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Chessville
Advertise to Single insert:
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Ideas Behind the Modern Chess Openings Reviewed by David Surratt
© 2002
Specifically, this book is a recommendation of the London
System for White, characterized by the moves 1.d4, 2.Nf3, and 3.Bf4
The font size of the text, as well as the diagrams, are rather on the smallish size (which means more content than one might otherwise expect in a mere 176 pages); OK for those of us with good vision, but for some this may prove to be a challenge. Still, the text and diagrams are crisp and clear. The binding is glued, as with most softcover books. Lane asserts that the London System "is suitable for those with a limited amount of time for study and who wish to play something reliable yet with attacking prospects." He goes into a fair amount of detail to prove his point, covering most all possible systems that Black might use. The Introduction has a paragraph on the history of the London System, ideas behind the system, and a very brief overview of how it can be used to meet different systems Black might employ. As Lane does throughout the book, stem games are used, with plenty of other games and analysis (both his own as well as other's) used to flesh things out. The first chapter covers the London System itself, using six different stem games to show how White can proceed depending on how Black develops. This chapter can be considered the "Main Line", if such a thing exists. Other chapters give detailed analysis of the London in action against: The Chigorin, The Dutch, The Benoni, The Pseudo-Benoni, The Queen's Indian Formations, The Grünfeld Formations, and The King's Indian Defense. The final three chapters provide some analysis in the Barry Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2) for those who wish to play against a Black king-side fianchetto without using the London System, and the 150 Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6) which can be reached via the Barry Attack move order, although normally an 1.e4 opening. A final chapter, titled "Odd Openings" gives thumbnail sketches of the Englund Gambit (1.d4 e5 2.dex5 Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7), the Clarendon Court (1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!?), and the St. George (1.d4 b5 2.e4 Bb7, among other move orders). Finishing off the book is the Index of Variations, and in the all-too-familiar format that I detest. The typical Index of Variations I see in opening books is nothing more than a chapter-by-chapter outline of the book itself. Why don't authors and publishers give us a real index, one organized by move order? While there is a lot of analysis and example games here to provide you with an excellent overview, and Lane provides recommendations for a number of situations where the example games proved less than trustworthy, there also is plenty of scope for further investigation by the reader. And that is as it should be, grounding you in ideas and concepts, with enough concrete analysis to get you off to a good start, without expecting you to memorize reams of variations. Indeed, Lane says in his Introduction, "There is an emphasis on learning key plans and ideas rather than remembering vast numbers of moves." However, one seemingly major omission is the absence of discussion about transposing back to London System lines when Black tries to play something else. In the chapter on the Benoni, e.g., after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 Lane recommends 3.d5 as an "Anti-Benoni". Yet part of the attraction of the London System is that, according to Lane, it is "suitable for those with a limited amount of time for study and who wish to play something reliable yet with attacking prospects." and "White's opening choice is perfect for those who want to cut down on their learning time because - regardless of how Black responds - a grasp of the general ideas depicted in the main games should allow players to handle any situation that may arise." Now if I had "a limited amount of time for study..." and knew that "Generally speaking White will meet any ...c7-c5 advance with c3" because "White wants to maintain a pawn formation that stops Black's pieces from invading on the queenside", then I might want to play 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.c3. Well, as Lane goes on to point out, "It is worth remembering that if Black captures on d4 then White takes back with the e-pawn, thereby allowing him to exert more control on the important e5 square after, for example, kingside castling and Re1." So maybe 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 is better? I have my own opinion, and you will have to develop your own opinion as well, because Lane simply doesn't address this sort of attempt to transpose back to mainstream London System lines. Overall I like this book, and I believe it mostly does live up to it's promise. Readers should bear in mind though, that there simply is no free lunch! The reader will still need to put forth the effort to learn the system, and work out transpositions, and so on, by themselves. If you are looking for a solid opening system with good attacking chances for the White pieces, this book merits your scrutiny. Check it out at Amazon.com!
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