|
Main
Date: 20 Jun 2005 22:18:03
From:
Subject: This sideline is not as harmless as new book claims
|
I recently purchased the new book by GM Lev Alburt...called Chess Openings for Black, Explained. Now this is NOT a review of the book Although I can say this...I love the layout in that you can easily follow the variations in this format because the diagrams are right there in front of you all the way. Most chess books give only one diagram per variation and then burying you with mounds of lines with no diagrams displaying what they mean. The Kasparov book series is a perfect example of this problem. Nevertheless...as I said...this is NOT a review. I DO want to take issue with the authors inclusion of a "sideline" which they claim is "harmless". As I'm reading this carefully from beginning to end...it doesn't mean I have to take their suggestions laying flat on my face without critical objections and analysis to their "lines". For instance...they're recommending the Accelarated Dragon as the choice for Black to defend against White's 1.e4 opening move. Fine. But then they get to this point in the book...pretty early on page 60..there is this amazing assumption by these GM authors and before I quote the line...here is the variation that I'm questioning their judgement. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6... now at this point...I have to question their judgement to making this call instead of 4...Bg7. They claim Nc6 is better based on their "analysis". But that's their opinion. What I'm questioning their judgement in this line is the following "sideline" And here is their verdict on page 60..."Not dangerous for Black is 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Qd4 Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.e6 f6, as White falls dangerously behind in development." Very pretty line. Unfortunately...this book leaves out an unpleasant surprise...and I've tested this against Junior 9 a few days ago. When I "tried" this line as Black against Junior 9 on move 8 it came up with a stunning novelty: 8. Nc3! instead of 8. e6 with the threat to win a mere pawn on an exchange of knights at d5. This move threw me for a loop as there is no mention of this in the new book. I'm immediately thrown on the defensive at this point as I have to do something to prevent White from winning the pawn. Anybody want to comment on this line and what to do against Junior 9's novelty at move 8?
|
|
|
Date: 21 Jun 2005 09:08:10
From:
Subject: Re: This sideline is not as harmless as new book claims
|
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Qd4 Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Nc3!?, 8...Qb6 looks fine for Black, with the idea of 9.Qxb6 Nxb6 (9...axb6 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Be3 may be somewhat better for White) with an imbalanced but relatively equal position. 8...Nxc3!? also looks playable but is rather double-edged after 9.e6 dxe6 10.Qxc3 f6 11.Qxc6+ Bd7, when Black will play ...Bg7 and ...0-0 in the next few moves with what looks to me like an unclear position. - Geof
|
|
Date: 21 Jun 2005 07:15:01
From: Mark Houlsby
Subject: Re: This sideline is not as harmless as new book claims
|
Don't play lines you don't understand. Of course *I* play lines I don't understand because there are no lines that I *do* understand, but that's *my* problem....
|
|