke2. If Bd2 instad of Ke2, Nb4 is annoying so White may have to resort to Na2.
Two points
1) No, you do not need variations. The forced sequences are over. What you need is chess skill to play the position. Looking at typical games in the line will do you more good than 2 more moves preparation.
2) 8…Qxb3 9.axb3 Na6 10.g4 Nb4 11.Ke2 g5!? is of course possible. However, I do not think it will make me give up the line for White. For example, the activity after 12.Nf3 Bg6 13.Nxg5 h5 14.gxh5 Rxh5 15.f4 Bc2 16.Ra3 is of course real, but I value the pawn higher. (I would NEVER play a move such as Na2).
If you disagree with Kaufman and think there’s an advantage, variations must be provided. It’s that simple. I’m not claiming this will change the outcome of my games, but if I’m looking for the truth (I’m not claiming this is productive!), it’s essential. If it could be included in another e-book update (maybe along with some of the feedback I mentioned before) that would be fantastic. I’d love to continue playing the 4. e3 lines and this is the only problem. Unfortunately, if Bg4 really turns out to be perfectly equal, then the whole 4. e3 setup is in trouble as a way to fight for an edge.
Anyway, that variation is interesting but I find it difficult to evaluate. It seems hard to make progress for either side. It feels like a stalemate. Perhaps, some practical tests will make it more clear.
BTW: Whatever, the evaluation, this is a line that will help me develop. It has so many positional elements like the bishop pair, space, doubled pawns, etc. that I’m sure it’s useful.
Oh…. I’d never want to play Na2 either. It’s just that playing around after 10. Bd2, I found Nb4 super annoying since it forced Rc1.
Ok, I looked at it a little more and what about this move order:
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Qxb3 9. axb3 Na6 10. g4 Nb4 11. Ke2 g5 12. Nf3 Bg6 13. Nxg5 Bc2 14. Ra3 Nd3 15.
Kd2 Nxf2
Now Black gets the pawn back and still has great activity. It seems so hard to play White in that sort of position.
I disagree that I have to provide variations for a different evaluation of a position than Rybka – especially when we are talking about long term evaluations. I have provided enough, I think.
I don’t mind playing Rc1. I don’t want to play Ra4 or Na2.
This 11…g5 move is interesting, but I don’t want to analyse it deeply right now, I am sort of busy ;-).
Well, I understand that your busy. However, given that Black has his pieces at White’s throat, it’s not all so long-term. For example, the line I gave seems to give the pawn back to Black. The evaluation is mostly based on dynamic factors for this or White would just be a pawn up with no worries.
I repeat, the g5-line is complex, it would take some analysis. I don’t think we have to be available to analyse each new idea deeply, so we are stopping here.
The basic variation such as B2 and Rc1 is simply better for White, no lines needed, but obviously, if there ever was a second edition, we would treat this question with more attention.
Ok, but even that line isn’t so simple because g5 is a move again:
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3 Qxb3 9. axb3 Na6 10. Bd2 g5
Now, the only way to get the bishop pair is to play g4, Nf3 doesn’t seem to do anything. So White sacrifices a pawn:
11. g4 gxh4 12. gxh5 Nxh5 (still, Black’s extra pawn doesn’t seem all that useful or strong)
Again, I can’t say White is necessarily better. Although, I understand you do not wish to discuss this. I’m just highlighting that Kaufman’s approach causes certain problems not dealt with in the book and making things very difficult for me if this ever becomes popular.
But you cannot cover everything. It is impossible and impractical.
If this line becomes popular we might ask Gelfand to play a game or 2 with it.
I do not see any reason why such disputes are going about this or that move. My understanding is that this blog is not intended to become an opening analysis forum like chesspub.com or I am on a wrong direction. If Quality Chess decide they may create a forum on their site and there everyine will be free to publish his (or Rybka’s) moves. But it is up to them. And we can not force them to do this or that whathewer we want.
Jacob, John and co, thanks for your great books and i really hope that you will keep this line and your published books will create a new standard in chess publishing.
We actually have a forum ready for launch, but I think it is much better that we refer people to chess publishing, where there are enough people to have a valid discussion. However, I do not have a problem with coming with some quick opinions on moves or method.
That’s good. In any case, I won’t bother you about Bg4 anymore since even though I think Avrukh’s line doesn’t promise any edge (engine books like Storm, MyBook, Conquest, etc. have other lines not discussed by me that also don’t seem very easy for White), I’ve found a new line that uses similar ideas and seems to give White a tiny edge. Most importantly, White has lots of chances to fight for an advantage even if his actual advantage is small. I’m really happy with it and have tried it in a few 15-min games with success in the opening. Thus, I won’t be switching to the Meran quite yet… but I’d still love an e-book update with corrections and new lines at some point (I’d even pay a small fee for it… I know it’s not ChessPub but repertoire books do need to be kept up-to-date to continue to be useful… so in a few years it will be sorely needing updates).
