Michael Basman, of course, always went his own way, both in real life and in chess. His Audio Chess tapes (yes, chess tuition existed before the Internet and even before CDs and DVDs) led to a brief burst of popularity for Grob’s Opening in the 1980s and he even played the opening with the black pieces (sometimes known as ‘The Borg’). 

Assuming one is not going to go the whole hog with 1.g4 and 2.f3 (or 1…g5 and 2…f6, as occasionally seen in online protest games) then the Grob player must provide some justification for the early advance of the g-pawn. 

Modern chess is full of early lunges by the g-pawn (Garry Kasparov was fond of the energy created in the middlegames of the Queen’s Gambit, for example) but pushing it on move one requires a degree of commitment few players will happily embrace. 

Of course, anyone who perseveres with an opening will learn a few traps along the way and they will be ready to spring them over the board, especially in Blitz and Rapidplay games. 

Here is a case in point. 

1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 e6?? 6.Qa4+ and 7.Qxg4… 

…picking up a piece in broad daylight, even though Black played what appeared to be five very logical moves. 

In this new book, the authors give plenty of examples showing the Grob in all its glory. The presentation is sunny side up, so a little caution and some extra work will be needed to avoid ending up on the wrong side of a messy debacle. 

However, the material will appeal to maverick chess players of all strengths who are tired of learning opening theory and want something with a lighter theoretical touch and, in keeping with that particular ethos, we present two typical Grob moments – one with each color. 

Mark Hebden – Michael Basman 

Borehamwood, 1981 

How to deal with the threat to the g-pawn? Well, Basman comes up with a novel idea, starting with 4…d6!? 

Now, after 5.fxg5 hxg5 6.Bxg5 c5 7.d5 Qb6 8.Bd2 Nd7, Black gained compensation for the pawn, in the form of a strong grip of the important e5-square and dark-square control. After many more unlikely adventures, Basman went on to win (0-1, 35). 

Michael Basman – James Howell 

Leighton (Rapid), 1989 

It seems a shade unfair that Basman could usually get away with moving his h- and g-pawns, but his opponents could not afford such luxuries. 

Here, Black has just played the sensible-looking 24…h6, to give White’s queen a question to answer. Unfortunately, Basman showed that even he sometimes resorted to central occupation with the powerful 25. Qe5!, when the threats of 26. Qxb8+ and 26. Nxf6+ followed by 27. Qxe2. This was more than Black could deal with, so he resigned. 

It seems unlikely one can become a World Champion by playing The Grob on a regular basis. Yet it can be fun to play in fast games and friendlies, so if anyone out there would like to give it a try then there is no better place to start than with a collection of Basman’s games. 

Sean Marsh   

GM Jacob Aagard gives us a look into how the book came about and what the reader can expect:

What we have done is a slightly different thing from previous books on the topic. The idea from the book came from a solving group of four people I ran some years back. We were two guys and two girls, trying to solve studies from perhaps the most famous modern book on studies. I finally had it with these way too long solutions, when there was a 30+ move pawn ending. I know that top players find their most significant details on the first three moves in calculation in the middlegame (direction of travel, let’s call it). Sometimes we go deeper in the endgame, and of course, we see further ahead. But 30 moves? Not me.

I asked Steffen for studies and they were far more solvable, and I actually liked them better than these supposed “best studies of all time”. The idea of creating a book with this sort of material came quickly (of course). I had not imagined just how much work it would be. Although we are two authors of this 424 page book, it took me far more effort than the “less than 900” page A Matter of Endgame Technique that I published in 2022. I think I spent 1000+ hours on this book. It does not try to be a “best studies of all times” book – rather it is a book for strong players wanting to improve their game through solving endgame studies. They are selected for solving. They are cut for solving. They have a point system, designed to keep you honest in your solving.

Jacob Aagaard

Take your solving for a test drive with some of these examples from the book:

Endgame Labyrinths: Exercise 531

White to play and draw

View Solution

Endgame Labyrinths: Exercise 539

White to play and win

View Solution

Check out the book’s free sample to see these positions and a few more!

