F22 wrote on 07/15/10 at 04:23:36:


In sincere honesty, yes, it can be interpreted that the Grandmaster Repertoire series advocates a main line opening system (Najdorf, Catalan, English, Grünfeld, etc.) and those are by definition undoubtedly main line opening complexes. Some of the content of the books may not be the main lines of the main lines, viz. Avrukh's proposition of the 4. e3 against the Slav Defence instead of the 4. Nc3 "main line of the main line" system. I do not know exactly what QC mean with the phrase "main lines"; rather, I am merely speculating or trying to formulate an explanation.

I would also appreciate if you at least display some respect to other users' thoughts.

I think the entire opinion about GM6 not being main line has converted into an unjustified, overlooked argument. The Grandmaster Repertoire series indicates that the purpose of the books is to provide the reader with a sturdy repertoire based on the 'main lines'. It did not say it recommended the very main lines of the main lines. The Najdorf Sicilian in itself is a main line. The O'Kelly Sicilian is not a main line. Whatever lines chosen by Ftacnik within the Najdorf Sicilian complex are by definition main lines regardless of their popularity or acknowledgement since they are just variations of a main line opening...

Chazy wrote on 07/09/10 at 10:52:04:



thx!

btw... is there an exact publishing date yet?

MNb wrote on 07/08/10 at 19:56:00:


Thank you. I have already said if the book was titled "Ftacnik on Najdorf" I would have no problems with it. Also another point is that if you don't read this thread there is no way in the world that you would guess the choices against 6. Bg5.

@F22 and others. My question is: Which "main line" did you want to see in the book?

In my opinion, the Poisoned Pawn had been the very main line of the 6.Bg5 Najdorf for decades. However, this old line suffered heavy blows in the past years and e.g. the Repertoire book Georgiev: The Sharpest Sicilian removed it after the first edition and went on to recommend a side line. The reason is that 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nfd7 12. Ne4 h6 13. Bh4 Qxa2 14. Rd1 etc scores terribly bad for Black. 

Thus, an increasing number of GMs is working on new lines and quite a few of them have more than only one defense against 6.Bg5 in their repertoire. Just to be not too predictable...

* Is the Polugaevsky a "main line"? I'd doubt it very much.
* 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 Qb6 still looks playable to me. But would you call this a definite main line?
* 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. Qd2 Well, perhaps playable, but not so much to my taste.

F22 wrote on 07/08/10 at 07:02:52:

You don't have an argument. You're just nitpicking. The whole Najdorf is a main line, as opposed to for example the SI O'Kelly or the SI Grivas. Many world class players have it in their repertoire.
QC hired an expert GM with decades of experience in these structures to write a repertoire book. Of course Ftacnik had to choose from a large variety of available options, and pragmatism or lack of space may have been points to consider.
You don't like some of his choices? That's life. There is no such thing as one perfect product for a relatively heterogeneous target audience.

its QC, their quality is very good, unless something strange happen.  i say let the free market decide.  btw main lines come and go, especially in the Najdorf.  besides i always wondered why h6 was hardly ever played.  maybe it was just fashion.  as long as its different than his cd.  i will look at the reviews too.