I have not seen anything to convince me that White is not better, but I agree that a deeper analysis is required.
It is always the case with repertoire books that they are prepared for the moment of publication. The reader will have to take it from there. Obviously 95% of the lines are still valid, but theory moves on. Anyone who can read this book fully and meet opponent’s that prepare against it, will surely have to do some work themselves. For 24.99 euros it is limited what we can do. Remember, this is a 456 page book at this price, rather than a 128 page book at 18.99, which is very popular among our competitors. Take one guess which one is most profitable per hour :-).
About the missing Closed Catalan 6…b6 attempt to transpose into a QID, Dunnington had this to say in his Winning with the Catalan:
“6…b6 is a luxury which Black cannot really afford. As long as White does not allow an effect …c7-c5 he can count on a pleasant edge. This is usually done by transposing to a favourable version of the Queen’s Indian Defence, and the most active option is to exploit the pin along the long diagonal with 7 Ne5 (also slight better for White is 7 cxd5, when 7…Nxd5 8 e4 Nf6 9 Nc3 Bb7 10 Ne5 is uncomfortable for Black, and 7…exd5 leads to a Q.I.D. in which Black may have to resort to the unsightly …c7-c6.).”
“1.d4 Volume Two covers the King’s Indian, Dutch, Grunfeld, various Benonis, Benko, Budapest Gambit and other minor openings.”
What about the Nimzo/QID ?
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3
Yes, so if 3. g3 d5, that is a transposition to GM Rep 1. 3. c5 obviously will lead to a Fianchetto Benoni. After 3. Bb4+, I suppose it is 4. Bd2, but I may be wrong…
Thank you. In hindsight, it was a silly question. I do not have a copy of Repertoire One, but I was looking for a volume to complement Schandorff’s Queen’s Gambit.
I don’t think the lines mix well with Schandorff because it’s such a different approach. Schandorff uses a space gaining approach that can quickly lead Black to a lost position. It’s very aggressive. Avrukh uses lines that tend to lead to a positional edge for White but not a huge advantage right out of the opening. Of course, in truth, Schandorff’s lines also can’t lead to a huge advantage with precise play by Black.
Anyway, one thing I’ve wanted to do is adopt Schandorff’s approach against the QGA. Unfortunately, this has some trans-positional problems:
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 Now play has transposed into a main-line QGA and so an opponent that knows this, could avoid my 3. e4 line against the QGA. I haven’t found a solution to this.
I’m having some problems with Avrukh’s current recommendations against the QGA. Mainly, he doesn’t write anything about: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 O-O 8.O-O Bg4 (p. 410). Avrukh only mentions Nc6 but Bg4 is vastly more popular and in fact, the Shredder database only has one game with Nc6. Moreover, Avrukh mentions throughout that preventing Bg4 is very important in this line. Bg4 is clearly the main move and not new theory, so it really should be given in an e-book update. I’ve also considered 3. Nf3 instead of 3. e3 but ultimately, Bg4 just seems too annoying. I don’t know of a good line for White.
(I e-mailed Jacob about this but he probably hasn’t had time to respond)
Any update on how far Boris has progressed on GM Rep 2 (lines finished so far, and lines left to finish) ?
Minor lines like 1…g6 and 1…Nc6 remaining. And, of course, he is playing the European Team Ch.
Sort of like the health care bills here in the US, though I’m betting Avrukh’s book
will be out well before it passes.
I’m curious about those Bogo-Catalan lines.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. _d2
4.Qd2?! maybe……….( I am sure it will be 4.Bd2)
It sounds like the book is just about 98% finished, since only 1. g6 and 1. Nc6 remain. Will there be an excerpt soon?
I wouldn’t be shocked if Marin’s vol 4 comes out before Avruh’s vol 2 of the grandmaster series. Worth the wait though………
I wouldn’t be either, but the first initial release date was supposed to be July 2009…
Andrew and Nic,
I would be very surprised if Marin’s 2nd volume was before Avrukh’s 2nd. In fact I expect Avrukh to be first by about 2 months.
The date has moved from 09/12 to 16/12, but is it sure this time that the release is about set for 16 December, or at least some time in December?
If so, it would be a very nice Christmas present…. 🙂
I would like to see a PDF sample of Attacking Manual Vol.2, which i probably buy no matter what. Aagaard writes with a golden pen! Best regards.
And a dirty keyboard. I hope to have such a sample ready in 2 weeks time.
I notice that “Grandmaster Repertoire 4 – English Opening” is not in the updates schedule published today. Is that an inadvertent omission or does that mean it has been delayed?
@L
L,
If delayed at all, then not by much. Should be just after the books listed.