About the Authors:

Jacob Aagaard

Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard is a renowned Danish-Scottish chess player, author, and trainer. He has written multiple influential chess books on a range of topics, helping players of all levels improve their understanding of chess. Aagaard has won several awards for his chess books. Some of the most prestigious are from the English Chess Federation (ECF) and the Association of Chess Professionals. Notably, his book “Excelling at Chess” won the ChessCafe.com Book of the Year award. He has also had a lot of success as a coach where his students have beaten all the greatest players of the last few decades!

Aagard is the co-owner of Quality Chess, and you can find many of his books on Forward Chess:

Steffen Nielsen

Steffen Nielsen is one of the greatest minds in chess studies and currently holds the title of World Champion in endgame composition! His compositions are innovative, aesthetically pleasing, and tactical in nature which has earned him many awards including the aforementioned World Championship title. As a player, he is a strong 2100+ which gives him “a good understanding of the difficulties practical players face over the board”.

Jacob Aagard writes about his co-author:

It was a great pleasure to work with Steffen on this book. He is the current World Champion in Study composition, which is a title handed out every three years, based on a points system, rather than individual competitions. Steffen and I are contemporaries and Steffen said that we made two draws about 30 years ago – which I have entirely forgotten. He said it was a bigger result for him, but then I was not aware he would be World Champion!

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

Get Endgame Labyrinths on Forward Chess with a new release special discount:

Study Solutions

Exercise 531

Exercise 539

Growing up, I personally found endgame study to be so boring. Fewer pieces on the board means fewer complicated variations to calculate, right? Wrong!
The necessity for accuracy in endgames is a lot higher since even though there are fewer pieces on the board, there are more open squares too, and subsequently more alternative moves.

There are of course basic endgames that every chess player should know or even have memorized, but then there are endgame studies that offer a window into the wonderful intricacies of the final phase of the game.

The Art of The Endgame: About the Book

I have always likened chess composition to creating art or music – the composer brings an idea to life that was born in their mind. In his book “The Art of the Endgame“, GM Jan Timman describes the process of chess composition as just that (hence the book’s name), `and aims to show readers “why endgame studies are so beautiful and so interesting.” Timman’s passion for endgames is evident throughout the book – from its cover to its final chapter and readers can get to share this passion while understanding how endgame studies are created, and at the same time, solving them.

Timman explains the process behind composing an endgame study as follows:

The book offers a wide variety of endgame study themes, created by various composers, from mating nets to fortresses, and more. Take a look at the table of contents shown below, or on the book’s free sample.

Note, as the book’s synopsis tells us: Timman has revised the book for this new edition. With the help of engines, Timman discovered that a few studies needed to be corrected or had alternative solutions. He removed six studies and replaced another six with better versions. Fourteen new studies have been added, two of which are published here for the first time.

The Art of The Endgame: About the Author

Jan Timman is a prominent Dutch grandmaster and prolific author, celebrated for his deep contributions to chess literature. At the height of his playing career, he ranked as the world’s number two on the FIDE rankings and has also notably been a world championship candidate. Beyond his success over the board, he has a profound appreciation for the intricacies of chess endgame studies and has composed many. Timman has written many acclaimed chess books and was honored with the title of FIDE Master of Composition in 2022.

The Art of The Endgame: Study Examples

Let’s take a look at some of the studies that you will find in the book:

(See solutions below)

Chapter 1: Miniature Studies

Chapter 8: Stalemate Patterns

This one is a little tricky. “Both sides have a dangerous passed pawn. Due to certain circumstances, the black king turns out to be the safer of the two.”

Keep in mind: Black’s pawn push to c2 comes with a check.

Whether you are an avid composition solver, or just getting into it, this book will surely pick your brain with its collection of beautiful studies.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t miss out on The Art of the Endgame’s special introductory offer available at www.forwardchess.com

Study Solutions

Study 1:

Study 2:

I am sure most players feel the same when the opponent bypasses so much mainline theory by opting for what is often classed as a boring opening. 

