TWIC THEORY
http://www.chesscenter.com/twictheory/index.html
Twelve weekly issues for $15.00

Reviewed by Jeremy Silman

THE WEEK IN CHESS (http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html) is known to all serious chess players as the best chess news site on the web (and it’s 100% free). Recently they expanded their services by offering theoretical articles for the modest fee of $15.00 for twelve weekly issues (sent to you via e-mail).

For those that are interested in such theoretical updates and discussions, free sample issues (in PDF, ChessBase, or PGN formats) can be downloaded (or read on site) – the three free downloads are:

Scandinavian Surprise by Andrew Martin

Sicilian Dragon, 10…Qa5 by Andrew Martin

Trompowsky by Andrew Martin

In case the free issues leave you thinking that everything will be written by Mr. Martin, the April line-up should assuage those fears (or leave you deeply disappointed, if you’re an Andrew Martin fan):

King’s Gambit 3…g5 - IM Bernd Rechel

April 12

Bogo-Indian 4.Bd2 - GM Bogdan Lalic

April 19

Slav Meran 8.Be2 - GM Glenn Flear

April 26

Sicilian O’Kelly Variation - IM Andrew Martin

March articles (already published) were: King’s Indian - GM Viktor Mikhalevski, Sicilian Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nc6!? - GM Tony Kosten, Ruy Lopez Breyer - IM Malcolm Pein, New Directions in the Exchange Grunfeld - IM Tibor Karolyi and IM Andrew Martin, Slav 4.e3 Bg4 - GM Eric Prie.

The price is clearly a bargain, but the chess aficionado has to decide if he feels that the lines explored have anything to do with his/her own interests. IM Martin explores quite a few offbeat lines (which should appeal to fans of obscure openings), while the other writers tend to concentrate on cutting edge theory in popular lines like the Grunfeld, Slav, KID, Sicilian, and Bogo-Indian (and that list will surely grow).

Some will like the fact that the material is computerized, meaning that they can view it in ChessBase (I own a Mac and look over the analysis on a program called Vector). I personally prefer the look and feel of a book, and so am partial to the wonderful NIC YEARBOOKS. Nevertheless, I now look forward to each issue of TWIC THEORY since a quick glance keeps me painlessly informed of new discoveries and ideas.

To see if TWIC THEORY is for you, download the free samples (http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html) and make you own decision.