MNb wrote on 12/20/07 at 03:32:18:


Indeed, I feel the same, that white is a little better if he does not allow the black to exchange the white square bishop for Nf3. therefore I decided to play 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd5 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 (after Bd3 maybe dxc3, as white will have to move again his Bd3 to c4 or b5) Nd5 and we are in Alapin. I took this ideea from Rogozenco's Anti-Sicilians and i really like it. the play in Alapin is very different from Morra and is more likely to be unsuitable for a Morra player. After 1.e4 c5 2.c3 I play also Nd5, while after 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3.c3 I continue with Accelerated dragon, as I like these positions (also I play Panov with both colours).

Fernando Semprun wrote on 02/13/09 at 11:02:42:


Oh no doubt, if you want Black's side of the Bind, there are several ways to get it.  You can get it from a KID Classical, for example, playing ...c5 instead of ...e5.  Personally that's not my cup of tea.

Still Pachman thinks 6...Bxc3+ better for Black, something which is confirmed by practical results. White may try to trick Black into this line with 5.Nb3 and only after Nf6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.g4. Most players will chose 5...Bg7 though.

Fernando Semprun wrote on 02/13/09 at 11:00:32:


If you post them I won't ask.

I've lost plenty as white but PLEASE don't ask me about the games!

Unownasofyet wrote on 12/07/08 at 22:27:34:


I agree..this is one of the best starting out books.

Here is what Silman+Donalson say in their book:

10.Bf3 d6 11.Nd5 [11.Nd4 Bg4!? 12.Bxg4(12.Nd5 Nbxd5 13.Bxg4 Nxe4 14.Ne6 fxe6 15.Bxe6+ Kh8 16.Bxd5 Nxf2! 17.Rxf2 Qb6 18.Bf3 Bd4 19.Qe2 e5) 12..Nxg4 13.Ndb5 Ne5 14.Nd5! Nc8?! 15.c3! +/= (Tompa-Hodgson 1983)] 11..Nfxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.c3 Nd3 etc, giving the game Gurevich-Mariasin 1992 (0-1)

But now there is maybe an improvment somewhere in theses lines. And one of the comment about 10.Bf3: "however, as Black I wouldn't stay awake nights worrying about 10.Bf3"

About 10.e5, it's not covered in this book. It may be interesting (only 8 games in chesslive scoring 5,5/8 for White, but there is no game at GM level, the strongest ELO was Ghinda (2455)-Marasescu(2350): 10.e5 Ne8 11.f4 d6 12.Be3 Bd7 13.exd6 with a draw agreed just now. So not very helpful but Black's position seems pretty solid here too.

About transposing into a "true" Dragon, it can't be bad, as it's not the most dangerous line for Black! So it's probably a matter of comfort, what type of positions you like the most, "true" Dragon against Be2 Nb3, or the "Accelerated way" with ..a4 ..Nb4 and ..d5 if possible, or ..d6.

TopNotch wrote on 09/27/08 at 04:29:44:


I am beginning to think all this theory business is simple: with black there is no clear path to equality (less so is you even pretend to keep some winning chances (what?) ) with white no clear line for an edge.

So one would forget about the whole business and solve tactical positions and blow opponents off the board, but every once in a while one is in the receiving end of a theoretical debate and the whole cycle starts again.

It is also true that the more lines one can play, the more difficult is to prepare against...  

Fernando Semprun wrote on 09/26/08 at 19:40:24:


Accelerated Dragon - A useful drawing weapon in the mould of the Petroff and Berlin.

The Worrall System - More or less useless against 5...Bc5, but the Worrall is only half the book so you can still get it for the non 3...a6 lines provided dealers are willing to accept half price.

The Centre Game - Playable so long as no one writes about it, but practically unplayable once an author brings it into the spotlight. Usually a telling sign that an opening is wanting. 

