Anders wrote on 11/13/15 at 15:55:02:


Thanks! I ordered it

ruzomberok wrote on 11/12/15 at 23:53:50:


Dear Martin,

When I firstly recognized that you are the author of upcoming 1... e5 book I was very suspicious at first 

I thought that you're not on the same level as Bologan or Quality Chess authors, on the grounds that you work alone without strong helpers, but purely relying on engines and previously published literature on Open games 

But after reading an excerpt of your book, most importantly the intro by GM Grandelius, I immediately change my prejudice about your book. I saw that you're aspiring player with 2 IM norms, and currently being Elo 2358.

What we expect, and what we get from you, is a diligent repertoire for Black!

You're not on par with GM Bologan whose excellent two books I have (Bologan’s Ruy Lopez for Black and Bologan's Black Weapons in the Open Games), but honestly this time I don't care so much because I have faith in you.

I'll order my copy of your book in few weeks 

I wish you all best 

Thanks for your feedback!

Regarding the 6.Nc3 d6 7.a4/a3 Be6-variation, I agree that I could've clarified it more. I don't, however, believe it's very logical to take on e6 since the knight on c3 would be misplaced, but I could have made that clearer.

I can't do much about any eventual forced draws After all, it's a book for Black.

I thought a lot about whether I should go for the Complete Game-format, but I'm quite happy I did. The downside is, like you say, that sometimes the most critical variations is analyzed in the notes instead of the main lines, but I also thought it was quite important in many cases to show entire games. As you probably noted, after the opening phase my comments are very brief during the rest of the game.

Regarding the single columns, I have absolutely no idea

Tauromachie wrote on 11/11/15 at 18:28:09:


Thanks for the review. Looks like it will be nice to have more options 

kylemeister wrote on 11/11/15 at 19:23:56:


My fault. It is actually given as 8..Nd5!

Received my copy yesterday Some remarks after brief reading:
(If i am giving to many secrets away feel free to delete this post!)

First of all i have to say that i really like Mr.Lokanders explanations about how he came to prefer certain lines or structures over (sometimes by theory more established) others.
For example in the "quiet two knights" (4.d3) he prefers to avoid the exchange ..Be6 Bxe6 fxe6 in general. While other sources claim this exchange and the arising pawn structure to be completely unproblematic for black (based on the potential counterplay along the f-file) i agree with the author. Just not my cup of tea.

I was also pretty stunned to see the refinement in the 6.Bb3 line (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Bb3) with 6..d6 7.c3 d5!?. A typical nice creative idea from GM Romanishin which was completely new to me. The point is to get an improved version of the known Marshall-Gambit idea with Re1 Bg4 h3 Bh5 g4 etc., arguing that the extra move 7.c3 is not at all useful for white because it weakens the d3-pawn and - even more important - stops the knight heading to c3. I used to play it the bold way with 6..d5 (mainly in Blitz with i have to say decent results but it really seems a bit shaky objectively) but i guess i will switch to 6..d6! Nice work!

The chapter on the "pure" 2 knights seems pretty decent too.
As I play the Ulvestad-Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.ex b5!?) - which Mr.Lokander dismisses as beeing better for white (  ) - i am not booked up enough to dare to say something about his choices. What i found good however was that he is giving quite a lot of original analyses, not just "copying" the recommendations of Bologan's but going his own way.
Ie. 8.Bd3 Nd5!? (8..Ng4 Bologan) and 8.Qf3 Rb8 (8..Be7 Bologan). He is also giving 6..Bd7!? as an underestimated back-up line. All in all pretty nice variety !

Chapter 3 is about the remaining 2 Knights (in particular 4.d4 of course). In the line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd 5.0-0 he is going for the theoretical equalizer 5..Nxe4 (I would have loved to see 5..Bc5 recommended which is sharper as it leads to the Max-Lange Attack but well.. You can't have it all ) 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 .. Bologan prefers the "old" and reliable 8..Qa5 whereas Lokander goes for the arguably sharper 8..Qh5 ( also making a point for 8..Qd7 btw) which is also my prefered choice. 9.Nxe4 Be6 10.Bg5

- 10.Neg5 0-0-0 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Rxe6 Bd6 with a nice kindside initiative is rightly better for black.
But what about 12.Bg5 ?, an old idea of FM Stefan Buecker which has been discussed years ago at this forum. The idea is 12..Re8 13.Re4!? and starting a kindside offensive with moves like a3,b4 and pressurizing the e5/d4 pawns. This plan works out pretty nicely in blitz games but of course it is some kind of backwater theory so i am not complaining that it is not included in the book. Don't get me wrong

It's not easy at all to get some excitement going in the 5.0-0 line but the author finds a nice way of unbalancing in recommending 10..Bd6 (I prefered 10..Bb4 but if white finds 11.Nxd4 the game gets pretty technical). No boring stuff, that's for sure.

Next the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5). Once again Mr.Lokander points out why he dislikes certain lines for black. The established mainline with 5..d5 is one of them as - while beeing equal of course - it gives white an easy attacking plan on the kingside. Instead he opts for the enterprising 5..Ng4!?, which is even nowadays quite underestimated. Maybe this book will change that ?
As far as i can tell the analyses is pretty good, i like it. At one point i have to disagree with Mr Lokander though.. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Ng4!? 6.0-0 Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.cxd6 cxd6
"[..]Neither have i found it mentioned in any books or analysis, so for once I can credit this idea to myself[..]"
I'm sorry to curb your enthusiam ( i really am ), but as far as I know this idea was pointed out earlier by James Schuyler in his book "The dark knight system". It's not a e5-Repertoire book, as it covers the scotch gambit via transposition (1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3). Maybe that is the reason it was not on your radar ?

Against the Scotch 4..Nf6 is recommended. In the introduction you said you first wanted to recommend 4..Bb4+!?, a line I play myself. May i ask what line did put you off of this idea ?

Would have been really amazing to see this line in a repertoire book as it is both theoretical fresh with a huge room for new ideas and creativity and tricky to handle for the opponent because it gets white out of his comfort zone. 

His recommendations against the Scotch 4 Knights / Spanish 4 Knights are pretty unique and i especially enjoyed the chapter about 4..Bc5 in the Sp. 4 Knights, very good stuff !

Now to arguably the most controversial choice in the entire book.. Kudos to you for going the greedy way against the Danish gambit !
It is really the first time I see this recommended in a repertoire book for the open games. All sources i know are showing the easy way of equality with 3..d5!. ..But there is not much scope for outplaying the opponent.
I don't have a clue about the Danish Gambit Acc. from the white perspective to be honest so my choice of 3..d5 (Or 3..Ne7 in a "must win situation") was born out of pragmaticism.
I am in general a great believer in dynamic potential but your antidote seems both just so easy to learn and sound that i will maybe change (after some more investigation) from 3..d5 to 3..dxc3!

To wrap-up ( and i did not even scratched the surface of the book) a nice work by Mr. Lokander for everyone who is looking for a somewhat more enterprising way of playing 1.e4 e5

All in all, it may be better to wait for the book to be available. Then the lines can be discussed and dissected.
I look forward to getting my hands on Mr Lokander's book and having a wee look myself....

Best,
B