derdudea wrote on 05/12/10 at 16:15:09:


Thanks, now I know it's not for me.

I have received my copy a few hours ago. There are some omissions about certain lines, but Chess Stars are similar to other publishers, such as Quality Chess, where the content is geared towards higher ranking players. The 4. Nb5 line is fairly silly and for the sake of space I believe Vitiugov has omitted analysis of such lines. It is not too difficult to play against such minor sidelines without the help of a book, especially for anyone 2000+ ELO.

However, I agree that the Rubinstein is allotted excessive coverage. Other lines such as the Winawer should have been covered more extensively. Perhaps instead of the Rubinstein he should have analysed the MacCutcheon.

Bowen wrote on 05/11/10 at 10:56:28:


Both 3.Nc3 Nf6 and 3.Nc3 Bb4 are treated as can be seen from the list of content.

I ordered it two weeks ago from ChessDirect. I still haven't got it, but they told me it is en route from Russia as it is freshly published.

It seems as if Chess Stars has released their cover for French Defence by Vitiugov: http://chess-stars.com/ scheduled for release "expected 1st May". Niggemann has the book available for pre-order (albeit 10th May for some reason), whilst London Chess Centre has not yet placed it on the Coming Soon section. The Table of Contents, from Niggemann's website:

007Preface

Part 1. White avoids the main lines

1.e4 e6

010 2.b3; 2.f4

012 2.d3; 2.Qe2

018 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3; 3.e5

023 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3

025 2.d4 d5 3.exd5

Part 2. The Advance Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6

031 6.Be2

037 6.Bd3

040 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.Bxh6; 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Be3

044 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Bb2

048 6.a3 Bd7

Part 3. The Rubinstein Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7

054 5.g3

056 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxf6 Nxf6 8.Bd2; 8.Bxf6; 8.Be3

061 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxf6 Nxf6 8.Bh4

071 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.g3; 7.Bd3; 7.Be2; 7.Be3

080 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.c3

087 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bd3

Part 4. The Morozevich Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7

101 4.\u1089?3

103 4.e5

113 4.Ngf3

126 4.Bd3

Part 5. The Tarrasch Variation with 3...c5

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5

136 4.c3; 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5

139 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4

146 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.Bb3; 7.Qe2

151 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0

Part 6. The Winawer Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.N\u1089?3 Bb4

163 Various without 4.e5

173 4.e5 b6; 4...c5 5.Qg4; 5.dxc5; 5.Bd2

182 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Bd3; 7.h4; 7.a4; 7.Nf3

189 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4

Part 7. The Steinitz Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.N\u1089?3 Nf6

205 4.Bd3; 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2; 5.Nf3

217 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3

228Afterword

Yeah, it may be a matter of taste. At least in my experience, I have problems assimilating all of the important information in really large chess books.

Avrukh's d4 books have so much in them, that's it's difficult to decide which lines are the most important without messing around with a database at the same. Khalifman's series is the same way - there's just so much in there that it's hard to boil it down. 

I think the Chess Stars Sicilian books are near perfect as far as length and format go for a repertoire book. If I could get them to write new 1. e4 books that are shorter than Khalifman's and in the format of these books, my life would be complete! 

Not to say that I don't like the GM Rep books or similar titles- I think they're fantastic and I'm probably going to buy all of them, they're just tough. Great for a CC player like me though, harder to implement for OTB though.

On second thoughts, I will take a closer look at Vitugov's book when I get the chance.  It's not the page count that turned me off but his choice of coverage. I'm curious about his recommendations, but doubt I'll buy it.