Colin is off today, but sometime over the next few days we will put a few more books in the Coming Soon section. These are the books that are “all under control” (if ever that was true…) and where we know more or less when they will come out.
Many books are close to completion, but we do not know if printing will take three or five weeks, so there is a bit of uncertainty.
There is a special point about Dynamic Decision Making in Chess. Boris will be giving a 90 minute lecture at X-Tra Con Open (formerly Politiken Cup) in Helsingor on the 28th of July, assisted by yours truly. The entry fee is essentially to buy the new book in hardback. This is one month ahead of general publication.
1. e4 vs the Sicilian III is waiting for a few updates from Negi and a proofread. Playing 1.e4 – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines is 90% proofread and will go to the printer this week. GM Repertoire 1B, 1.d4 – The Queen’s Gambit is halfway through editing and will be done within a few weeks. Key Concepts of Gambit Play is lacking a quick edit. Mikhail Tal 3 – The Invincible is lacking a long and thorough edit! The same with King’s Indian Warfare. The authors of Grandmaster Repertoire – The Nimzo-Indian and Kotronias on the King’s Indian 5 have sent many files already. Hopefully they are not far off. Thinking Inside the Box has yet to be fully written.
I have been busy with the Gelfand book and also wanted to spend a bit of time writing a beginner’s book, which is Chess from Scratch. I teach at Fettes College in Edinburgh and wanted to put my experiences of working with beginners on paper. As I am not going to the Olympiad this year,
I save five weeks then, which I will spend on Box (The five weeks is preparation, playing and recovery time. The latter is important. Last Olympiad, I had a car crash two days after returning and was absolutely solely responsible, no matter how my insurance company managed to swing it!).
Playing 1.e4 – Sicilian and French is actually quite far advanced. As with the first book, this is a group project with John as the captain. It has a high priority and will be out even if I have to put John back in the dungeon…
As always, the dates are seasons, as we will try to keep them.
| Judit Polgar | Dame am Brett – Judit Polgar 3 | Summer |
| Thomas Luther | Vom Schüler zum Großmeister | Summer |
| Artur Yusupov | Revision and Exam 1 | Summer |
| Parimarjan Negi | GM Rep – 1.e4 vs The Sicilian III | Summer |
| John Shaw | Playing 1.e4 – Caro-Kann, 1…e5 & Minor Lines | Summer |
| Boris Avrukh | GM Repertoire 1B – 1.d4 The Queen’s Gambit | Summer |
| Yuri Razuvaev | Key Concepts of Gambit Play | Summer |
| Ilya Smirin | King’s Indian Warfare | Summer |
| Victor Mikhalevski | GM Rep 19 – Beating Minor Openings | Summer |
| Jacob Aagaard | Chess From Scratch | Summer |
| Boris Gelfand | Dynamic Decision Making in Chess | 31st August |
| Michael Roiz | The Nimzo-Indian | Autumn |
| John Shaw | Playing 1.e4 – Sicilian & French | Autumn |
| Tibor Karolyi | Mikhail Tal’s best games 3 – The Invincible | Autumn |
| Thomas Luther | Luther’s Chess Reformation | Autumn |
| Carl Portman | Chess Behind Bars | Autumn |
| Vassilios Kotronias | King’s Indian – Volume 5 | Autumn |
| Jacob Aagaard | GM Preparation – Thinking Inside the Box | Winter |
I hope never to need “Chess Behind Bars”.
Why there is no “Chess Behind Bars” World Championship?
Roiz book on the Nimzo-Indian, will it also include coverage of the QID? And if not, do you have any plans for such a book?
@Jimmy
Yes, we want to follow up with such a book. But it would be too much to put both openings in one book. Michael has worked so hard it is impossible to understand for a normal person; to double the lines would kill him!
Thanks for the publishing schedule update Jacob! I will be able to plan summer/autumn birthday presents (and Christmas presents) for my friends/me. It is much appreciated.
Any chance we got get an index of variation from Johan Shaws e4 books? Curios about what he is suggesting against for example the sicilian (open,grand prix, closed, Bb5,c3?)
Once Kotronias has finished his KID books could you try and persuade him to write a book on the Classical Sicilian ?
We can always try 🙂
I hope Negi and Kotronias stay in your employ. Both are brilliant analysts. Your staff and author selection is top notch and the other competitors have no chance against you. Yusopov should not feel bad about his books at all. Very high quality. I hope you can convince him to right for you more as well.
