ForumPosition SearchText SearchMy ProfileRepertoireSite InfoGuests InfoHelpLinks

GM Surfers

Jim Plaskett continues his quick-surf survey of ChessPublishing.com...

1 e4 e5

I have always considered Scottish Paul Motwani to be one of the most dangerous attacking players around. Many of his most interesting games have kicked off 1 e4 e5 , making him very well qualified to comment upon latest developments.

The witty style and format which has become a feature of Paul`s books shines through here as well!

Daring Defences to 1 d4

GM Jon Tisdall has come out of semi retirement to pronounce on the sharper defences to 1 d4, including the Grunfeld and Benko, with some help from GM Ian Rogers. I like the style of his coverage, and in particular he does a great sales job for the Blumenfeld, a curiously neglected opening.

GM Alexander Chernin once remarked to me that his victory over Tony Miles in the 1985 Interzonal in a 5 Bg5 Blumenfeld, should probably not have accorded him the reputation of being the innovative theoretician that it did. Even though the game featured an important novelty, he admitted that his theoretical knowledge ended with 5 Bg5.

I had to laugh when Tisdall says of the Budapest "Hands up all those who think this is a silly opening..." I completely agree. Mind you, this hasn`t stopped me playing it (perhaps it should have done).

Dragons

There is hardly any more topical or theoretically interesting line than the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon. Ex British Champion Chris Ward is well qualified to bring us all up to date with the latest developments. In addition to being informative, I found his stuff breezy and entertaining.

Killer d-Pawn Openings

This is a site with several names..."Killer d-Pawn Openings", "Red-hot d-Pawn Openings", d-Pawn Specials"... I`m a fan of many of these systems for White, and the message is clear.

Openings such as the Torre Attack or Colle System have tended to be regarded as quiet, or even unimportant, sideshows. However flicking through Aaron Summerscale`s site should convince you just how incorrect that is. For example see , or for easy to follow recipes on ripping strong opposition to bits. When the build-up is slow, it`s more often a question of understanding than memory.

The French

Neil McDonald has gone out of his way to explain the latest themes and ideas in the French. It looks to me as if this site has been conscientiously researched. In particular two theory sections caught my attention.

10 year old Murugan Thiruchelvam was involved in a theoretically critical game with GM Levitt. I predict (but please don`t quote me!) that Black`s 19th move will be the final word in this line.

Two little known players appear to have contested a ground-breaking game this year in the 4 e5/ 5 f4 line of the Tarrasch. McDonald`s coverage in of the resurrection of this line for Black is must-see material if you want to play this line.

Anti-Sicilians

Looking at Gary Lane`s anti-Sicilian site, I was once again struck by the efficiency of the Kopec System (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3/ 3 c3/ 4 Bd3), and frankly I am surprised it is not played more often.

I am one of the English players who has been linked with the Grand Prix attack for more than 20 years. Even though I have some doubts about the viability of the sharp gambit lines where White tries a very early f5, I still have the highest regard for the system in general. For example, earlier this year I used it to blow away Shipov, currently ranked in the World Top 25.

The 3 Bb5 systems, once thought of as sidelines, are now so popular (Kasparov`s choice against the world) as to be challenging for consideration as Sicilian Main Lines in themselves.

Although Morra Gambit practitioners talk a good game, I still find it a difficult sales pitch. As John Nunn once said to me "the main problem for Black in the Morra Gambit is simply what use he makes of his crumby extra pawn".

 

More to follow later on the other sites