Artikelnummer
LOWATSE1C5
Autor
Symmetrical English 1...c5
220 Seiten, kartoniert, Reprint, Hardinge, 2004, original erschienen 1988
Aus der Reihe »Hardinge Simpole Chess Classics«
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An authoritative series: John Watson's systematic coverage of all variations of the English Opening.
U.S. International Master John Watson's classic work on the English Opening is still the only comprehensive treatment of this dependable opening, one which has always had a large following among the world's best players. Some of the finest games of modern chess, both positional and tactical, have begun with 1 P-QB4. By virtue of its extraordinary flexibility, the English can lead to unique and original positions at an early stage of the game.
Volume 5 (1...c5) covers Black's most solid reply to the English Opening. This volume is the first comprehensive coverage of the Symmetrical Variation in algebraic notation and contains all significant developments since the author's earlier work English 1...P-QB4.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.
Introduction to this reprint
It has been many years since these volumes first appeared, but the concepts described at that time apply equally well today. The English Opening still provides chess players of all strengths the chance to avoid the massive theory associated with 1.e4 and 1.d4 and yet retain rich play. Some modern players such as World Champion Kramnik have developed new ideas using the move order 1.Nf3 and then 2.c4, leading to English Opening variations analysed in this book. One point of that order is to avoid the response 1...e5, although many players still enjoy playing the Sicilian Defence with an extra tempo following 1.c4 e5. In either case one can enter English positions against all move orders should one choose to do so.
The English Opening is still a tough nut to crack for the theoreticians. Remarkably, no author in the intervening years has attempted to cover the whole of 1.c4 in any comprehensive fashion. Naturally the specifics of theory have changed a great deal, but in the English Opening, unlike the Sicilian Defence or King's Indian, there aren't many new moves that will dramatically change the assessment of the position. The only author to tackle important English variations in detail has been Carsten Hansen, who has contributed excellent works on 1.c4 e5 and 1.c4 c5. Nevertheless, much of what I wrote about and suggested has not been examined even in his work, especially after 1.c4 e5, and numerous moves and variations have fallen so out of fashion that modern writers seem unaware of them. These continuations have not been shown inferior and will doubtless reemerge as players look to the past for 'new' material. In addition, most of the main variations of Volumes 2 and 4 are practically unexplored in other English Opening books. Because all of these volumes went out-of-print in relatively short order, many other of my suggestions and associated analysis are still untried. Some of these will hopefully turn out to be useful to the reader. In any case, the general treatment of the opening remains as it has been for decades.
To the creative practitioners of the English Opening cited in the previous volumes, one might now add Kramnik, Krasenkov, Gulko, Suba, Smirin, Zviagantsev, and Lputjan. From time to time nearly every great player has been successful with 1.c4, notably Kasparov in both normal play and in World Championships. I hope that the reader will awaken to its charms and take it up as a regular weapon.
John L. Watson, June 2004
U.S. International Master John Watson's classic work on the English Opening is still the only comprehensive treatment of this dependable opening, one which has always had a large following among the world's best players. Some of the finest games of modern chess, both positional and tactical, have begun with 1 P-QB4. By virtue of its extraordinary flexibility, the English can lead to unique and original positions at an early stage of the game.
Volume 5 (1...c5) covers Black's most solid reply to the English Opening. This volume is the first comprehensive coverage of the Symmetrical Variation in algebraic notation and contains all significant developments since the author's earlier work English 1...P-QB4.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.
Introduction to this reprint
It has been many years since these volumes first appeared, but the concepts described at that time apply equally well today. The English Opening still provides chess players of all strengths the chance to avoid the massive theory associated with 1.e4 and 1.d4 and yet retain rich play. Some modern players such as World Champion Kramnik have developed new ideas using the move order 1.Nf3 and then 2.c4, leading to English Opening variations analysed in this book. One point of that order is to avoid the response 1...e5, although many players still enjoy playing the Sicilian Defence with an extra tempo following 1.c4 e5. In either case one can enter English positions against all move orders should one choose to do so.