In reality, the London System is not boring at all and is impossible to refute. After all, White’s early moves are all designed to develop their pieces to good squares, castle the king into safety, and stifle any attempts by the second player to drag the game into their own specialist territory. That all sounds like a very good way to play and there is little wonder the club player’s favorite opening has enjoyed an explosion of popularity, even at the highest of levels, especially those featuring faster time limits. 

In The London Files, Vassilios Kotronias and Mikhail Ivanov aim to arm Black with new ideas to face the dreaded Bf4 systems whether the first player opens with 1. d4 2. Nf3 3. Bf4 or the trendier 1. d4 2. Bf4. 

In fact, to cater for all styles of play, the authors provide no fewer than four anti-London methods, namely: 

(1) King’s Indian Setups 

(2) London Benoni 

(3) London Nimzo- and Queen’s Indian 

(4) London Orthodox System 

The book will obviously guide players through everything they need to know in order to combat the London System in any style they choose, but I am sure all anyone is interested in at the moment is to see a few choice moments when everything goes right for the second player and the London System falls down. 

1. King’s Indian Setups

Our first position is from the King’s Indian approach. 

Note that White has declined to play an early h2-h3 in this instance (an automatic move for London players on autopilot) and is hoping the tempo can be put to better use by the early c2-c4 instead. 

Yet Black has a very strong idea here, which has been unearthed by the authors of this book.~ 
 
7…e5!! 

8. dxe5 Ne4! 

Black is suddenly better, after only eight moves! The famous King’s Indian bishop is already breathing tactical fire down the long diagonal and White already has to tread a very fine line just to stay afloat. 

2. London Benoni 

Here is the Benoni system in action. 

After 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 Black can really make White think by playing 3…b5!, which is, of course, a thematic Benoni move, but exactly the sort of thing London players think they are going to avoid meeting when they think they can trot out the same old moves game after game. 

 
(In passing, it is also worth mentioning that 1. d4 c5! is also an excellent way of confusing club players who don’t want to think for themselves too early in the game.) 

After 3…b5!, remarkable as it seems, the d5-pawn may end up in mortal danger, because …Bb7 will be coming soon and White needs to take appropriate action to avoid an opening disaster. 

3. London Nimzo- and Queen’s Indian 

Next, we see the Nimzo/Queen’s Indian method turning out very successfully. 

This looks to be heading straight into White’s dreams, but even here there is an interesting way to throw the first player back onto his own resources. 

4…Ba6!? 

What a difference one square makes! White may have expected the typical Queen’s Indian development with 4…Bb7, but 4…Ba6!? asks significant questions about White’s future intentions, as e2-e3 is suddenly desirable. Furthermore, 5. Nbd2 c5! continues to ask the questions and White will almost certainly be in an unfamiliar position (which is exactly where we want them to be). 

4. London Orthodox System 

Finally, Black’s last triumph to be featured in this particular blog post is the result of the second player sticking to an orthodox way of playing; the very path White players are hoping to see when they develop their bishop to f4, in the hope of a straightforward game in which they plan to keep control of the position and utilize their slight edge. 

Play could start with 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 but Black (once again) throws an early spanner in the works with 2…c5. 

White now has three main options: 3. dxc5, 3. c3 and 3. e3. 

Most players will be reluctant to give up the center with 3. dxc5 – and rightly so. 3. c3 runs into 3…Qb6! when Black is already probing the dark squares on the queenside, which have been deserted by 2. Bf4. Meanwhile, 3. e3 (the most popular option) allows Black to head for a transposition to the Exchange Variation of the Caro Kann Defense with 3…cxd4 4. exd4 Nc6, which is easy enough for Black to play with just a little preparation and a basic understanding of the position. 

Put yourself in White’s shoes. All you want to do is play the first 10 or so moves quickly, without having to think. Yet using the lines recommended in this book, Black will be able to change the course of the game as early as the second move and drag White into quite different territory. Well-prepared players with the black pieces will suddenly be very pleased indeed to see the first player reaching for the c1-bishop! 

