i've just got both Svetushkin and Kaufman on 3. f3 and spent an evening going through some lines that I am familiar with.   

If you had to choose between one of them, I think Svetushkin is the preferable book notwithstanding that Kaufman is the later one. Kaufman gives some improvements on Svetushkin in a few places but I prefer Svetushkin's explanations and presentation. Of course if you are a chesspubber that means you are serious about theory so you really should get both...

Glenn Snow wrote on 08/17/13 at 20:11:50:


I am curious if anyone has purchased both the Svetushkin and Kaufman f3 Grunfeld books and would be willing to offer an opinion regarding the relative merits of the two books?

It seems Kaufman is preparing to "Sabotage the Grunfeld: A cutting-edge repertoire for White based on 3.f3", against his recommendation for Black in his repertoire book.

Asides from glaring holes - which there probably won't be any of but worth checking for - the thing which probably matters most is how you feel about playing those positions.

What'll be (mostly ) happening in your games is a couple of people who've not looked at the lines recently but have some idea about the overall set up/aims etc trying to work things out.

Even if you can remember everything it's almost certain that your opponents won't, and with them having white whatever non critical line they play won't be awful.
(The book will of course have small holes/errors as everything ever published does )

So do you think you'd be happy doing that in these positions?

Hi Everyone,

I just purchased the Kaufman Repertoire, and I noticed that the coverage of the Grunfeld is not as long as I thought it would be. Has anyone reviewed his material? Are there big holes in his rep? Just an FYI, I am 2026 USCF trying to get to 2250 USCF.

Thanks