I har a questions:
1. What is the Volume 5 Kings Indian book about ? It is about sidelines of Kings Indian ? Is this last volume ?
2. Is Roiz book on Nimzo-Indian is 4. Dc2 O-O ?
3. Is Gelfand Positoional Chess book translated or available for different languages ?
4. How much different is Queen’s Gambit 1B Awruch compared to the last edition ? Is it very different like 1A?
5. Any Pirc book in future ?
Thanks a lot !
The Pirc repertoire book is a real challenge and the market gap. But who would dare to write it?
@ Bill:
Maybe ‘Chess in bars’? By the way, great line-up – I guess as usual I’ll end up buying most of these books 🙂
@AJZ
Well, there are these two Marin DVDs out, they helped me a lot to understand the positional lines. Besides: although I play Pirc for about 20 years exclusively, almost no white player dares to prepare for Pirc below 2000. So just play the Pirc like you want and enjoy your own creativity 🙂
And there’s recent developments (Vigus) and The perfect Pirc / Modern by Moskalenko. Both are fairly recent books, and it’s not like the theory of the Pirc is developing at breathtaking speed. So I doubt if anything substantial can be add to these existing books / DVD’s that justify a new book?
@Richard Martin
Thank you Richard. I do think there are other people out there making great books and in general I am not really for this “who is best” attitude. We do try to market our company to sell our books, we have to. But honestly, I just want to make good work and hope people will like it.
@Jeg taper partiet men vinner krigen
1. It is the last volume so it will cover everything not already in the books. Sidelines and not to forget, the Samisch.
2. I think he is going 4…d5, but honestly, I am not sure. I did know, but forgot. Wait 6-8 weeks and all will be revealed.
3. It is sold for Russian, Italian and French rights.
4. A new book, like with 1A. A few things have not changed, so they stayed in. But it is a new book.
5. We hope so.
@Jacob Aagaard
Jacob,
Is there any chance for GM Repertoire 6B Najdorf by Ftacnik for this year? What gone wrong with so good book which is almost sold out?
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
Lubomir asked to be relieved of the project. We have found another author (combination) and the book will exists, probably at the very end of the year. I am reluctant to say any more, as we have had a few bad luck projects in the past.
@Jacob Aagaard
Great news!
Besides, you can then indulge readers and give for big lines 2 options for Black based on Scheveningen Be2 and more Najdorf spirited Be3 lines!
Hopefully Ftacnik book can be reprinted, cause some of us are happy with this book as it is!
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
I am glad you liked the old book, but hopefully you already have a copy, so no reprinting is necessary. Regarding two choices. I feel under constant pressure…
Well, the fact is that there is no Pirc repertoire book released recently. Vigus’s books are very good but they are not repertoire books but the most important games collections with some original analysis but not very deep. Moskalenko’s book covers not all the lines and once again analysis are not that deep. DVDs don’t count as they’re significantly less detailed that books – they’re mostly introductory.
What I meant was that I would like to have more detailed treatment of the Pirc like GM Rep books from Quality Chess or even like the one from repertoire series by Everymanchess. For now the only hope is Kornev’s planned but delayed book on Pirc/King’s Indian Repertoire from Chessstars. Besides, Stockfish writes nice books but it takes time I don’t have 🙂
@ AJZ:
I understand what you mean, and it would indeed be nice to have a repertoire book on the Pirc. On the other hand, Pirc Alert is quite good, and is it really that outdated? I.m.o. you can still use that book as a basis for your repertoire, and then look e.g. in Recent Developments by Vigus which lines you need to update. Again, theory isn’t progressing that quickly in the Pirc, because it is not popular at all at GM level. Besides, isn’t the point of playing the Pirc that it’s supposed to be a relatively low-theory option?
I thought because of Negi there would be no GM-Rep 6b because the Najdorf is refuted
@AJZ
Far be it from me to plug any other publisher, but isn’t another publisher about to release a book on the Pirc called ‘The Pirc: Move By Move’ by Nigel Davies? Apparently it’s arrival is imminent.
No problem. I don’t consider such a book competition.
Two years ago I had my hardcover copy. Then I switched to 1.e4 e5 as Black, and foolishly gave away book to some antique bookshop for few euros. Now, after realizing what a “crimen” I have done, I have order hardcover copy from topschach.de few days ago. And I still expect arrival…
What a story 🙂
@James
Yes it is but he himself in the introduction tell us that “it’s not a repertoire book as such” – his goal is to “instil in the reader an understanding of the Pirc so that they can start their journey with this opening”. So my point is still valid.
@Ray
For me advanced opening books should develop opening theory, so it’s not so important if the line/opening is played by many GMs or not provided it’s sound. After all, we are buying Quality Chess books on opening theory, because they give us new ideas and fresh analysis, aren’t we?
