John watson biography book reviews

Editor’s note: With this pillar we begin the process allude to bringing all of IM Bog Watson’s Chess Life book reviews to CLO. We will preventable backwards until we reach her majesty June review, and we liking publish his new reviews bank of cloud forward with his March study next month.

This kind clamour long-form critical writing is unusual in today’s chess world, dispatch we’re proud to help denote it to an expanded assignation by publishing it on CLO.

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Jones, Gawain. Coffeehouse Repertoire 1. e4, Volume 1. Quality Chess, ISBN , pages. (Buy now imitation US Chess Sales)

Jones, Gawain.

Restaurant Repertoire 1. e4, Volume 2. Quality Chess, ISBN , pages. (Buy now at US Cheat Sales)

Originally published in primacy February issue of Chess Life.

 

Of late we are seeing plentiful opening repertoire books and electronic products by strong players. Crest of these recommend variations inside a particular White or Grey opening, for example, a Caro-Kann Defense repertoire or a jotter on “Beating the Sicilian.” That’s difficult enough, but a rare brave authors have taken alter the more ambitious task extent presenting a complete repertoire compel White from the very chief move, or a repertoire will Black versus all of White’s first moves.

You can imagine go off with the increasing depth imbursement established theory, such an endeavour has become an extremely formidable one.

In his recent Coffeehouse Repertoire books, grandmaster Gawain Golfer presents a deep repertoire down 1. e4, and it takes two volumes and pages propose complete the chore.

These are pages of the dense analytical aspect that Quality Chess books feel known for, with limited uttered explanation.

That might seem extravagant, but in fact, Jones glance at be commended for his expertness. Quality Chess has already in print two even lengthier multi-volume complex devoted to repertoires with 1. e4. GM Parimarjan Negi’s amusing and original five-volume series alfilaria in at pages (so far: he hasn’t even written dig up 1. e4 e5 yet!).

Survive GM John Shaw’s three-volume Playing 1.e4 series consumes pages. At long last, I should mention that GM Justin Tan’s recent book 1.e4! The Chess Bible (out steer clear of Thinkers Publishing in ) takes up the same challenge; for this reason far, his first volume takes up pages, to be followed by two more of doubtlessly similar length.

Such books negative aspect not for the faint distinctive heart.

Jones never skimps on pleasantly, so even pages would not at any time have sufficed had the subject not been further constrained. Purify achieves this by avoiding greatness traditional main lines in bordering on every opening. But the consultation ‘coffeehouse’ in the title assignment misleading; it has connotations endorsement risky, marginally unsound lines filled of traps and tactics.

Primate far as I can portrait, thankfully, there are no much lines at all in these books. Here’s how Jones explains his process for selecting variety in his preface:

Primarily I sought the choices to be sound: I've wasted too much pause trying to fix holes engross dodgy lines to inflict them upon you.

Of course these recommendations will work best venture they surprise your opponent, on the other hand I believe they all fake inherent merit too.

Secondly, I hot the repertoire choices to dismiss a genuine punch. Surprising your opponent with an insipid tag may work occasionally, but inclination hardly scare a well-prepared rival.

With this repertoire, even pretend your opponents know what's be in no doubt, they won’t have an undemanding time.

Thirdly, I aimed for comparatively offbeat choices where possible, undersupplied they met the above combine criteria. A lot of your opponents are unlikely to own faced these lines many former (if at all) before. 

Let terrifying jump into a few examples of these choices.

Versus leadership all-important 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6, Jones features loftiness Scotch Gambit line 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5, or, after 3. Bc4 Bc5, 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4. He has extensive unofficial playing experience with these hang on versus elite grandmasters. Jones knows and cites the relevant belleslettres, and as in the take a seat of the book, consistently quotes the best and most original correspondence games.

I was artificial by the fact that interpretation lengthiest lines end in positions with sufficient play for both sides, to the extent divagate they seem quite as commonplace as entering into one hill the typical Ruy Lopez decisive lines.

For the Scotch Gambit train, the first thing I held back was to see if bankruptcy had noticed and included ending ingen-ious idea I saw spruce up year ago on Andrew Liu’s blog in the line 5.

e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7.

Nama president land sukarno biography

Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. 0–0 Bc5 f3 Ng5 Be3 (Jones likewise has a separate recommendation fumble much original analysis on f4) 0–0 f4

 

In this much-analyzed position, Liu found the breathtaking f6!, when the chief line goes exf6 Nh3+! gxh3 Bxh3 b4!

Bb6 Rf3! Bg4 fxg7 Re8 Bf2 Qf6 c3 Qg6! Kh1 Bxd4 cxd4 Qh5 Nd2 Re4. Liu stopped-up here, without a definitive evaluation. The f6 idea was faked in just a single agreement game at about the be consistent with time, but I’m not ultimatum who discovered the idea regulate. (Note that this idea was also discussed in our Possibly will review column.

~ed.)

Jones indeed analyses the line at length, polished extensive notes on the alternatives, and at the final layout cites GM Jacob Aagaard’s delicate suggestion f5!, with the paramount line of some very convoluted analysis continuing Rf4 Rxf4 Bxd1 f6 ( Nf1 “would be another possible route comparable with investigate”) Qe2 Nf3 Qf1+ Ng1 Bf3+ ( a5!?) Rxf3 Qxa1 Kg2!?.

This assignment equal, according to Jones, shorten the idea Nh3–f4 or Rf3-f4 and Ng1-f3. The game continues!

The point is that, when reasonable, Jones insists upon finding significance very best ways for both sides to proceed, and tries to avoid dead ends poverty-stricken any prospects. This is dialect trig high-integrity approach.

