OK, so a number of you have asked for a new publishing schedule. With Christmas coming, there are fewer slots available at the printer. So we do not have any fixed dates, with the exception of three books coming on Friday:
Grandmaster Preparation – Attack & Defence
Grandmaster Repertoire 14 – The French Defence 1
So, here it goes.
Playing the French will be out in about a month.
| John Shaw | Playing 1.e4 – A Grandmaster Guide – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines | Autumn |
| Danny Gormally | Mating the Castled King | Autumn |
| Jacob Aagaard | Grandmaster Preparation – Endgame Play | Autumn |
| Emanuel Berg | Grandmaster Repertoire 15 – The French Defence Vol 2 | Autumn |
| Tibor Karolyi | Mikhail Tal’s best games 1 | Autumn |
| Boris Avrukh | GM Repertoire 17 – The Classical Slav (4…dxc4) | Winter |
| John Shaw | Playing 1.e4 – A Grandmaster Guide – Sicilian & French | Winter |
| Jacob Aagaard | Grandmaster Preparation – Thinking Inside the Box | Winter |
| Judit Polgar | From GM to Top Ten – Judit Polgar Teaches Chess 2 | Winter |
Yes, yes, yes! Something to look forward to 😉
Any news on Playing the French?
@Nick
A very good question. It will go to the printer soon, so it will be added to the top of the above list, as being published in “Autumn”.
I did look at the above list before making it visible and I thought it was fine. What was I forgetting? Oh yes, the book I have been proofreading for the last couple of days.
I have been waiting for a GM Slav book since the Series began. That’s my Christmas list sorted 🙂
When you say “AUTUMN” for e.g. Grandmaster Repertoire 15 – The French Defence Vol 2 you mean october, some days after Vol 1 or one or two weeks, or more?
My question is for Berg’s Vol 2 but also a little for Playing 1.e4 – A Grandmaster Guide – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines and Playing the French (although John has already answered, more or less)… Thank you. 🙂
That’s going to be an expensive autumn / winter :-). I think I’m going to buy most of the books on the list :-). Especially looking forward to Avrukh’s book!
Sups excited about Avrukh’s new work! Will it include other lines like the e3 Slav systems?
Also, what are some lines we can be expecting from Mr. Shaw’s new work?
When is the first digital book scheduled to be released?
GM 17 The Classical Slav.
Will this be the Slav as well as Semi-slav?
GM17 by Avrukh, I have a feeling it shall be great. Also it is first listed in the “Winter” category. Winter might last until April in the UK, so hopefully earlier than that, but I definitely shall buy it.
I thought Playing the French was being rechecked, but if it was decided that soon to the printer shall it go, all the better. Maybe it will partner the GM Guide 1. e4 book for release?
Nice to see GM14 released in three days. I cannot wait for my hardback copy at the beginning of next week. It will have been published earlier than I had expected.
So the new edition of GM6 will in spring of 2014 or even later?
@Hesam
Yes. We have had to make some changes there. Not great, but the way it is.
@Tom
Not clear. We are close, but have been close for a long time…
@Ed
No Semi-Slav. Classical Slav, 4…dxc4.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Yes, it is a week from going to the printer, maybe less.
@Jacob Aagaard
That is an excellent update, and it probably will be published right next to my birthday…A nice gift.
I am very happy to see these books (published to the end of this year)
1) Pump Up Your Rating by Axel Smith
2) Jacob Aagaard (Grandmaster Preparation) – Thinking Inside the Box
3) Judit Polgar (From GM to Top Ten) – Judit Polgar Teaches Chess 2
Congratulations for a very nice table that consists of the data related to books you are going to publish up to the end of the year.
I am looking forward to the reviews of these books (especially this one by Axel).
@John Shaw
Good news … any extract soon too ?
Also nice GM15 with 7. Qg4 Winawer is Autumn, should be interesting especially if there are some changes in status of some lines, and showing 7…0-0 should not be less popular than 7…Qc7 or 7….cxd4.
For some reason until now, I did not see the last sentence saying that Playing the French will be released in one month, but that really is exciting. For me this will be my book of this year.
It would be much purchasing, except I pre-ordered my copies in May..
I assume from the title that the Classical Slav will not cover exchange variation and early e3 lines? Am I right? It would be a shame not to cover these.
I see no QGD book. Any chance of seeing that next year?
I have a feeling that the 1. e4 GM Guide with the Caro-Kann, 1…e5, etc. is paired with Playing the French, unless the latter is released singularly due to a queue at the printer.
But I imagine websales for Rating, Attack/Defence, GM14 are next Monday, as the schedule usually is.
@Grant
Actually, it does.
Next year is too big a time frame for me to give any clear answer.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I think Playing the French will be out on its own actually. No obvious date for the ball this time around.
@Grant
I can’t imagine Avrukh’s book won’t cover all variations starting from 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 … Also, I’m curious which line he will recommend after 3.Nc3. I’m hoping for 3…dxc4 :-).
So Avrukh first found the antidote to his repertoire in the grunfeld, no he’ll find the antidote in the slav. So his repertoire will be useless. Then maybe next year he’ll find improvements in both grunfeld and slav and he’ll publish a new repertoire for white and both his repertoire for black will be useless. And again and again…
@garryk
You are describing chess 🙂
@Jacob Aagaard
Perhaps…but I’m not describing a serious approach to a chess repertoire…I prefer a repertoire that doesn’t find any edge (as there is none against perfect opposition) but gives me a type of position I like with plans and pawn structure I feel comfortable with to a repertoire that announces an edge in some obscure line and then, one year later, gives the rest of the world the antidote to that supposed edge.
@garryk
Avrukh’s d4 books do both. They give you a slight edge in most lines, with plans, ideas and analysis. What’s wrong with that?q
@Tom
Well…at least against the Grunfeld I don’t find “a slight edge in most lines”…the fianchetto has been completely neutralized and today the only hope for the edge are in russian and 3 f3 lines…
Oh wail, still no anti-Sicilians book. Several relatively weak players in my club play the c3 Sicilian, and while not dangerous, it’s hard to get winning chances against. I guess I’ll have to postpone my chess comeback a little longer…
I think some new anti-draw rules need to be introduced into chess…
Such as:
(1) Neither side is allowed to move the c-pawn one square in the first 5 moves
(2) You cannot play 3.Bb5 or move the g-pawn one square in the first 4 moves against the Sicilian defence
(3) You cannot play the exchange French
(4) You cannot play the exchange Kings Indian
(5) you cannot play the Petroff
(6) you cannot play the Berlin
Then we might get to play some chess!
(But the Kings Gambit is still allowed)
@garryk
I don’t agree. The one or two lines which have been neutralized have improvements in them.
For eg. 10.h3 in the main line instead of 10.Re1, which was some kind of refutation by Caruana (even in those lines white can deviate)
And come on, if everybody plays perfectly, the evaluation would be equal from move one.
