1.e4: A Comprehensive White Repertoire (Blog Preview)
My Chessable book 1.e4: A Comprehensive White Repertoire was released today. This repertoire was a major project of mine that I've been working on for several months and was endorsed by GM Dejan Bojkov. The price for this book is $19.99 with a sale of $14.99. This price is likely to go up if I get a title (National Master or higher).
Click here to go to the repertoire's product page.
Here is the intro video for this product:
This repertoire recommends ambitious lines with a heavy emphasis on initiative and positions in which White can fight for the advantage without risk.
There are 16 chapters which are divided into introductions, annotated games, and theory sections.
There are 30 introduction variations, 63 annotated games, and more than 1200 theory variations.
There are also more than 149,000 words, mainly to help the reader understand why moves were recommended, why some others weren't, and explain thematic ideas in the annotated games. The support level is high, meaning that (as of now) I am likely to check in to the book at least every few days to answer questions and update the book if needed (constructive criticism is welcomed).
Other than words and annotated games, I also used arrows/circles at the end of many variations and throughout annotated games to emphasize middlegame ideas. Here are some examples:
Here is a basic outline of what I recommend against the main Black replies to 1.e4:
1...e5: Ruy Lopez, Mainline Petroff with c4
French (3.Nc3): Winawer: Mainline with 7.Qg4, Classical: 4.e5, Rubenstein: 5.g3
Caro-Kann (3.e5): 3...Bf5 4.h4, 3...c5 4.dxc5 with an early a3 intending b4 and Bb2
Sicilian (2.Nf3 with 3.d4): Najdorf: Fischer-Sozin Attack, Classical: Velimirovic Attack, Scheveningen: 6.Be2, Dragon: Yugoslav Attack with 9.Bc4, Accelerated Dragon: Maroczy Bind, Sveshnikov: Mainline with 9.Nd5, Kan: 5.c4 (Hedgehog)
The Rest: Pirc - Austrian Attack, Alekhine: Mainline with 4.Nf3, Scandinavian: 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3
Many sidelines which aren't mentioned in the above list are also covered.
There are many innovations and novelties. I don't want to give too many away in the preview, but I can show some in order to give readers an idea of how in depth this book is.
David Milliern wrote a blog review about this repertoire which can be seen by clicking here.
Here are some other product reviews from students who have tried this repertoire:
"Elijah has done a tremendously good and thorough job! Not only that he had suggested most of the principled lines in the repertoire, but he had done a fine job in double checking them with computer programs, fulfilling them with new ideas and recommendations. In this book, you will find hundreds of variations, many of them explored in depth. Yes, the principled lines are covered at a Grandmaster level. The best part is that you will not only bluntly memorize the moves. You would have a clear idea what to do at the end of each line. The variations are never dry but well filled with verbal explanations, arrows, and instructions. Typical endgame positions are sometimes presented for better understanding of the structures and the plans.
But the best part for me is the honesty with which Elijah is presenting the material. He will not claim an advantage in every line that he suggests like many authors do. He would rather show the best continuations for your opponent and suggest a practical repertoire which will help you get a good position out of the opening no matter what happens.
All in all, this book was an excellent read. Highly recommended."
"About twenty-five years ago, when software that ordinary people could afford to run on their own computers was just beginning to play chess at master level, NM Sid Pickard put out a book entitled ECO Busted. The busts weren’t all his own discoveries, and they didn’t by any means form a repertoire, but Sid had raked together over five hundred places where the analysis in those five massive volumes was in urgent need of correction. It was a curious tribute to the amount of rubbish even strong players published that a strong amateur with an early version of Fritz could cut a wide swath through the gold standard reference work.
All of that occurred in the era of chess analysis that we should now refer to as BS – meaning, of course, Before Stockfish. Which raises an interesting question: what could a very talented amateur do today, with vastly more powerful software, databases that can generate statistics almost instantly from millions of games, an explosion of high-quality openings material available online, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of hours to devote to creating and honing an aggressive repertoire?
Logozar’s comprehensive 1.e4 repertoire gives us the answer. And the short version of that answer is, a lot. A heck of a lot. Holy smokes, omigosh, crazy amounts of a lot." [...]
The level of investigation, scrubbing, reworking, and fleshing out is so insanely thorough that this repertoire could be used in high-level correspondence chess. I suspect even some IMs and GMs could learn things from working through this repertoire. [...]