Sean Marsh 

Ntirlis – Elyoseph, ICCF 2020

White is ready to play b4-b5! Black managed to defend after 25…Nd7!

Ntirlis- Almeida, ICCF 2016

It is White’s move. I got a winning position with the typical 17.Na5!

Ntirlis – Hassan, IECC 2005.

Black just played 13…d4 and I went 14.Qb5!

Ntirlis – Keber, ICCF 2021

I played 19.c5! And followed it up with Bd2 and b4 with a nice edge.

Did you feel comfortable in White’s shoes? If yes, read on.  

A Common Question

Almost every other day, I hear the question:

Which opening should I play next?

I usually follow up by asking something like “What do you want to accomplish with your opening choice?”

Typically, the answer contains most (or all!) of the following:

• I want the opening to be sound
• Easy to learn
• To give me winning chances in every game
• To be easy to maintain. Not having to work hard if a novelty appears.
• The chess engine to like it in all lines

Any reasonable chess player knows that there cannot be an opening that satisfies all the above criteria. But that’s fine. If there was, everyone would play this one particular opening and we will soon get bored to death.

But I claim, that there is one opening that comes close. That’s 1.c4, the English Opening.

In the rest of this article, I will do my best to convince you.

Why Play the English?

The English Opening is one of the most versatile openings in modern chess. It allows you to safely control the center, create imbalances, stay flexible, and avoid the most analyzed main lines that everyone else studies day and night.

White starts with the move 1.c4, which immediately stakes a claim in the center and poses a challenge to Black. How will they free up their pieces? Many times, Black feels obliged at some point to play their pawn to d5. Ending up with a structure like the one in the diagram.

That’s what is commonly known as the  “Central Pawn Majority”, and it has a VERY important characteristic: It is more sensitive for Black, rather than White!

What does this mean?

• White is safe, even after a few small mistakes.
• Black is in trouble after a few small mistakes.

And… guess what? In games between humans, small mistakes happen all the time!

That’s why I think that the English is sound, practical, and gives winning chances. White has the center and the easier position to understand and play, as the typical piece maneuvers are only a bunch. Also, it is the easiest opening to create imbalances.

What’s the issue, then? Why doesn’t everyone just play 1.c4? 

The Problem With the Chess Engines

This is what IM John Bartholomew recently shared on Twitter:

I couldn’t put that better than him! Chess engines don’t love 1.c4. They quickly show 0.00 or very near to that pretty early. But this shouldn’t be a problem for a practical player, even at the top level.

Do you remember the positions at the start of this article? I asked you how you felt thinking about them. I bet that most of you felt that White is much better, or at least comfortably better in most of them. I asked the same-titled players, even GMs. They all agreed. White should be better and in a practical game between humans, White should be expected to have a decent plus score playing these positions.

The reason is simple. White has a bit more control over the center, doesn’t have any weaknesses and it is easy to see which will be the next few moves.

The chess engines have a different opinion, though. Except for one position (my win against Almeida) the engine evaluation is close to 0.00. And this introduces a huge deal of bias into people’s minds. 

So, I invite you to a world where the engine output shouldn’t matter that much. It can be there, and it can provide information and guidance, but what should matter the most are practical considerations: statistics of human games, sound structures, typical plans, ease of play etc.

What Now?

Conclusion: the English Opening is a great choice for players who want to play for an edge starting from a sound position, without memorizing massive amounts of theory. 

If you want to learn more about the English Opening and get a complete and practical repertoire after 1.c4, check out my new book, Playing the English – A World-Class Repertoire. It’s available as an e-book from Forward Chess.

Nikolaos (aka “Nikos”) Ntirlis is a chess coach and an award-winning author. He has been working with top-level players since 2004 and has written five books and many articles on chess openings. He is an International Master in correspondence chess and is currently playing in the European and World Championships finals. He is active on Twitter, where he posts instructive and fresh chess ideas. Nikos is also a Revenue Operations Manager at Databox, a business analytics app. His motto: “Inform all your decisions based on data” reflects his approach to both his work in business and his chess. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about his chess and business insights.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments below!