In the absence of mainline knowledge and understanding one needs a very good technique to win with lesser alternatives, simply because they provide less opportunity for a clear edge.

Off topic observation: Improving analytical and evaluation skills will move you from 1700 to 1800 to 1900 to 2000 etc. Improving only your opening knowledge will move you from 1700 to 1720 provided your opponents don't inadvertanlty deviate from the beaten track. 

My name is Topnotch and I approve this message.

richard_dumoulin wrote on 09/22/08 at 18:21:34:


Your wish just might come true:

http://www.everymanchess.com/display.php?id=480

<pierre/>

I purchased the book and I believe is one of the best opening books I have ever read. In fact, I'll get the RL one straight away.

Last night I was smiling at the title. This is certainly no 'starting out'. And fantastic about the why's and the why not's. All of us have databases and engines, so the difference is certainly going to be in the 'explanations'

Don't even wish all books were as good as this one, otherwise one would not derive such pleasure.

In short, MANY THANKS, Mr. Greet!  

Yes, ArKheiN, he gives it as "a perfectly valid option", although 8...Ng8 is his "personal preference". How is your experience with 8...Nd5? What turns me a bit off this move is the line 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.Qxd5 Rb8 11.Bxa7!? Is there any chance to win this against a weaker player? The variation leading to a drawish ending seems pretty much forced.

Hi once more, Mr. Greet. Thanks for your reply to my previous question. Now I have another one. In the accelerated dragon after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.Bd4 Qa5 you found the move 10.f4 inaccurate because of your suggestion 10..Rb8, which I played in one game. My opponent reacted with 11.Qd2!? leaving the pawn on b2 en prise. This move is not listed in your book and I wondered how to refute it. It seemed clear to me that I must take the pawn on b2 either immediately or after inclusion of 11..c5 12.Be3. After a long thought I dismissed the move 11...c5 because of the weakening of the White squares, especially d5. I expected 12.Bc4, one idea being Bb3 and the other to develop the pieces as quick as possible. E.g. 12...Nh6 (or 12...d6) 13.Bb3 or 12...f6 13.0-0 fxe5 14.Rab1 and White looks better. Thus I played immediate 11...Rxd2 which allowed White to regain the pawn with 12.Ne4 (Nd5 being an interesting option) 12...Qxd2 13.Kxd2 Rb7 14.Ba6 Rc7 15.Bxc8 Rxc8 16.Bxa7 f6 17.Bd4 fxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.fxe5 Nh6 and hoped to exploit the White pawn weaknesses. However it turned out that White's a-pawn more than compensates the weaknesses. So, is 10...Rb8 really the way to go? How should Black improve afterwards?

Mr. Greet, I've got your book about the accelerated dragon and I like pretty much how you explain the ideas of this system.

In the classical variation of the Maroczy bind I'm wondering what move order to choose for Black, 9...Bd7 or 9...Nxd4. In your book you don't mention one interesting possibility for the White player after 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bd7 11.Qd3 a5. Now White can play 12.b3 when 12...Bc6 is met by 13.a3 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.b4 as in Pelletier-Wirthensohn and Vasquez-Alonso, which were both won by White. Doesn't White have a clear edge here?

To Arkhein.

Greet's book does not cover 7...Nb4, which the author seems to find a bit risky, to say the least. NIC yearbook 72 also found the move dubious. Have you found anything new in this line ?

He does not reflect on this matter; he only mentions 4.dxc5 for those who want to play the Maroczy without giving any continuation.
My 2 SRD are: 4.dxc5 Qa5+ and 4.c4 Qa5 score below average for White in my database. As Black I would not mind 4.d5 too much, as this transposes to several Benoni setups (e6; Nf6). 4.c3 is of course the same as 3.c3.

