Purchases from our

chess shop help keep

ChessCafe.com freely
accessible:

Reviewed this Month

Chess Evolution #9, January 2013

Checkpoint by Naiditsch et al

The Colle: Move by Move

by Cyrus Lakdawala
Carsten Hansen
Chess Informant #116 Chess Strategy:
Move by Move
by Branko Tadic (ed.)
by Adam Hunt

Translate this page

More Series Additions

This month we look at three more series additions, though for one of them, it
is the end of the line. The two others, however, keep coming at us
relentlessly.

Chess Evolution #9, January 2013 by Arkadij Naiditsch, Etienne Bacrot,

Borki Predojevic and Miton Kamil, Chess Evolution 2013, Figurine Algebraic
Notation, Paperback, 363pp., $44.95 (ChessCafe Price $38.95) Fighting Chess:
Move by Move
In the beginning there was Chess Informant, and by Colin Crouch
because of its success there have been many attempts
Rating Chart at replicating it by presenting similar material in
various formats. Many competitors have come and
Awful – gone over the years. The Chess Informant is still here,
and the New In Chess Yearbook has also survived,
Poor –
but each has changed from its original format to
Uneven – appeal to a wider readership.

Good – One of the more recent attempts at a yearbook series

is Chess Evolution, founded by grandmasters Etienne
Great – Bacrot and Arkadij Naiditsch. Their aim, according to
the back-cover blurb, was as follows:
Excellent –
Botvinnik's Complete Games
"A multinational team of Super-GMs analyse the most important recent 1942-1956
games, using their world-class skill and powerful computers. This by Mikail Botvinnik
volume is essential to anyone interested in the most up-to-date and
highest quality opening theory.

Up to date and state-of-the-art opening analysis

All the authors are world class grandmasters
The games are selected mainly for their importance to chess theory
All the analysis is checked with powerful computers
Each issue will consist of approximately 400 hours of chess research!"

This sounds very appealing, and, in all honesty, if you are a serious player
and have not yet considered these volumes, you must have a very eclectic
taste in openings or be very sure of your own capabilities.
Yet, as hinted above, there is some bad news, as related by Naiditsch in the
editorial preface:

"With the 9th 'Chess Evolution Janaury [sic] 2013' book, we are ending
our periodical series. We made 6 books in the Year 2011 and 3 books in
the Year 2012, trying to give You a way to stand even above the newest
theory and be able to surprise Your opponent at any chess level.

"Due to a company's decision, we will orient ourselves more to 'softer

chess material' with books like Konstantin Sakaev's 'Complete Slav I'.
Also, we just have no time to keep up with the huge work that was
required for the publication of the Chess Evolution periodical.

"To be honest, Etienne and me, we are quite sad about it. This is how
we started, investing a big amount of time and our chess knowledge to
make the Chess Evolution periodical as interesting as possible."

Sad news indeed, because the volumes that were released did in fact include a
lot of first class material and analysis. The language, as you can see from the
above preface, is understandable, but far from perfect English. There are
many editorial items that could have been improved upon; indeed, the name
of one of the contributors is spelled wrong on the cover of the present
volume.

Nevertheless, the pure chess quality of the material was amazing. Deep
analysis, many new ideas, original analysis and revisions of certain lines. All
really good stuff for the ambitious player who is trying to get the latest and
greatest material available.

Yet the end seemed inevitable, when you publish six volumes in the first year
and then only three in the second year. They were more ambitious initially
than their time allowed them to be and thus this happened. Also, the price for
each volume was rather steep; the list price of $44.95 makes it a very
expensive book, even after the discount offered by chess stores. Still, in
comparison with so many other things these days, it is manageable for those
who really want it. However, I am certain that it limited their readership a
great deal nonetheless.

To return to the chess aspect of things, with "only" approximately forty main
games per volume, spanning 350+ pages, you can easily picture that the
annotations cover all the relevant details, particularly with a focus on the
opening.

