Correspondence Chess in
Britain and Ireland,
1824-1987 by Tim Harding
2010
McFarland & Company,Inc.,Publishers Box 611
Jefferson,North Carolina 28640.
http://www.mcfarlandpub.com
433 pages
Price $49,95
ISBN 978-0-7864-4553-0
Tim Harding {Ph.D., University of Dublin and Senior master
of correspondence chess}covers in this 433 pages heavy weight, the
history of British and Irish correspondence chess from 1824 till
1987 and that is included Welsh and Schottische correspondence chess to
the year 1918.
What Harding has created here makes him, in my opinion to one of the
best!
Harding has the talent to transfer chess research into readable stories
as for example his research on the correspondence career of the great
Howard Staunton.
As we can read: There are mysteries about Staunton’s postal chess
matches.One with the Rev.Horatio Bolton {1793-1873},a godson of Lord
Nelson,was mentioned more than once in the press while it was ongoing
in 1840 –1841 but the moves and even the results were left unpublished.
Charles Tomlinson claimed many years after Staunton’s death that “He
also played correspondence games for a stake,and I thought it somewhat
unreasonable when the members of a provincial club complained to me
bitterly that Staunton asked for the money as soon he obtained what he
called a winning position.
Staunton never publicly admitted playing professionally,but he possibly
regarded the stake as a tuition fee.Playing postal chess for money
seems to have been unusual in England but in 1846 a German chess
teacher resident in London,R Kuiper,was reported in Bell’s Life
offering to play amateurs for two quineas a game plus another quinea if
he won.
After moving to New York,Willem Steinitz played such matches,and
Emanuel Lasker tried to do so,as did grandmasters Fine and
Reshevsky later in the twentieth century.
In England Löwenthal possibly played by post for money, but the
evidence for this is unclear.
The penny post in 1840 made correspondence chess popular, specially as
Harding explains under the well-off middle and upper class
gentlemen.
But a penny was still quite a lot of money in those days for the
working class.
Harding describes in this book several game changing technologies such
as telegraph,telephone,radio and fax machines.
Here follows the earliest telegraph game that did not involve Londoners:
NN of Newcastle - NNN of Newcastle [C37]
experimental telegraph game corr, 1848
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.d4 gxf3 6.Qxf3 d5 7.Bxd5 Nf6
8.0-0 Nxd5 9.exd5 Bh6 10.Re1+ Kf8 11.c4 Qf6 12.Qe4 Bf5 13.Qe5 Qxe5
14.dxe5 Bxb1 15.Rxb1 Nd7 16.b4 Re8 17.Bb2 Bg7 18.e6 fxe6 19.Bxg7+ Kxg7
0-1
Included in this book are 53 photo’s, extensive notes, bibliography and
indexes.
Conclusion: Facinating!
The complete c3 Sicilian by
Evgeny Sceshnikov
2010
New in Chess
http://www.newinchess.com/
574 pages
Price €28,95
ISBN 978 90 56913298
I have several books on the move 1.e4 c5 2.c3 but not one of
them is able to take it up against this heavy weight from Evgeny
Sveshnikov with it’s 574 pages!
This book from Sveshnikov is more than a standard move to move openings
book with a explaining of all major key concepts.
Sveshnikov does not only explain all the ideas of the Alapin but covers
in this book every serious line that makes sense against the move
2.c3.
A strong point of the move 2.c3 is his psychological except that black
is battling for equality, with little of no prospect of taking the
initiative, usually he has to fight against white queenside
majority, and this all is well explained by Sveshnikov with instructive
model games
where a large amount of them come from the great master himself.
Instructive are his words against Toni Kos where Sveshikov is handling
the black side of the board: Since I myself always answer 1.e4 with
1…c5!,I quite often have to face 2.c3.
My results as black have been very good,since I can always draw on the
knowledge I have built up by playing it as white for so many years.
I have tried many varied systems as black.When I am playing a strong
opponent, and /or a draw suits me, than I choose the most reliable
variations, and in games with less experienced opponents,I take
slightly more risks and head for a more complicated position. In my
preparations I start by trying to estimate the extent of my opponent’s
knowledge and his practical strength, although I also take account of
the tournament situation and my own feelings.
Even more interesting are the words from Sveshnikov with his game
against the legendary Tal: When I started playing the c3 Sicilian in
Soviet Championships it proved to be a mass destruction weapon against
players of master strength,but did not work so well against the elite
players.True,I drew without any trouble,but I could not win games.This
continued to be the case until my game with Tal,which I now offer for
your attention.
