Chess Life Magazine - July 2009 Issue

Publisher: ISHI Press
Author: Eric Schiller
Year of Publication: 2012 (Reprint) Pages: 160
Notation Type: Algebraic (AN)


Book Description At the time of the first edition, this opening was just becoming popular in Grandmaster chess. It soon became a hot item and for this edition we had over 20,000 games in our database. Champions of the defense include Grandmasters Agdestein, Dolmatov, Gleizerov (more than 100 games!), Glek, Karlsson, Moskalenko, Nikolic, Ulibin, and Vaisser. The theory is now pretty well established. I recommend that you start by studying the Overview below and looking at the games cited in the next paragraphs. I have concentrated on the lines most frequently seen in high level games. The opening is so absurdly transpositional that there is no way to organize it exhaustively. The most important thing is to note where the pieces usually land. About the Author(s) Eric Schiller (born March 20, 1955 in New York City) is an American chess player, trainer, arbiter and one of the most prolific authors of books on chess in the 20th century. In 1974, Schiller was the Illinois Junior Champion. Schiller played for the University of Chicago team several times at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. He was an organizer of the Hawaii International chess festivals 1994-98 including 1998 US Open California Champion 1995. Later that year, he appeared as a chess adviser for the music group Phish on some of the stops for their "Chess Tour" where they played an ongoing game of two chess moves per tour stop and some "band vs. audience" partial games as part of their stage performance. Schiller was an arbiter at several notable games and championships including the FIDE World Chess Championship 2000. While Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov opted not to participate in the event, they had both endorsed Schiller for this sensitive role during the planning stages. As of April 2009, Schiller has a FIDE rating of 2166. He is also an International Arbiter and International Trainer. Schiller's expertise and publications in the Flohr-Zaitsev Variation made him a sought-after expert when Gary Kasparov used that opening at the second game at the World Chess Championship 1990.

Schiller delivers with this book with your first move being 1.e4. This book tells you how to: (1) Beat 1..e5 with the Bishop Opening with some transposition into the Scotch Game; (2) Against 1..c5 with the Closed Sicilian like Spassky; (3) Go after the Caro-Kann with the Exchange Variation, a favorite of Fischer's; (4) Beat the French with three different variations depending on what black does; (5) Play the aggressive "Push" Variation against the Alekhine's Defense; (6)The best line against the Franco-Indian; (7) Against the Modern and Pirc Defenses you will play the Grand Prix Attack; (8)Schiller has some surprises when black plays the Scandinavian Defense(1.e4 d5). Schiller gives a complete and exciting repertoire for all 1.e4 players!

The Frankenstein–Dracula Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4!?) of the Vienna Game is a monstrous thicket of complications which still have not been fully explored. The opening leads to fascinating positions which will bring enjoyment both in tournament and correspondence play. Although some theorists have treated the variation as dead and buried, experiments have managed to bring the monster variation back to life for Black, and it can now be considered fully playable.

White plays 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 followed by Bg5. The Torre Attack is a very flexible opening employed by white which involves quick development and fight for control of the e4 square. A standard setup would involve placing the queen's knight on d2, light-squared bishop to d3, king's rook to e1 after a quick castling, and pawn to e3 or e4. However, there is a flexibility that allows for many different setups, depending on the strategic path that the white player wishes to employ and black's setup. This flexible, dynamic system has been employed by virtually every top GM at some point in their career, even at the World Championship match level. Schiller shows why this opening system should be part of every player's repertoire.

This edition is updated in April 2012 and provides complete analysis and the most recent games in this important line.

Schiller covers strategic and positional factors as seen in the complex interplay of the middlegame and endgame with 45 lessons. The art of strategic planning is not easily acquired from most teaching materials, yet is one of the most important aspects of practical play. He does an excellent job here teaching strategy skills. This book is mostly recommended for players 1600 rated and up.

How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit

Black to Play Classical Defenses and Win