Recently I have been studying this book (mainly the parts of it relating to the Marshal Attack) and generally I quit like it. However the author’s 16…Qh6 recommendation in the “rook shuffle” variation still doesn’t fully convince me. After
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1
Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5 16.Qf1 Qh6 (“This move is incredibly important” - MP) 17.Re1 while preempting …f5-f4 (which can generally be met with f4!), White is ready to meet 17…Bh3 with the tactical idea 18.Bxg5! Qh5 19.Bd1!. 17…Kh8 (superior to 17…f5 as shown in the book). Now the author analyses 18.Nd2 and 18.h4, showing decent compensation. However, I suggest 18.a4!? as an improvement for White.

The c1 bishop is still eyeing g5 while White intends to go axb5 next. For instance: 18…f5 (I doubt Black has full comp after 18…Bf5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Nd2. Still I can’t find something convincing for Black here. Maybe 16…Qh5 is the move, as shown by micawber, earlier on this thread) 19.f4! (19.axb5 f4! gives Black strong counterplay) 19…gxf4 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Bxf4 with an edge for White.

I just got the book and noticed there are a lot of forced draws that either White or Black can choose. I want to take up this defense but I don't like the idea of White being able to force a draw or the idea that black's best option in some lines is forcing a draw. Has anyone else gone through these lines and have any insight about this "problem"?

Please! Someone give some more info on this book!   

Thx Mnb.

I actually dont know exactly where the Simelink games came from.
My last commercial bought databases were Harding's Ultra database and a standard big database from 2007!. So i must have downloaded the games from somewhere:
Janosi - Simmelink (2008, 2 different games)
Janosi - Simmelink (2007, 1 game)
Bocanegra-Simmelink (2007, 1 game).

I have now digested 4 chapters of FtRL, and my opinion remains the same. I discovered several inaccuracies, omissions and errors (only some of them severe). but on the bright side:
There are also bits of original analysis and new ideas.
For me the book is a good source of inspiration, and has led me to improve my corr. opening repertoire in several lines.

That was my point with writing "two different worlds".

Thanks for answering my question. Never heard of these corr specific databases.

They probably keep the corr games by them self in order to "force" people to buy two products instead on just one. $ Money $.

micawber wrote on 06/20/09 at 07:37:41:


I often see this complain on this forum - probably because there are quite a few corr players here...

OTB and corr is a bit like two different worlds. The corr games dont show up i TWIC (i think). Are there separate databases for corrgames?

This is not to say that the book is error free. As with all opening books you will have to use your own brain as well and not follow the author blindly. Tot illustrate in the second chapter (15.Re4,g5 16.Qf1, Pavlovic takes 16...Qh6 as his main variation. To motivate this he observes that 16....Qh5 is in a crisis because of
16....Qh5 17.Nd2!,f5 18.Bd1!
This illustrates how up to date this book is, as this variation only appeared in GM practice in 2007 (adopted by Svidler and Valejo Pons and Shirov).
Any theory book or encyclopaedia will state black is Ok after 17...f5 based on old analysis by Shamkovich (and also after any other White 17th move alternative).
Pavlovic's illustration in fact follows Shirov-Akopian, 2007:
with 18....Qh6 19.Re1,f4 20.Ne4,Bc7 21.Nc5 arriving at the following position.




Akopian now played 22......Rf7 23.Qe2,Rf8 24.Qh5 and lost an inferior endgame.

But this is not the end of the story. Missing in Pavlovic book is that
Black has a better alternative, found by J.Simmelink who played four important correspondence games in 2008 that show how black can gain sufficient compensation.

22...,fxg 23.hxg (23.fxg,Bh3 unclear), Nf4!! (a knight sac) 24.gxf,gxf



And Black with threats like ...Bh3 or ....Rf6-g6 or....Kh8-Rg8+ had sufficient compensation in his threats against white's king.

This illustrates both the strength and the slight weaknesses of Pavlovic's book:
Strength
(1) Each variation is well introduced, showing the fundamental ideas behind the variations. I was for instance well pleased that this is one of the first books that clearly states the importance of a black minority attack on whites queen side (something I have repeatedly argued in other posts on the forum).
(2) Repertoire choices are well motivated.
(3) Emphasis on recent material

Slight weaknesses
(1) I feel that the author may have underestimated the importance of correspondence games.
(2) From my examination of the first chapter I deduce that he did not
(or insufficiently) consult Harding's CD-ROM "The Total Marshall" as some strong innovations in old classical lines are missing. Unfortunately this cant be verified because as I allready remarked, a list of sources is missing.

Nevertheless this is a very usefull book, thoughtfully put together by the author. And in fact the first book that gives a coherent treatment on the anti-marshall variations (alternatives to 8.c3), capturing all innovations since 1989 (when Nunn/Harding was published).

He advocates 5...Bd6 which is slightly unusual.
And yep, the choice of variations against white deviations, does
not correspond to my opening repertoire and taste.