@AJZ
I hadn’t read anything about it I’m afraid AJZ. I think the Quality Chess opening books are much better than the the Move by Move Series (although I appreciate they are aimed at different levels of player). My point was to bring it to you attention, if you weren’t aware.
Obviously I realise above is not written in stone etc but is the order roughly indicative of the order of publication? Just wondering why Negi is above John.
Oh, it is random. John’s book is going to the printer this week, while we are waiting for the final updates from Negi before it is going away.
Does that mean an excerpt will also be posted soon?
@Remco G
Yes
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
You’ve done e4-e5 and want to go back to e4-c5? Can you explain a bit, please?
Will QC ever do chess videos like Chess24?
@Phil Collins
Negi gives ‘=’ in several variations, but I guess you were joking.
Hi,
when is the Najdorf 6 Bg5 book out?
@Jerome
This one? http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/239/grandmaster_repertoire_-_1e4_vs_the_sicilian_i_by_parimarjan_negi/
When is Sicilian 3 at forwardchess
After playing recent congress, I think my need for the Minor openings book is quite pressing.
There were so many English/Reti openings, far more than 1.e4 and 1.d4 2.c4 combined!!
@Franck steenbekkers
Maybe six-eight weeks. Depends on Negi. If he delivered now, it could be a bit sooner even.
@AJZ
Actually a book about how to play white against the Pirc and Modern is the real gap. There have been loads of books about playing black.
I’m really excited by the Quality Chess coming soon list. I can see me buying at 8 of them, indeed that’s about a 90% probability. I do love being able to get them through Forward Chess, I have far too many physical books.
@ Mark Crowther
I.m.o. Andrew Greet’s repertoire book is quite good, and I don’t think it’s that outdated.
No the one by Ftacnik
@Ray
Thanks. I discovered I had that. I will take a look.
What will be suggested by Negi against Scheveningen and similar?
@Bobby
All will be released in a few weeks.
@Ray
The line against the Scandinavian has been overtaken by time, but there are many good things in that book indeed.
Btw. we will put a 1.e4 excerpt up in the very near future. It looks like the 29th June is the publication date.
One week early in FC as usual?
@Jacob Aagaard
Great!!!!!!!!!
YES!!
@Jacob Aagaard
No the one by Ftacnik
playing 1.e4 excerpt on line !! Very good
More than 620 pages for the first volume of “Playing 1.e4” – perhaps its a good idea for me to switch to the ebook format now. 😉
As expected the excerpt looks excellent. I am a bit surprised that 4.Nf3 vs. the Alekhine was selected since I thought that would be Negi´s choice.
There’s an excerpt!!
Jippieyiyoopdayay !
Looks really great guys, awesome work! Excited to check it out soon on FC!
I agree with the above. And good to see 4.Bg5 recommended against the Pirc!
Looks great. With over 600 pages I would be very interested to see the stats on physical sales vs. the forward chess sales.
Thanks for the excerpt !
I just have to wait for the book now (end of june). It wont’ be too long.
Could you give us a hint on the lines used vs Sicilian (Open, Bb5 ?) and French (Advance, Tarrasch ?)
French Tarrasch and Open Sicilian.
@Jasper
I guess it will be 9% FC as usual.
@Ray
Yes
I believe it will be the Open Sicilian and French Tarrasch from what’s been said before. I’d prefer Bb5 Sicilian lines, but there are other good sources for that.
@JA
I saw the excerpt and it looks that the analysis is based on model games. (I have Avrukh’s book from Quality that is quite different). Are model games also used in the other chapters?
Glad you like it.
Re the Alekhine: my decision there felt almost forced. 4.Nf3 is the move I like best, and I believe it is also the strongest. I don’t intentionally recommend inferior moves, so it has to be the repertoire move.
It’s a different situation in, for example, the Najdorf. 6.Bg5 is the sharpest (and is Negi’s move) but I doubt many GMs would claim that moves such as 6.Be3 or 6.Be2 are definitely inferior.
I don’t know yet what Negi will give against the Alekhine. Maybe he will try to mate it by force with the Four Pawns Attack!?
@Vassilis
It varies from chapter to chapter. Using model games was the main plan, but in some variations I changed it to a GM Repertoire style A-B-C variation layout. A couple of reasons for that. In some lines, there were no suitable model games. Also, in some cases the theory goes rather deep, and I think the A-B-C style makes it easier to follow.
It has been a long time (in fact not Since “LARSEN” by Jan Løfberg) That I have looked forward to a book as I do now. I Think Qualitychess did the Right thing not to rush the project – Quality takes time. The excerpt looks promising. Congratulation Mr. Shaw; yet another fine book.