The English has been employed successfully by many top players, including Kasparov and Carlsen, adapting well to various playing styles. It suits those seeking dynamic and unexplored positions, making it a compelling option to outmaneuver opponents and create imbalanced positions.

The latest release, Playing the English, by author Nikolaos Ntrilis and Quality Chess offers a full repertoire based on the English with 1.c4. It covers all of Black’s responses and gives the reader straightforward plans and concepts to get a great position out of the opening.

About the Book

Each book section is comprised of the following:

1. A variation Index
2. An overview of analyzed variations, including tabiyas and model games.
3. A short summary that clarifies ideas and the aim of the lines
4. A deeper theoretical section that covers all lines

Let’s take a look at the first chapter as an example:

1.c4 e5 Reversed Dragon

Variation Index

Overview

Ntrilis gives the reader the following tabiya overview:

“The first chapter is one of the most important in the book. For many players, when they hear “English Opening”, the first position that comes to mind is this one. As I explained in the introduction, I believe that a great practical way to meet theoretically challenging variations is to deeply study one primary weapon against them, and also have one or two backup ideas that you know to a decent level. This will be exactly our approach in the chapter ahead.”

The reader is not only given analysis of the main variations, but also alternative moves. Such as in the above position; the main recommendation is 8.b3, but attention is also given to 1.d3.

Following this, the reader is given a few common positions and pawn structures that might occur – from the opening to the endgame, and how to approach them. For Example:

Kingside Majority

Theory Section

The first chapter is divided into two main sections based on the recommendations of 8.b3 and 8.d3. This section always starts with an “opening tree” type of structure so that the reader can understand, and refer to, all of the variations covered:

Finally, to really bring one’s understanding of all the theory home, the theoretical chapters end off with a conclusion that reiterates important ideas, plans, and common instances that you will face.

Table of Contents

1.c4 e5

• Reversed Dragon
• Grischuk’s Reversed Dragon
• Reversed Rossolimo
• Other 1…e5 Lines

1.c4 c5

• Pure Symmetry
• Impure Symmetry
• Hedgehog
• Double Fianchetto

Indian Defences

• King’s Indian
• Grunfeld

…d5 Defences

• Slav-Grunfeld
• English vs Slav
• English vs QGD
• Catalan Transposition

Other Defences

• Dutch
• 1…b6 & 1…g6

About the Author

Nikolaos Ntirlis is an acclaimed writer, an opening specialist, and a Correspondence IM with accolades. His experience encompasses serving as an openings consultant for several GMs, including the Danish Olympiad team. He has effectively employed the English Opening in top-tier correspondence tournaments, and delivers exceptional analyses.

Ntirlis has established himself as a prominent chess figure in the field of chess openings, particularly through his written works. He has written books and articles that delve into specific openings, offering in-depth explanations, annotated games, and practical recommendations for players of all levels. His writing style combines meticulous analysis with a clear and engaging presentation, making complex opening concepts accessible and easy to understand.

He has a wealth of experience in writing opening books with successful/ releases such as:

• Playing 1.d4 d5, A Classical Repertoire
• Playing 1.e4 e5 – A Classical Repertoire
• Playing the French
• The Tarrasch Defence

Overall, the English offers a blend of positional and tactical opportunities, appealing to those with diverse playing styles. This book provides the reader with all the variations, ideas, and patterns needed to understand and employ the opening. Emphasis is very much placed on understanding (which we know is more important than memory in opening study!) through repeated motifs, explanations of the types of positions that will come up, model games, and much more.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t miss out on the special introductory offer at forwardchess.com.

Boris Spassky

The name Boris Spassky is well known not only in chess but throughout the world. He gained international fame during the Cold War era as the World Champion from 1969 to 1972 and of course for his memorable “Match of the Century” 1972 World Chess Championship showdown against Bobby Fischer, which he ultimately lost.

Spassky is a highly respected chess figure for many reasons; his impressive career, universal playing style, contributions to chess theory, and overall gentlemanliness.