They have always given me a comfortable score
Against higher rated players entering this line and the KID fianchetto against me have had a hard time as I have scored 80% (and I am rated 2237). Even IM’s and GM’s have struggled.
And who said that Avrukh is finding a solution to his own d4 lines?
He does not cover the e3 sidelines anyway hehe 🙂
As black I took help from Avrukh’s Grunfeld material, now I will also go into a bit of the Slav, and have a very solid repertoire as black against d4
And then if he provides a repertoire against e4 which is also solid I will have a flawless repertoire.
@garryk
I don’t think the GM Reportoire series are recommending ‘obscure’ lines. The whole idea is to play main lines which can serve you well for years to come. True, the evaluation might shift from +/= to = and back to +/= over the years, but if you are comfortable with these (main) lines, then I don’t see the problem! I think in today’s chess, if you are ambitious you have to participate in the ‘arms race’. Anyway, I regard is as fun and not something to be afraid of.
I understand the point, of course chess is a chase between edge and parity but I’d like to see from QC a little more devotion to a specific line…I don’t expect my repertoire to be neutralized by who built it but instead I’d like to receive new ideas if the repertoire is in trouble. Kaufman is more honest about this as he proposes a repertoire for both colors and he admits that against the grunfeld (which is his proposal for black) white can’t obtain an edge in all variations so his proposal tries to maximize the practical chances.
I think a repertoire book should stop a little before the “battle for the edge” and provide a framework for the future, not something that depends heavily on the latest novelty. Instead of giving – for example – 10 pages in a sub-sub-subvariation that can be busted by a novelty five moves before, I’d like 10 pages on a sideline that has pratical, historical, strategical relevance and may be the only viable option if the other line is busted.
Concretely, Caruana refutation of Avrukh plan in the fianchetto Grunfeld practicaly nullifies White repertoire at GM level and no mention of other plans are to be found.
Of course Avrukh’s books are much more detailed and innovative than Kaufman’s but while I think that Kaufman’s will be useful even in ten years, I’m afraid Avrukh’s books are already too old to be trusted.
I say this with regret as the next Slav repertoire makes me think no update of his white repertoire are expected in the near future.
@Ray
I agree.
The purpose of a repertoire book is not to stop thinking and play a winning line for the rest of your life. You still have to work on it, over and over again.
Another strategy is not to look for edge’s with white or equality with black but just to get a position which you understand and are comfortable to play. Even if the theoretical verdict is then less positive for you, the practical experience will make all the difference. I mainly look at interesting ideas and ways to develop pieces and counterplay. I know i can’t remember everything anyway, and what is good today may be “refuted” 8 hours ago somewhere in China.
Yesterday I played a game with black which started 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 and here I played the “natural” move 5. … Nc6 but after 6. Bxe4 dxe4 7. d5 I opted for Nb8?! (did not wanted to end the N at a6 after Nb4 and a3) which was obviously an admission of utter failure of opening strategy. I had some very uncomfortable moments when my opponent took complete control of the center after 8. Nc3 Bf5 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 but I said to myself cmon I have not lost yet, chances will come. In the end I could complete development, even get king to safety and had equalized. Then my opponent blundered an exchange and I won the game anyway. My opponent owns every available book on “his” opening but he did not win against me. So people, take heart! Not knowing everything frees your mind for the important stuff like fighting spirit and determination.
@garryk
I don’t think this is a fair comparison. Kaufmann proposes a reportoire for white and black at the same moment in time. It’s only logical that he then is ‘honest’ – he has to be because he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. The same doesn’t hold for Avrukh’s books, because theory moves on and 3-4 years is quite a long time. E.g., also antidotes have been found against his recommendations against the Slav. However, this in my eyes doesn’t make his books any less useful. If you like the fianchetto against the Grunfeld, what’s wrong with keeping on playing it even if Caruana has found a way to equalise against it (which is not the same as refuting the whole fianchetto variation)? I gather you rather choose a line which is equal in the first place? What’s the difference?
PS: if you don’t like this approach (remember, this series is aimed at establishing a reportoire suitable at GM level!), there’s always the other, less critical GM Guide series :-).
I’m wondering, how many books will Mr Avrukh write for the Slav? Since the first book will only cover dxc4 which is not even half the work so I’m guessing that it will be 3 volumes?
Also are there any thoughts of a Chebanenko Slav book for Black in 2014 or 2015?
Is the non-d4/e4 book for black which includes the English being written by Mr. Mikhalevski? Could you tell us what will his solution be in the Symmetrical English? (for example e6 lines, Hedgehog, Maroczy etc). Thanks very much.
@Fat Ghost Cat
I don’t recall that Jacob has said that 3rd and 4th move alternatives will not be in the book. He just said that it will not contain the Semi-Slav but the Slav 4…dxc4. I.m.o. from this you can’t logically conclude what else besides the Semi-Slav it doesn’t contain :-).
@Ray
“I gather you rather choose a line which is equal in the first place? What’s the difference?”
Right question. The difference is that from a book I’d like to see clearly the difference between the established theory and the cutting edge and I’d like to see space and time devoted more to the former than to the latter. The cutting edge is constantly moving so why include in a book that will be outdated in two years? The established theory is enough big to be enough for any explanation of an opening. I’ll make another example – “Understanding the grunfeld” of Rowson is clearly outdated but his explanations are still the best I can found. “How to get the edge against the grunfeld” of Sakaev, even if much more detailed, lacks any useful insight in the opening and it’s based only on a very specific line that after 30 moves should give white a slight edge. I’d like to see more books like Rowson’s and less books like Sakaev’s.
The difference between GM repertoire and GM guide is not so sharp in my opinion as both books give variations and explanations in different moments.
My perfect format would be something like “Mayhem in the Morra” but in a more reliable variation than the Morra!
@Fat Ghost Cat
> “Is the non-d4/e4 book for black which includes the English being written by Mr. Mikhalevski? Could you tell us what will his solution be in the Symmetrical English? (for example e6 lines, Hedgehog, Maroczy etc).”
Mr. Mikhalevski will write this book? Are you sure? And you talk about the Symmetrical English but in the first place, who said the author will propose the Symmetrical…? Maybe 1… e5 rather for instance… 🙂
No answer/comment to the `Playing 1.e4 ` books(s)……hopefully not a bad sign!
I didn’t see a question about them, but probably I missed something. No problems in ‘Playing 1.e4’, but for the moment I am helping with ‘Playing the French’.
@ garryk: the spice must flow!
Very disappointed about the decision of waiting with publishing ”PUMP UP YOUR RATING”. I understood that it has been ready for ages ?
At least have some class and be strategic. Publish the Trompowski book on a different moment instead of letting it compete with 2 other opening books.
A long list of incorrect facts and odd assumptions. Ah well, without class I just can’t get it I am sure :-). Pump is on its way to several shops and to web customers at the moment. It is a great book and took some time to edit, because it had class.