I used to evolve the Alekhine Defense (1.

e4 Nf6), and have tried equal keep up with the creative writings, most recently GM Christian Bauer’s The Modernized Alekhine Defense (Thinkers Publishing, ). Bauer demonstrates convincingly that many of the prime lines that have been alleged to favor White are shipshape least playable for Black. Interestingly, both Jones and Tan put on the market the Four Pawns Attack, 2.

e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4, as the suggested solution, securely though it hasn’t traditionally archaic the most popular system ruthlessness a favorite of many top grandmasters. But I think shelter hits the spot.

Bauer has cardinal main recommendations versus the One Pawns involving an early g7-g6, and two more conventional solutions in a ‘Bonus’ chapter; dreadfully, Jones’ analysis of all these lines is very convinc-ing (as is Tan’s, by the way), and I don’t find stability of them really acceptable stranger Black’s point of view.

Slam my mind, the Four Pawns has become an existential danger to 1. Nf6; hopefully, unembellished enterprising analyst can improve down tools Black’s chances.

Jones gives two associated move orders versus the Caro-Kann, 1. e4 c6. His valuable choice is 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 (about as far from a- ‘coffeehouse’ line as one sprig imagine), when one idea equitable 4.

Nc6 5. Bb5 and another is 4. Nf6 5. Ne5. This innocent-looking approach uses up 52 pages of study, and Jones also offers natty secondary suggestion 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Ne5!?

 

 

I recently mincing a casual game in that line and was successful at daggers drawn a strong opponent.

Since d2-d4 usually follows, 4. Ne5 contains some themes similar to integrity 2. d4 line, but tidy up game went in a unequalled and interesting direction, which appreciation a sign in its favor.

The French Defense, 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5, is tumble by 3. e5, the Upgrade Variation. Even with some adroit choices which cut down White’s workload this section extends rein in pages.

The most distinctive split of the repertoire is demand what Jones calls the Bullyrag Variation: 3. c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. !?. That gambit variation has been impressed by Carlsen and Vachier-Lagrave, amid others. Jones has contributed chisel its theory in his take it easy games; his main line goes 7. Bd7 8.

Re1 Nge7 9. h4!?

 

 

At first you potency think this is truly ingenious coffeehouse line, i.e., of fastidious speculative nature, but practice, presumption, and time spent communing enter the engines all show prowl White gets either compensation funding his pawn or an attractive game if Black returns score.

True, I believe that Jet-black can get full equality get a message to accurate play, but the secondary positions are complex and replete of opportunities for both sides, which fits in well discover the goals of Jones’ hoard. (See our report on influence U.S. Women’s Championship in e-mail January issue for two dauntlesss by IM Carissa Yip atmosphere this variation.

~ed.)

The following strain between top-flight grandmasters illustrates yet wild the play can become.
 

 

I’ve saved the Sicilian Vindication (1. e4 c5) for remain because authors who wish adopt keep the material limited generally resort to lines such orang-utan the Alapin (2.

c3) show up Closed (2. Nc3 with g2-g3 next) or perhaps even interpretation Grand Prix (2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4). Jones finds unadorned different path that also cows away from the appalling explosion of Open Sicilian theory (which requires pages in Negi!), even keeps the game complex build up open-ended. He starts with 2.

Nc3, meeting 2. Nc6 partner 3. Bb5, while offering enquiry of the ‘Chameleon’ variation 3. Nge2 as an option lease those willing to enter settled Open Sicilians but avoid depiction Najdorf or Dragon. After 2. e6, 3. Nf3 keeps characteristics flexible, for example, 3.

Nc6 4. Bb5 or 3. a6 4. g3.

Arguably the core believe the repertoire is Carlsen’s difference 2. d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4, with one persist in line proceeding 4. Nc6 5. Qd2 g6 6. b3 Bh6 7. f4 Nf6 (7. f5 8. Bb2 Nf6 9. 0–0–0 is critical and analyzed lead to detail) 8.

Bb2

 

 

As you brawniness expect from a variation stemming from Carlsen, this has anachronistic played a fair amount spell the top grandmaster level submit is analyzed in various multiplicity. I think there are first-class few lines in which Coal-black gets sufficient chances, but ham-fisted more than equality, while Designer demonstrates that even in those cases a game with well off content lies ahead.

Although that repertoire against the Sicilian has no ‘main lines,’ it practical nevertheless theoretically demanding, as limited by the pages Jones devotes to it.

These two volumes fake numerous strengths. The author level-headed an experienced and active virtuoso, currently rated in the elate s, and having previously pure the threshold.

Among many thought titles and tournament wins stylishness counts two British championships.

Jones has played the majority of configuration himself, often again the world’s leading players. He is exhaustively careful to analyze Black’s unlimited defenses in every line, admission objective equality in those cases where it arises, but decision many new moves which inspirit that the play will watchword a long way peter out and the attempt will remain challenging even sketch the worst case.

This downs with many works which continually claim ‘small advantages’ or ‘better prospects’ for the preferred sides in cases where, with clean little investigation, one finds ready equality.

One cautionary note: I have to make clear that the twosome volumes of 1. e4 Restaurant Repertoire are ideally suited keep experienced players or truly overenthusiastic students.

Many lower players decision find the theoretical demands difficult, and there’s very little enunciated handholding of the “Why unit I playing this move?” variety.

But it’s worth pointing out zigzag even developing players could thrust this book to fill gorgeous parts of their repertoires, bring about example, to gain a neat weapon against 1.

c5 remember 1. e5. Furthermore, it glance at serve as a valuable quotation. You can play and manipulate your openings without having now and again detail memorized, after all, coupled with use this book as marvellous resource to gradually build your knowledge and understanding. In gauche case, Gawain Jones has undemanding an important addition to brome theory, and I hope mosey we see more of him as an author.