Starting out as a young Russian prodigy, Spassky drew attention as a promising talent when at the age of 10, he beat Mikhail Botvinnik in a simultaneous exhibition. This followed many more successes in his career, from winning the World Junior Championship in 1955, multiple USSR titles, qualifying for his first candidate’s tournament in 1956 which earned him the Grandmaster title (at 18 years old, he was the youngest to attain this), to eventually winning his first Candidates in 1965.

Spassky’s journey to the World Champion throne was not an easy one – he played multiple Candidates tournaments, lost his first challenge match against Petrosian in 1966, and then finally beat Petrosian in 1969 to claim the title.

Spassky’s Best Games

The new book release, “Spassky’s Best Games” is a chess biography and celebration of the brilliant games that Spassky played throughout his life. Written by Russian Grandmaster Alexey Bezgodov, and Director of the Chess Museum in Moscow Dmitry Aleynikov, the book is divided into two parts. The first part is a biographical look into Spassky’s life and career which includes many photographs and game snippets and tactics, such as the following one from the 1966 Petrosian-Spassky World Championship match. White to play:

Puzzle Solution

Moreover, the reader will get to know Spassky as a person. You might be familiar with a top player such as Spassky’s career, automatically placing him on a pedestal as one of the greats in chess to look up to, but it is something else to learn about his gentle and kind demeanor, how he respects his fellow players, how he articulates his love for chess. At the end of the day, world champions are humans too – and this book enables you to see and admire the human side of Spassky.

The second part of the book comprises over 60 of Spassky’s best games, annotated by Alexey Bezgodov. An entire section is dedicated to showing Spassky’s contributions to chess: from opening theory to attacking on open files, there are many instructive lessons to learn from Spassky’s games. His style encompasses both an understanding of strategy and tactics, and as Kramnik states in the foreword; Spassky “was probably the first player who showed this important skill: to control the rhythm of the game.”

The authors took the time to grant each game a lesson summary, such as the following unannotated examples:

Spassky’s Best Games: Game Example 1

This first example is from a game played by a twelve-year-old Spassky, with a d4-d5 opening idea for White that remains an important idea today.

Spassky’s Best Games: Game Example 2

There are many more lessons to learn from Spassky, which is now easily laid out to read and understand. To end off this glimpse of what the book has to offer, here is a wonderful quote by Spassky on the most important thing in chess:

“At all times, there has only ever been one requirement for a chess player, which is love for chess. Moreover, you need to love naturally, with passion, just like people love art, drawing, music, and even business. This passion seizes you and plunges into you.”

Spassky’s Best Games: Table of Contents

Part I: A brief biography 

• Chapter 1 Zak: first steps 
• Chapter 2 Forward, Kazimirich!
• Chapter 3 ‘Vater’ Bondarevsky 
• Chapter 4 A promised three year wait 
• Chapter 5 The first setback 
• Chapter 6 Sisyphus’ way 
• Chapter 7 Boris the Tenth 
• Chapter 8 Under the yoke of the champion’s laurels 
• Chapter 9 Olympus awaits the storm 
• Chapter 10 Slave of honour 
• Chapter 11 Next stop: France 
• Chapter 12 A one-legged dissident 
• Chapter 13 Twenty years on 
• Chapter 14 A favourable endgame 
• Chapter 15 Unclear ending

Part II: Games

• Sundry Memories
• Games 1-15
• Games 16-30
• Games 31-45
• Games 46-61

Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don’t miss out on the special introductory offer!

Puzzle Solution:

1.Qh8! Kxh8 2.Nxf7+ picking up the Queen next.

The first highly reviewed book in this series, A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6! – Volume 1 – Nimzo-Indian, covers 3.Nc3 Bb4 offering an in-depth look at the Nimzo-Indian Defense for Black. Now the author rounds off the complete repertoire for Black against 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 by analyzing the Ragozin (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4) and the Anti-Catalan (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 with 3.Nf3 and 3.g3 lines).

Let’s take a look at what these openings are about, and what the book has to offer!

