On a side note, it would be nice if Mr. Shaw supplied a few more updates for the anti sicilian section. The few he did before Mr. Martin returned were quite excellent and provided some invaluable insights.
Regarding the Berlin repertoire book, I hope close attention was paid to the increasingly popular anti Berlin lines starting with
4.d3. In one of his updates Mr. Kosten opined that 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0?! was slightly dubious because of 5...Nd4! however I have had this position recently as Black vs Julio Beccerra and after 6.Ba4 (Tony's opponent Mr. Handke played 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3?! and eventually lost, but 7.Nd2 is much better, when once again White should be able to maintain a slight plus) White was able to maintain a slight advantage and later won.
Another rare but rather dangerous anti Berlin line that I hope made the Book goes: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6
6.Ba4!? A favorite of oldie but goody Harry Nelson Pillsbury, who seems to have adopted the line after having to defend against it vs Jackson Showalter back in the 19th Century.
Here is a modern example of some of the dangers awaiting Black in this underrated line:
Ganguly,S (2579) - Ismagambetov,A (2420) [C67]
4th Parsvnath Open New Delhi IND (5), 17.01.2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Ba4 exd4 7.c3 Be7 8.cxd4 0-0 9.Nc3 Nf5 10.d5 Nb8 11.d6 Nxd6 12.Bc2 Ne8 13.Nd5 Nc6 14.Re1 g6 15.Bh6 Ng7 16.Rxe7 Nxe7 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Nf6+ Kh8 19.Qd4 Rf8 20.Nxh7 Kxh7 21.Qh4+ Kg8 22.Bxe7 Qe8 23.Ng5 Nh5 24.Qxh5!! Sweet 1-0
I have not seen a recent practical example of the mating pattern pulled off in this game, other than in the contests between the masters of the distant past.
Toppy