It is no coincidence that this variation should have proved so strong
against the Eighth World Champion, because white can easily reach an
endgame,and Tal did not greatly love this concluding stage of the game,
especially if he had to defend passively.Maybe Petrosian or Karpov
would have held this ending,but Tal could not do so.
Sveshnikov’s book is divided into two major chapters: Part one with
over 253 pages cover 2…d5 and other moves and part two holds 2…Nf6.
Included is a historical overview, basic plans and ideas, the typical
endgame with a white queenside majority, important games by variation
and exercises.
John Emms mentions in his Everyman book ,Starting Out the c3 Sicilian
the gambit line:
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d5 8.exd6
Qxd6 9.0-0 Be6 10.Na3 dxc3 11.Qe2 Bxb3 12.axb3 and writes: White’s
development advantage and pieces undoubtedly provide a good amount of
compensation for the pawn,although black could argue that he has to
obvious weakness in his position.Black must choose between a number of
ways of trying to deal with white’s initiative.
Sveshnikov writes: I first played this gambit more than 20 years ago in
a game Sveshnikov – Yudasin {USSR 1986}.Even than I felt that black had
very good possibilities for counterplay here.
Since than,I have occasionally played the gambit,but in general ,I have
to say that I prefer it as black.
Maybe it is nice to end with this brilliant encounter from Alekander
Alekhine:
Alekhine,Alexander - Podgorny,Jiri [B22]
Prague Prague (17), 1943
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 e6
8.Nc3 Bb4 9.0-0 Qa5 10.a3 Nf6 11.d5 exd5 12.axb4 Qxa1 13.Nd2 Bxe2
14.Qxe2+ Ne7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Nb3 Qa6 17.Qxa6 bxa6 18.Rxe7 Rab8 19.b5 axb5
20.Rxa7 b4 21.Ne2 Rfc8 22.f3 Ra8 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Kf2 Nd7 25.Nf4 Nb6
26.Ke3 Rc8 27.Kd3 g5 28.Nh5 1-0.
Conclusion: The best book ever written on the Alapin!
Bird-
Eröffnung by Timothy Taylor
2010
Everyman Chess
234 pages
Price € 24.95
ISBN 978-3-942383-03-5
In front of me I have this beautiful German translation from FM
Johannes Fischer,who has transferred Timothy Taylor Bird’s book
from 2005 in to the German language.
Fine packed with a hard cover but unfortunately Everyman Chess has not
included any new material after the years 2005 in to it!
It was the English master Henry Edward Bird {1830 –1918} who
demonstrated the dangerous potential of the move 1.f4 in the second
half of the nineteen century.
And the great Aron Nimzowitsch played some great games with it in the
1920s and he only lost one game with it in his whole chess career and
well against Steiner Keckemet 1927 with the tricky move order 1.f4 d5
2.e3 Nf6 3.b3 d4! this classic game is very instructively analysed by
the American chess master to show the reader the dangerous pit falls of
this opening.
All possibilities of the Bird’s opening in this book are
compressively covered often till around move 30 of more, so this is a
excellent book to understand the typical planes and manoeuvres that go
with it all at the hand of a impressive collection of 53 well
analysed model games.
In the index of complete games I found nine games of Bent Larsen
and twelve games of Timothy Taylor himself so it is clear we are
dealing with a author who is willing to share his secrets of the
Bird.
In the Bibliography I found many interesting references but I am
missing in this Bird book latest developments from the correspondence
scene as for example 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 5.g3 g4
6.Nh4 Ne7 7.e4!? a invention of the Latvian correspondence chess player
Gurtovoi.Taylor handles the whole From’s gambit Lasker variation with
five games and simple prefers white with the move order
7.Ng2 but dear readers there are more interesting alternatives! Please
see for example Winning unorthodox openings from Angus
Dunnington,Everyman Chess 2000 or Dmitrij Oleinikov impressive made
openings CD on the Bird .
Interesting in this book are the chapters on the Antoshin variation
with 1.f4,Nf3,3.d3,4.c3 and 5.Qc2 and the solid Stonewall with the big
whole at e4!
Superb is the last game in this book is the classic game Pelikan –
Alekhine where white went after 1.f4 f5 for the fascinating 2.e4!!
which is good for 6.5 pages of this book!
Conclusion: Still one of the best
books ever written on the Bird!
