Table of contents:  




005 Preface 

007 Series Introduction 

011 1 The Max Lange Gambit 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 d4) 

043 2 Reviving the Max Lange Attack 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 e5 d5 7 exf6 dxc4 8 fxg7) 

063 3 Calming the Romantics 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 c3 Nf6 5 d4 exd4 6 cxd4 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 Nxe4 and 4 b4 Bxb4 5 c3 Ba5) 

085 4 L'Oiseau 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nd4) 

103 5 Twenty Years of Obscurity 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Bc5) 

119 6 Facing up to the Exchange Variation 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 0-0 Be7) 


132 7 Denying Black his Fun 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bb5 Nd4 5 0-0) 


152 8 Livening up the Three Knights and Scotch 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 g6 and 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6) 

169 9 Don't be Boring against the Göring! 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 c3 Nf6 5 e5 Ne4 and 3 c3 Nf6 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 Ne4) 

179 10 Fighting the Pseudo King's Gambiteers 

(1 e4 e5 2 Bc4 Nf6 3 d3 Bc5 4 Nc3 0-0) 

202 11 The Vienna Poisoned Pawn 

(1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 Qg4 Nd4) 

216 12 Play like a Victorian: The King's Bishop's Gambit 

(1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 Bc4) 

234 13 The Centre Game Revealed: Part I 

(1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 Qxd4 Nc6 4 Qe3 Nf6 5 Nc3 Bb4 main line) 

275 14 The Centre Game Revealed: Part II 

(1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 Qxd4 Nc6 4 Qe3 Nf6 5 Nc3 others) 

304 15 The Centre Game Revealed: Part III 

(1 e4 e5 2 d4 exd4 3 Qxd4 Nc6 4 Qe3 others) 

I think i have provided you with the "refutation" of the Rb8 Gajewski's line. As for the other look at Kotronias-Mastrovasilis Greek champ2008 to see the refutation there!

I like very much the Petrosian's Chigorin line that Marin analyses in his book and i have found many new ideas there! A good ground for creativity!

Michael Ayton wrote on 02/28/08 at 01:35:10:


Regarding the deferred Steinitz, I really like Leko's treatment for White and have for some time. Its not a huge edge, but its nagging. The Archangels, Gabriel and otherwise require too much maintenance for my taste and are too topical. In any case, as Shirov revealed recently, The Archangel with an early Bb7 is well met by ommitting c3 altogether in favor of d3 intending Nc3 and a4, after which Black has an unpleasent uphill task, for that reason he always aims to place the Bishop on g4.

The Schliemann is out of the question for me, what the hell is Radjabov thinking. Ok he drew with Anand recently but that is about the only positive thing I can say about this line.

I am curious as to what Nigel Short will make of Flear's Evan's Gambit treatment. The upshot for me is if Flear's remedy is found wanting then we may well see more and more players seeking refuge in the Two Knight's defence. Incidentally, whether the Max Lange Attack is rehabilitated or not is of minor importance to OTB players who mostly prefer the Bullet Proof Anti-Max lange with 5...Nxe4 anyway.   

Top 

Gajewski Rb8 I believe so, d5 Chig/Marshall looking more tricky from what I have seen and half remember from looking through. Scarcely a detailed look though.

TN - have a bash with Archangelsk as per Shirov/Malaniuk/Tkachiev occasionally Adams.

or

Steinitz Deferred. See some analysis of Davies here a few years back, Mamedyarov games, plus plenty of Keres games. 

Both require plenty of knowlege from white, both sound and played at highest levels so can reasonably be trusted.

My problem more an anti-Scotch - have to beat plenty of weaker (2100-2200) players so need something dynamic. Suggestions?

Bibs

I might also add that, being reliably informed, Glenn Flear is "calming the romantics", i.e. striking heavy blows upon the Giuoco Piano and Evans Gambit

ehkopean wrote on 02/25/08 at 05:00:45:


Thanks for the link. Actually I was unaware of these articles, although fortunately there is nothing there which would cause me to re-evaluate any of my analysis. They made for interesting reading though. That final game looked rather brutal, although I wouldn't necessarily ditch the whole opening based on one bad experience. 9.a3! is a much more promising move than 9.Bd3?!.

IM Andrew Greet wrote on 02/03/08 at 22:12:13:


Hopefully you had a look at Tim Harding's two articles at ChessCafe - 
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz103.pdf
and http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz104.pdf

My game (where I played the natural, but apparently poor 9.Bd3) is  at the end of the 104 article.

micawber wrote on 02/24/08 at 21:53:59:


Very interesting! Yes, that certainly looks viable for Black. At the same time I don't think it would put me off playing the CG as a surprise weapon. I can't imagine many unsuspecting opponents finding moves like 7...Ng4!? and 8...d5!?. Nice idea though!