GEORGIEV - Squeezing the Gambits: Benko, Budapest, Albin & Blumenfeld

Et pour le même prix (ah non, moins cher en fait), une deuxième ouverture molle Ceci dit, l'Attaque Torre est un début parfaitement respectable qui a été employé par plein de grands joueurs (mais seulement de temps en temps) : c'est juste son appellation d'attaque qui me paraît sujette à caution Quoi qu'il en soit, si vous voulez l'essayer avec les blancs ou vous en prémunir avec les noirs, voilà de quoi faire - pas à hésiter, on n'aura sans doute rien d'autre sur le sujet avant longtemps.

Most chess openings have been around for centuries; the first book on the Ruy Lopez was written in 1561. Not so the Jobava System. This is a thoroughly modern opening that has only achieved prominence in the last decade or so. It is named after the Georgian chess visionary Baadur Jobava, a highly imaginative and creative grandmaster. The Jobava System is based around the opening moves 1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Bf4. For many years this was considered to be a quiet and unassuming backwater of chess theory. No longer!

Thanks to the efforts of Jobava and others this system has been honed into a fierce attacking weapon. As this opening is so new the correct defensive methods are not well understood. This makes the system extremely dynamic and dangerous.

In this book, Simon Williams (the Ginger GM) delves deep into the Jobava and offers up a complete repertoire based on this exciting new system. The advantages are clear:

– There is very little existing theory

– Black cannot play safely on “auto-pilot”

– It is fresh and it’s fun!

Quésaco ? En fait, un vademecum anti-calembredaines pour joueurs de pion-dame - ou si l'on préfère un répertoire prêt à l'emploi dirigé contre toutes les défenses marginales que quelques maniaques s'obstinent à envoyer dans les pattes du joueur sérieux qui a révisé la théorie approuvée par les champions. On retrouve donc ici des gambits exotiques, les variantes latérales du Gambit-dame (Albin, Balte), des cochonneries à base de c5, le Tango ou encore le Budapest... Utile, forcément.

OUT OF STOCK

Nikola Sedlak is a renowned chess player known for his expertise in the London System. He is a grandmaster from Serbia who has been considered one of the strongest players in the country for many years. Sedlak is also a well-known chess trainer and author, who wrote several books on the London System and other chess openings.

In front of you is his latest masterpiece on the London System. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of the London System and provides a detailed analysis of the various lines and variations that may arise from this opening. We believe that Sedlak’s book is a must-have for any chess player who wants to improve his understanding and expertise in the London System.

One of the key assets of Sedlak’s book is the depth of analysis. Sedlak provides an in-depth look at the theoretical foundations of the London System, as well as the key strategic and tactical ideas of the opening. It also covers a wide range of possible variations, giving readers a thorough understanding of the different options that are available to them. Another important aspect of Sedlak’s book is the clarity of explanation. Sedlak’s writing is easy to understand and he provides clear examples to illustrate key ideas. His book is suitable for players of all levels, from beginners to experienced players looking to add the London System to their repertoire. 223 pages

Bizarrement, c'est (à ma connaissance) la première monographie intégralement consacrée à la variante Ragozin du GDR (qui, de nos jours, arrive généralement via l'ordre de coups 1.d4 Cf6 2.c4 e6 3.Cf3 d5 4.Cc3 Fb4). C'est copieux et solide, mais pas tout à fait complet : l'auteur a délibérément laissé de côté la variante de Vienne (5.Fg5 dxc4), trop complexe, recommandant aux noirs de botter en touche avec 5h6 Feignant, va !

Although known for a long time, the London started to catch up in popularity just in the last decade or so. I guess the reason for this is probably the desire of many players to focus more on the practical side of chess, with less use of engines and less memorization of long theoretical lines, and more about positional understanding of game. I must say, it received a huge boost not only in the number of games but also in a deeper understanding of the positions arising from the opening. In the past it was used from time to time, but only a few players employed it on a regular basis, such as grandmasters from former Yugoslavia, Milorad Knezevic and Vlado Kovacevic, and the English GM Tony Miles, who used it often.
Today, Kamsky is one of the players who uses it very often, and of course Magnus Carlsen, but we have many other grandmasters and non-grandmasters who now have it in their repertoire on a regular basis. I must say that it’s also important to emphasize the move orders of the line, and due to that we have an immense number of transpositions, which you don’t find so much in other openings.
My experience with the London is good and bad: after I lost a game to grandmaster Volkov in the Rilton Cup, I decided that such positions are not exactly my cup of tea, but in 2019 I picked it up again in one game in a World Senior tournament and produced a very good game. So, as in any opening, good and bad games can happen, but the London itself became a very important part of 1.d4 theory.
Milos Pavlovic, 2024  248 pages Hardcover