MNb wrote on 07/24/21 at 16:57:30:

That's your choice, but I would prefer to keep it here. I expect the discussion to turn more towards the Dragon and Marin's recommended lines now - I mean, how much more is there to say about him as a writer and theoretician in general?

(I even bought this Dragon database myself, but I don't know when I will find the time to look at it. I finally have some real OTB chess coming up again!)

Stigma wrote on 07/24/21 at 08:23:03:


You might be right. I'm not assuring what I am saying. I'm just saying what I think. I have different Marin's books and there is one with White for the English. I played his suggestion and I never got better in the position. Another suggestion looked interesting. But no clear opening advantage on that one either. I guess what Marin exposes is more of a playable position. But no deep analysis.
Unfortunately the complicated lines in the Dragon are very concrete. The ideas stay. But with no clear analysis you can not play it. One mistake is all it takes to go down.

Straggler wrote on 07/23/21 at 17:33:42:

I don't even look at Schiller's books. Guess why?

Straggler wrote on 07/23/21 at 08:37:26:


I did not say that I do not like Marin's explanations. I said that if there is little or no explanation at all maybe the GM didn't do a thorough investigation.

bragesjo wrote on 07/23/21 at 16:44:40:


“You can put lipstick on a Bogo-Indian but it's still a Bogo-Indian."
Vishy Anand   

-)

Yes Marin is good at expaining concepts and writing articles. I have most of hes none opening bases and several of hes opening bases. One can also not expect every line covered.

I will not post any games.

One side line in c4 b6 he wants to sacifice an exchange in a move. missing an  computers improvment later. I computer checked and played a normal move instead getting the better side of an easy draw.

One sideline in Nimzo Qc2 he suggested realy odd move missing a computer suggestion where both Stockfish 13 and Fat Fritz 2 thougt white is a pawn better material equal but black has problem the getting pieces out. I computer checked played a slight diversion and drawed.

Bogo Indian Nd2 he stopped writing in a sideline black gets tempo for attack where whites play is much faster evaluatiing as a pawn better for white. Stockfish 14 is a bit more optemistic for black than Stockfish 13 and Fat Fritz 2. I forgot to computer check the position before and it had not helped and I got worse lost 2 games in the same tournament.

But I think we should discuss Dragon and not Marin here.

The Dragon base is huge and I see no obvious mistakes. He appears to enter mainlines.

I have look at several variations hasy. It appers to be a very combatable recommendatios. In Soltis variation with direct Bh6 he goes for Bxh6 Qxh6 Rxc3 bxc3 Qc7. I thougt this was supposed to be good for white

bragesjo wrote on 07/23/21 at 10:51:58:


Please, don't tell me the other holes are in his French repertoire databases for Black. I had them, but did not checked them in detail with Stockfish. I intended to give then a chance (especially the Winawer lines).

I considered Marin a totally trustworthy author. I even considered buying his quality chess books on the Dutch (I assume there are more people checking lines in a book, btw).

thx to pointed this out to us