Der Trompowsky Angriff by Richard Palliser
2010
Everyman Chess
288 pages
Price $24,95
ISBN 978-3-942383-04-2
IM Dirk Poldauf is responsible for the German translation of this eye
catching heavy weight.
Richard Palliser digs in this Starting Out book,at the fascinating
Trompowsky Attack.
Palliser writes in his introduction: Whether one is looking for an
occasional weapon for surprise or a full time opening to be employed
against 1.d4 Nf6,the Trompowsky fits the bill.
The Tromp is a popular opening,because it creates complex and original
positions from on move two.
For example: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 gxf6!? A challenging approach,
where Palliser writes: Those who like dynamic, unbalanced positions
could do no far worse than make 2…d5 and 3…gxf6 there defence to
the Trompowsky.
I have several books on the Tromp but not one covers so explanations as
this one from Palliser.
All material is explained at the hand of 30 model games where the
author has used a small 260 pages to explain the key strategies of this
opening to us.
The Tromp is overloaded with fascinating lines as the Main line with
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.d5 Qb6 5.Bc1! Is it not strange that
white can really get away with moving his three times in the five moves
to end up back home?
Palliser explains: This cool retreat very much deserves main line
status after 4.d5 Qb6.White might have only developed his d-pawn thus
far,but he will obtain a pleasant pull after 6.f3 and 7.e4 unless black
is careful.
After 5….g6: Fianchettoing is very natural, but black has also been
known to close the centre with 5…e5,after which 6.f3 Nf6{by analogy
with our main line black has tried 6…Nd6!?,but after 7.e4 g6 8.Nc3 Bg7
9.Nh3 0-0 10.Be2 c4 11.g4!? Qc5 12.Bg5! f6 13.Bh4 Bh6 14.Bf2 Be3
15.Bxe3 Qxe3 16.Qd2 retained a comfortable edge in J.Avila Jimenez –
R.Edouard,La Massana 2008}7.e4 d6 8.Na3 Be7 9.Nc4 Qd8 10.a4 is typical
of the time black must often lose with his queen if he develops slowly.
Here 10…0-0 11.Bd3 Ne8 prepared a typical Czech –Benoni freeing
device in A.Stefanova – F.Manca,Saint Vincent 2000,but the instructive
sequence 12.Ne2 Bg5 13.f4! exf4 14.Nxf4 Ndf7 15.0-0 Ne5 16.Be2 Nxc4
17.Bxc4 Qe7 18.Qe2 h6 19.Nd3! Bxc1 20.Rac1 Nf6 21.e5 saw white winning
the key battle for the e5-square.Stefanova has also shown the way
against 5…f5: 6.f3 Nf6 7.Nc3 e6 8.e4 fxe4 9.fxe4 exd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5
11.Qxd5 Qe6 12.Bc4 kept the central situation under control and gave
white an edge in A.Stefanova – A.Panchenko,Babera 1999.
Peter Wells also suggests in his Winning with the Trompowsky:There is
also a case for 12.Bf4!? after which recapturing on d5 with the d pawn
becomes a more enticing option.
However,the potential weakness of white’s e-pawn nothithstanding,her
desire to keep the strong bishop on d5 is very understandable.
Conclusion: Buy this book for the
highly instructive notes on the Tromp!
Attacking Chess
The King's Indian Volume 1 by David Vigorito
2010
Everyman Chess
368 pages
Price $28,95
ISBN 978-1-85744-645-6
The American IM David Vigorito provides the black player
of this book with a
detailed move to move repertoire book based on the King’s Indian
Defence.
This heavy weight is based on three chapters, The Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 with
lines as the Mar del Plata Variation where white plays moves as 9.Ne1
Nd7 10.Nd3 or 10.f3 or 10.Be3.
Included are various as 8.dxe5 and 8.Be3.
Chapter two handles the Classical Variation without 7.0-0,the Gligoric
Variation;7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bc1 Nc6 and 9.Bh4 Nc6,Petrosian
Variation 7.d5 where Vigorito prefers the set-up with the prophylactic
7…..a5! Vigorito does not see much in the old line with 7…Nbd7.
And part three holds the Sämisch Variation here Vigorito goes for
the Panno Variation:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2
Rb8,where white choices in moves as 9.h4,9.Nc1,0-0-0 and 9.a3,9.Rb1 and
9.Rc1.
