I really like this review.   It made me want to go out to get the book and think about the explanations and lines he gives vs. Sabotage the Gruenfeld, which I like a lot.

13 Bxf6 I assume; Sadler had previously tried 13 h5 back in 1994 it looks like.

To whet the appetite, I have a wonderful recent game to share.  It's Matthew Sadler (who else?) with a great miniature over a young International Master:



Had this game been played just a month before, it would have found a place in the book!  The attacking plan is certainly analyzed, a refinement over some older games (most of them Sadler's) from the 90s. 

I'm not sure how long Sadler sat on his improvement before having a chance to play it, but I discovered the idea on my own about a decade ago.  Since I've taken more than five years off of over-the-board play now, I haven't had a chance to play it outside of blitz yet, either.  It's just one example of the very many improvements over accepted, published theory that can be found in the book.

Happy King's Indian slaying!

Hi Eric,

Interesting the file is gone but basically I was wondering if  lines where Black avoids a ill-timed h6 move are covered such as.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 o-o 6 Bg5 Nc6 7 Nge2 Re8 ?

Cheers, AJ

I looked at this correspondence game last night, I wonder if this is the main line game for White? I do like the ease in which White gains the advantage if Black falters in the "The Steiner Attack". Your book is on the Christmas list ... although I might cheer for the Black pieces more

Cheers, AJ

Scarblac wrote on 11/22/17 at 22:10:13:


Unfortunately I don't know, sorry.  I can't imagine that it would be too much longer.

Got my copy too, haven’t been this excited for a book since, hmm, Harry Potter? Well worth the wait indeed! Haven't studied it in depth yet, mostly been reading it on the way to work or home (usually being the only one not glued to a phone…)

What I like best about the book is the clear explanation of the ideas, and the 'personal feel'. You can tell the author really loves the game, and especially the Bg5 line. It's nice to read how he arrived at certain moves and recommendations, what games influenced that decision etc. Also usefull to see his own efforts, some very sweet and instructive games by the man himself are included.

So I'm really enjoying it, and last night I played my first official (club) game with it. I already managed to apply some (very basic) ideas I got from just browsing the book and scored an easy victory. Quite a one-sided game but I'll share it anyway:

1. d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 e5 6.Nge2 0-0 7.Bg5 With trembling fingers, well, there it goes all the way to g5, that felt fresh!

…h6 8.Be3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10. Qd2 Nbd7 The book warned me about Bxh6? Nxe4! tricks so…

11.0-0-0 Kh7 Another thing I learned is that including h6 Be3 Kh7 usually doesn’t improve the black kingside at all. At my modest level I can expect that sometimes, which will be fun. The Saemisch can make for nice, long maneuvering games, but sometimes it’s just old school slaying the dragon. Meanwhile, black never came close to countering (or even finishing his development.)

12.g4 c6 13. g5 and here I could smoothly complete the attack and be home in time to watch The walking dead.

…Ng8 14.gxh6 Nxh6 15.h4 Nf6 16.h5 Nxh5 17.Bd3 Qa5 18.Rdg1 Qc5 19.Nde2 Qa5 20.Rg5 Re5 21.Rg2 Re7 22.Rgh2 Ng8 23.Rxh5+ gxh5 24.e5+ 

After all the fine Kings Indian books written for black in the past years I feel the tide has turned I have tons of studying to do with the book, but I already feel comfortable with the various setups and ideas I saw. Warmly recommended!

I've got my copy and I think it's terrific. Nobody who plays the King's Indian or the Modern Benoni as Black is allowed to buy a copy, as I really need to improve my stats with the White pieces. Congratulations to ErictheRed on a fine piece of work.