doefmat wrote on 12/12/17 at 10:46:24:


I have not got the chanse to try it yet since I dont play online blitz anymore. I like to play Be2 vs Classical as well with a similar ideas but there are a few diffeerences. Whites idea is to contain black at queenside and try to fight for the d5 square. Bg5 ideas are common unless black prevents it and white often plays Nd2 Nc4 Ne3 or Nd2 Nf1 Ne3 to gain control of d5 square. There realy are not much theory on the position yet, but since Carlsen played it in a few games it will perhaps become more common, but 6 h3 system has emerged as the new ultimate Najdorf mainline. I do not belive that the Be2 line gives white any objetive advantage but maybee an other type of more positinal fight than black wants to play,

Looking at some sample games from various chapters of the book there are a few correspondence games annotated. But I agree that it is sloppy to not look at it closer in Svechnikov section.

I have only played correspondence chess at ICCF for about two years and in my experience  this far are that generally speaking there are several lines that can be very good in over the board games and become harmless in correspondence chess. I guess that this line could be one such line.

Overall the book has  for example refrences to all Negis books, Modernized book, Attacking the flexible sicilian, Experts vs sicilian and references to games played in 2017 so its still fairtly up to date.

brabo wrote on 11/14/17 at 18:50:22:


By transposning the position is reached.The book writes that the lines is rare since is difficult for black to activate the darksquared Bishop. The mainline follows your line to move 18 where they write "This position has been tested extensively in correspondence chess, where Black mostly hold the draw, but the d6-weakness condems him to a long defence, which is hardly pleasesnt in an over the board game.
However the book also mentiones 14 g3  Be6 15 a3 as an option and shows the game Karjakin-Shirov 2007. However in the annotatioins they show that it leads to an equal position in after black imporvments.

EDIT
After 18 .. b4 they go 19 Ra6 bxc3 20 bc3  Kh8 and proposes 21 Nc4 as a TN.

Book arrived today.

Vs the Dragon the book recommends 9 0-0-0 Yugoslav meeting d5 with Qe1.

Vs Accelerated Dragon Marocy Bind.

Vs Najdrorf both h3 and Be2 are covered. Quick look indicates several new ideas even in Be2 variation that I was not aware of.
By the way the book follows my Be3 Be2 Qd2 0-0-0 plan vs Dragadorf, it is covered in Be2 Najdorf chapter.

Vs Schveningen the book recomends the  Keres attack meeting h6 with Rg1 like Attacking Flexible sicilian.

Vs Taimanov the book went for 6 Be3 a6 7 Qf3.

Vs Paulsen 5 Nc3 and after depends of blacks follow up.

Vs Kalchnikov 6 N1c3 meeting the modern a6 7 Na3 Be7 with 8 Nc4 b5 9 Ne3 Nf6 10 g3!

Vs Svechnkov 7 Bg5 a6 8 Na3 b5 9 Nd5! Be7 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 c3.

fjd wrote on 11/02/17 at 14:23:38:


Sure, and I can see that using the same name might help for marketing reasons

I'll go the other way and say that I'm very happy with the changes to this edition.