Let's Take A Look

We invite you to submit games to be considered by Nigel in this column. For all
games submitted, please provide the following information: (1) Names of both
players; (2) Ratings of both players; (3) When and where the game was played;
(4) The time control used in the game; and (5) Any other information you think
would be helpful for us to know. Please submit the games (in PGN or CBV
format if possible) to: nigeldavies@chesscafe.com. Who knows, perhaps you
will see the game in an upcoming column, as Nigel says to you, Lets take a
look...

Don't Blame the Authors

Lets Take A
Look...

In order to gain an insight into the mind of the chess readership, I sometimes
take a look at online reviews of my books. Its a chastening and educational
experience in which I find the most unexpected things have upset people. Here,
for example, is what one reader said about the number of pages in the Dynamic
Reti:

Nigel Davies
Perhaps I was not completely fair to this book, but everything about it
struck me as half-baked. First, there is the standard 144 pages from
Everyman. When they produce a very special work, such as that on the
Nimzo-Larsen Attack by Jacobs and Tait, this page limit does not apply.
That wonderful work was 192 pages. So, you have the pot-boiler 144
pages, but what is worse, is that Davies introduction in this Reti book is
a "Schiller-esque" copy of his intro in Taming the Sicilian. This is just
lame. The exact same advice is given, which adds to that feeling that this
book was cranked out rather than being a labor of love.

by Bruce Alberston

Well I must confess that none of my books are a labour of love; I write them for
the money. Im just a poor GM with the same issues in life as everyone else; a
wife and little boy to look after and a mortgage to pay. The only thing I can
offer in my defence is that I didnt force anyone to buy my books; they were
free to say no. Id also like to ask permission to not enjoy my job, just as most
dentists dont have to enjoy their jobs unless theyre pulling teeth (I bet that can
be kind of fun). My admittedly lame excuse about the introductions was that I
just gave my usual advice of brushing twice a day, once at night and once in the
morning. It doesnt matter which toothbrush you use, you brush your teeth just
the same.
What Im not quite clear on is the number of pages required to keep readers
happy. Researching the matter at Amazon.com I found a high page tally for the
much maligned Eric Schillers books, including a whopping 768 for Standard

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Chess Openings and Gambit Chess Openings. The problem I and other authors
face is that we sign contracts with the publisher to write a certain number of
pages (144 or 160 is the target for the opening guides Ive written). It costs
them money if they have to produce a book with more than that as the asking
price for the book is decided in advance (many are pre-sold) as are the covers.
A book which comes in too long means extra printing costs without being able
to recoup these with a higher cover price.
Lets see what this same reviewer says about the chess content:
But what finally did me in was his recommendation against the Reti
Accepted (2dxc4). He says that the normal ways of playing to regain
the pawn, Na3 or Qc2, lead to equality for Black; so he recommends the
very rare 3 e4!?. This gives you a backward d-pawn in exchange for
"dynamic" play. Well, I quickly realized that I dont want to play e4, and
since you see dxc4 all the time (indeed, it seems like the best move), this
left me with a very bad feeling about this book, as in, I shouldnt have
bought this book.
All I can say is that sometimes youve got to give something to get something
back, and dynamic play usually comes at a cost, such as a pawn weakness or
even, heaven forbid, material. I hasten to point out that the cover does say The
Dynamic Reti. When I finally convince the publisher of the need to produce the
companion volume for less adventurous souls, The Dull Reti, Ill be careful not
to saddle White with any backward, doubled or isolated pawns or sacrifice any
pawns, pieces or rooks, etc.
Of course, this guy was probably being kind. Heres what another reader had to
say about my Grnfeld book:
Nigel Davies: Please! Stop writing opening books! ....
Lets summarize the technique:

get all the Grnfeld books

review the main lines and what Kasparov and Kramnik are
playing
make few conclusive or thoughtful statements
when you do make a statement, give very vague variations so
people are left wondering, did he really think this was okay or
did he miss this move?