The English Opening is still a tough nut to crack for the theoreticians. Remarkably, no author in the intervening years has attempted to cover the whole of 1.c4 in any comprehensive fashion. Naturally the specifics of theory have changed a great deal, but in the English Opening, unlike the Sicilian Defence or King's Indian, there aren't many new moves that will dramatically change the assessment of the position. The only author to tackle important English variations in detail has been Carsten Hansen, who has contributed excellent works on 1.c4 e5 and 1.c4 c5. Nevertheless, much of what I wrote about and suggested has not been examined even in his work, especially after 1.c4 e5, and numerous moves and variations have fallen so out of fashion that modern writers seem unaware of them. These continuations have not been shown inferior and will doubtless reemerge as players look to the past for 'new' material. In addition, most of the main variations of Volumes 2 and 4 are practically unexplored in other English Opening books. Because all of these volumes went out-of-print in relatively short order, many other of my suggestions and associated analysis are still untried. Some of these will hopefully turn out to be useful to the reader. In any case, the general treatment of the opening remains as it has been for decades.
To the creative practitioners of the English Opening cited in the previous volumes, one might now add Kramnik, Krasenkov, Gulko, Suba, Smirin, Zviagantsev, and Lputjan. From time to time nearly every great player has been successful with 1.c4, notably Kasparov in both normal play and in World Championships. I hope that the reader will awaken to its charms and take it up as a regular weapon.
John L. Watson, June 2004
| EAN | 1843821486 |
|---|---|
| Gewicht | 300 g |
| Hersteller | Hardinge |
| Breite | 13,7 cm |
| Höhe | 21,6 cm |
| Medium | Buch |
| Erscheinungsjahr | 2004 |
| Autor | John L. Watson |
| Reihe | Hardinge Simpole Chess Classics |
| Sprache | Englisch |
| ISBN-10 | 1843821486 |
| Jahr der Originalausgabe | 1988 |
| Seiten | 220 |
| Einband | kartoniert |
| Diagramme | 221 |
iv Symbols
001 Introduction
003 Part I: 2 Nc3 Nc6 - Pure Symmetrical
005 1 Introduction and Various 5th Moves
019 2 5 e4 and 5 e3
032 3 5 Nf3 Nf6 (with ... d5 lines)
040 4 5 Nf3 Nf6 with 7 d4
049 5 5 Nf3: Others
067 Part II: Counterplay by 2 ... Nf6 and ... d5
068 6 3 g3 d5 and the Rubinstein Variation
083 7 3 g3 and the Keres-Parma Variation
098 8 3 Nf3 d5: Asymmetrical Variation
115 Part III: 2 Nf3 Systems
117 9 2 Nf3 Introduction and 2 'Others'
128 10 Three Knights: 2 ... Nc6 3 Nc3 g6
132 11 Queen's Indian and Hedgehog
155 12 Double Fianchetto Defence
166 13 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: 4 ... Nc6
184 14 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: 4 ... e6
201 15 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: Various 4th Moves
216 Index of Variations and Transpositions
001 Introduction
003 Part I: 2 Nc3 Nc6 - Pure Symmetrical
005 1 Introduction and Various 5th Moves
019 2 5 e4 and 5 e3
032 3 5 Nf3 Nf6 (with ... d5 lines)
040 4 5 Nf3 Nf6 with 7 d4
049 5 5 Nf3: Others
067 Part II: Counterplay by 2 ... Nf6 and ... d5
068 6 3 g3 d5 and the Rubinstein Variation
083 7 3 g3 and the Keres-Parma Variation
098 8 3 Nf3 d5: Asymmetrical Variation
115 Part III: 2 Nf3 Systems
117 9 2 Nf3 Introduction and 2 'Others'
128 10 Three Knights: 2 ... Nc6 3 Nc3 g6
132 11 Queen's Indian and Hedgehog
155 12 Double Fianchetto Defence
166 13 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: 4 ... Nc6
184 14 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: 4 ... e6
201 15 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4: Various 4th Moves
216 Index of Variations and Transpositions