In the first book of the series we are dealing on how to face the ‘Gruenfeld Defence’, a modern system that is quite popular nowadays. The proposed system is based on the Bg5 variation (Stockholm Variation), a system that served me well for approximately 30 years, scoring a good 70% in a quite high number of games. Well, this doesn’t sound logical, as the generally scoring of the variation is on 52.8%, a bit better than the average expected of 51.5% to 52%, which is the natural average number of white ‘superiority’.
My quite high score is purely based in study and understanding of the system, so many equal positions were turned into full points! Then we move to study on how to face the ‘Slav Defence’, a modern system that is quite popular nowadays. The proposed system is based on the 4.Nbd2 variation, a system that scores a good 61.6% in a high number of games.
Well, this doesn’t sound logical, as the expected of 51.5% to 52%, is the natural average number of white ‘superiority’. White’s quite high score is quite interesting and simply proves the validity of the system and the diffi culties that the black players are facing. Finally, we will see to face the ‘Blumenfeld Gambit’, a modern system that is quite popular nowadays. Black is seeking active play by sacrificing a queenside pawn and attacking white centre at once, simultaneously.
The proposed system is based on the Bg5 variation, a system that scores a good 57.5% in a high number of games. Well, this doesn’t sound logical, as the expected of 51.5% to 52%, is the natural average number of white ‘superiority’. White’s quite high score is purely based in the fact that not many strong players have adopted the ‘Blumenfeld Gambit’ in their black opening repertory, so the white players are generally stronger.
In the book you will find not only a concrete and well structured moveby-move presentation, but also chapters on middlegame, endgame and tactics, which are typical for this variation and will help you to understand it better.
The only two things you have to do are to buy the book (!) and study it!
Note that the research on the played games is up to the middle October 2019.
Efstratios Grivas
Sharjah, October 2019
Excerpt
