tipau wrote on 06/18/14 at 22:34:35:
Viking wrote on 06/18/14 at 07:13:52:
Is the book written in the same format as eg the safest/sharpest sicilian books? I really like that way of organizing and studying the opening.
There's no quick rep/step-by-step sections, it's just theory then a couple of complete games each chapter. The translation's a bit weird in places too but I haven't come across anything I couldn't understand (or thought I understood anyway!). It's certainly not as good as other books on the Leningrad in terms of strategic explanations, more of a theory update.
I have recently received the book, and I agree that it is not as explanatory regarding strategic plans and motifs as, say, kindermann. I think that the main benefit is that the reader gets access to the recommendations and analysis of one of the main authorities on the subject. Malaniuk has in my view been the most important driver of the development of the theory in the Leningrad for a long time - both through his successes, and occasionally in his failures.
I have not yet evaluated all the recommendations (chances are I never will) but where I have done so I have been surprised by how well they seem to hold up. As an example the recommendation in the mainline after 7..Qe8 8.b3 e5 is not what has been generally thought best, but I happened to look at this line some time ago and all I can say is taht the analysis in the book is spot on. In some instances it improves on my findings, and nothing I found is missed. It is not often that a repertoire book has this level of quality.
It is true that the explanatory prose is not especially detailed and often reduced to a simple statement regarding each line, but I don't mind as long as the lines are good! This probably means that the book is less aimed at someone trying to pick up this opening from scratch, and more as a guideline for players who already have some experience.
Regarding the discussion on the line after 8.Re1 Qf7 9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 I had the impression that a quick Nc6 made this pertty harmless and that the threat came from 10.Ng5 - but I have not yet checked the books recommendation in this line.