Key to Symbols (1 page)

Editorial Preface (2 pages)
Contributors (2 pages)
A (4 main games, 32 pages)
B (7 main games, 54 pages)
C (9 main games, 86 pages)
D (12 main games, 100 pages)
E (8 main games, 58 pages)
Tata Steel Chess 2013 (23 pages)

The material in this book is absolutely top notch and it is a shame that the
series will not continue. I hope the that grandmasters that ran this periodical
will have plenty of success in their future endeavors. In the meantime, let's
enjoy the work they have put together for us to study.

My assessment of this book:

Order Chess Evolution #09
by Arkadij Naiditsch (ed.)
 Order Chess Evolution #01-09 (Bundle)
by Arkadij Naiditsch (ed.)

The Colle: Move by Move by Cyrus Lakdawala, Everyman Chess 2013,

Figurine Algebraic Notation, Paperback, ChessBase, and PGN formats,
416pp., $29.95 (ChessCafe Price $24.95)

The prodigious Californian international master Cyrus

Lakdawala strikes again with yet another book in this
relatively new series from Everyman Chess. However,
it seems to me that we have had an awful lot of books
featuring the Colle in recent years. In fact, it seems
like it has been covered more extensively than the
Najdorf or other topical openings such as the Slav,
Ruy Lopez, and others. Honestly, I am not sure about
the reason for this, because hordes of new players are
not adopting this opening. Maybe it is because it is an
easy opening to write about, an easy opening to play,
and relatively easy to learn. Moreover, once you have
learned the basics, the theory changes at a glacier-like pace. Thus, there is not
much additional material to study; no novelties played last week in a game
between two strong IMs that you have never heard of in some obscure
tournament locale. Once you know your stuff, you start playing, and that is
basically it.

The material in this volume covers a wide amount of openings, many without
immediate relation to the Colle, especially in the latter chapters:

About the Author (1 page)

Series Foreword (1 page)
Bibliography (1 page)
Introduction (10 pages)
Main Line with …Nc6 (82 pages)
Lines with …Nbd7 (59 pages)
Colle versus Queen's Indian (47 pages)
The Zukertort Colle (41 pages)
Colle versus Slav (32 pages)
Gambit Lines for Black (20 pages)
Exchange Slav and Exchange Caro-Kann (19 pages)
Colle versus Chigorin (16 pages)
The Ostrich in the Sand (31 pages)
Owen's Defence (14 pages)
Pirc, Modern and Philidor (29 pages)
Index of Variations (4 pages)
Index of Complete Games (4 pages)

As with Lakdawala's other books, this is a very enjoyable read. It is easy to

follow, leaves you with a smile on your face, and a keen sense that you know
exactly what is going on with Lakdawala there to guide you. Once you have
worked your way through the book, you are left with the confidence to play
the opening and the suggested lines. Though the lines are not the sort that will
provide a remedy to slaughter your opponents in ruthless fashion if they
commit some small mistake. It will just bring you into territory where you can
avoid being slaughtered yourself, and can comfortably work to improve your
position, and have reasonable expectations of playing for a win, even if you
do not necessarily have the better position.

Even though I possibly should know better, I am beginning to feel like a

sucker for enjoying Lakdawala's books so much. If I were a young player
looking to improve my game and understand an opening, I would most likely
be picking up his books at the same pace people buy overpriced candy and
popcorn at the movie theater, though these books last a lot longer and you do
not end up feeling guilty afterward.

Let's look at an example of his writing. I will skip the annotations prior to
Black's thirteenth move, but needless to say they fill several pages:

L.B. Hansen – Vescovi

Copenhagen 1995

1 d4 c5 2 e3 Nf6 3 Nf3 e6 4 Bd3 d5 5 0-0 Nbd7 6 c3 Bd6 7 Nbd2 0-0 8 Re1

Qc7 9 e4 cxd4 10 cxd4 dxe4 11 Nxe4 Nxe4 12 Rxe4! b6 13 Qe2 Bb7 14
Rh4!

