Opening Repertoire 1 d4 with 2 c4

Enda en inspirerende og dyktig(!) bok av IM Lakdawala, altså fra hvits side om å spille 1 d4 og følge opp med det mest aktive 2 c4. Til å være en repertoarbok slentrende og partifokusert, og gir mange gode forslag for spillere fra cirka 11-1200 og langt oppover,

I forordet forteller Lakdawala vittig og åpenhjertig om hvordan han nå switchet fra London-system og lignende med 1 d4 til aktuelle hovedvarianter med 2 c4 som han ikke selv hadde spilt siden 80-tallet. Når Lakdawala kan levere så mange bøker og faktisk holde en bra kvalitet, så skyldes det dels at han har spilt svært mye sjakk på passe høyt nivå, dels at han skriver lett og bilderikt og har mye sjakk-kultur inne og dels at han behersker godt de moderne arbeidsverktøyene i sjakk.

Forlagets egen omtale:

These days the move 1 d4 is often used as the precursor to quieter opening choices such as the London System, the Colle System or the Trompovsky. In this book the highly experienced chess author and coach Cyrus Lakdawala goes back to basics, outlining an aggressive repertoire for White based on 1 d4, following up with the traditional 2 c4. The emphasis of the repertoire is to gain space as quickly as possible and set Black the task of finding quick counterplay or face the risk of being overrun. Lakdawala recommends lines with f2-f3 against the Nimzo-Indian, the Petrosian System against the King’s Indian and the Flick Knife (f4 with Bb5+) against the Benoni.

With thorough explanations on pawn structures and piece placement, this book provides insight to both strong masters and less experienced players alike. The format is ideal for the chessplayer keen to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions – a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. * Presents a powerful, aggressive repertoire starting at move one. * Thorough explanations of typical pawn structures and piece manoeuvres. * Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study.

Fra forordet:

This is my 40th chess book and, like other people who turn 40, I’m going through a mid-life (chess) crisis, where the guy who has been married for 15 years suddenly buys a Porsche and dumps his loving wife to run off with a new girlfriend, 19 years his junior. It came about when my buddy IM Tony Saidy sent an admonishing email about my opening choices. He politely opined that I was a disgrace to the white pieces with my choices of the London and Colle Systems and Ulf Andersson’s ultra-safe 1 Nf3 instant endgame reper-toire. I long ago abandoned the root of all evil, a craving for complications, but Tony claimed that my opening choices lacked arable land in which to be creative. Tony argued that, for decades, my opening choices have been kissing simplicity’s butt, in a naked dis-play of sycophancy which hasn’t been seen in the world since Henry VIII’s wives (or at least that is how I interpreted his email!). He insisted that this trend must end and that I take up an aggressive 1 d4 and 2 c4! repertoire.

Tony’s suggestion sounded to me like something from the Island of Dr. Moreau, where the mad scientist breeds lizards and gorillas with humans to produce a new, more powerful race. When it comes to sharp opening lines your writer is a chess Napoleon: in retreat from my many Moscows, since I tend to operate on the very reasonable assumption that in complex positions all my opponents see more than I do. Our unique style is the barrier which separates us from the rest of chess humanity and I argued to Tony that a realization of our own limitations is a form of wisdom which keeps us safe from tempting yet foolhardy decisions.

But he insisted that I switch to 1 d4 and 2 c4, adding: “Always attack! Never overex-tend!” (Tony should seriously consider switching to decaf!) He argued that it is foolish to live a simple life of Londons, Colles, et al. for a person who is theoretically competent. I ad-mit that my opening choices remind people of unimaginative dog owners who name their pets Spot, Fido, Rover, and Shep. And my openings do provide a wide scope for the imagi-nation, just as long as you don’t have much imagination! My problem is underextending, not overextending. Now, at an age when senior moments arrive uninvited and without warning, I’m suddenly supposed to turn into a brawler! Fine. I agreed to try a far sharper 1 d4 and 2 c4!? repertoire for the next few months – although Tony’s vast ambition may far exceed my ability to implement it, and if I end up as the first 1300-rated IM in history, my blood will be on his hands.