Once again we have fallen a bit behind our schedule. The reason is quite simple: We have a number of big books coming. Grandmaster Repertoire 1.e4 will be about 600 pages (dealing with such big openings as the Caro-Kann, French and Philidor) and the Sveshnikov will be about 500 pages. Also, John is struggling his way through Playing 1.e4, but has had to take a few weeks off, editing Judit’s final installment in her award winning trilogy. Finally, we will all be at the Olympiad this year, so a few weeks of the summer are “lost” in this way as well…
And no, I am not saying who Mr X is. I want the book to be further along first; but so far I am very happy with the material.
We have more books coming down the list. For example: Thinking Inside the Box is delayed til August 2015. I just needed a break from this series. Endgame Play was too difficult.
Finally, we are planning to release Attack & Defence and Endgame Play in paperback somewhere this summer. The final decision on this will be made on Monday at the editorial. And then there will be 1-2 surprises or changes along the way of course.
As always, this is a view into what we are hoping and not an official publishing schedule! I am certain about the first six books on the list; everything thereafter might change and change greatly!
| Esben Lund | The Secret Life of Bad Bishops | 28 July |
| Parimarjan Negi | GM 1.e4 French, Caro-Kann & Philidor | Olympiad |
| Vassilios Kotronias | GM 18 – The Sicilian Sveshnikov | Olympiad |
| Ilya Maizelis | Chess from Scratch | August/September |
| Judit Polgar | A Game of Queens | August/September |
| Tiger Hillarp-Persson | The Modern Tiger | September |
| Emanuel Berg | GM 16 – The French Defence Vol 3 | Autumn |
| John Shaw | Playing 1.e4 – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines | Autumn |
| Mr X | Positional Decision Making in Chess | Autumn |
| Mauricio Flores Rios | Chess Structures – A GM Guide | Autumn |
| Ftacnik (Aagaard) | GM6B – The Najdorf | Winter |
| Victor Mikhalevski | GM 19 – Beating Minor Openings | Autumn |
| Lars Schandorff | GM 20 – Semi-Slav | Autumn |
| Mihail Marin | Learn from the Legends – Hardback | November |
| Wojciech Moranda | Race up the Rankings | Winter |
| Vassilios Kotronias | KID – Vol 2 – Mar del Plata I | Winter |
| Vassilios Kotronias | KID – Vol 3 – Mar del Plata II | Winter |
Ilya Maizelis “Chess from Scratch” is intended for beginners? Something like Lakser’s Manual of chess?
And what will include Positional Decision Making in Chess? Many exercises.
You’re pushing aside GM Rep Najdorf? How come? You’re including …e5 lines vs Be2?
Mr X = Carlsen?! :O
@A.Manninen
Not quite :-).
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
Never giving up! Your resilience is impressive.
Chess From Scratch is a famous Russian beginners book. And no, Positional Decision Making in Chess will have no exercises in it at all.
Any info about ‘Race Up the Rankings?’
Is the GM 20 – Semi-Slav book a black repertoire?
@Gambit Chess Academy
Yes
@John Hartmann
First draft is written. It is a general improvement book with a lot of good ideas. Nothing beyond that at this time.
Great to see a hardcover version of Learn from the Legends on the list – I will certainly buy this! As for GM Rep 1.e4: wow, 600 pages on French, Caro-Kann, and Philidor sounds slightly intimidating – considering that the really theoretical openings (Ruy Lopez and Sicilian) are still coming, I guess it will be well over 2000 pages in total 🙂 But you don’t hear me complaining, just a matter of sticking to the moves in bold 🙂
It is very hard to read that ‘Playing 1e4’ is again postponed….. I’am looking soooo much forward to that one!
Looking forward to all the books. Btw, there is a very very good review from Flear of Avrukh’s book on the Slav in the latest Nic yearbook. I would give it you, but I had a New Years resolution to only devote one bookcase to chess books (2 shelves of QC, 1 shelf kasparov and Dvoretsky, 1 shelf others) which I only break for quality chess hardbacks, so did not purchase!
