CHESS OPENINGS FOR WHITE, EXPLAINED
Authors: Alburt, Dzindzichashvili, and Perelshteyn
Chess Information and Research Center (2006)
$27.95
548 pages

Reviewed by John Donaldson

On the heels of their successful CHESS OPENINGS FOR BLACK, EXPLAINED, the team of GMs Lev Alburt, Roman Dzindzichashvili and Eugene Perelshteyn are back with a look at White's prospects after 1.e4 with CHESS OPENINGS FOR WHITE, EXPLAINED. This 548-page paperback, published by Chess Information and Research Center, proposes the following repertoire:
 
Sicilian (2.Nc3 and 3.f4)
French (3.Nc3)
Caro-Kann (3.exd5 and 4.Bd3)
Pirc (4.Nf3 and 5.h3)
Alekhine (3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6)
Double King Pawn (2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4)
 
If this looks familiar to those of you have watched GM Dzindi's tapes, don't be surprised. The basic repertoire is taken from Roman's videos but the analysis is greatly expanded. If I had to guess I would say Alburt was responsible for the concept, Dzindzi the proposed repertoire and Perelshteyn the actual book. This repertoire was the staple of the latter as he was growing up and learning under the tutelage of Roman. Many of these lines were also used by Hikaru Nakamura in his formative years as his stepfather Sunil Weeramantry is a longtime Grand Prix (2.Nc3 and 3.f4) fan versus the Sicilian.
 
Who is this book for and how optimistic/realistic is it about White's chances? Let us take a look at two critical lines:
 
In the Sicilian after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.0-0 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d5 8.exd5 (8.e5 is the alternative) 8...a6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.d4 a critical position is reached that has not been tested much. The consensus is that Black should play 10...c4 as 10...Nxd5 11.dxc5! Nxc3 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.bxc3 leads to a position where dynamic factors (better development and King safety) trump pawn structure.
 
After 10...c4 there are very few examples. Probably the best known, Hodgson-Rowson, Rotherham (4) 1997, continued 11.Ne5 but after 11...Nxd5 12.Qf3 e6 13.f5 gxf5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 Black was fine. CHESS OPENINGS FOR WHITE, EXPLAINED proposes 11.Qe2, going after the c-pawn in another way. The analysis continues solely with 11...b5 which is judged to be better for White, but more testing is 11...Nxd5 12.Qxc4 Be6 as played in Perelshteyn(!)-Lawson, Montreal 2005. White was probably a little bit better after 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qe2.
 
Another line where the authors go against the theoretical canon is in the seemingly worked out ancient line of the Giuoco Piano 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3. Viktor Kortchnoi came up with 10...Na5 against Tony Miles in South Africa in 1979. After 11.Qa4+ Nc6 Black renewed his threat to trade off the White light squared Bishop (with ...Nb6) and play ended peacefully after 12.Qb3 Na5. CHESS OPENINGS FOR WHITE, EXPLAINED proposes 11.Qa4+ Nc6 12.Ne5 0-0 13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 c5 16.Rac1 cxd4 17.Rxc7 Bb7 18.Nf3 which leads to the position the authors feel is key for the assessment of the line. They give supporting variations in this pioneering position suggesting White's chances are preferable.
 
Although CHESS OPENINGS FOR WHITE, EXPLAINED is a big book, it is actually aimed at the amateur player who doesn't have unlimited study time. The layout is very spacious with typically four diagrams per board. I think a wide range of players will find it useful from 1600 to Master.
 
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