I am also wondering about all the guys on this forum discussing and buying every single new opening book. Are you guys so good at other aspects of chess + do you have so much time to burn that you have to rely on opening books ???
Welcome to the forum. You will find that people here do not feed trolls, but we all really like chess.
Everyone seems to be working on the Playing the French, so it could be very soon to be finished, maybe even this Friday.
The excerpt looks nice, but I can`t determine Mr. Bergs approach to the Winawer.
Will he cover the Ne7+Qc7 variation with “poisoned pawn” or Ne7 + 0-0 variation?
@Waldorf
Both!
@garryk
In my view this is a bit static approach – what is ‘established’ theory nowadays when novelties on move 5 are no exception? I do agree that good explanation of the general principles is important, but I prefer a book which combines this with a state-of-the-art overview of theory. I don’t think the GM Reportoire series is lacking in verbal explanation. That theory subsequently moves on is something we have to live with and which is (in my view anyway, some might disagree) one of the things which makes chess so exciting and never boring. By the way, I think books which give explanations on ‘established’ theory have already been written (e.g. by Van der Sterren) – no need to write them again, is there?
@Blue Knight
It has already been confirmed by Jacob that Mikhalevski is writing the book on non 1.d4 / 1.e4 openings.
That shall be the best part of the GM15 book: two choices after 7. Qg4. Also it seems like the De Beste Zet updated the dates of the Rating, Attack/Defence and GM14 to 27/09 (tomorrow). The publication seems very near, and indeed next week I look forward to reading GM14 literally minutes after it arrives in my postbox.
@Ray
Thanks for clarifying, I was trying to understand what book exactly was writing Mikhalewskij, but now I see. I wish not to sound repetitive, but a GM Guide/Repertoire on the Breyer (probably GM Guide since a GM Repertoire was already published on the Spanish already), possibly if something like a joint publication by Avrukh and Mikhalewskij, would be seriously high quality. If one looks at the database, they actually seem to play many of the same openings, i.e. Grünfeld, Slav, Spanish, Catalan, etc. A book with such high analysis would be like a joint painting by both Van Gogh and Renoir.
@garryk
By the way, Mayhem in the Morra is absolutely curring edge theory! Variations given as good for white could easily be overturned in the fture.
@Ray
It’s difficult to explain…Mayhem in the Morra is cutting edge in the sense it proposes new ideas, new plans, new moves…but you of course know these ideas/plans/moves will be fought by others and perhaps neutralized…it’s ok…but that doesn’t invalidate the ideas/plans…they need refinements…
Avrukh repertoire for white is already based on “refinements”…and when a refinement is neutralized…with today’s depth of preparation it’s often impossible to propose a counter-refinement. Caruana neutralized 10 Re1 in the fianchetto Grunfeld, full stop.
You can’t neutralize a well prepared attack as an attack always finds new ways to reinvigorate itself while if you propose a repertoire based on a small edge in the ending, if the ending is found to be a dead draw…you have nothing in your hands.
Another example…Challenging the Nimzo proposes two main approaches against 4 … 0-0
– an ending
– the Bareev variation
Both of them have been completely neutralized in top level correspondence chess. The ending is a dead draw and the Bareev variation gives Black a clear compensation with a pawn sacrifice that wasn’t analyzed in the book. As that book was heavily based on variations more than ideas it has become completely useless (I’m sorry to say sometimes I’d like to throw it away).
Perhaps I’m an idealist but I think even a book on openings should be written to resist the test of time. It’s difficult but it’s not impossible. I think even in twenty years I’ll read with pleasure Mayhem in the Morra.
@garryk
I understand your point, but I guess we could agree to disagree, since I can give plenty of examples of attacks which have been neutralized (take e.g. the Najdorf poisoned pawn which also has almost been analysed to a draw, or the exchange sacrifice in the Gruenfeld exchange) :-). I have no problem moving on to another variation if this is the case :-).
@pawnmayhem
Yes + yes
@garryk
Chess is about finding new improvements everyday.
The fianchetto grunfeld also has its improvements for both sides.
The reason Avrukh’s variations are neutralized are because he made it so popular even at top level play, so some top player had to try to refute it.
Do you see something like this in an everyman chess book? No, because there nothing is good enough to be played at the top level (no offense) lol
Also, didn’t Jacob mention that Avrukh will only do the 4…dc4 lines and the sidelines will be covered by Mikhalevski?
@KIA Fan
Mikhailevski is not involved in 1.d4 d5 sidelines; this was already covered in GM11. Avrukh starts after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 and does not cover the Semi-Slav at all.
@Jacob Aagaard
Great, this means he will cover 3rd and 4th move alternatives for white 🙂
@Ray
thank you very much, excellent news 🙂
@Jacob Aagaard
Thanks, I was a bit confused there.
Also, when exactly is Autumn at the UK?
Is it in October?
Can’t wait for playing 1.e4!
Regards.
KIA Fan
Looks like a great lineup of books coming out soon!
I understand that Playing 1. e4 will cover the following lines.
e5 – Scotch
French – Nd2
Caro-Kann – Nd2
Sicilian – No Be2 lines
Are there any more specifics on what is recommended against the Sicilian in ‘Playing 1. e4’? I may have missed it somewhere but this is what I remember reading about.
@Jacob Aagaard
Pump published early? Is GM14 being sent to customers and shops now too?
Wait a moment, De Beste Zet now have all three books on their “Nieuw” section: Attack, Pump, GM14. The printer decided to be nice this time?
Bc4 vs the Sicilian. And the people wondering when QC autumn is, it is somewhere between December 2013 and May 2014, you can set your watch by it 🙂
got an email that Pump up your rating and GM-Preparation A+D are on the way 🙂
great
@boki
How about GM14?
@Ray
I have e-mailed De Beste Zet today about GM14 and they have replied that today it comes (ingebonden as well). Probably the other two books too.
All three books are out and about. And yes, Autumn is a big wide in the definition here…
@Jacob Aagaard
And what about Berg Vol 2? I understood it should out one or two weeks after Vol 1, but I can be wrong… Some information?
@Blue Knight
I am not sure what you thought that. If I have been unclear, I apologise. Months is more accurate. We are finishing some other books first.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Great! However, I’ll wait until Het Paard has the books, because I want to support the chess specialist shops… I like to browse through books before I buy them :-).
If they ordered the books, they should have been there Friday.
Hi Jacob, so everyone that pre-ordered them through the QC site should get a confirmation email? just want to make sure, I saw boki got his so I’m wondering if I will get mine (ordered Pump at the beginning of September) any time soon 🙂 thanks @Jacob Aagaard
The system sends out an email automatically when we have the orders as shipped in our system. But books have been known to be shipped without it being added to the accounting system. If you have not received your confirmation email when you believe the books should have been sent, please drop a note to Claire and she will check.
I received no e-mail about my GM14 order–is it sent without notification due to an unexpected early release like with GM12? Or just not finished shipping orders?