The Ragozin

The Ragozin is a dynamic line in the Queen’s Gambit Defense. It has seen a surge in popularity, largely due to top-level grandmasters (such as Carlsen!) employing it in their games, making it one of the top choices for Black. The move order is quite flexible, which is one of its most appealing factors, but the main position looks like this:

From here, White has a few options which the book analyzes:

Sidelines

• 5.Bf4 a rare move, allowing Black to capture on c4
• 5.a3 also a rare move, forcing the capture on c3. Black follows this up with c5!
• 5.Qc2 a position that can also arise from the Nimzo Indian. Here the author gives the dynamic 5…c5 hitting the center in the true Ragozin style.
• 5.e3 followed by 6.Bd2 a slower and steadier approach for White. Black develops via b6 with ideas of …c5.
• 5.Qb3 White immediately challenges Black’s bishop, forcing action in the center. The typical …c5 idea for Black comes into play again.

Mainlines

• 5.Qa4+ an attacking move that forces 5…Nc6. From here, White has many options:
  • 6.g3, 6.Bd2, 6.Ne5, 6.Bg5, 6.a3, 6.e3
• 5.Bg5 maintains tension in the center, and after 5…h6 White needs to decide between:
  • 6.Bd2, 6.Bh4, 6.Bxf6
• 5.cxd5 releases tension in the center, and after Black captures with 5…exd5, White continues development with:
  • 6.Bg5, 6.Bf4, 6.Qa4+

The Anti-Catalan

The Catalan can be quite flexible as White has a few subtle move order variations, making it a reliable opening choice. White plays d4 and c4, fianchetto’s the light-squared bishop to g2, and aims for long-term pressure rather than an outright attack. Therefore, the Catlan is considered to be quite positional and tends to lead to technical endgames.

The book covers the following move orders:

• Catalan with Nc3: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 0-0

• Catalan with Nbd2: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Nd2

• Catalan with Bd2: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2

As you can see, the book shows a variety of move orders that White has, but we generally reach the same type of position.

Including Bb4+ for Black in all lines, makes this a repertoire that will be easy to learn and remember. Black has many ideas, and the reader will have a comfortable start to every game!

Sidelines

Furthermore, the book also delves into QGD sidelines:

• 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3
• 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5
• 3.Bf4
• 3.Bg5
• 3.g4
• 3.d5

About the Author

Dariusz Świercz is Polish-American Grandmaster and an experienced repertoire author, having written two opening series; The Modernized Ruy Lopez and A Complete Opening Repertoire for Black after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6!, comprising of four books in total.

His professional chess career has been a successful one as he was the youngest Polish player to attain the prestigious Grandmaster title at the age of 14 years and 7 months. He has had multiple notable international tournament successes, such as winning the Under 18 World Youth Championship, and the World Junior Chess Championship.

Table of Contents

Part I: Early Sidelines in the Queen’s Gambit Declined

• Chapter 1 – Various Sidelines in the QGD

Part II: The Ragozin

• Chapter 2 – Sidelines on Move 5
• Chapter 3 – 5.Qa4
• Chapter 4 – 5.Bg5
• Chapter 5 – 5.cxd5 

Part III: The Catalan

• Chapter 6 – Catalan with Nc3
• Chapter 7 – Catalan with Nbd2
• Chapter 8 – Catalan with Bd2

Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don’t miss out on the special introductory offer!

Max Euwe’s legacy in chess is marked by multiple milestones in his career – from being the 5th World Chess Champion (1935-1937) to leading FIDE as president (1970-1978), and even writing many successful chess books. His style was methodical, supported by deep research skills which enabled him to outprepare his opponents (even Alekhine!).

Some cool, lesser-known facts about Euwe are that he:

• Had a doctorate in mathematics and taught as a professor
• Was the first Dutch Grandmaster
• Won a record total of 12 Dutch National Championships
• Wrote over 70 chess books, more than any other World Champion

However, many still consider him to be an amateur player, despite all his accomplishments and he is often underrated as a World Champion. The new release, Max Euwe’s Best Games, is a book that counters this notion by showcasing Euwe’s brilliant chess abilities.