Does “Olympiad” mean that there is a special release at the tournament, or does it mean that it relesases precisely the same date as when it starts (or ends), somewhere in August?
Will ‘Learn from the legends’ have any changes compared to the previous edition?
I’m asking because I already have the hardcover in german.
@Thomas
There will be an extra chapter and also some minor fixes here and there.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Just the two first weeks in August. They will be released everywhere at the same time.
@Paul
Don’t worry, we get all good chess books ourselves. We have four book cases with chess books from other companies in the office.
@wolfsblut
Sorry about this. It is really only delayed with 2-3 weeks. John is doing the best he can, but it is a big subject.
@Jacob Aagaard
Sweshnikow and 1. e4 are marked on my calendar between 01/08-14/08, I anticipate these books, especially Kotronias’ book very much. I know that not much is usually revealed before close to publication, but covers this book the Nowosibjirsk (11…Bg7) or only 11…f5, or both? I still have the Rogozenko QC book, and I thought that it was excellent. I suppose that this would be like a repertoire version.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
11…f5
Mr X must be Axel Smith
@Jacob Aagaard
Compared to the previous planning, that is 🙂 But compliments to John for finding the time to wrtie in the firdt place – I can imagine it’s almost impossible to combine a job as managing director with writing.
I definitely would like to read GM16, but I am surprised that the Modern book is secured within the first six books. It should be interesting, and I wonder how big GM16 might be. If Emanuel still is writing the book, I wonder if it could be 500 pages at least. I would not complain..
@grinding_tolya
No
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Emanuel is getting towards the end of the writing process. He was a bit busy this spring, so it took a bit longer than planned.
Really disappointing to see GM6 pushed back again. It’s like my train journey in the morning when they say train delayed till a certain time, only for that time to arrive and the push it back another 5 mins and so on.
I do not wait for opening books, but I understand how dissapointed the people could be. However take notice that ALL THE QUALITY CHESS TEAM work very hard and they do their BEST! It is always better to delay the project then to publish the expected (and long awaited) book, because there are many (?!) people waiting for final release.
For me – all the QC team is amazing and I always try to imagine HOW do they manage such massive projects and do not make any (!) major mistakes. Probably most people are not aware that managing the company is a real challenge. This case – you have to count producing final products (books) and all the process that counts into it. I want to express my gratitude for all the QUALITY CHESS team – no matter what their function or role. Thank you friends! 🙂
The fact that people are disappointed books are always behind schedule is really a big a compliment to the team. This is because we know they will be amazing and simply are excited to see the finished product!!
Hopefully GM16 is a nice early release this autumn, it is always nice when they release earlier than usual, like I think how GM13 did in February last year.
I know it’s evil taking half sentences out and quote, but this one made me laugh a bit..
“Also, John is struggling his way through Playing 1.e4, but has had to take a few weeks off”
My first thought was “common, it can’t be THAT hard for a grandmaster to push the pawn infront of his King 2 squares forward ?”, but then again – I am not a GM 😀
Looking forward to see all of those nice books which has been anounced – regardless of when they’ll be published, although as usual sooner is better than later (we can’t wait to buy your nice books!).
@Alexander
Think about the labour to get a bishop to b5!
@Thomas
I think John will be spared that labour and can restrict himself to pushing his queen’s pawn 2 squares forward as well 🙂
Just a question out of curiosity: will Negi in general give only one option for white, or will he give several options like in GM Rep Modern Benoni? I know in general you don’t disclose contents before publication, but you can’t blame me for trying 🙂
@Ray
In general one. He might act differently in a few critical lines.
Is there a prize for the first person to guess the extra chapter in Learn from the Legends? 🙂 Magnus Carlsen!
@Jacob Aagaard
Thanks for the info! That means 600 pages is indeed a lot 🙂
“Finally, we are planning to release Attack & Defence and Endgame Play in paperback somewhere this summer. ” Great news for me!!
A questions:
– To cover the whole Caro-kann I should buy Negi’s book and shaws book? or they are different points of view/recomended lines of these GMs?