I found your book idea “Chess Behind Bars” very thought provoking because I have written a feature screenplay about this subject. I would love to bounce around the idea with you Mr. Aagaard as it involves a number of key demographics in the NYC chess scene. I can be reached at dixondeuxyeux@gmail.com
Firstly I’m looking forward to the 1.e4 books by John, you have a sale there in Hardback!
What I want to ask is
I’m also looking forward to the GM Repertoire on the Nimzo-Indian Defence by Roiz. I think it will be well received. But will you cover a repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 (Possible a Queen’s Indian Defence). Also is it your intention to offer a Black repertoire after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 (The Catalan)?
I think the book people are very interested in coming in the GM Repertoire on the Najdorf. What sort of time frame are you looking at and have you made a decision on the old 6…e6 or 6…e5 debate? For what its worth I really liked the 6…e6 systems.
@The Doctor
I think we need to focus on what is right in front of us. But let me say that we can see the obvious as well, though this does not always mean we are in control of what happens…
Seems these books are going to reintroduce 1.e4 into my repertoire, after 15 years absence. Unfortunately what made me stop were the Sicilian and French, but I’ll get this one anyway 🙂
Is the plan against the Sicilian to use the Open, or does it have the Rossolimo against 2…Nc6 or so?
@Jacob Aagaard
6-8 weeks ? If Nimzo-Indian excerpt is done on 6-8 weeks, then August release seems likely.
@Remco G
Open all the way, I think.
@Jeg taper partiet men vinner krigen
Or September. But this is my planning. Later on, God will laugh…
Sadly, I browsed trough all internet sites and I couldn’t find hardcover copy!!!
Could you publish some 100 hardcovers, just for sake old followers and collectors? I don’t care about future 6B, I’ll buy it also 🙂
Is Avrukh going to cover 4.e3 against the Slav again? Looking forward to studying his new book!
I will surely look like a dumb to ask such a question, but the book that is intriguing me the most is Chess from Scratch (ok i am personnaly eagerly waiting next Avrukh book).
When more information about its content/structure will be available? Is it a structured way to learn chess up to a certain level ?
Thanks in advance for ur answers.
@Basquou
It is a beginners book. Starting with learning the moves.
@ Grant Gravitas
That will indeed be interesting. In his book on the Slav he said that he analysed a bit deeper and concluded black is ok in a line he previously thought better for white. Who knows, maybe he has analysed a bit deeper still and is recommending the same line for white now 🙂
I was looking for a Book or material about the QGD from Black’s point of view and was really shocked how little stuff is aroud… Some beginnerbooks which are outdated, some strange PGN files and some highly overpriced DVDs. There is a huge gap to be filled. I really hope strongly there will be a QC book in the future about this topic, it is really sad to see the lack of material about such an important opening 🙁
@Lasker
Yes, there will be.
Dear Jacob,
In this future book on the QGD, is the Tartakower will be covered ?
Thx in advance.
Ben.
@Lasker
How is that in english the ortodox defense came to be called QGD (which is anything except 2…dc after 1.d4 d5 2.c4)?
Even assuming you call QGD to the sequence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 (which is not accurate), you still have the Tarrasch after 3.Nf3 c5 (which is covered by QC).
So, do you say QGD is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 or you need to expand it to 4.Bg5 Be7 (otherwise 4.Nf3 Bb4 seems to be something else, and there is the Cambridge-Springs after 4.Bg5 too)?
This wasn’t clear, thanks Gollum. I think in a previous blog here was the wish for the coverege of the older mainlines like the Tartakower or Lasker, for the exchange variantion with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 or 3….Be7, the different white plans (minority attack, botvinniks f3 and e4, 0-0-0 and the kingside pawnpush etc.) plus the tries like 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 and similar diviations which aren’t part of the usual Queenspawn openings like the London, Torre etc. which are already covered well. There is some real theoretical fundation missing in those older, traditional lines like the Tartakower and the Lasker (I think the relatively best ist the book by Cox from 2011 but this is an other level of analytical work). These solid lines are quite more or less frequently played by stong grandmasters, were tested in many WCM (Anand – Topalov etc.) but still I find it hard to find deep and good material about it. Mostly there is historical stuff around from the classical games. The Ragozin and e.g. the Vienna are quite popular and there have been some good material for example by Gustafsson but there are also questions after the Carlsen-Kramnik game in the QGD exchange if Shorts’ Variation is still reliable etc. I hope you got what my point was and thank you Jacob and the others of QC for the great care you take about suggestions from the readers. This is really rare these days.