Always worth sending a note to Claire to ask if the books have gone out. She does not check the blog.
I think the system is also connected to the account Order History, since my order still shows as “Not Shipped”, but this happened to me with GM12 in January.
But the real GK didn’t really make that great an impression against the Morra, so you’re busted…
A question for the team.
Is there an opening book(s) that you would really want to publish that you have not done so yet!
Yes, quite a lot actually. I think we will get most of them out in 2014 though. I do not want to reveal too much, but GM Repertoire 1.e4 is a biggie.
@Jacob Aagaard
Alright, e-mail sent. It is nice to hear that there was an early publication. This happened with GM12 as well.
Hello Jacob,
Wow, great books. I have received them yesterday.
Attack & Defence I will use togehter with once more going through your Attacking Manual.
And Pump up your rating, the things I read sofar, is great! Compliments for that.
Is it me, or is it a little strange to have two volumes of Berg’s book on the Winawer and one on everything else? I wouldn’t have thought 3 Nc3 was the critical move to quite that extent. Perhaps it’s just my ignorance.
I got yesterday my Winawerbook of mr. Berg. In one word the book is super!!! Berg is a hero who gives all his secret away!
@Gilchrist is a Legend
We send out websales as fast as we can. We were still awaiting books in Glasgow (will be there Tuesday – Monday is a bank holiday) and will go out then. For those who ordered three books or more within the European Union, the books will be there soon.
@PeterM
Thank you – and good plan!
@John Cox
It is a matter of complexity more than theoretical evaluation, I think. There are just so many reasonable ways to play against 3…Bb4. We would have preferred one volume, but not 600 pages. We cannot do endless amount of books that size without putting everyone out of business.
@Jacob Aagaard
The stock to QC in Glasgow ran out before all websales were posted or only certain books were able to be sent before others like GM14? I guess I will see what Claire responds then. Those who have it seem to find it very good.
When you buy three books or more at one time we send the books out from Poland, because it becomes economical to do so with UPS. Otherwise we send them from Scotland and they first have to arrive there. So 1-2 books in the order and it goes out on Tuesday.
I noticed, the last QC envelope with my hardcover of King’s Gambit and King’s Indian Fianchetto were stamped by the Sauchiehall Post Office. I suppose many people ordered all of these three books. Maybe my order was in the earlier from last week, but maybe not. I suppose everyone hopes for the former though. I have cleared away my desk and am literally ready to start studying Berg’s gem of a book (or at least first gem of many).
@Jacob Aagaard
I forgot to ask, but did Playing the French achieve the printer queue last Friday?
Take this publishing schedule with a grain of salt. It doesn’t indicate the year 🙂
(Sorry, couldn’t resist …)
Looking forward to Polgar’s book as well as Playing the French.
Just recieved Pump and GM 14. AND an extra Tiger´s Modern for free. Seems like the new Modern book is out soon and QC needs space 😉
@Gilchrist is a Legend
No, we are re-editing it. A bit of a mess, but we had the feeling that it was not as great as it could be, so we are re-considering some decisions. It will take 1-2 weeks.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
That was the post office closest to the old office. I think in the future they will be stamped at St Vincent Street…
The books seemed to arrive at the shops in reverse order: The Netherlands received them on Friday, UK today, but the USA still not yet. LCC now have them though.
Uhm, dude, they already published a great Anti-Sicilian book!
Also, if your new “rules” were ever to kick in, I’m recreating the PCA invented by Kasparov, and while FIDE has your stupid rules (cough – The Petroff and Berlin are by backup openings to the Caro-Kann), then the re-created PCA will have the following Anti-Maxwell rules:
1) 1.e4 will be an illegal move – Play something more challenging for Black to chew on.
2) Direct transpositions to King Pawn openings will also be illegal
3) Each opening will have a draw factor attached to it, either Low (King’s Indian, Grunfeld, Benko, Dutch, Budapest, Albin), Medium (Nimzo-Indian, Semi-Slav, Triangle, Tarrasch, Chigorin, English, Reti, Flank Openings), or High (QGD, QGA, Slav, Catalan). All Draws count half a point for each player. Wins count 1 point in openings with a Low draw factor, 1.5 in openings with a Medium draw factor, and 2 in openings with a High draw factor.
Drawish chess is ENCOURAGED and HIGHLY REWARDED WHEN BEATEN! 😀
@Gilchrist is a Legend
In the future we will set it up so that all shops get them on the same day. That is, if they order… I do not keep a tally on that, it is not my responsibility.
@Jacob Aagaard
I think the only way that is achieveable is probably with something like FedEx next-day delivery. Also I was wondering if at some point there will be added a new option for shipping, i.e. instead of the €3 or €5, like an express delivery, which would cost the customer some more for it, but if those far away want it faster for example.
I am reading Watson’s Play the French 4, and coincidentally, the Winawer seventh-move alternatives from the part of White whilst waiting for my copy of GM14 arrive. I find this group of positions one of the most enjoyable to study and play, and seeing that Berg devoted quite some pages for these moves. I wonder which to play now, 3…Nf6 or 3…Bb4. Or both..
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I think 3…Bb4 is more enjoyable than 3…Nf6. I like the McCutcheon, but the Steinitz is less fun for black than the Winawer, to my taste.
@Jacob Aagaard
I was actually hoping for 4 volumes :-).
@Ray
A rather strange factor whereby I consider is if the sidelines are enjoyable (or at least not torturous) to play. The Winawer have a considerably higher number of alternatives to 7. Qg4, its main line, but it seems like they are not very annoying and quite enjoyable, or at least in comparison with the anti-Sicilians, for example. I have not GM14 yet, but from what I see in the excerpt, the positions I would like to play. 3…Nf6 does not have a large amount of sidelines though, since the main lines start sooner, i.e. 4. Bg5 and 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4. The 7…Be7 is quite interesting and is probably a newer idea in the Steinitz, and 7…a6 has always been solid. 7…Qb6 can lead to some mayhem, I suppose for more tactical players.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
They can always contact us and pay us via paypal. We do no put things on the site that happens once a year.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Both!
@Jacob Aagaard
I tend to agree. I have both in my reportoire as well.
Yes, I was thinking of playing both. Since there are two sets of books with both, might as well. I notice also that the website has been updated, so all three shown as officially published.
So. Got my copy of GM Rep 14 yesterday.
And I must say I’m a little bit disappointed.
For example in the 4. Bd2 line Berg offers a perpetual at move 19 or a repetition on move 10 in both main lines, without alternatives given for black.
A draw is not a bad thing for black, of course, but a forced draw that early for sure isn’t the reason I’m playing the Winawer.
There are some more lines like that…
looks good
I really hope you guys will use all the strongest modern computer chess books when figuring out what variations to cover. At the very least, HIARCS and 1337 Plus.