[FEN "r4rk1/pbqn1ppp/1p1bp3/8/3P3R/
3B1N2/PP2QPPP/R1B3K1 b - - 0 14"]

Forcing a breach in Black's king's guard. The rook refuses to come to

heel and return[sic] to his previous subordinate station. He diligently
applies himself to the highest degree to the fruition of his psychotic (yet
efficient!) dream.

14…g6

14…h6?? allows the no-brainer sac 15 Bxh6! with a winning attack.

Compare my game against GM Dzindzichashvili in the notes above.

15 Bd2!

Tentatively, the meek bishop tiptoes forward just one square, as his
comrades yell their reassurances from the front line, encouraging him
forward.

Question: Why not to h6, in order to develop with tempo?

Answer: Hansen's move is more subtle and stronger. He leaves h6

vacant, planning Qe3! and Qh6.

15…Rac8 16 Qe3

Hungrily eyeing the h6-square.

16…Rfd8?

[FEN "2rr2k1/pbqn1p1p/1p1bp1p1/8/3P3R/
3BQN2/PP1B1PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 17"]

Black should go for something like 16…bxf3 to remove an attacker.

Instead, he steels himself for the incoming wave – but the efficacy of his
last move remains in doubt, since he organizes a greeting party of
rabbits to face down the visiting wolf pack. White now has a shot which
sends Black's defences scattering in the four cardinal directions like
dandelion fluff on a windy day. The g6-square is crusted thickly by
ancient, psychic scars. Black's king-side, now reduced to dank tumble of
noxious weeds, finds itself sorely in need of a clipping from the
gardener. After this the black king's life is destined to be radically
 altered, and with cataclysmic abruptness.

17 Bxg6!!

In a ghastly breach of court etiquette, the jovial bishop slaps Black's

oversentive king warmly on the back, as the horrified onlookers and
hangers on become aware of the tactlessness of the gesture. Now the
defensive barrier evaporates into a lifeless hulk, an empty vessel.

17…fxg6

17…hxg6 walk into a forced mate after 18 Qh6.

18 Qxe6+ Kg7

Black's king puts aside reproaches and goes about the undiginified task
of running like the wind. Our work isn't finished.

Exercise (combination alert): Black's position seethes in destruction

and flame. White to play and force mate.

Answer: 19 Rxh7+! 1-0

Black's garden of otherwise entrancing beauty is somewhat diminished

by the sight of a bloated corpse floating face down in the fountain. 19…
Kxh7 (the king accepts the bad news with inward perplexity and doubt)
20 Ng5+ Kh6 (the amnesia victim, confused and de-personified,
searches for himself along the h-file) 21 Qh3+ (the fallow kingside
remains a wasteland, populated only by the anguished wretch on h6)
21…Kg7 22 Qh7+ Kf6 (Black's king toasts his own past glories,
realizing that there will soon be no future at all for him) 23 Qf7 is mate.

Yes, it is silly, but it is also an awful lot of fun. If you are rated below 2000
and want to learn something about playing the Colle and get a repertoire
together as white, all while having some fun, then this book is it. However, if
you are looking for the ultimate work on all the lines for Black and White in
the Colle, you will want to look elsewhere.

My assessment of this book:

Order The Colle: Move by Move (Ebook)
by Cyrus Lakdawala

Chess Informant #116 by Branko Tadic (ed.), Sahovski Informator 2013,

Figurine Algebraic Notation, Paperback and CD, 343pp., $38.95 (ChessCafe
Price $34.95)

As regular readers of this column will know, I have

loved the Chess Informant volumes for more than
thirty years and have voiced my disappointment when
I see a decline in the quality of the content. However,
since Editor Branko Tadic and Director Josip Asik
took over the helm, the yearbooks from Belgrade can
once again be regarded as top notch reading material,
offering something for serious and ambitious students
of the game.

Under their direction several new features have been

added: the "Chess Informant Labs," opening surveys
authored by grandmasters; new columns by former world champion Garry
Kasparov and accomplished writer and grandmaster Mihail Marin; top games
annotated by the players themselves; a focus one top players from the same
country; and their rising star column are just some of the obvious
improvements.

