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King’s Indian: by Svetozar Gligoric Reviewed by IM-CC Keith Hayward
First Impression: In opening this book the formatting of the diagrams jumps out at this reviewer. Rank numbers are on both sides of the diagrams, and the file letters are at the top and bottom. I find this non-conventional presentation of diagrams annoying to look at. I started to overlook this annoyance while playing through the first five games, and I was getting into Gligoric’s commentary and analysis, but then beginning with game 6 the book seems to change?! Gligoric’s narrative seems to fade away, and we are introduced to another annoyance, small analysis line diagrams to the side (right or left ) using framing ... where the diagram does not fit into the analysis line, there is a note in the analysis ("see diagram"). Sloppy - sloppy and very unprofessional looking.
Publishing Quality: No editor was identified that I could find, so it is unclear who decided on the formatting. The book uses selected complete games as the method to present the opening analysis. The one column approach in the first five games is acceptable. After that many of the games have more detailed analysis plus with the introduction of small analysis diagrams, I found it rather confusing to differentiate game moves from analysis lines, especially when bold text was used in both areas. My guess is the manuscript of this book was created with a database program. The diagrams look text made. Although all the material is readable, the book could have benefited from additional formatting.
Subject Coverage: I had never heard of the name, Mar del Plata variation, until used with this book. Gligoric gives 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 0–0 6 Be2 e5 7 0–0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7 9 Ne1 Nd7 10 Nd3 f5 11 f3 f4 12 Bd2 Nf6 13 b4 g5 14 c5 h5 15 Nf2 Ng6! 16 Rc1 Rf7! 17 cxd6 cxd6 18 a4 Bf8 19 a5 Rg7
...taken from his game against Najdorf, Mar del Plata 1953, stating “At this moment, the Mar del Plata Variation was born!”. Hardly a good starting point for an opening book. Part one of the book is titled, “The Development of Ideas that lead to the Mar del Plata Variation.” In this part of the book the writing style is quite different from the other two parts. Part two contains detailed analysis of 9 Ne1 Ne8 then 10 f4, 10 Nd3 or 10 Be3. Part three covers 9 Ne1 Nd7, 9 Nd2, 9 Bd2, 9 Bg5, and 9 b4. I have this suspicion that Gligoric did part one on his own, and he had help with the other two sections.
Author’s Knowledge: There is no doubt about the fact that Gligoric played a key role in the early development of the King’s Indian Defense. I think any opening book written by a strong grandmaster that plays what they are writing about is well worth buying. Usually their insights and passion for their opening (defense) makes for great reading. And on this level, Gligoric delivers! Part one of the book is especially informative. Gligoric, having played both sides of this defense, gives completely unbiased opinions, and as he put it himself, “I included it constantly in my repertoire for the next 25 years…” This intimate familiarity gives him a good foundation of knowledge and experience to write from.
Informative: All games are well annotated, but the level of instructional narrative varies from game to game. Gligoric gives his own games extra special attention, and these comprise about a third of the illustrative games. He gives historical information, as well as own personal perspective, on the development of ideas within these games. I really like this story-telling / reminiscing quality. I wish I could have seen more of this with the other games. Although the book contains a modest 38 illustrative games, the analysis is extensive. I think playing through and studying all these games will give the reader a good base of knowledge to play this line of the King’s Indian Defense with confidence.
New Ideas: I found the book’s focus tended more to the instructional than theoretical. Analysis begins after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 0–0 6 Be2 e5 7 0–0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7
...so the focus is more on middlegame plans and tactics. Gligoric’s annotations are thorough and excellent, giving the reader plenty of ideas and analysis to work with.
Accuracy: Gligoric plays both side of this variation, which I think helped his objectivity, the comments and appraisals are fair and accurate.
Overall Appraisal: Since the book’s analysis focuses on all the options after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 0–0 6 Be2 e5 7 0–0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7, I am not sure why the book is titled “King’s Indian Defense - Mar del Plata Variation”? I have always known this variation to be called the Classical Variation. This strange titling of the book might confuse some potential buyers on what this book is all about. Nonetheless, detailed coverage by a well-known opening theoretician makes this book well worth buying for anyone interested in playing the Classical variation of the King’s Indian Defense.
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