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Altering the balance in the center of the board is a prime way to seek an advantage in the opening. After 1.e4 e5 the oldest openings are 2.d4 or 2.f4, after 1.d4 d5 the campaign in the center beginning with 2.c4 is standard. In the English opening decisions in the center are left until other matters are addressed, such as development and king safety. True, in the 80’s and 90’s line such as 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 or 3.Nc3 d5 held sway, but as often as not they transposed into some other opening. Playing the symmetrical English with Nc3, g3, Bg2 is a different beast entirely. For a long time it was considered that Black could copy White’s moves, kind of like the Exchange French. This put some players off from taking up the English. GM Marin shows that the subject isn’t quite as simple as all that. Adopting a slightly altered move order, 1.c4 c5 2.g3, Marin divides the material into 3 sections. The first section, “Closed Defences”, explores the controversies of Black imitating White with 2…g3 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3. Historically 5…Nf6, 5…e6 and 5…e5 have been the main choices and Marin deals with each. His approach to 5…e6, which he titles “the Fischer System” is particularly interesting. This line gained prominence in 1970 when Fischer used the line with Black to defeat Smyslov in a much publicized game. Marin adopts an idea with a quick Bg5 to induce a commitment from Black that White can later utilize to generate play. Playing 5…Nf6 has been a common choice, especially among players of the Kings Indian from which the position often transposes. I paid a bit more attention to this line, specifically because it involves Whites main attempt to gain an advantage by altering the center with a timely d2-d4. 5…e5 has been the star for Black for 30 years, an aspect which gives special merit to Marin’s coverage. Ideas with a quick b4 when Black doesn’t post a7-a5 look very positive for White, while lines with a5 by Black have a fresh objective feel to them. The second section, “Open Defences”, consider Black pushing up with d7-d5 early in the contest. A reversed Maroczy Bind line carries a high pedigree and is fully deserving of its special consideration. Marin’s analysis here suggests that White should be able to obtain an advantage and seek positive results in the middlegame. The final section is “The Flexible 3…e6” referring specifically to 1.c4 c5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6. It can easily be stated that the star in this section is Black’s seeking to play the Hedgehog with b6. Here is a point where White can feel assured that with accurate play an advantage is at hand, playing 2.g3 has been a known way to sidestep the Hedgehog for at least 4 decades. Other lines with 1…c5 appear in the book, but don’t seem to constitute more than a passing appraisal from the author. Mihail Marin is a well established Rumanian GM and appears to be adding the title theoretician to his banner. I appreciate the efforts he gives in finding resources in analysis without losing an objective sense of the balance in positions. The analysis isn’t as thicket-like as some books, such as lines of the Sicilian, yet still offers ideas and advice toward playing this line with the White pieces. Quality
Chess has become one of the leaders in first rate publishing of chess
books. I like their books a lot and find them to be excellent resources.
One problem I have is that my copy of this book had about 20 pages pop out
of the binding within the first 2 days of arrival. Otherwise, this is a
great book for players of any strength who are looking to take up the
English with White. From the Publisher's website: a PDF excerpt.
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