Latest Updates:
Normal Topic Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books (Read 9325 times)
bragesjo
God Member
*****
Offline


CCE at ICCF 2021 and CCM
at ICCF 2023

Posts: 1831
Location: Eskilstuna
Joined: 06/30/06
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #9 - 07/13/11 at 09:36:56
Post Tools
Cutting Edge 1 has several good white novelties against Chinese Dragon. It also shows 12 Kb1 Re8 13 h4 h5 14 g4 lines from whites point of view, including a couple of novelties. It also covers Topalovs Rc8 + Nxd4 + b5 system from black's point if view with the conclusions that black is fine.

Another book is also Dangerous Weapons the Sicilian where there is a anti Dragon chapter where white plays like a Yugoslav attack but with Be2 instead of pawn to f3 where "Play the Sicilian Dragon"s antidote (d5) if out of date and leeds to white advantage. Ng4 is better eg Bxg4 Bxg4 f3 Be6 with unclear play.
  
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
F22
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 306
Joined: 07/16/09
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #8 - 07/13/11 at 08:58:53
Post Tools
bragesjo wrote on 07/12/11 at 10:14:52:
Best book is Dearings "Play the Sicilian Dragon" but there has been lots of developments since that book, particullary in Yugoslav Attack where several of Dearings suggestions are outdated, particullary in 9 0-0-0 Yugoslav with 12 Bd4 or 10 Kb1 as well as profylactic systems in Bc4 Yugoslav. Super GM play has also showed new black options in Soltis varition.

In Bc4 Yugolav black has a choice between solid and sharp. Topalovs Rc8 Nxd4 b5 system is very solid. Else black can allow 12 Kb1 profylaxe and play 12 .. Nc4 13 Bxc4 Rxc4 14 g4 b5 15 b3 b4!? where position is very unclear, white gets the exchange and a pawn but black has goood compensation and safer king. While engins gives large adantage for white at first sight, going deeper and playing human moves (like a mover rook Be8 Nd5 ideas etc) they relize that black has indead good compenation. 12 .. Re8 instead gives white attacking chanses after 13 h4 h5  14 g4. The funny thing is the books written for white prefer 13 h4 h5 14 Bh6 instead where black is fine against both "Dismanling the Sicilian" suggestion and "Opening for white according to Anand" suggestion.

I can recommend a combination of this link http://openingtheory.wordpress.com/ ,"Play the sicilian Dragon" and a http://www.chesspublishing.com subscription.


Again thank you! 

Jusging by the Gambit excerpt Dearing's book looks good but it is very old indeed, almost 7 years now! Any word on a new post-Carlsen revision?

QC's Cutting Edge series has a volume that deals with Dragon in some chapters. Have you seen it?

Finally is the old main line: 10. O-O-O Qa5 11. Bb3 Rfc8 12. h4 refuted? It very rarely played.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bragesjo
God Member
*****
Offline


CCE at ICCF 2021 and CCM
at ICCF 2023

Posts: 1831
Location: Eskilstuna
Joined: 06/30/06
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #7 - 07/12/11 at 10:14:52
Post Tools
Best book is Dearings "Play the Sicilian Dragon" but there has been lots of developments since that book, particullary in Yugoslav Attack where several of Dearings suggestions are outdated, particullary in 9 0-0-0 Yugoslav with 12 Bd4 or 10 Kb1 as well as profylactic systems in Bc4 Yugoslav. Super GM play has also showed new black options in Soltis varition.

In Bc4 Yugolav black has a choice between solid and sharp. Topalovs Rc8 Nxd4 b5 system is very solid. Else black can allow 12 Kb1 profylaxe and play 12 .. Nc4 13 Bxc4 Rxc4 14 g4 b5 15 b3 b4!? where position is very unclear, white gets the exchange and a pawn but black has goood compensation and safer king. While engins gives large adantage for white at first sight, going deeper and playing human moves (like a mover rook Be8 Nd5 ideas etc) they relize that black has indead good compenation. 12 .. Re8 instead gives white attacking chanses after 13 h4 h5  14 g4. The funny thing is the books written for white prefer 13 h4 h5 14 Bh6 instead where black is fine against both "Dismanling the Sicilian" suggestion and "Opening for white according to Anand" suggestion.

