I am more excited for this book than I think I have been for any chess book in a long time. After recently picking up both of Marin's 1...e5 books, I finally realize why everyone raves about him and these books. I made a living off Tony Kosten's English repertoire when it came out, and now I'm looking forward to rekindling that flame. I'll probably have to go out and buy Marin's  other books as well. 

To clarify a few matters.

The repertoire is complete and only English with some Reti cross-over coming up in the second volume. Marin was allowed to go Panov if he wanted for all we cared, but not Slav, as this was already in two of our other recent books. However, Mihail analysed some very aggressive Reti lines. There will be no disappointments there I am sure.

The Keres line. Marin does not agree with the DW evaluations. Not even close. White should be better.

Many of you have said that 2.g3 is a line played to equalise, or that there is not much to play for in the reversed dragon, and so on. I do not really understand this point of view for basic reasons. The knight will arrive on c3, we are just avoiding a few things that Marin preferred not to face, and then allowing a few others. All his chapters offer aggressive options, and as with his previous books, this one is based on months of deep analysis and has been checked extensively by Valentin Stoica. 

Just as in his games, where 2600+ players have gone down one after another in the last two years, this is not just a repertoire for punters, but one that has taken him to 2620 (I think it is now).

A PDF excerpt is available at www.qualitychess.co.uk

This book has now  been released it appears. I look forward to some reviews. But what the hell, who am I kidding - I will probably buy it anyway once it is available from my usual suppliers.

A bit more on the Keres variation (…e5 and then …c6/d5) and its relevance for the upcoming book. It is a dream setup against 1.c4 e5 2.g3, since White has telegraphed his intentions when Black is still flexible, and sort of smack in the face for an opening based on controlling d5. The only question is whether or not it is over-ambitious, and the answer varies in time. At present Black has 3 satisfying ways :

A) aggressive with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 ;
B) active with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Na6 ;
C) solid with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d4 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2 6.Qxd2 d6 ; 

If this state of affairs holds after Marin's analysis, this is more than sufficient in order to meet 1.c4 e5 2.g3, e.g. by plan A against stronger players and plan C against less stronger, or else plan B all the time. Then the Keres is just a convenient way to get equal chances for Black, but still nothing critical ; Marin won't give you an early draw with White unless you are a fellow GM

I am slightly surprised at this choice of the Botvinnink - I thought 4 knights might be coming up but having just looked up Marin's recent games against 1...c5 , I shall await with his ideas on that !!

I hope Tony K doesn't live to regret not updating his 'Classic'.

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What's the problem in the Keres variation? People talk about the Na6 line. That was not yet invented at the time of the Kosten book. Judging from the section in the Davies DVD it didn't look like anything critical to me, but maybe he was holding back something there.

I received the same very positive impression from this excerpt as I did for Avrukh's first volume of the Grandmaster Repertoire - as with that book, I will be adding to my 'must buy' list!

I noticed that there is more explanatory prose in this book than in Avrukh's tomes, meaning that this book is probably aimed at a wider range of readership.

Yes, looks great. Can't wait for it!

I wonder about the move order, 2.g3 followed by 3.Nc3.