@Lasker
I forgot to mention especially when it comes to the exchange 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cx ex there are mostly recommendations to go for the plan with 8.Nh5 (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd exd 5 Bg5 c6 6 Qc2 Be7 7 e3 Nbd7 8 Bd3 Nh5) against the 6.Qc2 move order or for the Short Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd exd 5 Bg5 c6 6 e3 Bf5) with the double pawns after Qf3. Here it would be helpful to have analysis and work on which variations should be the best path for black and also if the traditional other exchange lines (which Yusupov liked to play quite a lot) are viable. I think a good solution would be to cover it as a repertoire book, take the 5.Bf4 QG and the Catalan also into the mix and produce a book in the rough shape of Cox’ “Declining the Queens gambit” but with a really good theoretical base and new evaluation which path is the most promising for Black to take. This could be a “Playing the xxxx” book for the practical player in form of a solid and well organized repertoire (like Nikolaos’ Playing 1.e4 e5) or a grandmaster repertoire series which could deal in more detail with all the variations. Both would surely gift the traditional lines a new theoretical baseline for years to come.
Hi Lasker,
I could not more agree with you, let’s hope QC team and Jacob will herad us about this legitimate request 🙂
Ben.
I would like something based on the ortodox too. I stopped playing it because a couple of painful defeats against the exchange variation. But I do want the ortodox with Be7 (i do not know if Ragozin is considered as an Ortodox variation).
Sadly QC produces more books than I can study… I am lagging behind already.
I would really apreciate a good QC work on the QGD as well !!!
Currently there are some theoretical inconsistencies, especially in the exchange variations after
6. e3, since the 6…Bf5 variation seems to be in trouble after the Carlsen – Kramnik game…maybe there is someone who is able to make 6. e3 Qb6!? really work ?!
@ Lasker : Sadler’s book on QGD is outdated but pretty good
+1 for Chandler’s book.It is not dedicated to black but it describes plans for both sides pretty well
@Enantiodromit
7.Qd2 and the answer is no.
Any more concrete information when the next new book excerpt (Negi or otherwise) will be put up please?
It is almost done. Andrew is inserting the final updates and missing lines we found that Parimarjan had overlooked into the book now. I have already typeset 14 chapters, about 320 pages, so we are in proofreading as soon as the Gelfand book is out the door. I can see this book coming out in the beginning of August no problem.
That is great news! Thank you.
Update on 1.d4 1b?
@Paul
August I hope and believe.
@Jacob Aagaard
How’s the Minor Openings and Nimzo-Indian coming along?
Cheers in advance!
August/September??
@The Doctor
They are summer books as well, if September is summer too. The Minor Openings is quite big, but will hopefully be done quite soon anyway.
@Jacob Aagaard
Hi Jacob. Any plans for GM Dutch repertoire? Thanks
@ Jacob Aagaard
I guess one can hardly call the English and Reti ‘minor openings’ anymore… It seems that all the top GMs are playing these openings nowadays.
@Ray
I agree, the English is one of the main openings. I think the reason for this is that
many of the positions are less forcing than efter e4 and d4. There is no Petroff, Berlin Wall
or Slav killing the game.
@ Jacob Aagaard
When will we see Another GM repertoire book on the English from whites perspective?
@Ray
You got a point, but flank openings was taken 😉
Will ‘Attacking 1.e4’ be available on Forward Chess today?
According to FC website it should. Unfortunately it is not yet… a lot of today remains, though.
@Gollum
Remember it is uploaded by a US company. They are still in the middle of the night.
“Attacking 1.e4” is on the FC website!
Price on “Forward Chess”: € 20,99. The sample is (as always) free.
Presumably you mean Android store. Still to appear on Apple….
I see GM 19 Minor Openings has been pushed back yet again, this time till Autumn, when the pessimistic side of me thinks it will yet again be pushed back until Winter, then Spring….Sorry for the negativity; I just want it the most, then KID 5 and the the rest of the 1 e4 Negi series. And the rest of the new Avrukh 1 d4 books, and the Sicilian Najdorf. It says a lot about Quality Chess when I have only one minor whiner. Great job guys.
@Pawn Dillinger
It is not pushed back as far as I am concerned. It is still in the same place in the hierarchy as before, it is just that it has gone from likely August to likely September.
Stands there excerpt for ,,Von Schüler zum Großmeister”?
And is 1. e4 book still on time for this week?
am i right, that there are none of these fantastic hardcover editions in german language?
Of the two German-language books we are publishing now: ‘Vom Schüler zum Großmeister’ by Thomas Luther is paperback only, while ‘Dame am Brett’ by Judit Polgar is hardcover only.
I think we need to add something in German on the book’s webpages to make that clear.
Will be the English-Luther in Hardcover? If available i try to buy the hardcover-edition.