You guys might find it interesting that Dutch IM Merijn van Delft in Schaaknieuws recommends 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 (cxd4 4.Nxd4) 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4, intending Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.a4. I consider this more or less as a moral victory for Black: no Maroczy, no Dragon Proper 9.0-0-0. It looks like Dragoneers should strongly consider 2...g6 indeed.

alexbertonix wrote on 04/30/08 at 10:05:02:

Shhh! We don't everyone to find out

Is there anything on possible transpositons from English, KID etc. as that is one of the mian attractions fro me to take up Acc Drag that it may prepare for a lot of closed openings aswell as 1.e4?

Sorry for the delay in answering questions etc, I'm currently in the middle of a 1-month trip abroad and don't have much time for internet. Anyway I am told that the book is now on sale; I have received an email from a friend saying his copy has been delivered. Am looking forward to returning home to see it myself!
Thanks for all positive comments etc, and for all those who have bought or intend to buy it, I hope you enjoy it!
Cheers,
Andrew

PS - very quick answers to a few questions:
1) saubhikr - obviously I rate the opening more highly than that. Perhaps check the book and decide for yourself 
2) Can't remember who asked it, but regarding the question about ...a5-a4 plans in the Gurgenidze, I pay particular attention to this plan against the move order with an early f2-f3 (instead of Be2), with a nice illustrative game by Jakovenko versus...who was it...Volokitin if I remember correctly.

Quote:


I hope you beat your personal record soon with Play the QID! 

jessenicholasuscf wrote on 03/17/08 at 01:52:31:

It's only a Morra or Smith-Morra once 3.c3 has been played, ie 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 (3Nf3 switches to a normal Open Sicilian), so Black can go ahead and play 3...g6

IM Andrew Greet wrote on 03/13/08 at 20:34:59:


Wow, that seems to be the same page count as the Donaldson/Silman work (decidedly not in the "starting out" vein) from a while back.

Here's a question:  it seems to me that I've seen a lot of ...a5 and ...a4 stuff in the Gurgenidze (Maroczy) lately.  Would you say that features prominently in your book?

Finally we are nearing publication! Apparently Everyman had a number of other books all being completed at around the same time, which led to a bit of a delay with the editing/typesetting. All being well, it should be on the shelves by the end of the month.

I'm afraid that by comparison with Play The Ruy Lopez it is something of a lightweight, comprising only the mere total of 320 pages!  (apparently this is a record for a Starting Out book)

You should take a look at the Opening for White According to Kramnik series (can't remember which volume) - or Davies' Dynamic Réti - both of which come to it via 1.Nf3 etc rather than 1.e4 [/quote]

I play the full tilt Benoni and dragon. I got lured into the Maroczy Bind from the Benoni by an Aussie GM who ground me into the dirt. I am thinking of taking up the accelerated dragon and hyper accelerated dragon for over the board play.

As long as I can hold the dreaded bind then I do not need to try and avoid it.

I am going to have to buy one or two books on the accelerated dragon. Meanwhile so that I can start preparing lines which is the most fighting line for black against the bind at the present time.

Thank you

Publication date is now Feb!
Not much evidence of acceleration ...

jaki wrote on 01/02/08 at 09:41:22:


Yes, this is another playable option for White. Black should begin with 3...Bg7 and meet a subsequent c3 with ...e6 followed by ...d5, hitting the bishop with gain of tempo.

flaviddude wrote on 12/30/07 at 02:21:21:


Yes, you are quite right - the main difference is that in many variations Black is able to execute the central break ...d5 in one move rather than two as would be the case in the standard Dragon.

ArKheiN wrote on 11/22/07 at 08:03:00:


Sorry for the delay in responding to this and other questions. Towards the end of 2007 I spent a month abroad followed by Christmas, the Hastings tournament etc...you know how it is!

The level of theoretical coverage should be enough to satisfy most players, although a Starting Out book can of course never be encyclopaedic. I have endeavoured to pay particular attention to the most popular and theoretically critical lines, such as those mentioned in the quoted message (Gurgenidze and Uogele). For instance, there are some important improvements in a game Nijboer-Tiviakov (from the critical Gurgenidze endgame), which Tiviakov somewhat surprisingly fails to mention in his DVD.