– Have you think about to release new and reviewed versions of first GMR series? Some of them were published a long time ago.
@Fer
Obviously you should get both – but they are indeed different series and will have entirely different recommendations in most lines.
We have done 2nd editions in the past. We might do it again. Who knows. Well, I do, but I am not telling :-).
Any updates on the Shaw repertoire? Have the recommendations changed any since Negi is covering some different lines than originally intended?
@TonyRo
Hi Tony,
I should avoid getting involved in too much detail, but one change: Caro-Kann. I will go for a 3.e5 line and Negi will cover the traditional main line: 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 etc.
Great, that makes me even more excited! 😉
@Thomas
John going into Labor.. geez, what horrors 1. e4 can lead to.
@Alexander
🙂 Let’s just hope he won’t spawn a monster 🙂
Gormally says in bis book on page 303 that there will be another book ‘Bb5 against the sicilian’ by him. Is this a joke (that I did not unterstand) or serious?
I know that the schedule is not completely sure, but since the first six books have more assurance, would it be likelier than not that GM18 releases for August?
@wolfsblut
We have no agreements wi him.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
We are close to the end, so probably yes.
Is the apperance of covers on your webpage for the e4 book and the Bad Bishop book, a precursor to being able to order and potentially even extracts if they are close to the printing stage?
@Paul
Yes to all that. Extracts will go up in the next day or two.
Incidentally, the text for “The Secret Life of Bad Bishops” on our Coming Soon page is NOT our final sales text for that book. It looks like something Colin put up quickly before running out the door to play in the Commonwealth Championships (which is a couple of hundred yards up the hill from us in Glasgow).
@John Shaw
Excellent, looking forward to the bishop book especially….Esben’s earlier book was excellent, and this is a topic I’ve always struggled with. I remember in the press conferences for one of the 1992 Fischer-Spassky games they both disagreed with who had the bad bishop, so I guess it can be a tricky topic…..
So how about that Negi extract? 😉
@TonyRo
My guess is that it will be up on Monday.
@Paul
The book is dealing with this type of trickiness. Esben is introducing a new concept with regards to bishops that could go bad, but where it is not decided yet. I found the book really interesting, as I did with the other book ten years ago.
Very excited, thanks!
Will “The Secret Life of Bad Bishops” be in hard cover?
Will the “GM-6b” only contain the open sicilian?If so will there be a complementary “GM-6a”?I will decide buying the “GM-6” depending on this.
@RL
Seems not from the other thread. As I wrote there it probably makes sense, as the book is one of QCs shorter in terms of page count, so from my side not sure the hardback actually adds anything here in terms of practical benefit…..leave the economics for others to discuss.
@RL
We do not publish everything in hardcover. This one is one of the exceptions. I typeset the book and think it will be very pleasant to the eye and it will be printed with Pioner i Poland, who did the King’s Gambit, which is very nice to hold too.
You were going to upload the extracts for the July/August releases today? No rush if you are busy, but would be nice to see when you have time.
Are the GM Rep books available in hardback straight away?
@Paul
Colin was also playing the commonwealth championship, so he did not have the time. He will undoubtedly do it today.
@Nick
Yes. We prefer people to buy our books in Hardback or Forward Chess; it is the superior formats. FC still needs development, but to carry it to a tournament, it is unsurpassed…
@Paul
Excerpts for Negi and Kotronias are now up – still in the ‘Coming Soon’ section.
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/GMRep-1.e4-vol1-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/GM18-Sveshnikov-excerpt.pdf
We will shift them to the ‘available for sale’ section as soon as I have Lund’s “The Secret Life of Bad Bishops” under total control – so late today or early tomorrow.
I don’t want especially keen web customers to miss out on our “3 books within Europe = free shipping” offer.
@John Shaw
Thank you John…they look very good. Will order all 3 in next week or so.
Think the Negi book is the 3rd biggest you’ve done to date……..after King Gambit and one of Boris’ d4 books.
@Paul
Actually Kotronias on KID bigger than all 3….
The Negi excerpts looks excellent.
