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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Taimanov specialists? (Read 6769 times)
Kerangali
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #26 - 03/15/23 at 08:12:51
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an ordinary chessplayer wrote on 11/01/21 at 02:19:10:
"QVC host Shawn Killinger and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi debate whether the Moon is a planet or a star."

That's an easy one: All planets are flat, and the Moon is obviously flat. Hence it's a planet.

Back on topic, there's also a Taimanov chessable course by Pentala Harikrishna. The Short & Sweet is not so short, and very sweet. As for physical books, the best combo may be Pavlidis (pure taimanov) and Semkov Taimanov/Scheveningen mix. Finally, if you can mix that with e.g. the Classical Sicilian, you won't lose because of your openings Smiley
  
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Kyuken
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #25 - 08/26/22 at 15:09:04
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katar wrote on 08/25/22 at 20:26:15:
Noteworthy that Miladinovic and Rublevsky both had abnormally narrow opening repertoires relative to their immense practical playing strength.  To me that is a credit to the Taimanov Sicilian as an economical option.


MVL, the Grunfeld and the Najdorf would like to have a word with you  Wink
  
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #24 - 08/25/22 at 20:26:15
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katar wrote on 10/29/21 at 17:20:14:
Igor Miladinovic is one

Sergei Rublevsky is another one.
Noteworthy that Miladinovic and Rublevsky both had abnormally narrow opening repertoires relative to their immense practical playing strength.  To me that is a credit to the Taimanov Sicilian as an economical option.
  

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Kerangali
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #23 - 08/25/22 at 10:24:12
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There are also books by Delchev & Semkov at chess-stars.
- The safest sicilian (2006 and 2nd edition 2008) is a foundational book for many taimanov players. Very practical format for OTB players. Strong insights by Delchev in pure taimanov lines (e.g. 8...Bb4 in the Be2/Be3 systems, ...Bc5 in the g3 line, Maroczy-like bind).
The Most Flexible Sicilian (2014) is an attempt by Delchev to mix the Kan and Taimanov in order to avoid annoying lines (e.g. 3rd rank setup). Tried it but the Kan proved to be more scary than the Taimanov for my taste  Undecided
- Attacking the flexible sicilian by Semkov & Kotronias (2017) promoted Qf3 systems unknown to Delchev and also seen in Shaw books Play 1.e4. Now Qf3 is a taimanov mainline
- The Taimanov-Scheveningen hybrid (2022), by Semkov alone, is an attempt to take the best of both systems: Taimanov move order to avoid Keres line and ...d6 (scheveningen) against Be2/Be3 lines, following up with quick Nxd4 and b5 against Qe1-Qg3 line. This is common practice among Taimanov players. Semkov himself often played the Scheveningen, so he likely kept taimanov parts from Delchev books and added in the Scheveningen parts.

Moreover, there is and extensive book by GM Pavlidis at QualityChess called The Sicilian Taimanov, GM Repertoire (2019). I browsed the book and it looks very interesting! Pavlidis seemingly started with The Safest Sicilian and expanded it with the sam enthusiasm as Delchev. The book is Taimanov lines only, not too big (for QC) and with great explanations. I think its a must-read for modern Taimanov players.

So, if the OP wants to start playing the Taimanov, I suggest the Safest Sicilian (despite its age) or the Pavlidis book which is a thicker and modern version of Safest Sicilian. Hope other guys will share their views.
  
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bragesjo
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #22 - 08/24/22 at 19:15:52
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Bought Davies book and after quick look at English attack chapter and a quick look at g3 chapter (in my view the most critical lines) I can conclude that computers dont like blacks position, gives white pawn better material eqal after some computer improvments over books moves. But the book is hower still interesting so I will read it when I have time left.
  
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bragesjo
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #21 - 07/25/22 at 13:59:05
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About Nxc6, according to my memory,  two of the most recent white repertoar books (some years old now)," Attacking the flexibel Sicilian" and "Modernized Open Sicilian" thougt that black was fine after Nxc6, with Attacking flexibel gave some sort of improvents for black over exising theory. But they did not like the old Ne7 setup at all. I am however not saying its unplayable, most openings are playable in over the board games that the book is targeted for.

I dont have the book yet so I can not tell, its up to players to descide for themself. But it would realy be intesting to check out the Ne7 system, I have Taimanovs Winning with Sicilian and also Taimanovs selected games (or something similar title).

But by not looking on what existing books for both sides are recommending its easy to miss better moves or new ideas for both sides. The better books I have are often computer checked with modern engines and often mentions what other books gave and either shows why they disagree with older evaluation or shows some improvents over the older lines or else quetes book and agree on evaluation.

