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Well, openings like the Sicilian or the Queens Gambit have such a wide range that it wouldn’t seem likely to pick up ideas or variations that could be a major part of the repertoire and even the French is wide enough that major points could only be touched upon. Dangerous Weapons: the Pirc and Modern is a bit different than that, likely because in these defenses the structure and direction of the game is declared in the first three moves. Consequently, the material in this volume comes closer to critical points than previous Dangerous Weapons. To start, James Vigus looks at early castling for Black in the line 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3. Previous experience and thinking was that quick castling for Black just set the target for White, so Black should hold back on it. Vigus’ work finds that the fight is still complicated with each side having chances. This subject is presented in two chapters as White has the opportunity to bolster the e4-pawn with an early f2-f3 (usually somewhere between move 4 and 7) which is termed the "Argentinean Attack" or keeping the f-pawn back and developing with 0-0-0, Nf3, Bh6 known as the infamous "150 Attack". This line has become a standard at all levels in the past 15 years and so material for the Black player is always welcome. Further support for the Black side from Mr. Vigus comes in a sideline of the Austrian Attack: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.e5 Ng4 8.e6 Bxb5 9.exf7+ Kf8!? along with a new approach in the sneaky White try 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3 c5!? Another of the authors is GM Colin McNab, a well known Pirc/Modern aficionado. GM McNab delivers material on three lines that get a lot of airtime for White in everyday practice. Considered are 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bg5 Nd7 to deliver an active position for Black while keeping options open. McNab then offers the idea 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 e6 arriving at a Hippopotamus formation, which has gained quite a lot of appreciation in recent years. In a real turn to club or even coffeehouse chess McNab explains some points about 1.e4 g6 2.h4. McNab furthers his reputation as a writer of material about d6/g6 defenses by going one step further and taking a look at the White line 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Bf4. White is further engaged by Richard Palliser, the third author, who presents two chapters on a sensible approach for White. Specifically the sequence 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.Be3 0-0 with 6.g4 (“Delayed Spike”) or 6.Qd2 (“Not the 150 Attack”). I appreciated this material because I had played this setup for many years and wondered why it didn’t have any name or following. I feel satisfied that Palliser has presented quite a reasonable case for either of these lines to be played. A more fashionable line from the Black point of view is the Benjamin recipe: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 e6!? This line has received positive reviews from Tiger Hillarp-Person and Vigus. With a third endorsement it seems to have arrived on the scene and fully deserves to. One other chapter written by Palliser was “Spicing up the Fianchetto Variation” which concerns 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.Nge2 e5 7.0-0 a6!? I am not sure how to value this particular chapter as I have found other approaches quite palatable, yet another good arrow in the quiver is not a bad thing. I have outlined the material given and avoided going into great depth on any of the lines for a simple reason. My experience is that those who play these defenses with Black are more inclined to arrive at a position because the play appeals to them and less inclined to be prompted by excessive conclusions or signs of preference for one side or the other. My thinking is that this book delivers good material, for both sides, which can be used to gain points. It isn’t a repertoire book, so anyone coming into the Pirc or Modern would do well to start elsewhere. But anyone comfortable with the defenses who is looking for fresh areas of investigation are well advised to read it. It is
always a pleasant idea to check out the
Everyman website
to see what new Dangerous Weapons are on the way!
Richard Palliser is an International Master with numerous tournament successes to his name, and in 2006 he became Joint British Rapidplay Champion. He has already established a reputation as a skilled and prolific chess writer; previous works for Everyman Chess include Starting Out: Sicilian Najdorf and Beating Unusual Chess Openings, both of which were warmly received by the critics and chess public alike. Dr Colin McNab is a Grandmaster, a former
Commonwealth Champion and a four-time Scottish Champion who has represented
his country at many Chess Olympiads. He has been a regular columnist
for Scottish Chess magazine for a number of years. He is also a doctor
of mathematics, having studied for a DPhil at Oxford University. Dr James Vigus is a FIDE Master and former British
Junior Champion. He's a regular book reviewer and contributor to
British Chess Magazine, and was editor of Dragon (Cambridge University Chess
Magazine). Outside of chess, he's recently completed a PhD in English
Literature at Cambridge.
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