I want to ask again :is there an intended publishing season for GM6a? and also when splitting the book into two parts will the backbone of the repertoire be protected?(for instance 2..d6 against Alapin ,scheveningen against classical etc..
@Mehmet
I do not want to go into big details at this point, but we are working on both 6A and 6B. And as always it is our intention not to disappoint…
I just read the excerpts, they look absolutely great (as usual)! I will buy all three books anyway 🙂 Very interested to see Negi’s recommendations against the French – meeting both Playing the French (Steinitz) and GM Rep French reportoires…
Hi Jacob,
When will some excerpt or information be released about the content of Ilya Maïzelis “Chess from Scratch” ?
Thank you very much !
@Jean-Marie
An excerpt of Maizelis will either be available next week or in four weeks time, but definitely not in two or three weeks, as then we will be in Norway.
Hi, any date (more specifik then Autumn) set for release GM 20 – Semi-Slav ?
Hello! Will there be any new book on the Benko Gambit or an Update from Pinski in the foreseeable future? 🙂
@Maik
No
@Magnus
No
Any update on Chess Structures?
Any guess for the release of the next Negi book on the Najdorf. Is this a potential Christmas present or are we talking Valentine’s Day or Easter?
@Tom Yes I am keen on this book too and would be excited to hear a publication date.
Judit’s 3rd book is out soon, any news of publication date?
@Tom
In editing. Will take a while still.
@Ray F
Christmas present.
@Ed
We had to delay a bit as we needed something on her decision to retire. October/November with no promises, but we are far in the process. I assume it will be first available on forward chess.
What is Moranda’s book about ?
Hi
Is there any updated news about the title “Chess from Scratch”?
Thanks
Do I remember correctly that Beating minor openings will be a repertoire for black against everything but 1.e4 and 1.d4? If so, what will be black’s first move against 1.c4?
@J.
Too early to ask 🙂
For John Shaw’s and Parimarjan Negi’s individual books on a 1.e4 e5 repertoire, could I ask what they will be recommending? I imagine Negi will focus on Ruy Lopez mainlines, but will Shaw do the same? And if not, then what? Thanks!
@Christoph
Scotch game
How is “The Modern Tiger” coming along? I have been enjoying a few blitz games with 1…g6 – perhaps I should learn something about it.
Is there any book on the Caro-Kann, either for Black or for both sides, planned in the future?
@TonyRo
It is in the next round of books. It will be a big one, 450 pages or so.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Schandorff’s book is still good in our opinion. Nothing else planned.
What books are released in the next round
and when is the next round
(end of September?)
is there any books coming on the petrov thanks fore the many great books greetz hasanovitch
@ Jacob Aagaard
Any idea on an approximate publication date/date when a PDF sample will be available for Tiger’s new book?
I’m assuming September means late September….but am genuinely excited about its imminent arrival!
Is GM16 planned to be in the next triple publication along with Modern Tiger?
@Gilchrist is a Legend
No, Emanuel is not done yet. Negi 2 will come before then.
@Daniel
It might be a bit into October. These publishing schedules are always estimates.
@hasanovitch
We are considering it.
@ Jacob Aagaard What will be covered in Negi’s 2nd volume pls 🙂
Thanks
If knowing you will have more buyers would tilt your Petroff consideration towards being a reality, I would love to see a Petroff book by the best publisher. While the NIC publication is decent, I am 110 percent sure QC could top it.
Oh, and by the way, they are throwing a curve ball. Mr X is Jacob Aagaard! 🙂
I think Jacob has already said Mr X is Gelfand.
@Milen Petrov
@Milen Petrov
Earlier in this thread Jacob said that it was the Bg5 Najdorf.
@Patrick
Sakaev’s book (published by ChessStars) is also rather recent, and better than the one by Cohen imo. Three books on the Petroff seems a lot, considering that’s it’s not the most popular opening for black…
@Ray
An additional one by Ronen Har-Zvi has been announced for some time now – from different publishers.
@Thomas
I am pretty sure that it not happening. Ronen is a friend and I think he is not writing a Petroff book.