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Reviewed by FM & ICCF-IM Allan Savage

The following review first appeared in Squares, The Chess World's Picture Magazine, and is reprinted by permission of Squares and Chessco.

When I received this manuscript to review, I almost fell off my chair.  Jude Acers!!  Talk about a blast from the past!  Of course everyone knows Jude has been taking on all comers at the Gazebo in the French Quarter of New Orleans for nearly 30 years.  But how many remember that even before that, Jude was a strong master, played matches with Fischer and Browne (1960s), and toured the country giving lectures and simultaneous exhibitions?  As far as chess writing, he authored the legendary annotations to Grandmaster Chess (1975), the book of the 5th Lone Pine tournament, and then virtual silence - until now.

This work is described as "a book bound in two volumes;" I am reviewing the galleys which are both contained in one single spiral bound volume.  Volume one covers what is called The Italian Gambit System.  It starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 and now (hold on to your seats) 4. d4!?  This is a very forcing way to reach, by transposition, either (1) the obscure Koltanowski variation of the Giuoco Piano, (2) the Classical Max Lange, (3) the Moller Variation or, (4) the new Miami Variation, a whole new opening.  I was brought up on some of these openings, as many of us were (or should have been), and the opportunity to read a review of their theory and see their critical games is a real treat.

The book is written in Acer's own direct "in your face" style, which is quite entertaining.  It contains a lot of pithy quotes from famous players placed in appropriate places.  This is somewhat similar to Stephan Gerzadowicz, but more related to chess rather than the latter's literary references.  There is some interesting chess history when it is relevant, and there is reverence for some of the old masters including Steinitz, Tarrasch, Chigorin, Max Lange, Tartakower, and real pearls from Koltanowski and Rossolimo.  The analysis is supposed to have been thoroughly checked with computer programs.  There is brand new theory and some re-discoveries of old forgotten games and ideas.  Neglected side lines are discussed for both White and Black.  Many sources, including recent books, have clearly been consulted.  This is a very rich book.

Acers notes that Koltanowski's gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4!?) is covered by Chris Baker in A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire (1998).  Baker's analysis is often quoted by Acers and is sometimes even improved by him.  John Watson's review of Baker's book suggested it was reasonable for the club player, but criticized the general approach.  Watson also mentioned that, in the above move order, discussion of the critical 4... d6 was omitted by Baker.  Well, Acer's 4.d4!? makes that criticism moot!  The Miami Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4 6.Be3 [6.0-0 Nf6 could transpose to Koltanowski's line]) was the brainchild of amateur George Laven, who submitted his analysis to Acers for review and comment.  They even played some correspondence games in the line where Acers took the black pieces against Laven (who was permitted to use a computer).  The Italian Game devotes 37 pages to the Miami Variation which certainly presents OTB problems for Black as it is quite tricky in many lines.  But Jude came up with an original defense (6... Ne6) and frankly, it is not clear to me that White gets any advantage.  Therefore, in my opinion, the rest of the analysis around 6... Nc6 is interesting, but unnecessary, from the theory point of view.

If Black meets 4.d4!? with 4... exd4, there is transposition to the Scotch with 5.c3 or to the Max Lange with 5.0-0 Nf6.  Acers coverage of these lines is generally outstanding.  However, I must point out in the Max Lange after 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5, when Black plays the obscure 9... Bf8!?, Acers did miss the critical correspondence game Aldrete - Oim (1998-99) as well as Harding's analysis of it in the latter's Startling Correspondence Chess Miniatures (2000).   So while Acer's book is generally well researched, the book is not perfect.

There are some other problems as well.  Nowhere can one find concise summaries of the theory presented.  Acers needs to take a stand, preferably at the end of each chapter.  Also, there are lines and analysis attributed to many famous players, but sometimes without references.  There is at least one instance of different evaluations for the same position (arising by transposition in a separate chapter).  Such editing problems are typical of self-published books, which this appears to be.

In sum, when Black is confronted with 4.d4, he must decide whether to allow a "new" opening with 4... Bxd4 or play 4... exd4. The later opens Pandora's box via transpositions to the Max Lange, Rossolimo System, Moller Attack, Steinitz-Sveshnikov (!) or Scotch-Goring Gambit!  These latter openings are exhaustively covered by Acers and this analysis itself is probably worth the price of the book, the new Miami variation notwithstanding.

Volume 2 covers other semi-open games after 1.e4.  Here Acers gives his recommendations, especially for fast time controls.  They often consist of gambit-like variations, full of traps, many of which were played by the greats of yesteryear 60-80 years ago, and long forgotten.  These lines are updated with recent improvements when appropriate, but the analysis' is not very deep and often ends in unclear positions.  The best coverage in this uneven section concerns the French Defense, which contains old lines such as Tartakower's 3.Bd3 and Michel's "Apache" Attack (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Qg4).  By contrast, the Sicilian is mostly concerned with the modern 3.Bb5 lines.  Much of the discussion in Volume 2 concerns Fischer's repertoire and opinions, which while interesting for the historical value or uninitiated, is rather dated.  The table of contents ends with "Illustrative Games" but none were appended to my copy of the galley proofs.  Baker's aforementioned book gives far better "repertoire" coverage of these "other" defenses vs 1.e4.

While spotty in some parts, this book is highly refreshing.  It is well worth having if you are an 1.e4 player and favor the Italian Game, or must face it with the Black pieces.  It will also be of value to any player who likes open games and is interested in the rich chess history and personalities associated with opening theory.
 

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