Some rather stronger folk than that taking on the Keres in recent times....

The Nc6/e6/d6 stuff is a fully playable move order and certainly gives some extra options vs 6 g4. 

Being commited to the full theory after 6 Bc4 isn't trivial - with black commited to Nc6 its dangerous - and there's also a commitment to Nc6 vs 6 Be3.

A matter of taste really (and non trivial earlier discussion if you search here.).

Well, there are books by Emms and by Pritchett that have been published within the last ten years. There's also the work by Khalifman in OFWAA 13. If I'm going to buy a book, I don't care so much whether it's up-to-date, but whether the analysis and ideas presented will stand up to scrutiny.

So, to sum up, 

Is this the best book on Scheveningen available in English right now?

I do play 2...e6. In fact, I'm furious that a good book on the Sicilian covers my move order to reach the Scheveningen.! 

ErictheRed wrote on 09/20/12 at 15:23:06:


Okay, but what's philosophical about a specific variation in a sharp opening? I was talking about a concrete variation.

This really isn't a terribly sharp position anymore - black goes Ng8 quite a bit for instance! - and moreover it's one which has been studied in GM practice for quite a long time. 

As such their accumulated wisdom is much more likely to trump mild computer preferences. 

Not that I'd claim this book to automatically personify all of that Some of it I'm sure, but it's not meant as a thorough survey. A good database search/study will show you what tends to work for both sides here.

To be fair white probably does have a small plus in that position. 

Although if you're going to stop using openings because white has a small advantage in the critical lines after 12 moves you're really going to struggle

I like this book. Its a repertoire book. He recommends classical scheveningen (with -a6). He starts the book with a chapter on Kasparov playing the opening. He recommends h6 against Keres attack (although I prefer Nc6 which Kasparov and Nikitin gives an '!' in their book).
He explains strategy and ideas well in the book. Its easy to navigate in the book and find what you want.
Scheveningen is a fantastic sicilian opening to study and play. For me its the "metropol" of all sicilians. Not so extremely theoretical as the Najdorf. A better practical choice where the slightest mistake wont cost you the game. And aslo against the anti-sicilians you have more options if you play 2...e6. (avoiding sicilian Moscow and get other options against the Closed sicilian and Grand Prix).

I give the book  out of 5

BobbyDigital80 wrote on 09/19/12 at 00:38:14:

In my humble experience an engine verdict after 12 moves (aside from sharp lines with a very early crisis) is completely irrelevant.