bookReview39

Book Reviews by John Donaldson : Two More from Gambit

Back when I was in high school (1975) I played 2.c3 versus the Sicilian to sidestep having to learn the Open Variations. It seemed too much work to a Class A player (1900) to have to know what to do against the Najdorf, Dragon, Taimanov, etc. I could never have imagined at the time that the day might arrive where whole books would be written about the Alapin (2.c3) Sicilian. The latest offering on the subject by Gambit Publications (http://www.gambitbooks.com) shows just how far things have progressed.

Play the 2 c3 Sicilian (2002, 192 pages, paperback, figurine algebraic, $21.95) by Eduardas Rozentalis and Andrew Harley is one-stop shopping for those looking for a line against the Sicilian and a good example of how quickly theory is developing in this variation. Only three years ago Joe Gallagher published a very good book on the same subject but things have changed substantially in the 2�d5 lines with �Bg4 and in the 2�Nf6 gambit lines with Na3. Reading Gallagher�s book one couldn�t help but be struck by the fact that White was struggling in several key lines. That is not the case at present, due in part to the efforts of co-author Rozentalis who is one of the world�s leading practitioners of 2.c3.

Having switched away from 1.e4 many years ago I was curious to see what Rozentalis and Harley had to offer against some of the systems I have employed against 2.c3. Theory has held that one of the better choices for Black against the Alapin is 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6. The idea behind this flexible system is that systems with an early Na3 are rendered harmless by �Bg4, that 6.Be2 can be met by �cxd4 when the Bishop is not optimally placed in the resulting IQP position and where the sneaky 6.Be3 (intending to induce �cxd4 and then post the White squared Bishop at d3 or c4) can be answered by 6�e5. The authors consider the critical line to be 6.dxc5 Qxa1+ (6�Qxc5 gives White an advantage with natural moves) 7.Kxd1 e5 8.b4 Bf5 9.Be3 ( to free c1 for the King) 9�Nd5 10.Kc1 a5 and examine it at length with the conclusion that White is slightly better.

One line that gets short shrift in most 2.c3 books is 2�g6. Gallagher gives it only half a page, but here it gets six pages with both 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.exd5 and 5.e5 both getting proper coverage. The authors acknowledge that this is underrated line and point out that 5.e5 is probably the best try for White but does not lead to positions that are typical of 2.c3. The influence of co-author Harley is felt by pointing out various transpositional options to head into the Smith-Morra Gambit.

While both authors play 2.c3 regularly, this book is objectively written. In the section under 2.c3 e6 they acknowledge (as does head 2.c3 priest Sveshnikov) that White�s best try for an advantage may well be to steer into an Advance French via 3.d4 d5 4.e5. If Black knows how to play this line and is happy with an improved version of the 3�c5 Tarrasch (White has committed to c3 early allowing �Bb6 in many lines) this is Black�s simplest bet to reach a playable middlegame.

If you play 2.c3 versus the Sicilian you must have this book.

Danish FM Carsten Hansen get the big jobs at Gambit. Rather than being able to zero in on key lines in one variation he takes on huge complexes. Witness his two volume work on the English and his latest effort The Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 (2002, 320 pages, paperback, figurine algebraic, $23.95).

This is a huge amount of material to cover. Earlier attempts were made by Taimanov, Gligoric and Pliester, but theory has advanced greatly since the last of these book was published back in 1995. Hansen is to be commended for taking on such a difficult project, but as he himself admits in the introduction, "The material in this book is mainly theory with some strategic commentary where relevant. This may make this book a little heavy to deal with for some players. And some of the moves may seem difficult to understand." Hansen�s advice is to consult a coach for explanation when necessary or failing that use Fritz as a sounding board. This may work for some, but I would suspect this book is primarily aimed at players of master level and beyond.

This book is well-researched, containing all relevant material up to September of this year! It covers all systems after 4.e3, accepting those that transpose into lines of the Saemisch (For example: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.a3). Rarely playing 1.d4 I will confine my examination of this book to lines that I play as Black.

Fischer�s favorite 4�b6 gets extensive coverage. I was quite surprised to discover that Black can reach equality after 5.Ne2 not only by the standard 5�Ba6 and 5�Ne4, but also by 5�Bb7. The analysis of 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.Na4 cxd4 correctly points out that 9.a3 Bd6!? is doing well for Black, but that he is struggling after the exact move order 9. exd4 Re8 10.a3 Bf8 ( I wonder if Black can play 10�Bd6!?, which to my knowledge has never been tried here. The plan is the usual �Bxf3, �Nc6, �e5 and �d5) 11.b4 d6 12.Bb2 Nbd7 13.Re1 (leaving the Knight on a4 as long as possible) 13�a5 14.Nc3 (avoiding the plan of �axb4 and �b5 sacrificing a pawn for the d5 square. This idea in analogous positions was first discovered by Julio Kaplan and later played with success by Nick DeFirmian and Axel Ornstein.). The main line to end the chapter is R. Hernandez-Vilela, Havana 1985. In short one would have liked to see more independent work in this chapter, but such a criticism would be unfair because that is not what this book aimed to be nor could be, considering that 320 pages could easily be written on 4�b6 alone.

How does The Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3 differ from a data dump? I would say by quite a lot. There is prose explanation throughout to guide the reader. Hansen has also identified the main lines as well and the massive amount of material can be easily tracked down. All this said this is a book that can be best used by amateur players with either a trainer or in conjunction with more specialized works that deal with specific variations (for example for 4�b6 Craig Pritchett�s old book is still worthwhile reading).