Grivas Opening Laboratory - Volume 2

In the second book of the series we will deal with how to face the ‘King’s Indian Defence’, a long-standing system that is/was always popular. he proposed system is based on the Be2/Bg5 variation (Averbakh System), a system that has served me well for approximately 20 years, scoring a good 60% over a high number of games.

Moreover, this system generally scores a very healthy 59%, which is well above the average expected of 51.5% to 52%, which is the natural average number of White ‘superiority’. My good score is purely based on study and understanding of the system, so that many ‘equal’ positions were turned into full points! hen we will move on to study how to face the ‘Dutch Defence’, an old, but still modish opening that is quite popular nowadays, especially among the middle level of players. As Black can choose between three main systems (Classical, Leningrad and Stonewall), there is little to talk about here and most of the explanations can be found in the relative chapters.

I have to mention that I am still playing the ‘Dutch Defence’ with both colours, so my vast experience cannot be underestimated. Again my good score is based on study and understanding of the various systems, equal positions once more translated into full points! Finally, we will see how to face the ‘Benko-Volga Gambit’, a modern system that is quite popular nowadays. The proposed system is based on the Bg5 variation, a system that served me well for approximately 30 years,  scoring a good 75% in a high number of games.

Well, this doesn’t sound logical, as the general scoring of the variation stands at 51.8%, as explained, the average expectation of 51.5% to 52%, is the natural average number of White ‘superiority’. My extremely high score is, to reiterate, purely based on my study and understanding of the system — equal positions turned into full points with regularity! In the book you will fi nd not only a concrete and well-structured moveby- move presentation, but also chapters on the middlegame, endgame and tactics that are typical of 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 my research on the games included is up to the middle of January 2020.

Efstratios Grivas
Sharjah, January 2020

Excerpt