I have had problems playing against the Vienna and often have chosen the exchange QGD instead. But I think it was mentioned at least in Pedersen and Burgess book on the Queens gambit by the Attacking Player from White's perspective (gave it away, can't check now).

Anyway, a book on it would be good, especially a complement to Barsky's book and also OP's Declining the QGD as well!

LostTactic wrote on 02/02/13 at 15:23:37:


There's a book by Graham Burgess from around 20 years ago that gives some coverage " Kings Indian for the Attacking Player".

Review at http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0713485663/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=U...

First published 1993 (Batsford) according to wikipedia

It would seem hard for 1. Nf3 to lead to the Argentinean ...

IMJohnCox wrote on 02/02/13 at 21:58:42:


Well as for such general works (and excluding things like NIC YB), I recall some stuff on the Vienna (at least in terms of MNb's definition, which is how I think of it) in Drazen Marovic's QG book of around 20 years ago. 

I agree as well that if one were looking for book ideas (which I'm not, more of a bar bet) the ordinary Old Indian could be a good suggestion. It's not something 2700 players go in for half as often as 4...dxc4, though. It's a curious thing; how some openings are played all the time at high levels and barely at all at lower levels.

Interesting question, and until the Barsky book there was nothing on the Ragozin either was there? Strange.

No, Barsky's book doesn't cover the Vienna. That variation must be the most poorly covered opening in the literature. And apart from the Semi-Tarrasch, the Tarrasch proper hasn't been covered comprehensively for decades either, even though it's been the subject of a few repertoire books. The same is true of English lines other than 1.c4 e5, 1.c4 c5 and 1.c4 b6 - there's been nothing there since Watson's books in the '80s.
Flear wrote a book on the Closed Ruy Lopez main lines not too long ago.

Steffen Pedersen did a good book on the Bogo some time back.  The Tartakower was covered by IM Cox himself, as well as by Janjgava and Konikowski.  The Vienna QGD is covered in general QGD books, but I can't recall a dedicated book on it.  Think its the winner.  

If looking for book ideas and not just settling a bar bet, the Old Indian could use a book.  The one just out featured e5-e4 and didn't cover the A55 lines.  There's an old Soltis pamphlet/book on it, but very dated now.  The Baltic too.  I have a small one by Soltis, another by SI editrice, and there's a chapter in Ward's Unusual QGD.  But nothing comprehensive (that also covers transpositions into the Slav).

I wouldn't mind a book dedicated to the QGD Exchange Variation.  There are chapters, of course, from both the White and Black side, and a ChessBase CD, but I'm not aware of a recent, comprehensive book.

The Bisguier/Chigorin Defense to the Ruy has been neglected (12..cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd7 a la Lasker-Lasker NY 1924). For that matter, so has the Breyer.  Kaufman covered it repertoire style, there's an old Blackstock effort, and an informant monograph, but no real book on it.  Shame too, since this could cover the Spassky, Fischer, Gligoric glory days and be a modern update.

Still waiting for a decent book on the Two Knights.  The Pinski and Beliavsky books didn't suffice.  Good treatment in Emms's old book, but repertoire style for Black.

The MacCutcheon is covered in many French books, but other than older ones -- Eade's "Remember," Harding and Lutes -- can't think of a dedicated volume.