In my book shelf I have a other book with a complete black repertoire
for black against The King’s Indian from Victor Bologan,here you have
all lines in one band and there is less to memorize but dear reader
Vigorito digs deeper and explains more.
Interesting to mention in the Mar del Plata line is the classic game:
Langeweg,Kick (2425) - Donner,Jan Hein (2500)IBM Amsterdam (8), 1971
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5
Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.c5 g5 14.Rc1 Ng6 15.Nb5
Rf7 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Qc2 Ne8 18.a4 h5 19.Nf2 Bf8 20.h3 Rg7 21.Qb3 Nh4
22.Rc2 Nf6 23.Rfc1 g4 24.fxg4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Bxg4 26.Bxg4 Nxg4 27.Nxg4
Rxg4 28.Be1 f3 29.Bxh4 Qxh4 30.Qxf3 Rxe4 31.g3 Qg4 32.Qxg4+ Rxg4 33.Rc4
Rxg3+ 34.Kf2 Rb3 35.Rg4+ Kf7 36.Rc7+ Kf6 37.Rg8 e4 38.Nc3 Rxb2+ 39.Ke1
Re8 40.Nd1 Rb3 41.Ke2 Ke5 42.Nc3 a6 43.Rc4 Kf5 44.Kd1 b5 45.axb5 axb5
46.Rxe4 Rc8 47.Rgg4 Bh6 0-1,white had little alternative to exchange
off into an unfavourable endgame,but Vigorito prefers to hold on with
…a6 just as Krzysztof & Ilczuk did in there Classical King’s Indian
uncovered.
But Bologan goes for the easy to memorize 12….c5.
Conclusion: A very interesting work!
Starting out Skandinavisch by Jovanka Houska
2010
Everyman Chess
334 pages
Price € 24,95
ISBN 978-3-942383-05-9
Starting out the Scandinavian is a interesting work from the
ladies Grandmaster Jovanka Houska { Woman's Grand Master (WGM) and
International Master!} who digs deeply in the soul of the good old
Scandinavian defence.
This hard cover work is translated in to the German language by no less
than grandmaster Henrik Teske,and as the other above mentioned works in
fantastic hard cover!
So we can truly speak than the German editions are better than the
English ones!
Usually these “starting out” books are good for the first understanding
of a line but this work from Jovanka Houska is certainly
good for more!
All modern variations as the popular mail line with moves as: 1.e4 d5
2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6 8.Nd5 Qd8
9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.d5 Bxf3 12.gxf3 cxd5 13.Bxd5 Nd7 14.0-0-0 Ba3
Houska writes: This move has all but been disregarded today, Black’s
plan is to provoke a queen side weakness and castle kingside, However,
white’s fast development down the g and h files has more or less put
paid to this idea.
Houska does not see much in lines as the Patzer variation: 1.e4 d5
2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qe5
Where I would like to start with again some words from Houska: 3….Qe5+
is an alternative with another nickname!The so-called Patzer variation
gets its nickname from the saying”Patzer sees a check,patzer plays a
check.”Even though this move cannot be refuted,it’s not to be entirely
recommended either! For example 4.Be2 c6 {this is the whole
point-Black can still adopt the Scandinavian structure} 5.Nf3 Qc7 6.d4
Nf6 7.Ne5 {this typical reaction is of course ,the most critical
against 3…Qe5}7….Bf5 8.Bf4 Qa5?! {with this natural move
Black wastes more time}9.0-0 e6{9…Be6 10.Qd2 g6 11.Rfe1 Qd8 12.d5! Nxd5
13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Rad1 Qc8 15.Qc3 Be6 16.Nxf7 crushed black in M.Yarmysty
– I.Shkuro,Rodatychi 2006}10.g4 white can exploit black’s loss of tempo
to lash out}10.Bg6 11.h4 Nd5 {or 11…Be4 12.Re1 Be7 13.Nxf7!! Kxf7
14.Nxe4 Ne4 15.Bc4 and black must return the piece,as 15..Nf6
loses to 16.Qe2}12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.c4 Be7 14.Qb3 and white has an
extremely strong initiative.
What would the English Candidate Grandmaster,Andrew Martin say about
this?
After Martin the Patzer line is worth a look!
Well covered are also in this book lines with the modern 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6.
Still alive is the Mieses Gambit 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.b4 and
4.a3 is even a way of playing!
All material is based at 71 model games included with a lot of
summary’s to improve your understanding.
All together we have here a very readable book with a lot of new ideas
on the exciting Scandinavian defence!
