| Two reviews by IM John Donaldson The Bishop's Opening Explained ( Batsford - www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk) 2004, 160 pages, figurine algebraic, paperback, $21.95) by English IM Gary Lane is a completely different book from the authors earlier work Winning with Bishop's Opening (1993) and covers much more than the title implies. Starting with the sequence 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Lane analyses pure lines of the Bishops's opening ( for example the Urusoff Gambit 2...Nf6 3.d4), but also covers the Vienna (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Bc4 where he takes a detailed look at the incredible complications after 3...Nxe4), the Evans Gambit and Two Knight's Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 and 3...Nf6). Against the latter he likes 4.d3(Closed Giuoco Piano) which he also proposes after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 (as well as 3.d4). Even the King's Gambit Declined starting position 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d3 Bc5 5.f4 d6 6.Nf3), which can be reached from several move orders, gets an examination. The Bishop's Opening Explained presents the theory of most of the Open Games (1.e4 e5) through the use of 65 annotated model games. The level of the theoretical discussion is probably not what specialists in the respective openings that are covered might like, but players from 1600 up to 2400 it should be fine. Lane is a longtime practioner of 2.Bc4 and is well-versed on the ins and outs of this opening. If you have an interest in a non-Ruy Lopez answer to 1.e4 e5, and don't play the King's Gambit or Scotch, this is the book for you. The Controversial Saemisch King's Indian (Batsford - www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk) 2004, 224pages, figurine algebraic, paperback, $22.95) by GM Chris Ward, is the second tremendous book on this variation, by an Englishmen following Joe Gallagher's work from almost ten years ago. Ward, who has been a 1.d4 player since his youth, has used the Saemisch (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3) throughout his career and his experience shows as original ideas abound. Ward not only looks at all major answers to the Saemisch in 35 deeply annotated model games, he even considers 1...d6 (2.e4 Nf6 3.f3!?). The Controversial Saemisch King's Indian is not a pure theoretical work. This book is distinctly written from White's point of you (where Gallagher was writing more for Black), but Ward manages to maintain his objectivity. Like his books on the Dragon, the Chess Challenge series and work for Chesspublishing.com, the English GM does an excellent job of communicating with his readers, making a tough subject much more accessible. Readers from 1800 to Grandmaster will find the Controversial Saemisch King's Indian interesting reading. If you play the Saemisch you must have this book. |