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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) C47-C49: The Four Knights Game (Read 36107 times)
Gilchrist is a legend
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #10 - 03/05/12 at 04:28:44
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I had some responses about the Move By Move Nimzo book, and have been told that it was good even for my level (~2250). But I wonder how much is attributed to theory both in that book and also in this forthcoming book.
  

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KampongBoy
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #9 - 03/04/12 at 18:16:51
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What level of player is it aimed at? A move-by-move book on the Four Knights would seem to suggest a rather simplistic treatment of a straightforward opening. I have always thought this "move-by-move" series was aimed at lower rated players (under1800) am I wrong?
  
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #8 - 03/04/12 at 12:53:35
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #7 - 01/01/12 at 18:46:03
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Volcanor wrote on 12/31/11 at 11:35:54:
As TopNotch expressed it, I'm also disappointed by this book. It has been written by Obodchuk, an unknown (to me) russian IM in 2010, and translated by Steve Giddins to be published around summer 2011. It contains 64 full games, 40 of them being played between 2007 and 2010.

I especially disliked 2 things about this book. The first is the lack of comment in most games, either in the opening phase or later. I sometimes wonder how a book can be filled with so much information (e.g., GM series from Quality Chess). With this book, I wonder how it is possible to produce a book with so few information. The second point is the lack of consistency for a repertoire book. You often have 2 or 3 choices for White against each variation, but the author never states which one he prefers, the advantage / drawback of each and so on. In fact, there is almost no prose in this book.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 (it also covers 3...Bc5) 4.d4 cxd4, both 5.Nd5 Bg7 6.Bg5 and 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 are covered. I couldn't find out the preference of the author, neither an explanation for what type of games we reach in each variation. Does one involve greater risks, does one suit strategic players, and so on.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7 9.Re1 Nd8 10.d4 Ne6, we reach a main variation of the spanish four knights. Three moves are covered. 11.Bh4 in one game, descibed as "Not considered as strongest (...) main moves are Bd2 and Bc1." 11.Bd2 in two games, descibed as "This move is no weaker than the main line Bc1." No additional comment! And 11.Bc1 is covered in only one game with the comment "This position has been reached in practice countless hundreds of times. It is considered that White has some strategic initiative, thanks to its preponderance in the centre and the two, albeit for the time being, passive bishops, but in general, the position is close to equality." It's then up to you to decide between 11.Bd2 and 11.Bc1.

Personnaly, I expect more from a good chess opening book. It's a selection of games, but with very few (or even no) opinion given by the author. Maybe some people will like this book, but it is cleraly not my cup of tea.


That's also my main problem with the book. How can you have a repertoire book where the author does not outline clear recommendations.

Flaws aside, I would say the chapters on the critical Rubinstein (4...Nd4) variation might be worth the price of admission, and according to ads in New In Chess magazine the book appears to selling well despite the misleading 'Repertoire' label.

Tops Smiley
  

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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #6 - 12/31/11 at 11:35:54
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As TopNotch expressed it, I'm also disappointed by this book. It has been written by Obodchuk, an unknown (to me) russian IM in 2010, and translated by Steve Giddins to be published around summer 2011. It contains 64 full games, 40 of them being played between 2007 and 2010.

I especially disliked 2 things about this book. The first is the lack of comment in most games, either in the opening phase or later. I sometimes wonder how a book can be filled with so much information (e.g., GM series from Quality Chess). With this book, I wonder how it is possible to produce a book with so few information. The second point is the lack of consistency for a repertoire book. You often have 2 or 3 choices for White against each variation, but the author never states which one he prefers, the advantage / drawback of each and so on. In fact, there is almost no prose in this book.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 (it also covers 3...Bc5) 4.d4 cxd4, both 5.Nd5 Bg7 6.Bg5 and 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 are covered. I couldn't find out the preference of the author, neither an explanation for what type of games we reach in each variation. Does one involve greater risks, does one suit strategic players, and so on.

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7 9.Re1 Nd8 10.d4 Ne6, we reach a main variation of the spanish four knights. Three moves are covered. 11.Bh4 in one game, descibed as "Not considered as strongest (...) main moves are Bd2 and Bc1." 11.Bd2 in two games, descibed as "This move is no weaker than the main line Bc1." No additional comment! And 11.Bc1 is covered in only one game with the comment "This position has been reached in practice countless hundreds of times. It is considered that White has some strategic initiative, thanks to its preponderance in the centre and the two, albeit for the time being, passive bishops, but in general, the position is close to equality." It's then up to you to decide between 11.Bd2 and 11.Bc1.

Personnaly, I expect more from a good chess opening book. It's a selection of games, but with very few (or even no) opinion given by the author. Maybe some people will like this book, but it is cleraly not my cup of tea.
  
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #5 - 12/30/11 at 16:40:57
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I played a tournament game recently in the four Knights. I am learning this opening so...I felt I would give it a test run against 2000 rated friend of mine. 

On move six has anyone analyzed the alternatives to 6.0-0? or 5. Nxe5. also I wasn't sure about 6.h3 maybe with future g4, 0-0-0 and attack etc.. Probably black goes c6 and d5 at some point

  
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #4 - 10/31/11 at 20:58:02
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how did it disappoint you?
  
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #3 - 10/29/11 at 20:07:21
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walkingterrapin wrote on 09/10/11 at 22:42:52:
It will be interesting to see the analysis of the Belgrade Gambit in this book.  Maybe it will go past the scope the work done here. 


On the whole the book disappointed me, but the Belgrade Chapter was interesting. For starters the author does not hold the Belgrade Gambit in high esteem and in fact the chapter on it lays out an effective repertoire for Black whic is more or less convincing.

Tops Smiley
  

The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones Smiley
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #2 - 09/10/11 at 22:42:52
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It will be interesting to see the analysis of the Belgrade Gambit in this book.  Maybe it will go past the scope the work done here.
  
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Re: C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
Reply #1 - 09/02/11 at 12:20:35
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Just FYI: I catalogued this as C47-C49, the Four Knights even though the book covers deviations, some of which fall well outside this range. 

  
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C47-C49: The Four Knights Game
09/02/11 at 10:53:54
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This book came out earlier then expected:
http://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/PDFs/959.pdf

Maybe the Kaufman repertoire and the Ragozin will arrive sooner too  Wink
« Last Edit: 09/02/11 at 12:20:52 by Smyslov_Fan »  

It has been said that chess players are good at two things, Chess and Excuses.  It has also been said that Chess is where all excuses fail! In order to win you must dare to fail!
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