I have the solution to your problem, my friend. If a draw really won’t do, then play 4…Nf6 5 e5 Bxc3, and after 6 bxc3 Ne4 7 Qg4 g6 try and think of some type of Maccutcheon where not having played ….h6 is useful – something with …f6 in somehow, perhaps – or at least neutral.
Anyway, I’m afraid the clue to this sort of thing is in the title. It’s a ‘GM repertoire’ book, not a ‘repertoire for must-win games for punters’ book.
@John Cox
As I said, a draw is not bad. And yes, it’s a GM-Rep. But even those play chess sometimes.
And thanks for your solution to my problem. There are many playable lines in that variation. Unfortunately they’re not found in Berg’s book.
@Jacob Aagaard
Ok, waiting on a response fron Claire, sent her a note about my order #1878.. still shows as “not shipped” in my account…
@Thomas
If I can give my view, you could look at the Simon Williams book on the French. He uses quite agressive lines for Black… 🙂
My order says “Shipped” today, so I suppose either today it was shipped or entered into the system.
@Thomas
Well, you are very quick in your judgment – you already read the whole book? That’s fast! 🙂 . I think with reportoire books it’s impossible to satisfy everybody. I almost never choose to play all the recommended lines from one book, but rather ‘shop around’ in a number of books. It’s not like you are forced to follow all the suggestions of an author, are you? E.g. in a reportoire book on the Najdorf you are also likely to find the poisoned pawn, which also has a lot of forced draws. If you don’t like this, just choose another variation. I’m sure (though I haven’t read the book yet) that there will be plenty of interesting material left in the remaning 300+ pages :-).
@Blue Knight
And some very bad lines as well. E.g. he admits himself that his pet variation in the poisoned pawn is inferior / speculative.
I saw in a database I think that Berg played 5…Nh6 against the Bogoljubow (5. Bd2), so this should be interesting. This line can sometimes be annoying and people used to play this against me a lot when I was younger. Also look forward to reading the entirety of 7. Nf3 h6–to me looks like a good waiting move, perhaps since Black plays it quite often with 7…b6, best to start immediately? I remember Jussupow played 7…b6 with the setup where he put the queen on h7, moved the king to c7, the bishop to a4, which aethestically looks extremely odd, but quite effective and enjoyable to play. But 7…h6 plays it immediately, so perhaps it gives more time to focus on other things. Quite a few chapters on 7. a4, I wonder what he recommends there.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Indeed 5…Nh6 is interesting – I play this myself as black against 5.Bd2. Looking very much forward to the new books – I’m going to buy them this afternoon :-).
Excuse me for having one off-topic questions, but which of the quality chess books(or better which topic) is important when I found my main issue during games that I have absolutely no sense of where the piecies belong, in positions I don´t know? I find myself playing positions I know far more better that those I dont know. Having just worst tournament ever right now, so its time to think about it. Thanks for any feedback.
To topic, looking forward to French books 🙂
@Matt
I would go for Grand Master Preparation – Positional Play!
@Thomas
I have played a number of “forced draw” openings in my life and I only twice ended in one of those variations when I wanted to play. With Black against Emanuel Berg was one of them. But he messed up and I could have played for a win after all. I really would not worry about it.
Just bought the books (in my lunch break). My first impression is that they are all great! I was pleasantly surprised by Pump up your rating (the excerpt still doesn’t quite cover the book i.m.o.). It seems a ‘self-help’ book in the style of Improve Your Chess Now or Nunn’s book on practical chess. Great that there are plenty of excercises in the book! I also like the part on how to train. Will this topic more deeply covered in ‘Thinking Inside the Box’? As for Berg’s book, it looks great. I don’t think I’ll follow all his suggested variations, but will certainly use most of them :-). I don’t need to say anything on Attack and Defence, since I own all the previous volumes as well and am not disappointed :-).
@Ray
I am very flattered, obviously.
I will read Axel’s book more deeply. I worked with him on the style for 2-3 chapters, but then John did the final edit on the book in its entirety.
Hello Friends,
Are these books available at Amazon?? I am from Ecuador, and normally I buy books from quality chess from Amazon. Regards and thanks for your answers.
Santiago
Now you have written Playing 1.e4 and Playing 1.d4 GM Guides.
Any plans on any other White Repertoires like 1.Nf3 or 1.c4 GM Guides?
@Santiago Torres
They will be after some months. Because of the way Amazon works, we have to send the books to them through middlemen. So maybe by January you can get them from them.
If you want them faster, I can recommend Chess4Less in the US as the physically closest shop to you.
@The Doctor
Not at the moment, but we will talk about it at some point for sure. Right now we have a list of 40 books that we would like to do. And that is two years production. I think we need to focus on those first.
@Jacob Aagaard
I think that list could be interesting for most of your readers! 😉
@Jacob Aagaard
@GM Aagaard,
It was a genuine question.
This blog is after all about chess improvement, so I was wondering about the fixation on opening books.
I purchased your ”strategic play” book 2 weeks ago and I managed to work on averagely 3 exercises a day (I give myself 20 min. an exercise so that totals up to a session of about 1h30 a day). I enjoy most of the exercises so don’t reckon that I buy another book before another 40 days :).
I don’t know how much time others spend everyday on chess, but as I believe I have the profile of the average chess amateur (job, social life, …), the math just doesn’t add up?
I want to work another two weeks on ”strategic play” book before making conclusions. Can I share them and ask questions without being regarded as a troll ? And what post would be best for that ?
Surely Marin has already done a 1 c4 GM Rep book, hasn’t he? Maybe those weren’t part of GM Rep as such.
I’m sure the answer is either ‘it’s a secret’ or ‘he hasn’t decided yet’, but just in case, do we know what Berg’s antidote to the Tarrasch is going to be?
@pawnmayhem
You were very using very disrespectful language. I guess this was not intentional. Still I think that transferring your priorities and interests to everyone else does not make sense. Some people enjoy opening theory quite a lot and find opening books fascinating. I am one of those, but maybe not as much as Andrew, John and some of our strongest supporters. I do not make a value judgement on it, you did and this is why I presumed you were just here to start a fight.
I think it makes a lot of sense to buy one chess book and then work through it till the end and then get another one. I wish you all the best of luck with this approach, it is a very sound one.
@John Cox
I think they meant GM Guide. It will be 3…Nf6 – check his games.
My ordered books (kotronias, Pump up yoour rating and Attack & Defence) arrived already three days ago. Unfortunatly I had not much time, but my first and second impression of pump up your rating is excelent and I am pleasently surprised by the high quality ( even by the high standards of QC) I like the book a lot !!
About Attack and Defence, what to say, nothing special, the expected fantastic book by Jacob 🙂
Thanks for the books and glad I ordered hardcover
@boki
Hardcover is indeed on the rise!
@pawnmayhem
Not having children helps a lot :-). I work 4 days per week so have at least one full day for chess study and still have time left for a social life. So yes, I have time for both openings and middle game /tactics etc.