Let's look at an overview of how the material is divided in the current

volume:

Contributors (2 pages)
 The Best Ten Games of the Preceding Volume (2 pages)
The Ten Most Important Theoretical Novelties of the Preceding Volume
(4 pages)
Garry's Choice (14 pages)
Old Wine in New Bottles (9 pages)
Top Three (15 pages)
One Country – Greece (17 pages)
Chess Informant Labs (8 surveys – 54 pages)
Rising Stars – GM Dariusz Swiercz (12 pages)
Guest Column "British Chess Magazine" (3 pages)
System of Signs (3 pages)
Games (158 pages)
Combinations (3 pages)
Excellent Moves (3 pages)
Endings (3 pages)
Problems (6 pages)
Studies (3 pages)
Tournaments (20 pages)
The Best of Chess Informant – GM Etienne Bacrot (11 pages)

Having been very pleasant above, I will now highlight a few things that can
be done better.

Let's begin with the grammatically incorrect title "The Best Ten Games of the
Preceding Volume." I know it has always been like this, but it should really
say "The Ten Best Games."

The annotations to the games in the "Top Three" section are typically very
thorough and interesting, and are often combined with some explanatory
prose. However, they seem to be copied and pasted from database software
without any further formatting. For instance, in the game Jakovenko-
Onischuk, after White's 19 b4 we have the following:

"The only serious move, but one which required exact calculation.
[Fortunately, I didn't have any choice; nothing at all is given by either 19.Nd6
Na5 20.Nc8 Rac8 or 19.Rc1 Bb7 20.Nc5 Bc5 21.Qc5 Qc5 22.Rc5 Rac8. So I
had to calculate.]"

The use of brackets is ugly and does not belong in an edited text. This also
occurs in several of the columns, including "CI Labs," "Rising Stars," and
"Old Wine." One can also criticize the grammar and the occasional odd
translations, though these can be tough to detect if English is not your first
language.

Placing the "System of Signs" in the middle of the book is just bizarre. The
same symbols are used from the very beginning of the book, just as the
opening classifications. So both should either be at the beginning or at the
very end of the book. Putting them in the middle makes very little sense.

In the main games section, more of the games should be annotated by the
players themselves. Though I understand that this is an expensive undertaking
and the top players may not have the required time to submit in-depth
annotations given the tournament schedules they have these days.

Also, the "Guest Column" from British Chess Magazine, seems more like a
regular feature than anything guest-like at this point.

Finally, the "Best of Chess Informant" section seems to be running out of

steam, as they are struggling to find games and theoretical novelties of a
decent standard. This volume features French grandmaster Etienne Bacrot,
who, being as strong a player as he is, should have better examples presented.
Maybe it is time to rethink this feature or do something different with it.

That ends my criticism for the present volume. There are, of course, several
very interesting columns. Kasparov always finds an interesting game to
annotate, this time from his old favorite hunting grounds of the Najdorf
Sicilian in the lines of the English Attack. It is compelling reading and the
game is well-annotated. As are the supplemental games of his own, five in
total, also featuring the English Attack, including a loss against Short.

The "Old Wine" column by Marin is excellent reading as usual. "Removing

an Outpost by an Exchange Sacrifice" is a fascinating theme for an article and
he picked some captivating games to illustrate his point, before closing off
with a game of his own where he missed the exact theme, despite nearly
having completed writing this precise column! As he rightly points out,
knowing your classics is one thing, knowing the right moment to apply the
lessons learned is another, especially in time trouble.

One example he covers in the article is the following from the Karpov-
Kortchnoi world championship match of 1978.