Sounds good. I’ll take your word for it and will continue to build my enthusiasm. Even reading about a particular month like September is great news. And as I wrote, if that’s the worst whining one could do, it says a lot about QC. Thanks for the input.@Jacob Aagaard
You guys are awesome! I just downloaded the excerpt of Dynamic Decision Making and you guys added puzzles!
Whoever thought of that deserves a slap on the back, a raise, and a small vacation to some topical country.
I only had a quick look, but Luthers book looks very nice.
Not to speak of Johns opus. First look is “very impressive”.
@Paul
I agree, and also great to see some attention for Geller’s games – I like his style and thinks he’s a bit underestimated!
@Paul
Thank you. I am going to San Francisco on holiday Sunday. Not sure if it is topical or tropical, but for a Scot it will be plenty warm…
San Francisco weather is supposed to be reasonably nice on Sunday (certainly warm for a Scot), and forecasted to be very warm next week, so you’re in luck (I live near there).
More to publishing – I want to compliment John on the 1. e4 book – it’s very good! I have been working on it since published in FC and I’m quite impressed.
PS – This is a different Paul!
@Paul
Thank you
@Paul
I’d like to second that. It’s more than worth the long wait! Another great effort by QC 🙂
Got my 1. e4 book yesterday and I must say it is fantastic! Thank you John for all the work and also the entire QC team. I knew it would be good but it is far better than I imagined it to be.
But I still have 2 other questions for you.
1. Is it possible to give a hint (yet) how Victor Mikhalevski will battle the English and Reti in the upcoming book about “minor openings”?
2. Are there any plans for a book about the Petroff for black?
Thank you in advance
@Lasker
I’d love to know what the minor openings book will recommend too!!
Many of you wondered how on earth Quality Team couldn’t update Ftacnik’s “Grandmaster Repertoire 6 – The Sicilian Defence”, which was out of print 6 years ago!!!
Why, cause Najdorf is THE ELITE Black opening 🙂
Working and talking with a Serbian GM Elo 2537 I was informed that Ftacnik’s book didn’t stood the test of time, and albeit once he was good analyst, his book on Najdorf was rather poor.
My conclusion was that that was the really reason why Quality Team didn’t want him to write second edition.
But who can? Waiting for more than 2 years!
Shame, they have a bestseller, a blockbuster, but they don’t want to launch second edition!
@LE BRUIT QUI COURT
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong 🙂
@Jacob Aagaard
I hope so!
You could easily sell 10 000 copies with new edition! Well, this is project which should be a top priority!
When the Avrukh book is available?
@Anssi Manninen
In two months time, at most.
And what about Negi’s Sicilian,when is it available?
Any update on when Avrukhs book on the Queens gambit will be out?
Sorry – poor attention..question asnwered 3 posts above..so retracted 🙂
@RB
August somewhere. Maybe 31st.
The german edition of the Polgar book #3 made me happy. It is really great!
Are there plans to update and release Playing 1.d4: The Queen’s Gambit by Lars Schandorff? I cannot get hold of a paperback version of this book at the moment.
After scanning John’s Playing 1.e4 book,(it’s very good) it’s made me real learn the Volume 2 any ideas when this will be done. This year or early next?
Cheers in advance
Sorry for predictive text. Should see eager to know when’s Volume 2 is going to be released!
@The Doctor
Volume 2 will be this year. And I’m glad you like Volume 1.
@ John Shaw
Great, very much looking forward to this! (and all the other upcoming releases 🙂 )
Will Negi be recommending 6Be3/ 7Qf3 against the Taimanov? Thank you.
Will Grandmaster Reporoire on Benko happen? Thank you.
Is it really possible that Vassilios forgot to include then Taimanov variation (9. Bd2) in his books on the Mar del Plata ?
I just can’t believe it, as he covered anything else !
Or am I missing something ?
Ditto. The next Winter would come in few months.
@Hysan Wong
It is almost finished; then it will take about 6 weeks for the proof reading and printing. I am hoping we can include it in the 31st August batch, but no promises.
@Thomas . True . 9.Bd2 and 10.Rc1 is not covered in Vol3 .
There are some important lines not covered in Kotronias Anti-Sicilian book and in Negi’s 3 there is no 10…Qb8 line in the Dragon. Are you planning any newsletter with updates?
some time ago a clear NO was said after I asked about it…so maybe repeated asking might help to give an update on the excellent Pinski-Book….
@Thomas
@Pinpon
I am reliably informed (by the author) that this line is not good, but it should have been mentioned, at least briefly. So Kotronias will say something about it, and we will share it with you, but right now all his efforts are going into finishing the final volume.
@Maik
Thank you very much.
