RdC wrote on 08/20/14 at 18:17:57:


Actually, the Chigorin player is almost always aware of the transposition (and further to Capablanca's 9...Qc4); it's rather White who is surprised by it, very often knowing nothing about sharp 1 e4 e5 variations. I've won quite a few games as Black from that position. White swaps queens off thinking the doubled c-pawns are a weakness, throws in a2-a3 which just drives the bishop where it wants to go (b6), and generally plays like a drain.

I agree with you, but it is another thing talking about humans playing over-the-board chess and another thing entirely to talk about an objective assesment of a theoretical position based on deep computer analysis.

"Probably" a refutation 

Obviously i have analysed quite deeply the position and that's why my opinion is so strong on this. I may be mistaken of course, but I think that Black has quite some big problems here! The line played in the game is not Black's best, but still a high recommendation by the engines (who realise that Black is in trouble when it is already late!  ).

First of all i never attacked Bologan's book. On the contrary. I don't like the structure of the book, but i guess that this is not the fault of Bologan's.

As for your other comment about me certainly never going to surpass Bologan (which is not far from the truth i'd say, and i mean it!) i can only provide as an evidence the following corr game:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bd2 g6 11. Ne4 O-O-O 12. a4 Ba6 13. Qf3 Re8 14. Bd3 Bxc4
15. O-O Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qxe5 17. Qa6+ Kb8 18. Bc3 Qxe4 19. Rfe1 Qxe1+ 20. Bxe1 Rg8 21. g3 Re6 22. Bc3 Bd6 23. a5 Nc8 24. Rd1 Ka8 25. Bd4 c5 26. Be3 Ne7 27.
Qc4 Nc6 28. a6 Ne5 29. Qc3 Rge8 30. Kg2 Nc6 31. Bxc5 Bxc5 32. Qxc5 Nb8 33. Ra1 Rc6 34. Qb5 Rb6 35. Qd5+ c6 36. Qxf7 Re2 37. b3 g5 38. Qh5 Rc2 39. Qxh7 Rc5 40.
Qg8 Rd5 41. h4 gxh4 42. g4 Rb4 43. Rf1 Ra5 44. f4 Ra3 45. Kh3 Rbxb3+ 46. Kxh4 Rh3+ 47. Kg5 Ra5+ 48. f5 Rb5 49. Kg6 Rg3 50. Rf4 Rd5 51. f6

1-0 Ntirlis- Lanin, ICCF 2014

You'll going to find this line analysed in page 222 of Bologan's book (so, before page 250 that you studied), but you won't find the very strong (probably a refutation of Black's play) 14.Bd3! mentioned at all! Luckily i didn't need to wait for Houdini version 100 to find this move! 

Ofcourse Bologan gives another line as well for Black, so no really big deal. This book is full of interesting chess.

Fllg wrote on 10/02/14 at 18:12:13:


No doubt about that!

Am i the only one that finds the whole presentation approach a bit.... let's say confusing?

najdorfslayer wrote on 09/26/14 at 16:07:06:



Interesting, I thought 5. ...Bc5 was inferior.

The book analysis are simple but clear, diagrams are often graphically annotated. Both things are big plus for the book, just like there quality of analysis and ideas somewhere up to 2300-2400.

However some things I really don't like:

- some lines [fox example - I am not sure, that Polerio gambit against KG is the simplest way how to play, Rosentreter’s Gambit,  systems against Vienna with g3 ang Glek based on very quick Nc6-d4, only very short article with line against 8.Bd3 in 2knights defence based on Stellwagen-L'Ami etc.] - but this is only personal preference

- there are too much names of manoeuvres (if I remember correctly, i.e.Staunton queen - Qd8-h4 etc) - its good idea to have some names for it, but when he repeated it on every page than this looks little bit disturbing...

- very often is mentioned second edition of book - please imagine - you just bough new book, but second edition will examine other lines, just these which you want to see...... isn't it crazy to read it?

- there are lot of errors in notation. I got even feeling, that book wasn't typed in any chess programs, because errors are practically everywhere - time to time you need little bit think about right move... I have never ever seen anything like this in any chess book.