| Dealing with d4 Deviations reviewed by IM John Donaldson It says something for the proliferation of chess books that recently two have hit the market aimed at those wanting good answers to non-Queen's Gambit 1.d4 openings like the Trompowsky, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer, London, Colle and other systems. Earlier this year we had James Rizzitano's How To Beat 1.d4 which divided its coverage about 2 to 1 between the Queen's Gambit Accepted and Queen Pawn openings. Now just out is Dealing with d4 Deviations ( 2005 Everyman Press; www.everymanchess.com , 144 pages, figurine algebraic, paperback, $23.95) by John Cox. The two books came out closely enough that neither author had access to the others material but interestingly there are almost no common lines, the only ones I spotted were the Pseudo-Trompowsky 1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 where both authors like 3...h6 3.Bh4 c6 and the London system where they are also in agreement about an early ...c5. Maybe that is not surprising since they are actually quite different. Rizzitano looks at Black's prospects exclusively after 1.d4 d5 whereas Cox also examines things after 1...Nf6 including both move order possibilities from Nimzio/Queen's Indian and Benoni move-orders. As Cox puts it the ...g6 setups have already been well-covered in Joe Gallagher's Beating the Anti-King's Indians. He now does the same for ...e6 move-orders. I found Dealing with d4 Deviations particularly good on the Trompowsky and the Hebden Torre (1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c3 - 3.Bg5 Ne4 is very nice for Black), two openings that are quite popular in England. Cox not only does a good job defusing them and the Torre proper (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5) but does it in such a way that the three treatments work transpositionally and in reaching similar position types. That's pretty much true for each of the lines he offers except perhaps against the Veresov (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5) where he likes the sharp 3...c5 with a reversed Chigorin's Defense. Unlike most other Everyman opening books this volume is not arranged around model games but is very much a move by move repertoire book. Cox gives the necessary analysis but also finds time to communicate the important ideas. When appropriate he will map out a schematic on how Black should finish his development, a feature that will no doubt be appreciated by newcomers to these systems. Dealing with d4 is an excellent book as is How To Beat 1.d4. The question is which one to get? I think the answer depends on what you play. If it's the QGA then Rizzitano's book is any easy choice. If you play Indian systems, but not the King's Indian or Grunfeld, then Cox is your man. What remains to be answered is your choice if you play double queen pawn but not the QGA. Here much might depend on whether you already have a fixed answer to the Veresov. Rizzitano likes 3...Nbd7 and Cox 3...c5 so if you already play either of these moves your choice is probably clear. If not do you like more aggressive play? Then 3...c5 and Cox's book is your choice. While those preferring a more solid approach might prefer 3...Nbd7 and Rizzitano. It pretty much comes down to a question of choice. |