Conclusion: This book offers you a lot of value for your money!
Mastering Chess
Strategy by Johan Hellsten
2010
Everyman Chess
334 pages
Price € 21,95
ISBN 978-3-942383-05-9
This impressive Mastering chess strategy book, is a interesting chess
strategy course from the Swedish grandmaster Johan Hellsten,who
believes,as no other in chess exercises.
He writes in his introduction: I am a strong supporter of the intensive
use of exercises in the learning process.
In my opinion, the closer you can get to a game situation when you are
training or teaching chess,the faster progress can be expected.
There are over 380 exercises and 240 game examples in this book but it
is difficult to find a complete game in this book.
Johan Hellsten handles a large range of subjects as the initiative and
prophylaxis.
This is in someway a perfect book for training purposes,choose the
sections you need,go throw the explanatory examples and let them solve
Johan Hellsten selected exercises.
Hellsten prefers the exercise positions arranged on chessboards,where
the student gets between five and twenty minutes,to solve a position.
All game examples in this book hold a lot of instructive text as the
one from Euwe against Bogoljubow,6 match game of the year 1928,by
the way one of the few classic beauties in this book.
In my opinion we have here a real brute force strategy book!
Conclusion: A unique written strategy book!
Play the Scandinavian
by Christian Bauer
2010
Quality Chess
303 pages
Price € 24,99
ISBN 978-1-906552-55-8
The former French champion Christian Bauer digs in this book from
Quality Chess, Play the Scandinavian in the main lines of the
Scandinavian Defence,with moves as for example 1.e4 d5 2.exd5
Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bd2 c6 8.Qe2 Bb4 or
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 Bf5,but lines as 3…Qd6 and
1.e4 d5 exd5 Nf6 are not mentioned!
But you get in this book from Bauer move to move annotations in lines
as 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 c6 7.Bd2 e6
8.Qe2 Bb4 9.a3 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.axb4 Qa1+ 12.Nb1 Na4 13.Bc3 Ne4
14.Rd3 a5!
Emms spends a few lines on the move 10…Nb6 and writes It’s difficult to
believe that this move is playable, but apparently it is!
The book from Matthias Wahls,Modernes Skandinavisch does not even
mention it!
Bauer quotes the moves from Emms who on his turn quoted it from the
Sebian Solak.
11.Ne5!? Bxa3 12.bxa3 Qxa3 13.Kb1 Qb4+ 14.Ka1 Bxc2 15.Rc1 Bg6 and Bauer
writes black has obtained three pawns for a piece and the position
offers mutual chances.
Critical is after Bauer: 11.axb4 Qa1+ 12.Nb1 Na4 13.Bc3 Ne4 14.Rd3 a5!
15.bxa5 but the natural looking 15.b5!?N is after Bauer worth playing
too:he writes: The natural looking 15.b5!?N has to my knowledge not yet
been tried.Play might continue 15….Nexc3 {Black can also consider the
less forcing 15…0-0!?}16.bxc3 Qb2+ 17.Kd2 cxb5 18.Bb3 0-0 with unclear
play.
Another fascinating idea is 15.d5!?
Well covered in this are all kind of alternatives as second move
sidelines,the move 2.Nc3 by the way good for nine pages of text!
Unfounded after Bauer is the flank attack 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5
4.b4?! but black must be aware of a certain amount of opening
theory.
Conclusion: Buy this book if you want
to win with the mainlines of the Scandinavian!
British
Chess Magazine No.11
Volume
130
November
2010
Price: £4,05
This issue holds several readable contributions as the
Anatoly Karpov interview {“If the Arab countries had not betrayed me.I
would have won,and I believe the big deal was done the night before”}
Other contributions are: Ukrainian triumph in Khanty Mansisk,Ask
the Arbiter by international arbiter Alex McFarlane and Kramnik
wins Bilbao Grand Prix.
New in the contribution cutting edge opening theory from John Watson in
cooperation with Chesspublishing .com.
John Watson handles here his pet line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 h6.
Please also see Dangerous Weapons:The French.
GM Luke McShane analyses his Berlin Defence where he did end with a
pawn down but his 46…Rh3 was good enough to hold the draw.
Instructive is Keith Arkell his colum Arkell’s Endgame and said is the
announcement of
Janis Klovan 1935-2010.
And forget to read Letter to the editior,endgame studies and book
reviews {Nunnpareil}
Conclusion: Very readable!