@ John Shaw : Thank you . Taimanov’s variation as i see it is an attempt to play useful moves be fore committing the knight on e1 or g5 and has mainly historical value ( Fisher 1971 ! )
Is there any update as to when the next pdf excerpt (for any of the forthcoming books) will be put up please?
Negi III is available for pre-order but there is no excerpt yet – when it comes?
Is there a chance for an index of variations be included in the excerpt?
The same goes for Avrukh 1B.
@AJZ
@Ray
The excerpts of both Negi Sicilian III and Avrukh 1B are likely to appear tomorrow. But without the Variation Indexes, as that would give away too many secrets about the repertoire choices.
Our Variation Indexes are detailed (the one for Avrukh 1B is 10 pages long). I want the excerpts to give you a good idea of what is in the book, but not show the repertoire move-by-move.
Fair enough, and looking forward to this!
@AJZ
10…Qb8 is in Negi IV as an appendix.
I was wondering, will the excerpts for Avrukh and Negi be on your website before the end of the (working) day? Thank you.
Ok, that’s nice idea – most people who bought Negi III will buy Negi IV.
Hoping for some solution to Anti-Sicilians book omissions too.
The last news about GM rep 19: 1 month later, is it confirmed for sep\oct? Thanks.
P.S. What preference against 1.c4? 1…c5, 1…e5 or others? 🙂
Is it just me, or is there a typo on the Slav Stonewall introductory page before page 150 in the excerpt for Avrukh 1B? In the introductory page, the line given is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 f5. Isn’t the knight in the way of ..f5 having played 3..Nf3?
(Sorry, that should be 3..Nf6 and not 3..Nf3, just to be clear.)
@James
Yes, well at least it was before the end of the working day for Colin and me. The excerpts for Negi’s Sicilian 3 and Avrukh’s 1B The Queen’s Gambit are at the following links:
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/1.e4vsSicilianIII-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/1BTheQueensGambit-excerpt.pdf
Thanks John. Remember to check page 5/16 of the pdf excerpt as there appears to be a typo on the page (3..Nf6 instead of what I presume should have been 3..c6).
Thank you for the excerpts. Have a good weekend.
It’s an error. It should be 3…e6. A new improved excerpt will appear soon. And the printed book will also be correct. Thanks for mentioning this slip.
I just wanted to let you know before anything was sent to the printer!!
@James
Yes, great timing, thanks. Corrected version there now.
@John Shaw
Thanks, these look very interesting, as usual 🙂 I’m particularly looking forward to Negi IV,since that will complete my 1.e4 repertoire!
If anyone wants to know: The new Luther book is really good!
Right now I am struggling trough the “Luther-Test” there…really tough nuts…
Does Negi cover the 4 knights line in the Sicilian, which arrises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 behause I didn’t find it in the contents
@RB
Yes, we put the 4 Knights in Chapter 21 on 2…e6 Sidelines.
Correction: 10.. Qb8 is in Negi III according the excerpt, not in IV.
Which is better of course, as IV will be OUTSIDE of the Sicilian.
Oh, perhaps means Neg IV, but his THIRD book on the Sicilian (“1 e4 Sicilian III”).
Somewhat confusing bit I think iTS like this.
@Maik I’m looking forward to this one myself. Is it Thomas’ story or does he recommend training methods etc!???
When Negi finishes his Sicilian saga and starts writing about 1…e5 – will it be Scotch or Ruy Lopez?
Preview of changes on Indian defenses in Avrukh’s series? I’m guessing it will be another 2 books for the Indian/Dutch/Misc. defenses and that makes it a bit awkward when trying to create a repertoire since that will probably mean another year before getting the analysis.
I have the Hiarcs book and good chess engines but it would be nice, if it is known, to get an idea of what lines will be dramatically different. I’m talking about completely different systems and not innovations on move 15.
@TonyB Yes, he talks a bit about his upbringing; how he got to GM and his training methods…and (for me at least) quite tough exercises! Sometimes it might be helpful to understand german…for one book at least… 😉
I was referring to the HIARCS Opening Book Subscription, not just the engine book. I think you guys should consult it for opening books since it often has lines not tested in human games.
Also, I’m confused as to how thew new Avrukh repertoire has the e4 variation vs the QGA. Can’t Black just move order us really easily with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e4 b5!?
I think John Shaw hinted that Negi would write about the Ruy.
The Negi book we will publish at the end of this month finishes the Sicilian part. And I am sure it will be the Ruy Lopez against 1…e5.
@Alex
That 2…e6 move order you mention (leading to the QGA) is covered in the book, right at the start of Chapter 1. I think Black has move-ordered himself into a not very good line, and Avrukh shows what to do.