@boki
I had a closer look to Pump up your rating yesterday evening and indeed it’s full of practical, down-to-earth advice. Nice book!
@Ray
Yes, I hope and think this one will do really well. Axel deserves it.
Yes, I second Ray’s thoughts on “Pump up Your Rating”. All sorts of nice sections….but was curious why you did not put in screenshots for his use of Chessbase, or does that violate some copyright restriction?
@Patrick
Oh dear, I was afraid of this – encountering someone without a sense of humour (Sorry about that, Chief).
Well, perhaps 1…c6 can be allowed vs 1.e4, but not otherwise.
As for Anti-Sicilians, I was referring to the long-promised GM6a.
A 2nd edition of GM6 was promised in June 2011 for December 2011 – now more than 2 years later, it is not even mentioned, so this is getting to be a bit like the Kings Gambit.
I have no reason to believe that, in general, Quality Chess books are not excellent (I’m sure they are; and the newsletters and blog certainly are), but it has to be said that recently on this blog GM6 was considered to be the least good of the GM series.
From what I’ve seen, there were quite a few issues with this book, so I presumed that the reason for doing a second edition was to correct these.
Quite a few (not just one) lines were missed out eg 1.e4 c5, 2.Nf3 d6, 3.b4 – played in the high-level game Keres-Eliskases 1937; or the Prins System 5.f3 about which there is now an entire book. So one presumes that Ftacnik either did not have that great an idea what he was doing, or was very careless [Quality Chess don’t seem to be engaging Ftacnik to do the 2nd Edition – is this because he is not available, or do they not have faith in him?]. Silly chapter titles like ‘Forest Gump’ don’t help either.
At any rate, all these omissions did not give me much confidence in what would be in the book, so when a new edition was announced in June 2011, I, not having yet purchased the book, decided to wait until the 2nd edition came out, having no idea it would be this long! (Hence my wail). GM6 will be well out of date by now, of course.
I completely forgot I had pre-ordered three books and got them from a local bookshop prior to having them sent from quality chess. Nevertheless, it gives me the chance to point out that I believe ‘Pump up your rating’ to be a FANTASTIC book, so I don’t mind paying twice (I will have hard and softcover versions), I purposely ordered the second edition of Martin’s Weteschnik (another great book) and that perhaps my only regret is getting the Trompowsky book twice, but that serves me right from being so eager…
Quality Chess Books is certainly living up to its title. The books I read cover to cover (Understanding Chess tactics being one of them) are well worth paying twice for them. Unfortunately the lemons we all get, are not, but that’s life…
@Maxwell Smart I would like the Anti Sicilians book to be more comprehensive in the manner of , say , Rogozenko, or even Gallagher a while ago now.. (1994!!)
Why did you regret purchasing the Tromp Book twice?
I also received my 5 books a couple of days ago.
I really enjoy “Pump”; I was rather sceptical because the title of the book is too “smart” for my taste. However, what I have read until now is great stuff. It is perfect for train trips where you don’t need a chess set.
I think that the same goes for Chess Lessons which looks like the perfect train book.
Have only perused Tiger’s Modern but this book looks very promising for my way of playing chess with black, at least having it as a surprise weapon instead of only using the repertoire from Schandorff’s Caro book (which is fantastic).
Finally, the last two books were Practical Chess Defence and Attack and Defence. At least the latter is perfect for train trips too with many exercises. I assume that it is a good idea to read Practical Chess Defence first.
@Paul
He did not ask for it and I did not think to do it. I am sure that we would have had no problem doing it though. Ah, well, maybe this was a mistake!?
@Maxwell Smart
And out of print.
This is what happens when we have more projects than people for them. We simply have pushed 2-3 projects down the line again and again. Gm6 has been one of them. I hope and pray that we will have the available time early next year and that Lubomir will continue to be good on his “available whenever” promise. We are planning to do this 4 guys and fast.
@Fernando Semprun
GM6 was ahead of those old books by far, but obviously a lot has happened with chess in general since then.
@Paul Brøndal
Chess Lessons is great; it was nominated for ECF BotY. Only four books are shortlisted each year.
I would read Attack and Defence before Practical Chess Defence.
Pump does sound a bit too much like a spam email, but “be your own chess coach” just did not grab the attention. What matters is that the book is actually good…
@Toppy I am an 1.e4 player that would be happy to play the occasional 1.d4 with the Catalan vs 1.d5 and the Tromp vs 1…Nf6, but repertoire books either hit it with you or don’t…. I purchased Survival Guide to Rook Endings twice, since someone took my first copy and do not regret anything, my point is that there are exceptional books that you feel a lot of gratitude towards the author and even the publisher!
@Jacob Aagaard
Thanks, Jacob. Chess lessons really looks like a good book too. Will start with Attack and Defence, the perfect book for train trips without a chess set!
The second edition of Understanding Chess Tactics comes with nice improvements, like new examples, more exercises, who is to move in the diagrams, etc…
Unfortunately, on the Reloader example of Tal (Evans-tal, Riga 1964), two problems have crept in:
The moves 42.Qf6 gf6 are given twice, this time as 5.Qf6 and 6.Qf6, which is a clear typo (John Shaw must have been overloaded with his fantastic KG book 🙂 )
Loosing the original moves (38, 39 etc…) takes away the information that those moves were probably played in time trouble….
Also, the explanation that 7.Ke7 (43.Ke7 really) does not work (I had wondered briefly when solving the example in the original edition), does not mention what happens after 43..Rb7 44.Ke8. I would play 44…Rb6 45.Ke7 Rh6 46.d6 Rh4 47.d7 Rd4. My point is that if the a3 were on c3, the line could be a draw, so if this is indeed a tactics primer…
I believe the original edition placing of the examples after each chapter is more practical than all of them at the back.
@garryk Avrukhs book are excellent. Wonderful. Brilliant. Period.
Greetings! Just wondering, any news re: Forward Chess publication. I will look to buy a few more, but holding off to go digital as much as possible (reasons: convenience and house space).
Any news of migrating content digitally? Still happening?
Keep up the excellent work!
@ Danny Gormally Mating the Castled King
Can you give us more information please? Format, how many exercises? is this a training book or manual?
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
A manual, but there will be some exercises too.
@SimonB
Yes, happening. Trying to get full control over the technology.
@Fernando Semprun
Thanks for the details; we will fix this if there ever is a reprint (so far we have sol 40% of the first print).
Regarding the exercises; I think it makes sense in this form, as it can be used as a separate book, but anyone solving after reading a chapter can go there easily.
After this will Avrukh ever have a revised edition of 1.d4?
@KIA Fan
An interesting idea.
Am I correct that Mr. Avrukh was intending to write a repertoire book about unusual white openings like 1. b3 or 1. f4 from Black`s pov?
@Waldorf
No, that book is currently being written by Mikhalevsky. Avrukh is currently writing a book on the Slav.