Bottom line: yes, I would like to think I have balanced the ideas-based approach of the Starting Out series with a depth  of analysis that will hopefully be enough to satisfy more experienced players, without being too theoretically dense for typical club players.

TopNotch wrote on 12/20/07 at 00:05:03:

Yes, it is Black Explained although I was playing it before the book came out (it was a main reason for buying the book - I don't play the authors' recommendations agst 1.d4).
Also Yes, White has just played 7.Bg5+, which to be fair is what just about everyone plays, in my experience. I've seen ...Nbd7 recommended as a counter but I usually play ...Nc6 - I'll check the lines tonight before making my reply. The latter involves an interesting pawn sac in some lines, eg after ...Nh6, Qc1. I was successful with it the one time I played it OTB, albeit agst a much weaker opponent, but I want to check it thoroughly before essaying it in corr

FightingDragon wrote on 12/17/07 at 08:37:03:


This more often than not leads by transposition to the other line you mentioned: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 Bg7 [Also popular is 3...d5]  4.d4 cd4 5.cd4 d5 6.e5 I think that White enjoys a nagging edge in all these lines provided he knows a few key tactical nuances along with which minor pieces to exchange.

I'm not sure I fully agree with you on the 4.Qxd4 variation though, granted it is a very dangerous line but a well theoretically prepared Black player should be able to negotiate the tactics well enough to emerge with a fully satisfactory game.

Tops  

October 2007 ... December 2007 ... now the book is expected January 2008.
Not in time for Hastings, but in time for Bad Woerishofen?!

@TopNotch: that's interesting.
My main opening with black is the regular dragon, but I use the Hyper-Acceleated occasionally, and mostly against lower-rated players.
I think that 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3 is interesting, and the position after 3. ... Bg7 4.d4 cd4: 5.cd4: d5 6.e5 Bg4 is perfectly suited to play for a win against weaker opponents.
On the other hand, I don't really trust 3.d4 cd4: 4.Qd4:! for black. 

Another interesting question: how to assess 1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 ?

TimS wrote on 12/16/07 at 17:03:07:


I believe that nothing should be unpleasant to meet in Correspondence chess provided one has enough time, tools and all the other external assisstance available, such as, Software/Hardware, Books, Magazines, Encyclopaedias, Databases, DVD's, CD's, Video's etc, etc, etc.

Hope I didn't leave anything out.

Toppy     

Without a doubt the Hyper Accelerated Dragon is a very useful drawing weapon with the added bonus of avoiding the dreaded Rossolimo, however I have found that the lines starting 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c3!? can be quite unpleasant for Black.

TN

andy get me acopy oh well i will buy one dying to see an e5 man look at the dragon, anyway come to argentina or gausdal I might just tee up e4 for this one. eric

Thanks for the game, it was a nice one to follow! I sometimes play these positions as White, but my understanding is not so developed yet - I would have leaped to the chance to play 14. Nd5 (but of course your recommentation seems better). 

TimS wrote on 11/02/07 at 16:22:03:


The Everyman website is currently saying December 2007, so yes, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Hastings!

Quote:



I also have the Nielsen/Hansen book - it was the first one I ever purchased on the Acc. Dragon, and remains one of my favourites. With mine being a Starting Out book, there are obviously some major differences in the layout. Mine has a lot more verbal explanation of ideas, while theirs has a more encyclopaidic coverage of different variations. In my book it was necessary to be more selective regarding which variations I would cover in detail and which to mention only briefly.

I hope and believe that this approach will prove beneficial for the majority of readers. In general I think that the Accelerated Dragon translates to the Starting Out format quite well, as the amount of theory is - by the standards of most Sicilians - not too heavy, and there are a lot of positional and tactical themes which crop up time and again in different variations. At the same time there are also a number of lines where I have managed to suggest something new, or improve on previous games or analysis, so I would like to think that the book will also be of some value to more experienced Acc Dragon players.

