Indeed the only thing I am missing in this book is a ´Quick Repertoire´ section before each chapter which mentions the lines one really should know how to play against.

Otherwise this is definitely the best opening book I have ever seen.

I had a good look at the book and I'd say, in terms of thoroughness, clarity of explanation, objectivity and reputability, it is one of the best, if not the best, opening book ever written - for Grandmasters and correspondence players. This advantage is also the book's disadvantage - for a player below 2400 starting out with these lines (say they played 1.d4 all their life), they will be swamped by all the details and even though Negi does mention at some points which variations are important to remember, it will be difficult for them to start playing the lines without having a stronger player summarise the book for them (with the absolute essentials for their level). Indeed, I think there would be a market for a DVD along the lines of 'GM Repertoire for club players', so they can play the opening like a Grandmaster without getting bogged down by all the novelties or sidelines that they'll almost certainly not get a chance to play or face.

I am really looking forward to the next books in the series and would happily wait as long as it takes for Negi to give Volume Two the same monumental quality.

tony37 wrote on 02/13/14 at 19:05:10:

Agreed, Negi has a very strong knowledge about openings which I experienced last year: http://schaken-brabo.blogspot.be/2013/04/met-een-kanon-op-een-mug-schieten.html
Well and of course he is also a much stronger player than I

Smyslov_Fan wrote on 12/12/11 at 02:31:46:

Just to beat Americans

A clear demonstration of the hidden power of the Giouco:

Do GM's play such trash anymore?