Markovich wrote on 05/14/10 at 12:20:08:
I don't think that Vitiugov deserves criticism for not supplying a comprehensive French repertoire book. Take this book for what it's worth.
Any author or publisher subtiteling his book "A complete Black repertoire" should get his share of criticism for conciously negating even the attempt to offer a complete black repertoire. He should even get it, if his book is excellent in many other respects - and
Vitiugovs work is excellent if read the right way. Ignoring the less testing sidelines is OK, if the repertoire is excellent and deep in the critical mainlines. If you have to offer a repertoire for 2300+ players and good enough to be a guideline for corrchess players, it is understandable that analysing nothing but c4 - lines in the exchange is a logical part of this concept - why give up space for lines that even don´t pretend to fight for any white advantage?
Vitiguov begins to fullfill my high hopes when starting with the advance variation. His treatment of his (and my) line of choice 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 reveals a lot about the high standard of his work and about the way you have to deal with it´s oddities
His choice of critical variations, explanations and original analysis he gives it if he thinks it´s necessary is fascinating and at the same time I am astonished how he deals with other lines.;
As an example, have a look at the line 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nh6 where 8.Bxh6 is not the standard move, but critical for Black´s plan.
After 8....Qxb2 the author analyses the most effective way to counter White´s best line 9.Nbd2 gxh6 10.0-0 Nxd4, now giving a satisfying line for Black after 11.Rb1 Nxe2 12.Qxe2 Qc3(N). The most often played 11.Nxd4 is not mentioned at all. A reason to be embarrased? Not exactly, since 11.Rb1 is simply the much better move while 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Bb5+ Kd8 does less for White´s developement and gives Black the preferable game. Vitiugov simply is not interested to explain this, you should get it by yourself, its not a critical line from his point of view.
While Vituguov examines only the best line for White in the 9.Nbd2 mainline (played 68 times in my biggest database), he is much more fascinated by 9.Nc3 (3 games), which he gives a !? and calls "a very original solution" - and adds an analyses on 9....Qxc3 (the "fighting line", played in Mantovani - Yermelin, Kallithea 2008, improving on the game) and 9....Nxd4, showing in detail why it is leading to a forced draw.
This is simply a French book on the lines critical from the perspective of a young 2700 grandmaster, who uses the French as a regular secondary weapon and who enriches this lines with quite a lot of explanations and original analysis if necessary from his point of view. This is a view on "our" opening every French player must love to have, even it is not always easy to follow.
If you want to play the French on a 2200+ level or in corrchess, or if you simply want to get to the truth the near as possible, buy Vitiugovs book. If you want to get didactically excellent help to play your next club tournament against 1700 competition, buy McDonalds book. If you love the French, get both.
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C00-C19: The French Defence by Vitiugov (Read 91157 times)