Quote:


You should take a look at the Opening for White According to Kramnik series (can't remember which volume) - or Davies' Dynamic Réti - both of which come to it via 1.Nf3 etc rather than 1.e4

Or perhaps : not everybody likes the Maroczy Bind with White, and on Nc3 variations Black has an excellent opportunity to reach Dragon battlefields while sidestepping the pesky 9.0-0-0, plus retains the possibility to play a trick or two if White is careless around move 8.

Quote:


I wouldn't be too concerned about this - it was just an isolated rapid game. Leko played a fairly quiet system and happened to win in the end, but I don't think there is any need for Accelerated Dragon players to lose any sleep over this game. Leko's chosen move order with 12.b3 is interesting though, and isn't seen very often. It would be interesting to know if he considers this to be a genuine improvement over the more common moves such as 12.Rab1, 12.Rac1 or 12.f3, or if he just played it for the sake of being different.

bragesjo wrote on 10/30/07 at 10:07:43:


It's not a repertoire book.

Are you going to comment on any of those Leko v Ivanchuk rapid games as an addendum as I suspect your book has already gone for publishing. Leko eventually broke through- anything to be concerned about following their last game in this line which Leko won

Hi, and thanks for your interest. Yes I made sure to watch Tiviakov's DVD and was able to make use of his suggestions in a couple of important areas. Actually I found it a real treat just to hear a leading expert talking about his specialist subject. At the same time I was a little surprised that in certain places, in particular a critical line of the Gurgenidze endgame variation, he neglected to mention a few potentially important improvements for both sides. So while I obviously cannot claim to share his level of expertise or playing strength, I can assure prospective readers that they will definitely find some ideas/analysis in the book which is not on this DVD.

In response to the second question, yes it is certainly possible to play for a win with Black against the Maroczy, although of course this may depend on the particular variation that you wish to play as well as the ambition level of a given opponent. Of course this is an issue with many black openings; for instance, even some of the sharpest lines of the Najdorf may permit White to force a draw if he chooses. But most of the time, if you understand the position better than your opponent then you have every chance to play for the win.

Here is the 'official' thread for my second, forthcoming book of the above title (with apologies to inn3, who I thank for the earlier interest).

So, after a bit of a delay the book is now in the editing stage. As with my previous book Play The Ruy Lopez it is somewhat on the chunky side and looks certain to be the longest book in the Starting Out series. Material is divided into 10 chapters:
1) Hyper Accelerated Dragon (so that the reader can decide whether to opt for the 2...Nc6 or 2...g6 move order. Also shows White how to deal with 3.d4 Bg7)

Followed by 4 chapters on lines after 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3:

2) Intro/Classical Dragon (lines with Be3 and Be2)
3) Yugoslav Attack: Intro and 7...Qa5
4) Yugoslav Attack: main lines with 7...0-0
5) Lines with Nxc6

Followed by 5 chapters on the Maroczy Bind:

6) Classical Maroczy
7) Gurgenidze System
8) 7...Ng4
9) White plays Nc2
10) Sidelines (e.g. double fianchetto, as well as various others)

The style of the book roughly corresponds with the usual Starting Out format, although I have endeavoured not to be too formulaic. I have written the book in a way that I felt would be most useful to its intended audience, while obviously keeping the traditional 'Notes', 'Tips' and 'Warnings' as is customary for the SO series. There is plenty of advice for both colours, although the balance is somewhat weighted towards Black, as the majority of readers will obviously be more interested in the black perspective.

Well, I think that is all the essential information. As with PTRL, I will be happy to respond to any questions etc. At the moment I'm not sure about the likely publication date - I'd guess perhaps early in the new year but will have to check and confirm this in the future.

Thanks for reading,
Andrew