Ok, interesting. 🙂
I’m hoping that 1.e4 vs Pirc/Modern/Scandinavian&others book will be published before the Ruy Lopez book, as I’m not playing the Ruy.
@ Jacob & John
Will Boris Avrukh has a new system against the King’s Indian and Gruenfeld or Is he gonna stick to the 3.g3 systems?
I think the Scandinavian and the other minor lines are given in the next book. However I would prefer the Ruy Lopez to be the next!!
@pawnfury
I’m also wondering about this but one of the things I liked about his repertoire is the thematic fianchetto vs many lines. It’s not as extreme as Kosten’s 1. c4 2. g3 but it also isn’t neutralized as easily as that repertoire.
Would the Nimzo-Indian by Roïz still ready for September ¿
@Alex
Not sure that the g3 option strikes fear into the hearts of many Grunfeld or Kings Indian players so I’d like to see a change….
As a KID player I find the Samisch the most testing so it will be interesting to see what GM Kotronias recommends against it in his last volume in the KID series.
@Jeg taper partiet men vinner krigen
Hope and believe we can make it. It is tight.
@Michael
The g3 systems don’t challenge the soundness of those openings but they do create a dynamic game with a subtle White pull, usually in the form of a space advantage. They’re also similar to the Benoni and Catalan lines in terms of White’s structure so that makes it easier to adopt the repertoire and understand the positional themes.
I think the popularity of Kosten’s “The Dynamic English” with 1. c4 2. g3 highlights the appeal of relying on comparable structures. Although in the case of the English some of the responses (certain c6-d5 lines for example) shut down any hope of an advantage if White insists on that approach. The issue is that White defines his structure too early and so Black can respond perfectly to it. Avrukh isn’t as dogmatic and the extra flexibility gives his lines more bite should Black choose to play something offbeat.
With that said, the big center responses to the Grunfeld and KID do have more threat to Black if he doesn’t know theory. However, if he does, not only are you playing into their hands since they probably like the main lines and are more experienced but you also don’t really get much more than the g3 systems would offer.
@Alex
Well Alex maybe you are right, I’ve been playing both sides of the KID at club, tournament and now correspondence levels since I was 15 (I’m now 65). I have had and still have, little problem dealing with g3 systems as black but on the flip side I have made little progress when playing g3 against the Indian systems as white….maybe that is more about me relating to my positive experiences with black therefore not trusting the White set-up more than anything to do with the effectiveness of the opening line.
But I do play the Catalan as white and think that GM Avrukh’s book is great. I’m also very sure that he won’t be recommending a g3 approach against the Slav in 1B so perhaps a little flexibility around choice of lines against the Indian systems is also possible?
Greit ! When should Forward Chess have this book available you think ? Just approximately
@Jeg taper partiet men vinner krigen
On a Wednesday 🙂
@jacob aagaard
actually when is expected the publication of GM repertoire 19?
Maybe the title was too ambitious, nevertheless i am just to curious to read and study it!! 😀
GM 19 seems like a book that QC team are very hush about. No one really seems to know when it will be published or have any hint of what lines it will cover£
@Michael
Where is exactly do you find problems in the Saemisch? Grischuk’s piece sac line seems to be doing OK theoretically.
@trandism
My preference has always been to have a d6, e5 pawn formation when playing against the Samisch. These lines are under something of a cloud at present so whilst the c5 setups are OK they are not my preferred option.
Kotronias tends to favour the e5 setup as well, so I hoping his final volume on the KID will breath some new life into the variation.
@Riccardo
September for sure. Nimzo not till October 🙁
Would the Nimzo be ready for Spt?
@ Bobby:
It says ‘Nimzo not till October’ in the post just above your post…
@Ray
I was wrong.. Would an excerpt about Nimzo be ready for Spt?
@Bobby
Hopefully. It will be close, because of the Olympiad.
A somewhat related question: will the QC books published on August 31st be available for purchase at the Baku Olympiad?
@Jacob Aagaard
Great!! 😉
Any chance that “Playing 1.e4 – Sicilian & French” will be published at least together with the Nimzo book?
@AJZ
No, we promise not to hold the Nimzo book back!
@middlewave
I have not heard of anyone wanting to sell them there. Maybe John knows something, but then he has not told me.
@middlewave
@Jacob Aagaard
I have no exciting secrets about this. There is a ‘Chess Exhibition’ being held alongside the Baku Olympiad, with various companies selling things, so one would expect chess booksellers to be involved. I emailed the relevant Baku organiser to ask which companies would be selling books there, so I hope I will know more soon.
@ Jacob & John
Will Boris Avrukh has a new system against the King’s Indian and Gruenfeld or Is he gonna stick to the 3.g3 systems?
is this one of yours or just a fake?