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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav (Read 22876 times)
slates
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #31 - 04/01/09 at 17:53:32
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Yes, equal coverage is given to both the Sokolov variation as espoused by Vigus and the mainlines as played by Moro.
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #30 - 03/31/09 at 22:21:08
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I have not seen this book but I agree that the Chess Explained series is generally of a high standard. In particular I like the book by Wells on the QID (and CK) and the book on the Meran is excellent. Vigorito's book on the semi-slav was very well researched and I look forward to the book on the main line slav. Has anyone seen the chapter on the 6. Ne5 line? Does he provide reasonable coverage of the traditional main line as played by Morozevich? Not everyone wants to play the line recognised by Vigus (dubbed the Chinese wall in NIC YB).
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #29 - 03/31/09 at 20:54:27
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Well, I like the ones I have (Taimanov Sicilian, QGD, Nimzo, Meran and QID. Peter Wells and Reinaldo Vera are two very capable writers; James Rizzitano is no slouch either) but I haven't read them all cover to cover, although I went through most of the Meran one in particular and learnt plenty of chess.

The only one I didn't like was the one on the English - I much preferred it's Everyman counterpart in the Starting Out range (by Neil McDonald) although that opening is perhaps not best suited to such a book to begin with. 

In general, though, I think these Chess Explained titles are much better than the Everyman Starting Out offerings.
 
Also, although not strictly a Chess Explained title, although it seems it was originally conceived as one, Peter Wells' Caro Kann book is great, too, in a similar style but with added depth.  Partners well with this Slav book, naturally. 

  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #28 - 03/31/09 at 20:45:04
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nyoke wrote on 03/31/09 at 18:02:51:
I bought my copy yesterday. It's the kind of 'opening' book I have been waiting for all my chess life : one that tells you what middel game the opening leads to. (Are the other titles in the Chess Explained series as good ?)


I don't know about as good because I haven't seen this one.  But they are pretty good as far as they go.  The explanations are usually good, and a fair amount of theoretical ground is covered.  But they are not really intended to be either comprehensive or deep.  

Also I personally am annoyed by the section introductions, which invariably consist of a series of fairly long paragraphs, each summarizing the action in one of the sample games.  "After Milquetoast's kingside attack petered out, a difficult knight-versus-bishop ending ensued, etc., etc."  Personally I find this info quite unuseful, and would have preferred that the space had been given to something like, key motifs, important endings, and the like.  Or if not that, then just another game.
  

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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #27 - 03/31/09 at 18:02:51
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I bought my copy yesterday. It's the kind of 'opening' book I have been waiting for all my chess life : one that tells you what middel game the opening leads to. (Are the other titles in the Chess Explained series as good ?)
  
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slates
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #26 - 03/28/09 at 15:44:09
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I received my copy today and it looks good.  There is decent coverage of everything I'd hoped for, including a fair amount of material on the 'Sokolov' variation as espoused by James Vigus in his repertoire book Play the Slav, explanatory text on the pros and cons of move orders in the Dutch variation and plenty more.  

John Watson's recent book on Openings (Vol 2) had some very good introductory material on the Slav and this book takes that a stage further, showing moves in some lines that Watson didn't mention (I know Watson's brief was different, but Vigorito's proposed 'best' moves in some main lines aren't noted at all in Watson, making this new book essential for Black players).

I think it will successfully achieve it's aim in further explaining this opening to newcomers and those with a little more experience, too.  

  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #25 - 03/28/09 at 15:33:22
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Past books in this series have been worth the money, and Vigorito is a capable author.  I'll certainly buy it.
  

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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #24 - 03/28/09 at 15:19:37
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #23 - 03/25/09 at 20:32:33
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Well, reviewers certainly don't get their copy in advance of the author  Smiley

But seriously, I think it has only just come out here in England and so copies may not have been with reviewers very long, perhaps only a matter of days ago, if indeed review copies were sent out.  I bought it on the strength of Vigorito's last book on the Semi Slav, which although not really my opening choice was a very well researched and written book, in my opinion.  Well, I also bought it on the strength of the excerpt on the Gambit website, and because I wanted some more up to date coverage than my current sources on the Slav lines in the book.  (Those sources being mainly Sadler, Flear's Starting Out, Kasparov's MGP Vol 2 and some compendiums. I also have James Vigus excellent Slav repertoire book, but wanted to look at mainlines outside of that repertoire)
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #22 - 03/25/09 at 19:51:14
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But reviewers get their copy in advance don't they ?

I fear there's something else to blame.
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #21 - 03/25/09 at 19:23:43
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Fluffy - be careful you don't get asked to provide a full review. It could even harm sales of your Semi Slav book (which I also own, incidentally) if you persuade us to adopt the normal Slav instead..... Wink
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #20 - 03/25/09 at 17:14:27
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I just got my copy yesterday... it looks pretty good to me!  Tongue
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #19 - 03/25/09 at 14:07:32
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Well, it hasn't been out very long yet, to be fair.  My copy still hasn't arrived since 'entering the despatch process' of the online supplier I used. 

I hope it's good, though; my copy of Sadler's Slav book is hopelessly out of date, especially in the 6.Ne5 line, something I'm interested in.
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #18 - 03/25/09 at 13:40:09
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Amazingly there are no online reviews on this book to be found..
  
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Re: Chess Explained: The Main Line Slav
Reply #17 - 02/21/09 at 15:29:29
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Agreed.  This looks pretty good.  Maybe it'll help me finally make a decision between the Dutch and the Ne5 lines.
  
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