I find this part of the introduction quite interesting: 

"Playing White is like serving in tennis. I remember when I started to play a few years ago – tennis that is! – a good friend of mine explained that the serve should be a great offensive weapon.
Actually this is quite a cruel thing to tell a beginner, because the serve is by far the most difficult stroke in tennis. But it is true of course, and the right attitude. With a good serve you either win directly or, if the opponent manages to return the ball, at least you get the chance to take the initiative and dictate the rest of the duel."

Sounds like it is very brave, which is very rare for a repertoire book. (Can't recall any other in fact).

Yesterday I got my copy from german distributor Niggemann and (as already used from Quality) I am very impressed by this book. - I should add (many forum members will know) that I´m mostly interested in these lines from Black´s point of view as I defend against d4 with various Slav systems (including Cambridge-Springs) and QGA, while I seldom use 1d4 on my own: only for Torre/London in bad moods or if I expect Black to defend with Chigorin, Tarrasch, Albin etc. So I didn´t carefully read the chapters about QGE and Moscow/Botvinnik in the Semi-Slav.

Schandorff writes very readable and it is a real joy to follow his honest and clearly arranged explanations. With his long grandmaster experience he carefully devides the important from the unimportant. You cannot say that he simplifies matters but chess seems to be so easy, you simple have to make the best (opening) moves!
His material is up-to-date, there are many games from Dresden 2008. And (with minor exceptions, see later for that) he uses all relevant databases and all topical books from Quality, Gambit, Everyman, NewInChess and Chess-Stars. Most cited games are from this third millenium (in fact many from the last two years) but Schandorff also uses some classical games from Botvinnik, Portisch, Yusupov, Karpov and Kasparov for introductional or even theoretical purposes. Remarkable is Schandorff´s research in (modern) correspondence chess, 14 of his 66 main games are corr games!
Regarding the form of coverage it´s definetly a “grandmaster guide” to a narrow white repertoire (only sometimes with alternative suggestions) but not a complete reference work for both sides. In that way maybe comparable to Markos´ Beat the KID (but I didn´t read that book carefully). And while the text contains many of Schandorff´s own games he do not proudly claim major theoretical novelties. Maybe understandable as he mainly deals with topical main-lines of the elite players and therefor Schandorff often restricts himself to find, choose and arrange the most important games and the most promising new ideas in an excellent way. - The material is presented in extensively commented main games (with chapter introductions before and conclusions afterwards), sometimes there are typical classical games before he delves into theory.
Looking at the recommended repertoire Schandorff has exclusively chosen sharp and space-grabbing main-lines, always on the cutting edge of opening theory, at least in the QGD, QGA, Slav and Semi-Slav lines. Against some minor lines there is not much space for stylistic choices, he sometimes repeats nearly the same lines to white advantage as shown by Khalifman or Avrukh. But while Schandorff challenges the Chigorin with 5.Lg5 like Avrukh did, he questions the Tarrasch (“unsound”) with the Rubinstein main-line 9Bg5 improving on Avrukh´s objections to 9Bg5 .

I looked at the variations only in an amateurish and superficial way and as I still believe 1…d5! to be the best answer to 1d4, I tried to find some mistakes or omissions to keep my own black repertoire going. This proved to be a very difficult task, so far I´ve not achieved much!
- But I noticed that Schandorff´s bibliography lists only the second edition (2005) of Sakaev/Semkov about QGA but not the topical third edition from 2008. And indeed, in some lines after 3e4 Nc6 or 3e4 Nf6 Black might find some signs of rescue against Schandorff´s suggestions (sorry, I don´t want to share my own analysis). Btw, also Rizzitano´s How to beat 1d4 from 2005 has been ignored but this doesn´t seem to be much important in the 3e4 e5 variation of QGA.
- In the Open Slav Schandorff examines nearly all black variations against white´s central approach, but for some unknown reasons he obviously forgot to mention the old 5a4 Bf5 6Ne5 Nbd7 7Nxc4 Qc7 8g3 e5 9dxe5 Nxe5 10Bf4 Rd8!? . Several Years in the 1970/80s this was the controversial main-line of the whole slav, and while it has vanished from elite play, it should still be labelled as playable (at least below elite level). White´s advantage is long-lasting but very small (and Schandorff covers many  black variations inferior to this one). - White players should be aware of the classical crush Torre-Timman 0-1 (Hamburg 1982, a wonderful mate combination!) or of the more recent encounters Gordon-Hector 0-1 (4NationsChallenge 2008) and Morchiashvili-Bregadze 0-1 (Georgien 2008; similiar to Torre-Timman the death comes on the white squares!). It´s always funny to present old main-lines to young players…
- Schandorff is best in black´s main systems, obviously he trusts in his readers abilities to cope with Black´s fourth or fifth choices. Some += variations aren´t covered at all, for example the “Bellon-Murey-Slav” 5.a4 a5?! as suggested in SOS 10.

This shouldn´t harm Schandorff´s efforts, he has definitely written a very good book. - The book can be used from 1700 on, but it´s surely a must buy for all 1d4-players 2000-2400, who are not completely satisfied with a catalan approach a la Avrukh or Khalifman/Kramnik. And, of course, all black players of those lines should get a copy, too. Be prepared, the air becomes thinner …

I would rate the book with at least 8 stars (out of 10).

tracke  

tafl wrote on 02/12/09 at 08:03:28:



Given that he is suggesting the most critical lines, wouldn't the Marshall gambit be a better fit?

pauloschreiner wrote on 02/12/09 at 01:49:24:


Thanks, an appetite-whetting tidbit. Not much money for chessbooks this year but this seems a good candidate for my wellearned cash. 

Greetings,

Antillian wrote on 02/08/09 at 15:58:07:

Wasn't there a novelty in the Deangerous Weapons book on the QGD to solve Black's queen's bishop problem!?

I don't have that book, but I seem to recall a review - somewhere! - which mentioned a TN.

Kindest regards,

Dragan Glas

Thanks for posting. Interesting. What's gotten me curious for the last several weeks is think what he would include for 1d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6. I don't see mention of the marshall Gambit in the contents, but...is there another choice?

Dragan Glas wrote on 02/06/09 at 19:27:56:


What innovation are you refering to?