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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead? (Read 14469 times)
Smyslov_Fan
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #11 - 04/12/09 at 15:37:20
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There's the famous case of Korchnoi writing the ECO for the Open Spanish and then playing it against Karpov.  Those games really advanced the theory of the opening, so we are lucky for that.

In today's age, by the time a book comes out, most of its secrets will have been explored.  So the author really doesn't have much to gain by hiding his analysis in a book.  Perhaps an author of an online chess article might have reason to hide something, but anyone with a strong computer would likely find any obvious flaws.

I just don't see the benefit of hiding analysis the way some people did before the advent of cheap super-computer programs.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #10 - 04/10/09 at 09:07:17
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JonathanB wrote on 04/05/09 at 08:57:40:
exigentsky wrote on 04/04/09 at 23:02:09:
Some authors of repertoire books ....


Why limit this to repertoire books?

John Watson's DW: The French chapter on 5. ... cxd4 in the Winawer (instead of .... Bxc3+) is, I'm afraid, just a bunch of trash that clearly relies on JW having White play some strange moves (and ignoring previously published analysis that cast doubt on what he's saying).

Slightly harsh to pick on JW given the quality of his other books - and the rest of DW: The French may be great for all I know - but there you are.




I own a copy of DW: The French, but never even looked at that chapter (I find the whole concept preposterous). I do applaud your courage in saying so. It also doesn't surprise me since sometimes he tends to exaggerate the flexibility and options available to Black.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #9 - 04/07/09 at 13:46:11
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exigentsky wrote on 04/04/09 at 23:02:09:
Some authors of repertoire books, such as Ward and Avrukh play most of the lines they recommend. I imagine that while writing books will help their understanding and memory for the lines, it may also prove to be an advantage for their opponents (if they don't change their repertoire). 

Thus, especially for active strong players, there seems to be an incentive to hide novelties, new evaluations or other critical information not yet available. While I haven't gotten this impression myself and I'm guessing such books (and authors) would not be looked upon favorably or sell as well, I wonder how frequently this happens. Also, how can you know?

BTW: I've definitely seen a different type of misleading behavior in some repertoire books. The author will advocate for White or Black and ignore many good moves that can cause problems. Perhaps this isn't intentional but it still isn't good for the reader.



To be honest I don't think that most repertoire authors keep secrets nor try to mislead people. 

I do think you have good and bad repertoire books (like well, all kind of books). 

But all depends on what you are searching for. You won't find the ultimate chess truth. That's for sure  Grin
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #8 - 04/05/09 at 20:59:24
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emary wrote on 04/05/09 at 08:34:30:


I know some examples of this behaviour and I am happy about this, because it is much more difficult for my opponents to prepare.


Sure - if they can't read or don't have decent resources themselves.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #7 - 04/05/09 at 09:23:14
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Whilst on the subject of French books, Viktor Moskalenko's chapter on the 3...Bb4 4.e5 b6 Winawer is slightly biased in favour of Black, where it claims full equality for Black in spite of most theoretical works claiming a slight edge for White. However, it deserves credit for only somewhat underestimating the critical lines (e.g. giving unclear or counterplay in some += positions), not for omitting them.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #6 - 04/05/09 at 08:57:40
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exigentsky wrote on 04/04/09 at 23:02:09:
Some authors of repertoire books ....


Why limit this to repertoire books?

John Watson's DW: The French chapter on 5. ... cxd4 in the Winawer (instead of .... Bxc3+) is, I'm afraid, just a bunch of trash that clearly relies on JW having White play some strange moves (and ignoring previously published analysis that cast doubt on what he's saying).

Slightly harsh to pick on JW given the quality of his other books - and the rest of DW: The French may be great for all I know - but there you are.

  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #5 - 04/05/09 at 08:34:30
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Quote:


A subtle variation on this theme is hiding the virtual opponent's best options in footnotes instead of making them main lines. But I find it as least as annoying.



I know some examples of this behaviour and I am happy about this, because it is much more difficult for my opponents to prepare. 
l
If an author does not even mention problems this is really annoying. 

On the other hand for example Rogozenko's book on the Antisizilians gave me good advice which Antisizilians are worth studying for White.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #4 - 04/05/09 at 02:38:42
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I've also seen it done where they purposely throw a blunder in there to declare a line bad and then gloss over it when its the critical line.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #3 - 04/05/09 at 02:14:20
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exigentsky wrote on 04/04/09 at 23:02:09:

BTW: I've definitely seen a different type of misleading behavior in some repertoire books. The author will advocate for White or Black and ignore many good moves that can cause problems. Perhaps this isn't intentional but it still isn't good for the reader.


A subtle variation on this theme is hiding the virtual opponent's best options in footnotes instead of making them main lines. But I find it as least as annoying.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #2 - 04/05/09 at 00:47:52
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some authors do. I won't call out names but I know several stories where this has happened.
  
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Re: Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
Reply #1 - 04/04/09 at 23:24:24
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I never hid anything myself, but many years ago (when it took a long time for books to be published) I would play a line intensively while I was writing it, and then slowly stop when the book came out! For instance, I remember scoring really well with Black in the Philidor for some years until my opponents started looking at my book before the game to find White's best line! Sad
  
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Do repertoire authors keep secrets and mislead?
04/04/09 at 23:02:09
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Some authors of repertoire books, such as Ward and Avrukh play most of the lines they recommend. I imagine that while writing books will help their understanding and memory for the lines, it may also prove to be an advantage for their opponents (if they don't change their repertoire). 

Thus, especially for active strong players, there seems to be an incentive to hide novelties, new evaluations or other critical information not yet available. While I haven't gotten this impression myself and I'm guessing such books (and authors) would not be looked upon favorably or sell as well, I wonder how frequently this happens. Also, how can you know?

BTW: I've definitely seen a different type of misleading behavior in some repertoire books. The author will advocate for White or Black and ignore many good moves that can cause problems. Perhaps this isn't intentional but it still isn't good for the reader.
  
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