Opening for White Kramnik 1a

OPENING FOR WHITE ACCORDING TO KRAMNIK 1a
Author: Alexander Khalifman
308 pages
$27.95
Chess Stars Publishing (2006)

Reviewed by John Donaldson

This volume, which covers The Old Indian, Anti-Grunfeld (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qa4+) and ...Nbd7 and 6...Bg4 systems in the King's Indian Defense, is but one of two volumes (1a and 1b) that mark what most be the largest revised edition in chess publishing history. Volume 1, covering the same subject matter, came out in 2000 and was about 240 pages. Now the openings are covered in two volumes, each of which is substantially larger than the original.

There is not just more analysis. The physical qualities of the series (binding, paper etc) were fine the first time around but are better now. More importantly the English (the series is written in Russian and translated and published in Bulgaria), which was serviceable but rough in the first edition, is much improved.

The OPENING FOR WHITE series is not for everyone. It is aimed to give FIDE titled players a stable repertoire that will promise slight advantages against Black's best play. This means there is a lot of material here, way more than the average club player would ever need. If you are rated above 2000, like queenside openings featuring active positional play and are ambitious -- this is your series.

Click if you would like to buy (or get more information about) OPENING FOR WHITE ACCORDING TO ANAND VOL. 8