This collection of games delves into his entire career as a player, starting from the 19-year-old Euwe in the 1920s all the way up to the 70-year-old Euwe, demonstrating his abilities in all ages.

Written by Euwe’s successor in Dutch chess, Jan Timman, the reader is shown the most famous games and some lesser-known ones that have a lot to teach. Timman shows how Euwe was able to beat top players like Najdorf and Smyslov, but also how he sometimes blundered winning positions in games where he completely outplayed his opponent just to end up with a draw. The following is an excerpt from the book:

Max Euwe’s Best Games is a wonderful tribute to the chess legend. Written by Timman, a great analyst of our time, and also a player who had a personal friendship and working relationship with Euwe, there is undoubtedly a lot that the reader will learn from this book.

Max Euwe’s Best Games: Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: The 1920s
  • Games 1-19
• Chapter 2: World Champion
  • Games 20-45
• Chapter 3: Dethroned
  • Games 46-61
• Chapter 4: After the War
  • Games 62-80

Game Example

Here is a game example with annotations from the book:

Let us know what you think in the comments below, and don’t miss out on the special introductory offer!

You can find two of their newly released books; Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation and The London System: The Adventure Continues at Forward Chess, (with a few more releases in the pipeline).

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation

One-half of the founding duo, GM Miloš Perunović, is also an author – with books such as The Modernized Benko, and now, under his own publishing house, Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation. Perunović is an expert in the Sicilian Defense, particularly the Four Knights Variation which is characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6:

From this position, the book covers multiple lines that White has:

• 6.Qd3
• 6.Bf4
• 6.Be2
• 6.g3
• 6.a3
• 6.Nxc6
• 6.Ndb5

The pawn on e6 (instead of d6) offers a few benefits; Black’s dark-squared bishop can easily develop to b4 placing pressure on the center, and Black also has the option to strike with d5. In most variations, Black can easily create pleasant positions, and in the case of complex ones, you will be offered different moves for Black. This is why the book’s synopsis states that this line (and the book) will suit both aggressive and defensive players – there is something for everyone!

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation Table of Contents

1. Chapter One: 6.Qd3, 6.Bf4, 6.Be2 and 6.g3
2. Chapter Two: 6.a3
3. Chapter Three: 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Bb7
4. Chapter Four: 8…Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.a3
5. Chapter Five: 10.c4 Bb4 11.Ke2 f5 12.Nf2
6. Chapter Six: 12.exf6
7. Chapter Seven: 6.Ndb5 Bb4
8. Chapter Eight: 6…Bc5 7.Nd6+
9. Chapter Nine: 7.Bf4
10. Chapter Ten: Exercises

The London System: The Adventure Continues

The London System, characterized by moves 1.d4 and 2.Nf3 followed by Bf4 and e3, has become very popular lately, and for good reason – White creates a flexible, solid, and well-protected pawn structure with many opportunities to attack. Moreover, White has a wide range of options after Bf4, allowing flexibility and making preparation and anticipation more difficult for the opponent.

The author, GM Nikola Sedlak, argues that this repertoire is one that can be used for life. He creates a strong foundation for the reader and provides detailed reasoning behind all of his recommendations which means that rather than just memorizing lines, you will understand why they work and the ideas behind them.

The book’s introduction, which you can view in the free sample, prepares the reader for what’s to come by providing snippets of all the chapters.

The London System: The Adventure Continues Table of Contents

1. Chapter One: The Caro-Kann Position
2. Chapter Two: The Classical Setup
3. Chapter Three: Dubov’s Line
4. Chapter Four: The Modern Line …Qb6 – …Qxb2
5. Chapter Five: 5…Bg4
6. Chapter Six: Early Qb6
7. Chapter Seven: Early …Bd6
8. Chapter Eight: The Symmetry
9. Chapter Nine: The Grunfeld Setup
10. Chapter Ten: Exercises
11. Chapter Eleven: Theoretical Novelties

Check out these two new releases by Chess Fortress on Forward Chess, and don’t miss out on their introductory sale offers!

P.S Keep an eye out for more Chess Fortress releases soon