Anders wrote on 07/24/10 at 20:09:56:



Well, in some way 8...Rb8 seems to be a sort of passing. I don't see how plans to play b6, a6, b5 shall work. White can throw a spanner in the work. E.g. 9.h3 b6 10. Qe2 and now 10...a6 is prevented for now cause the rook does not cover that square.
Compared with the earlier mentioned variation 7...a6 8.a4 b6 9.h3 c6 that is no progress. The latter variation is a clear attempt to get things going without being disturbed (as in normal 7...c6 8.a4 b6 9.d5); the Martin-idea does not work that fluently.

It is right that the option d4-d5 is less effective after 8...Rb8 than after 8...b6. In the latter case after 9.d5 c5 White has the lever 10.a5 which leave White with clearly better prospects.
After 8...Rb8 9.d5 is simply without inspiration. Black can play 9...c5 but there is also the option to play 9...Nb6 10.Bb3 cxd5.

motörhead wrote on 07/24/10 at 19:00:15:


Checking Megabase 2010 there are only 17 games played with 8...Rb8 so there are not so much earlier games to draw from.

Martin sees this as a crafty move order (and I assume as a way of not having to deal with with existing theory) where black avoid commiting the bishop on c8 early and plans to play b6, a6, b5.

The idea is also that white attacking options with d5 can be met with c5 blockading the queenside whereafter black can try to play on the kingside.

For further details I refer to the DVD where this is covered in the main line section via three commented games.

/ A

Ps.
It can hardly be good for white to allow black to get the bishop pair with 10...Nxe3.

motörhead wrote on 07/24/10 at 11:47:56:


7.Re1 c6. 8.a4 Rb8 is the Martin recommendation. 

The Kuzmin article has a typcial NIC YB format, e.g. first two few pages with text and then some pages with games.
In total five pages.

/ A

Bibs wrote on 07/22/10 at 14:56:28:


The title of the Martin DVD is a bit misleading. He recommends a version of the Philidor Hanham  (with a quick Rb8), not the Lion (with h6, c6, Qc7, Nf8, g5 ...) as given in the Jansen  /van Rekom book.

/ A

Ps.
The 7.Re1 a6 8.a4 b6 variation is interesting.  Kuzmin had a good survey about it in YB 91.

Bibs wrote on 07/19/10 at 15:02:28:


I don't know Bologan cause I think those DVDs are a waste of money. I really get angry when I read that Andy Martin now seemingly has made a DVD on the Lion. Without having seen a second of it I am sure: That must be poor product because this variation is dubios. But it nevertheless can draw money out of the pockets, I feel. Oh boy. It's books that count. If it is for the Lion than buy Jansen/van Rekom, the true warriors und not this... sorry excuse of a copy.


Back to books: Barsky is indeed lightweight, absolutely. I was disappointed.
He has nothing special to add to Kosten's book in the variation 7.Qe2 where Barsky only deals with 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 c5 or 7...c6 8.a4 exd4 9.Nxd4 c5. Lean production there.
And his handling off 7.Re1 too is simply meagre.
As Anders said above he only deals with 7...c6 8.a4 a5, a variation that is dealt with in depth in Carpathian Warrior. Barsky does not really change much on that.
But he does not even touch on the more dynamic possibilty 8...b6 (which bears some slight problems, cause Black after 9.d5 at least isn't able to muddy the waters enough for an interessting play to come) and he also passes concerning the interessting idea 7.Re1 a6!? which after 8.a4 b6 9.h3 (or 9.b3) 9...c6 leads to a tense struggle. And after 9.d5 there are several games where Black employed a King's Indian way to commence with sth like Nf6-e8, g7-g6, Ne8-g7 and f7-f5 to comme or Kg8-h8, Nf6-g8, g7-g6 (if I remember that right, I save my notes on paper, which is in two rooms distance...)
It disappointing - or am I allowed to say lazy - that Barsky missed these opportunities.
All the more I think his concept fails. He allways gives an abstract of a chapter before going deeper. This is superfluous to me. He should have used these pages to deals with other ideas in the Philidor.
I would jugde the book with only one star cause Barsky has nothing to say. So he shouldn't write a whole book on that nothing...

Anders wrote on 07/19/10 at 10:41:03:


Agree, lightweight.
Bologan plus Bauer.
Bologan has plenty to say, but he is very dull to  watch.
Thick accent, plus he is no one's physical comic.
Plus the standard chessbase, 'we will not have our presenters looking at the camera, no way' schtick.
Nice fella tho, no doubt.

Philidor belongs in 1.e4 e5, eh?  That's where it's classified in ECO, anyhow.