About Correspondence Chess no books, discs or bases can be trusted. One must analyse everything oneself before playing the opening. Books can quate drawn human games between Elo 2700 players that computer easy can show loses by force already in the opening.
  
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #20 - 07/20/22 at 19:20:47
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Just out of curiosity, I did a quick count of the age of the complete games in the Davies book. There are 21 from the 2010s, 25 from the 2000s, 22 from the 1990s, and 15 from the 1980s or earlier (of which 8 are by Taimanov himself).

As is usually the case with books in the 'complete games' format (as opposed to 'trees of variations'), the games have been chosen for their instructive value rather than because they necessarily represent best play throughout. The notes to several of the older complete games refer to more recent games for improvements (or just playable alternatives).

Yes, the bibliography is pretty scant. However the main line Davies proposes in this book has never been particularly popular: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 (rather than 5...Qc7), to be followed up where possible with ...Ng8-e7 (rather than ...Ng8-f6) as Taimanov originally played it. I haven't ever seen this system covered from Black's perspective, and if Davies declines to include references to books from White's perspective which may only make brief reference to this system, that's his prerogative.

Yes again, the engines Davies says he has used aren't up to date. The question is, how much does this matter? They are plenty strong enough to identify important tactical opportunities or errors. If you are a titled OTB player or a correspondence player, you would need to do your own work with pretty much any book, not just a book such as this one which is squarely aimed at a mainstream audience.

Personally I've always played the more popular move order with 5...Qc7, as I could never get comfortable with Black's chances after 5...a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3. Davies may change my mind, when I find the time to look at this chapter properly. Or he may not. But the book is full of ideas and possibilities curated by a thoughtful author, and I'd rather have that than an analysis dump from a 3400-rated engine any day.
  
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #19 - 07/20/22 at 16:34:50
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The Amazon "Look Inside" for Kindle shows the bibliography:

Winning with the Sicilian by Taimanov 1991 - the only book cited

Deep Fritz 13 and SF 14

Databases are: Chess Informant, Chess Tempo, and Megabase 2014.


New in Chess has perhaps a better sample than Amazon here:

https://www.newinchess.com/opening-repertoire-the-sicilian-taimanov

It does list several games from the 2000's, but most appear to be 70's and 80's from what I can tell. So, your remarks are well worth considering.

  
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #18 - 07/20/22 at 10:06:34
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About Davies book. I dont have it or has read it but hes recent Nimzo/Queens Idian book used mainly litteratur from 1970s and engine used was a completly outdated Fritz version and database was Chess Tempo and I dont think it got good reviews. I assume its the same case here but samplle pdf does not show litteratur list.
  
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cathexis
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #17 - 07/19/22 at 11:39:49
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Staying on-topic,

As of last month, June 2022, Nigil Davies has a new book on it  from Everyman that is on Amazon now:

https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Repertoire-Sicilian-Nigel-Davies/dp/1781946027/re...

It has one poor 2-star rating, but no written reviews as of yet. Viewing the sample says paperback not yet available, but Prime says I could have it in paperback tomorrow. 272 pages.

Hope this helps,

Cathexis
  
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #16 - 07/19/22 at 08:08:19
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Richard Rapport and Giri have played it recently.
  

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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #15 - 11/01/21 at 04:19:11
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Let’s stick more closely to chess theory shall we? Specifically Taimanov.

Peace and happiness to all,
B
  
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an ordinary chessplayer
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #14 - 11/01/21 at 02:19:10
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"QVC host Shawn Killinger and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi debate whether the Moon is a planet or a star."

If someone on instagram can be a star, then why not the Moon? And if the Moon can be a star, then surely the Earth can also be a star? If that's the case, then the Moon can be both a star *and* a planet. Just like the Earth, come to think of it. I'm sure their moms will be pleased.

P.S. I didn't watch the video. Was it good?
  
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cathexis
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #13 - 10/31/21 at 18:36:29
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Seriously,

Imagine you're deep in a chess calculation during a rated game (so you have only you own internal resources to rely on) and you have to try tuning this background noise out at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQKgpm1SJmQ

Shoot me.
  
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an ordinary chessplayer
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Re: Taimanov specialists?
Reply #12 - 10/31/21 at 15:13:18
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RE QVC: One Saturday night at a chess tournament the hotel booked a magic show in the adjacent function room. Actually we were only separated by one of those accordion dividers. That seemed to be a good show, with music, an emcee, and plenty of laughter from the audience. The chess players were giving each other looks, but I had a prepared variation in my bag -- a pair of foam earplugs.
  
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