Karpov – Kortchnoi
Baguio City (m/26) 1978

1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 d6 3 g3 f5 4 Bg2 Nc6 5 d3 Nf6 6 e3 Be7 7 Nge2 0-0 8 0-0 Qe8

9 f4 Bd8 10 a3 Rb8 11 b4 Be6 12 Nd5 b5 13 Bb2 bxc4 14 dxc4 e4 15 Nxf6+
Bxf6 16 Bxf6 Rxf6 17 Rc1 a5! 18 b5 Nd8 19 Rf2 Nb7 20 Bf1 Nc5 21 Nc3
Bf7 22 Nd5 [22 Be2!? Intending a4, Nd5] Bxd5 23 cxd5

[FEN "1r2q1k1/2p3pp/3p1r2/pPnP1p2/
4pP2/P3P1P1/5R1P/2RQ1BK1 b - - 0 23"]

In the above sequence Marin only offers sporadic annotations, possibly the
original ones by grandmaster Filip in Chess Informant #26, but here Marin
presumes the following:

"This is the moment that intrigued me. With his next move, Kortchnoi
provokes mass simplifications, leading to a draw.

"At first, I did not understand why he did that. Isn't the c5-knight strong,
at least by comparison with the presumably bad bishop?

"And then I understood: If given the time to consolidate with a3-a4 and
then triple the major pieces on the c-file, White will sacrifice an
exchange on c5, leaving Black without space and with problems
defending his backward c7-pawn.

"I did not get the Informant those days and had to content myself with
the unannotated games published in Shakhmatnii Biullettin. Looking at
Filip's laconic comment on the previous move, I understand that he had
something similar in mind."

I, however, did not come to the same conclusion. At the time, I had made a
diagram of the position and put it on a pinboard in my room, trying to make
sense of the following sequence of moves that ended the games so abruptly
and liquidated the position into a drawn endgame. Only revisiting the position
now, can I nod with recognition to the plan mentioned by Filip, but it really
only makes sense these many years later.

23…Nd3!= 24 Bxd3 exd3 25 Qxd3 Qxb5 26 Qxb5 Rxb5 27 Rxc7 Rf7!, and
a draw was agreed upon on account of 28 Rc8+ Rf8 29 Rc6 Rxd5 30 Rb2 Kf7.

As Marin points out, the impression of making the discovery of the exchange
sacrifice made him remember the game as if the exchange sacrifice had
indeed taken place. But revisiting it later, it reminded him that it did not, nor
was it even mentioned in any contemporary annotations to the game. Quite
fascinating.

Needless to say, Marin has several other games that feature this interesting
concept for an overall intriguing article.
Also very good is the article on Greece where the players Mastrovasilis (two
games), Halkias, and Kapnisis, all grandmasters, annotate, in-depth, their own
games. The games are fascinating and the annotations amazing and
exhilarating. Fantastic work, even though they pick different countries each
time, I wish these guys from Greece will return for an encore some day.
There is much to be learned from these games.

Mastrovasilis also wrote one of the surveys in the "CI Labs" feature, on the
Four Knights Scotch, and it is again excellent work. The other surveys are
also good, but this one shines a little brighter.

In the "Rising Stars" column, the nineteen-year-old Polish grandmaster

Dariusz Swiercz is featured. While the language in the annotations is not
perfect, the meaning is clear and the games, while not flawless, are
entertaining battles.

There is plenty of other interesting material in this volume on all sorts of

topics. I am sure that a serious or ambitious player will be able to find
countless hours worth of study material, just as he or she could in the
previous volumes.

While not entirely perfect in its entirety, Chess Informant is a great book that
I hope will continue to find a broad readership.

My assessment of this book:

Order Chess Informant #116
by Branko Tadic (ed.)
Order Chess Informant #116 (CD)
by Branko Tadic (ed.)
Order Chess Informant #116 (Book+CD)
by Branko Tadic (ed.)
Order Chess Informant Book Subscription
by Branko Tadic (ed.) $29.95 per issue!!

A PDF file of this month's column, along with all previous columns, is
available in the ChessCafe.com Archives.

Comment on this month's column via our official Chess Blog!

[ChessCafe Home Page] [ChessCafe Shop] [ChessCafe Blog]

[Book Review] [Columnists] [Endgame Study] [The Skittles Room]
[ChessCafe Links] [ChessCafe Archives]
[About ChessCafe.com] [Contact ChessCafe.com] [Advertising]

© 2013 BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

"ChessCafe.com®" is a registered trademark of BrainGamz, Inc.