[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: This week at the Chess Cafe

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
This week at the Chess Cafe
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1214621334.shtml


   I generally mention the Chess Cafe only during the Dvoretsky and
   Mueller weeks of the month, but there are some articles this week that
   I'd like to bring to your attention.
   First, while it's not so much an article in its own right but [1]a
   review (permalink [2]here), it's of a book very much worth reading:
   Jonathan Levitt & David Friedgood's Secrets of Spectacular Chess
   (available [3]here). Steve Goldberg's review offers a glimpse into the
   book's contents and he, like GM Jonathan Rowson in the latest issue of
   [4]New in Chess magazine (2008/4), has only good things to say about
   it. (Rowson's review, for those who have access to the magazine,
   provides a fuller picture and even greater enthusiasm for the book.)
   My own copy just came in the mail (one of the pleasures of coming home
   is catching up on the chess goodies that arrived while I was away),
   but I can already recommend the book based on the decade-old first
   edition. Highly recommended.
   Next up, there's Stefan Bücker's opening column, "[5]Fashionable or
   Ailing" (permalink [6]here). Most of his material is of only passing
   interest to me, as he's generally supporting extremely unusual lines,
   often claiming very positive evaluations for the most
   suspicious-looking variations. Let me be clear that this is not an
   argument against any of his analyses, but a confession of doubt and
   suspicion. His work always looks like the product of diligent, patient
   and persistent work, and for those who are willing to believe him over
   their lying eyes, there are undoubtedly some jewels to be found.
   At any rate, this month Bücker takes a look at a comparatively
   mainstream opening, the King's Gambit - and the main line of the
   King's Gambit Accepted, at that! Like the French Defense (from White's
   point of view), the King's Gambit is one of those openings that Black
   players often hate to face. This article offers a very good survey of
   the main line, and as (a) it's fine for Black and (b) the amount of
   material to master is manageable, I commend it to 1...e5 players (as
   well as those who play the KG).
   Finally, Hans Ree's "Dutch Treat" column celebrates "[7]Magnus
   Carlsen's Glorious Year" (permalink [8]here). Much of the article
   recapitulates details "ordinary" readers already know, but there are
   some interesting and comparatively obscure, historically-based points
   adduced as well. Ree also offers some commentary, together with a
   brief presentation of Carlsen's round 1 victory over Vassily Ivanchuk
   from the recently completed Aerosvit Tournament.

References

   1. http://www.chesscafe.com/Reviews/books.htm
   2. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review639.pdf
   3. http://www.ukgamesshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=chnew362&Category_Code=chnew
   4. http://www.newinchess.com/Magazine/Default.aspx?PageID=100
   5. http://www.chesscafe.com/kaissiber/kaissiber.htm
   6. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss34.pdf
   7. http://www.chesscafe.com/hans/hans.htm
   8. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hans143.pdf