Pump up your rating is an awesome book! Of course having reached page 158 by only casually looking at some diagrams and mainly focusing on some verbal prose I was left defenseless against the accusation that I´m a Mummy :-). In fact the outline of a typical Mummy training fits 100% to my training routine. I was searching my living room for a hidden camera. You should sell this page as a poster, it´s worth the price of the book alone. In order to prove that I try to learn my lesson from the book I´d like to point out a small inaccuracy on page 231. Instead of 20.Qxh7+ the move 20.e8=Q+ mates one move faster. Not that it matters much …
I set up a (non-Mummy) training plan for this week, let´s see if I can keep up to it. At least today after the first day I´m at 100% …
I find the book very well written, extremely motivational with very concrete tipps and plenty interesting examples and training positions. This book may very well change my (chess) life. Let´s see if I can keep the momentum but I´m optimistic.
I have been reading GM14 for the past several days, and I think this book is very good, on the back cover it shows the updated covers for GM15, the 7. Qg4 Winawer, and GM16(?), all moves besides 3. Nc3. Berg covers many variations that I already play, except 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7, which is new for me as I usually play 7…Qa5/8…Qa4 with the gambit line with …cxd4. Also 5. Bd2 Nh6, instead of 5…Ne7, which usually I found annoying to play. The last time that I did a deep analysis of these lines was probably 2003 or 2004, so it is nice to refresh my repertoire. The positions, despite not being the ultimate main line with 7. Qg4, look enjoyable play and seem enjoyable to analyse.
The GM15 cover shows 7. Qg4 on the chessboard there, and that should be very interesting, with both 7…0-0 and 7…Qc7 (or 7…cxd4 depending on whichever moveorder Berg had chose). I think I will use GM14 and GM15 in conjunction with Playing the French (hopefully soon published) as a Winawer repertoire with the latter’s as well for Classical and non-3. Nc3.
Please, Mr Aagaard and/or Mr Shaw, can we have an estimate of the publish date for Playing the French? Soon, 1 or 2 weeks or more? Thank you very much.
A month or a bit more
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I’m combining the Classical with the Winawer as well, but I’m not so fond of 3…c5 against the Tarrasch variation, so I’ll stick with 3…Nf6 and wait for volume three of Berg’s trilogy for an update :-).
Usually add 21 days after the book is gone to the printer (usually a Friday) to determine when it is released. Then 24 days for websales (usually a Monday). If Playing the French is one month to be published perhaps next Friday is when it shall be at the printer. Just my guess from over the years.
@Jacob Aagaard
How do you think Playing the French shall be, a good compliment with GM14/15? We all found out that it is circa 500 pages, which is almost double what I expected. Do you think it will be very detailed and extensive like Watson’s book?
@Ray
I forgot which lines in Playing the French for the Classical, but I think 7…a6 was one of them. I am not very familiar with 3…c5/4…Qxd5 as I usually play 4…exd5 with 3…c5. 3…Be7 also is interesting, but looking at the database Berg plays 3…Nf6 with 11…Qc7 quite often, so it looks quite likely to me. 11…Qc7 seems more enjoyable than 11…0-0 for me. I was thinking of using GM14/15/16 and Playing the French all simultaneously as a megarepertoire. I do not think I can finish reading GM14 before Playing the French is published, so it should be quite continuous given that also Playing the French is so big.
I just got my copy of Berg volume 1. Transatlantic shipping is a pain in some ways. I looked at the first two chapters and if they are representative ( and why not?) this is a very good book!
You have to find a simultaneous publishing deal in the US guys.
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I bet Berg will recommend 3…Nf6 and 11…Qcy, which is great because it’s exactly my reportoire. As for the Steinitz, I like the combination of 7…Be7 and …a6, as advocated in The Modern French.
@Ray
I play 7…Be7 and 7…a6 too, but I am still unsettled on the Tarrasch. 3…c5 with 4…Qxd5 has pawn structures a bit different from French positions, and it reminds me of the Burn Variation. Whereto I really anticipate is the Playing the French line 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7. It reminds me of 7…0-0, wherein it is not as popular but comparatively solid (i.e. to 4…Bb4).
The database has at least ten games where I see Berg play 3…Nf6/11…Qc7, which is interesting. 3…c5, though, I think has always had a good theoretical reputation.
@Jacob Aagaard
Pump up gives good advice for training, where to focus. One of the things he gives is annotating your own games. In the past I have done this and those were the years I made big steps. Later on because of work and family I stopped this, but afterwards maybe I stopped with the thing that was best to make progress.
Like many others I made to much focus on openings, and with that the fun dissapeared…..
At the moment I am working with your books, analyse my games. And with that I have fun in working and learning.
I’m really looking forward to the GM repertoire 1.e4 books.
Here is my wish about what they should contain:
Ruy Lopez
Petroff 5.Nc3
Sicilian Najdorf 6.Bg5
Scheweningen 6.g4
Dragon 9. Bc4
Tajmanov English attack
Kan 5.Nc3
Classical Velimirovic attack
2.-Nc6 3.Bb5
French 3.Nc3 (Winawer 7.Qg4)
Caro Kann 3.Nc3
Aljechin 4.Nf3
Carry on the excellent work!
@Bebbe
You forgot Pirc 4.Bg5 and Modern with Bg5 :-). Sounds like a 10-volume reportoire :-).
@Ray
The Austrian attack is also very testing against the pirc and modern.
Yes I know its an ambitious repertoire, but it is a GM-repertoire, right?
It should contain some of the most critical lines.
I guess the number of volumes are not set in stone. 10 is of course way too much but maybe 4 could be realistic.
Do you have other suggestions against the lines I mentioned?
I think I read somewhere it would be the Advance Caro-Kann
@Ray
I have about 300 pages left of GM14 to read, so I shall read this all until Playing the French is published. I do not think I can finish the book that quickly, but probably Playing the French shall be released in early November. I think…
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I have only browsed Berg’s book so far. I’m currently busy updating my white reportoire using Svetushkin’s book for Chess-Stars on the Samisch King’s Indian and anti-Grunfeld. Interestingly, I noticed that he proposes quite some improvements on Schandorff’s Samisch reportoire.
@Bebbe
Indeed, but I always preferred 4.Bg5 when I still played 1.e4. You’re right of course that a GM reportoire requires you to play the critical variations. I would play the advance against the Caro-Kann (indeed it was said earlier that this will be covered; 3.Nc3 will be in Playing 1.e4 – though the Panov is also interesting in my view) and the 4-pawns against the Aljechin. Against the Classical Sicilian I would go for the Rauser and against 2…Nc6 I would go for the open Sicilian lines (not afraid of the Sveshnikov). As a matter of fact I more or less would go for Khalifman’s lines against 1…e5 and 1…c5. I would guess the Spanish alone would require a single volume (maybe the Petroff can be squeezed in), but 10 volumes may indeed be too much. One of the reasons for switching from 1.e4 to 1.d4 was that 1.d4 requires much less knowledge of theory than 1.e4.