Specific variations: 7 Bc4 in the exchange variation after 7...c5 8 Ne2

Nc6 9 Be3 0-0 Davies forgets 10 Rc1 and only lists 10 0-0 for White, not
even mentioning the h4 idea. I could list probably five more without
thinking, but its not worth the time.
Well unfortunately I cant stop cranking them out while Ive still got those
mortgage obligations, so the only way to stop me writing them is for people to
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Let's Take A Look

stop buying them; chess book production obeys the laws of supply and demand.
With regard to the specific variations, the desired 10 Rc1 line is in the right
hand column of page 37. Admittedly its in a note rather than neon lights, but it
is there.
But its funny; Ive come to wonder what readers expect from an openings book
by reading comments like these. Do they have the crazy idea that it will help
them improve their game? If so, they should think again.
Besides being an author Im also a regular buyer of openings books; for me its
worth a few quid to get the material laid out and have a few ideas presented. I
dont expect perfection or a formula for winning games, just some material to
analyse and build on. Usually I start by sitting down with a board and pieces
and going through some games. After a while Ill get a feel for it and start to get
a view on the moves I like or dont like. To me it doesnt matter too much
whether the book is good or bad, I just need something to get the creative
juices flowing.
What many players might find frustrating is that they may not be strong enough
to do this. They get the book in the expectation that this is what it takes to help
them win games and when it doesnt happen they start looking round for
someone to blame. Rather than admit that theyre not quite as strong as theyd
like to be (heaven forbid) or dont know how to study, so they blame the
authors.
This months game features a nice win with the Veresov by someone who
didnt read my book (it hadnt been published). Jimmy Liew uses a homemade
treatment of the opening, going his own way on move five. Later, he shuffles
his pieces round to the kingside and unleashes a fierce attack.
All this supports my view that a good cook does just as well with an old frying
pan. So dont blame the authors.
IM Jimmy Liew - GM Eugenio Torre
Veresov Opening D01
6th Asian Chess Team Championship, Dubai 1986
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Bg5
The characteristic move of the Veresov; I like to think of it as a kind of
mirrored Ruy Lopez.
3...Bf5
Not a bad move, but I prefer 3...c5 or 3...Nbd7.
4 e3 e6 5 Nge2!?

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A very unusual development considering the

fact that f3 is available and might well be a
better square than g3. The knight should
stay in contact with the e5-square.
5c5!
Grandmasters know to play in the centre
against odd moves by their opponents.
6 Ng3 Bg6 7 Bd3 Nc6 8 0-0 cxd4
Bringing about a pawn structure reminiscent of the Exchange Caro-Kann (1 e4
c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5) or Queens Gambit Declined (1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3
Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5). Understanding how these structures work is one of the keys
to mastery.
9 exd4 Be7 10 Nce2
Starting to shuffle round to the kingside; Black meanwhile will try to carry out
a minority attack on the queenside by playing ...b7-b5-b4.
10...0-0 11 c3 Na5
Another minority attack theme, bringing the knight round to c4.
12 Nf4 Rc8 13 Qe2 Nc4 14 Rae1 b5 15 Nxg6! hxg6 16 h4!
The usual way to open a line on the kingside against these doubled g-pawns. As
Steinitz taught us, kingside pawns are best in a neat row; if Blacks g-pawns
werent doubled White would find it much harder to prise things open.
16...Re8 17 Bc1?!
Not quite incisive enough. White should probably be more direct with 17 f4
intending 18 h5 (the immediate 17 h5 doesnt work because of 17...Nxh5 18
Bxe7 Nxg3 etc).
17...Bd6?!
Black, too, is not direct enough. He should play the immediate 17...b4 when his
counterplay is much quicker.
18 f4 Bf8
18...b4 is better on this move as well. Torre is spending too much time ducking
and not enough punching.

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19 h5 gxh5 20 Nxh5 Ne4!?

Torre had no doubt realised that he was in
hot water and tries to throw White off his
stride. After 20...Nxh5 21 Qxh5 g6 there
would follow 22 Bxg6! fxg6 23 Qxg6+ Bg7
24 Rxe6 with three pawns and an attack for
the piece.
21 Bxe4 dxe4 22 Qxe4
Sensible enough, but this lets Black off the
hook. White should continue the attack with
22 f5 when 22...exf5 23 Rxf5 Nd6 24 Rg5
intending 25 Qg4 sets up dangerous threats against Blacks king.
22...g6?
Missing Whites stunning reply; Black had to play 22...Qh4! when 23 Qf3 g6
leaves White a pawn up but with a lot of work to do.
23 f5!! gxh5
The point is that 23...exf5? is answered by 24 Qxe8 Qxe8 25 Nf6+ etc.
24 f6! Bg7
At first the computer likes 24...Qd5 but then 25 Qh4 sets in motion what looks
like a winning attack. After 25...Kh7 26 b3 Black cannot play 26...Nd6 because
of 27 Re5.
25 Qh4
Threatening 26 Qg5.
25...Qd6 26 Rf3 Bxf6 27 Qxf6 1-0
Black is getting mated.
Recommended Reading
Winning Chess Openings by Yasser Seirawan (Everyman, 2002)
The Veresov by Nigel Davies (Everyman, 2004)

Copyright 2005 Nigel Davies. All rights reserved.

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Let's Take A Look

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