I do not expect too much revelatory in the 4. Nf3 lines, but am interested in what he may recommend against the 4-pawns attack which right now seems to be giving Black a difficult time.

A blurb suggested that the author's strength and knowledge of the opening arises from his having exposure to it back in Russia studying alongside Lev Alburt and other aficionados at the local chess club back in the USSR. Hopefully his knowledge has been expanded by more recent encounters!

I secretly hope he won't be recommending 4. Nf3 de

Markovich wrote on 08/27/09 at 12:49:19:

I think you'll find a reverse correlation between income and BDG-enthusiass

Some crazy billionaire would have them all playing the Latvian and the Blackmar-Diemer.

Quite recently there was an article in chessvibes about the latest frequency of opening books and that most of them
do not add much to a reasonable update of the knowledge of an opening by using good databases.
By the way, this does not mean that there have not been quite good opening books recently, Avrukh's book, for instance.

My point is to know what should we expect about these new books (including the one by Taylor as well).

Are they going to give some new insights on the defence making me change the evaluation I have from the known lines??
Or would they be more like a kind of update with, perhaps and hopefully, some
new strategically (and even interesting) explanations on known lines?

Or would they surprise us with complete new assessments which
may include making us see negleted lines in a new way?

Recently, my main expectations are focused on seeing whether the next new game by Short or Nakamura is an Alekhine, since in my opinion this may contribute more to my knowledge of the defence.
Looking at chessgames.com and seeing new Alekhine games is also
rewarding (see, for instance, the games in the Canadian Opening
and the recent 5 rapid games on the China-Russia match).

Anyway, my expectations on the new books are not high (in terms of
adding knowledge to the defence).
Perhaps we will be suprised, in a good way, with new insights but ...

I think boycotting any gambits in my games for a month should be a mild but effective protest.

More seriously though, I was more wondering just what is in the book, its format, etc. Anyone with insights?

Bowen wrote on 08/19/09 at 03:31:49:

Compared to what regularly happen with Everyman's schedules, I would not say that one month delay is that bad. After all, these schedules are monthes in advance, and it is not easy to accurately define when the author will be ready with his book. Personally, I prefer a book to be out with one month delay but being a good book tnah a book arriving on time but having been written too fast.

I notice that V. Bogdanov's Play the Alekhine has been pushed back a month to November. Anybody have any word on its contents? I have his book on the French and found it first rate for explaining the nuances of the ouverture!