I can recommend a combination of this link http://openingtheory.wordpress.com/ ,"Play the sicilian Dragon" and a http://www.chesspublishing.com subscription.
« Last Edit: 07/12/11 at 13:37:25 by MNb »  
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
F22
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 306
Joined: 07/16/09
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #6 - 07/12/11 at 00:47:32
Post Tools
bragesjo wrote on 07/09/11 at 16:39:29:
Frankly speaking. 

a. In 9 0-0-0 winning with the Dragon 2 recommended Bd7 and Nxd4 Bxd4 Be6 system. Theoreticlal developments han not been kind to either of these systems, if white knows theory he gets the much better chanses, hower last word has not been written in stone yet but at GM levels both of these systems are rarely played at all. It might have has something to do with Experts vs Sicilian variations against it.

b. Qa5 system vs Bc4 yugoslav is under a cloud these days and are rarely played, its been years since a strong GM played it (it was Khalifman but he was probebly bluffing and did not meet any critical line). As I recall, Ward did not mentioned a white move that changed the assesment of the position to an edge for white.

c. If we speak of Winning with the Dragon 1, in Bc4 yugoslav the Rc8 system where black does not meet h4 with h5 but plays Nc4 (old mainline) is under a cloud these days, there are several lines that are problemetic. Soltis defence with the pawn block h5 is not covered at all. Profylicic system with Kb1 before h4 is also out of date if it was even mentioned. Qa5 system was also covered and are even more out of date than in hes 2nd book. Also, in 9 0-0-0 yugoslav d5 is main recommendation but there has been tons of developments since that book, both in mainline 12 Bd4, 10 Kb1, 10 Qe1 and even in pawn grab variation. Nxd4 Bxd4 Be6 system is also covered but even more out of date than in 2nd book.


Thank you that was very helpful! Any recommendations for Dragon literature?
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bragesjo
God Member
*****
Offline


CCE at ICCF 2021 and CCM
at ICCF 2023

Posts: 1831
Location: Eskilstuna
Joined: 06/30/06
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #5 - 07/09/11 at 16:39:29
Post Tools
Frankly speaking. 

a. In 9 0-0-0 winning with the Dragon 2 recommended Bd7 and Nxd4 Bxd4 Be6 system. Theoreticlal developments han not been kind to either of these systems, if white knows theory he gets the much better chanses, hower last word has not been written in stone yet but at GM levels both of these systems are rarely played at all. It might have has something to do with Experts vs Sicilian variations against it.

b. Qa5 system vs Bc4 yugoslav is under a cloud these days and are rarely played, its been years since a strong GM played it (it was Khalifman but he was probebly bluffing and did not meet any critical line). As I recall, Ward did not mentioned a white move that changed the assesment of the position to an edge for white.

c. If we speak of Winning with the Dragon 1, in Bc4 yugoslav the Rc8 system where black does not meet h4 with h5 but plays Nc4 (old mainline) is under a cloud these days, there are several lines that are problemetic. Soltis defence with the pawn block h5 is not covered at all. Profylicic system with Kb1 before h4 is also out of date if it was even mentioned. Qa5 system was also covered and are even more out of date than in hes 2nd book. Also, in 9 0-0-0 yugoslav d5 is main recommendation but there has been tons of developments since that book, both in mainline 12 Bd4, 10 Kb1, 10 Qe1 and even in pawn grab variation. Nxd4 Bxd4 Be6 system is also covered but even more out of date than in 2nd book.
  
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Smyslov_Fan
God Member
Correspondence fan
*****
Offline


Progress depends on the
unreasonable man. ~GBS

Posts: 6902
Joined: 06/15/05
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #4 - 07/09/11 at 03:40:44
Post Tools
I remember going over these books years ago.

In what sense are they "outdated"? Just judging by the date of publication? Which specific recommendations no longer make sense?
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
bragesjo
God Member
*****
Offline


CCE at ICCF 2021 and CCM
at ICCF 2023

Posts: 1831
Location: Eskilstuna
Joined: 06/30/06
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #3 - 07/03/11 at 08:33:52
Post Tools
I dates are correct, it must be a reprint of 2nd edition since book might have been sold out since both books has the same publicher (Batsford).

The original "Winning with the Dragon" is from about 1994/1995 or something like that and Winning with the Dragon 2 was realesed years later. The books recommeded competly different systems in several lines. Winning with the Dragon had also more coverage of more black options while 2nd edition is more repertour book, where Bc4 yugoslav only covered Qa5. Both books are however outdated.
  
Back to top
WWW  
IP Logged
 
JamesH
YaBB Newbies
*
Offline



Posts: 43
Location: England
Joined: 06/03/11
Gender: Male
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #2 - 07/02/11 at 20:04:01
Post Tools
If bibs isn't correct then it could be the company republished it to make a more accurate/detailed version, why does it matter anyway? Tongue
  

2251 FIDE
213 ECF
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Bibs
God Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 2338
Joined: 10/24/06
Re: Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
Reply #1 - 07/02/11 at 14:29:05
Post Tools
Where the dates from?
'2' is, er, the second one.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
F22
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 306
Joined: 07/16/09
Gender: Male
Question Regarding Chris Ward's Books
07/02/11 at 08:03:10
Post Tools
I have been looking at Dragon literature and I came across something rather odd. Chris Ward has two books on Dragon:
  • Winning With the Sicilian Dragon 2 (2001)
  • Winning with the Dragon (2003)

Now are these two volumes? If so why was the second volume published two years before the first one? If it is not a 2 volume pack what does the number 2 signify in the first book?
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Bookmarks: del.icio.us Digg Facebook Google Google+ Linked in reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Yahoo