@Ray
I have that book too, but I have very much to read in Berg’s first book so far. If Playing the French is released in one month, that would mean I would need to read 10 pages of GM14 each day to finish it when PTF is published, so I probably have enough material so far.
I think PTF has 5…Bd7 in the Advance, although I am not familiar with the Advance, except that I usually play the blocked 6. a3 c4 lines.
@Ray
A Chess-Stars book that improved on a Quality Chess book?? Do you want to be zapped by Jacob??
@Ray
I forgot to add 🙂
@Ray
The advance against the caro-kann is of course very testing. I wonder which variation will be covered against 3.-Bf5. I agree that the move 3.Bb5 is not as challenging against 2.-Nc6 as 3.d4. The problem with 3.d4 is that black can play sveshnikov, kalashnikov and the accelerated dragon. That is lot to learn.
As an almost lifelong 1.d4-player I am in the process of switching to 1.e4.
The reasons for this are the problems I have had against the nimzo, the slav and 1.-e6.
I also miss the sicilian bashing days of my junior years!
Is there a richer or more combative opening than the sicilian?
@garryk
🙂
@Bebbe
I understand what you mean. On the other hand, 1.e4 has its problems as well, e.g. the Petroff , the Berlin Wall or the French. Besides, against 1.d4 e6 you can play 2.e4 :-). The Nimzo and Slav are solid openings to play against, but I like Schandorff’s recommendations against these openings. Against the Slav I settle for an equal position with white, but with lots of play (I play the Slav myself with black and I think the main line with 11…g5 is equal but interesting for both sides to play). The Sicilian is very interesting, but so much theory to learn. The problem is that you have to attack with white because otherwise black obtains a good game. I wish you good luck with your switch :-).
@Ray
By using Avrukh’s repertoire, you can at least avoid Nimzo and even get away with knowing relatively little theory against the Slav. Of course, it also has a lot of limitations using his repertoire; no f3-setups against KID/Grünfeld. I’m very much in doubt if the books for Christmas should be the new ones on e4 or Schandorff’s on d4. It is certainly very tempting to change from d4 to e4 🙂
@Ray
I have also tried to use schandorfs repertoire which is more attacking than avrukhs.
I am an attacking player and will not play 4.e3 a la avrukh.
The chebanenko 4.-a6 is also quite tricky.
Schandorfs recommendation against it doesnt suit my style.
11.-g5 is equal. Then there is the kramnik endgame which is hard to crack.
Having to attack is not a problem for me. It feels natural.
The berlin endgame is at least quite interesting since there are some imbalances.
Petroff is not so dull I think. Opposite side castling can occur quite often.
Good luck with your switch too!
@pabstars
Against 3. g3 there is also the bogoindian and the benoni to worry about.
Not ideal for an attacking player.
I like the sämisch against the KID and 8.Rb1 against the grunfeld.
These variations are not in the Avrukh repertoire.
@Bebbe
I agree, the Avrukh 1.d4 reportoire is not concrete enough for my taste. I play the Samisch as well against the KID, and 3.f3 against the Grunfeld. I don’t like Schandorff’s recommendation against the Chebanenko as well – it’s too committal to my taste. I play 5.e3 b5 6.b3 against it, which gives a slight edge and the advantage is that it’s very difficult for black to create winning chances. The same goes for the Kramnik endgame i.m.o. Nice for GM’s, but which amateur wants to play this? I have faced this only once, in an internet blitz game.
@Ray
The biggest problem besides the slav for a 1.d4 player wanting to attack is really the Nimzo.
I have tried the following moves against it: 4.e3, 4.Qc2, 4. g3, 4.Bg5, 4.f3.
In my opinion 4.Qc2 is best giving white a very small edge.
All moves have been disappointing when meeting GM-opponents that are strong strategists
and defenders. Black has a very solid and flexible position.
@Bebbe
I agree, that’s why I play strategic against the Nimzo (4.e3) :-).
>All moves have been disappointing when meeting GM-opponents that are strong strategists
and defenders.
That can happen, I find.
@John Cox
Yes, but it happened more often in the Nimzo when playing against GMs than in other openings. Then it is a matter of not getting the positions that suits my style.
Hello friends, maybe you have already discussed this topic. First of all, I have to say that I really enjoy some of the Grandmaster Repertoire books, especially those written by M.Marin; he is a great chess writer. On the other hand, even with such a great books, I think there is a gap in chess literature in order to study middlegames and even endgames resulting of some openings. Maybe, you can publish such book, with some or many representative very well annotated entire games explaining the resulting positions of a thematic opening. Something similar what is done in Encyclopedia of Middlegames by ChessOk (Convekta), but with much better (balanced) and accurate analysis. In this way, it would much less boring to study openings, as well; at least for players who are more willing to digest ideas than variants it would be great. Do you have plans about that?
After a conversation with a non-chessplayer, who saw me with my copy of “Calculation”, I wonder:
Is “Calculation” a bestseller (for a chess book)? How many copies were sold and what would’ve been be the expected average of sold copies for a chess book?
In case of “Calculation” this is also interesting because it seems to be quite difficult, which naturally limits the number of players who can really use it for training, to maybe 100,000-200,000 in the world.
@Bebbe
I think I am the odd one here, because I used to be an attacking player but approximately 4-5 years ago I switched into positional and safer openings, although I still like the Najdorf. But the switch to 1. d4 like Avrukh’s style (Fianchetto/Catalan) seems more calming than the crazy Open Sicilian attacks and Advance Variation messes that I played against Sicilian, French, and Caro-Kann. For some reason I tend to lose often in Open Sicilians as White, usually embarassingly, like losing to Karavade in less than 25 moves. Now I play either Catalans like in GM1, or the less hectic lines against openings whereby the C
I like the French now more than before, because unlike the Sicilian I do not have to play as if every move determines who shall be mated in 5 moves (although in the Poisoned Pawn Winawer it is as such often; hence why I do not play that variation), whilst still maintaining dynamism in my game. So apparently I am lucky in that sense since now four QC books are on the French (one already published). Herefore I think the French is basically like a mix between the Sicilian (attacking, often crazy play at least in main lines) and Caro-Kann (solid and generally slower paced play).
@Gilchrist is a Legend
Hi Gilchrist and which is your opening choice in response to d4 ¿?
@Gilchrist is a Legend
I dont think you are odd. I had a calmer period myself. Small kids and liittle sleep affects the calculation ability. Now I am ready for sharper play and more theory.
I also have the French and the Najdorf in my repertoire. I agree with you verdict of those openings. I also use the french as the more solid alternative.
Thanks to everyone at Quality Chess for putting out such fine books. We are very fortunate!! I haven’t heard much mention of Tal’s best games by Karolyi. Do we know how many volumes this series will be? And if it will be available in hardcover as well? Keep up the good work guys.
hi guys,
any approx date on 1.e4 books?
thx!