This is a ridiculously low price for this quantity and quality of information. Seriously, this is an incredible bargain, and it’s selling at this price only because the author isn’t titled yet. When – not if – Logozar becomes a titled player, the price is going to jump, and won’t you wish you’d bought it when it was still cheap?" - NM ZukertortsGhost
"I would really like to thank Mr. Logozar for making another quality book. I fully 100 percent support everything that he puts into his books. I can not even start to say how much work was put in. Right now there are 1227 variations!!!! He goes into detail in each line, and this book has really prepared me for tournaments. I do not think that there is another book reaching the depth and the level of this repertoire. Just by looking at the moves you can see that there was very deep research done in each of the lines. There is no way that if you buy this book you will regret it. It is clear that he is a very gifted author, and if you can buy this book it would be best too. He contains annotated games of each line, introduction tho theory etc: I recommend all of you should buy this GREAT book!!!!! I have never come across such quality on all of chessable! Please buy this book if you want to increase rating points. I can assure you that your knowledge of e4 will increase. Thank you Logozar for making such a great book!!!!" - NM pikachuisdabest
"I would definitely recommend this book for all players looking for a lasting and reliable White repertoire. It is immediately apparent that the author has meticulously researched and built a first-class repertoire of incredible depth.
The organisation of the book is logically structured throughout. In each section there is an introduction to the mainlines followed by several well-annotated key master games, meaning you are then ready for the theory section.
The theory sections often deal with lesser lines first before turning to the mainlines, so you know how to deal with inferior opening moves. All are thoroughly explained with logical verbal reasoning throughout. I often found myself nodding along with the clear approach taken by the author which is built on sound chess principles. Plans and ideas extensively support theory lines, including visual indications which give you guidance on how to play the position out through the resulting middlegame or endgame positions. You will never be left out in the cold with no idea how to play the resulting position as some opening books often do!
I recommend that you pick and choose which openings you want to study by using the pause function here on Chessable as there is a lot to work on here! For example, you might want to tackle 1…e5 first for a while before moving onto the French, Caro-Kann or Sicilian chapters. Or you might want to deal with the sharpest openings first, such as the Sicilians and come back to the rest at a later stage. It’s totally up to you.
The French Defence has often been something which I have struggled with in the past and I often went into exchange lines (sorry...) in order to avoid theory. However, within just a few days of working on the French chapter I was able to obtain a clear opening and middlegame advantage in a recent OTB game in the Rubinstein variation. I can only imagine how weeks or months of study could, therefore, help transform my game. I intend to work on this book by not only regularly reviewing the moves, but by re-reading the text and re-visiting the key annotated games as often as necessary. I believe this is key for a good all-around understanding and much better than simply ‘drilling’ lines. I also intend to memorise some of the key games provided here at a later stage. This book will therefore become something of a lifetime opening companion and not something gathering dust on the bookcase!
I am fully confident that the “1.e4: A Comprehensive White Repertoire” will provide anyone who studies it diligently with a high level of chess understanding. Impressive work and highly recommended." - Benedictine
"1.e4: A Comprehensive White Repertoire, is a must-have book for any chess player wanting to improve their chess. This book contains several variations (currently: 1243 variations) and great annotated games, which prepares oneself to confidently play their game. Personally, by reading this book, I feel that I have gained many rating points and have deepened my understanding of chess. I have personally seen logozar's meticulous effort that he put into this book and I assure you that this book will change your chess career for the better." - Pranav_V
"I would recommend this book for any intermediate or advanced players looking to improve their chess. This book is a first-class repertoire for White on 1.e4 and can be used by any players including Grandmasters. The author Logozar, has spent a long time researching and refuting books after books in order to come up with the perfect solution with 1.e4. This book is one of the best and in-depth opening books for White on this website." - PawnPusher1
"Elijah has written a comprehensively researched and lucid repertoire that any player will benefit from and use for years. The first stand out element for me is the annotated games. Elijah’s descriptions are very clear and easily absorbed telling the story of the game. I find these much more digestible and meaningful than the usual endless variations you see in other books. His descriptions are interspersed with comments taking from source material on the lines illustrated. The plans and ideas are so directly communicated you always feel comfortable with whichever game you are going through. I am currently using it to research and prepare lines against the Caro-Kann an opening a good friend of mine plays. I know this is a complex opening but with Elijah’s ideas and sound comments I know I will have a fighting chance. I feel privileged to own this book and know that it will be of immediate value now and for years to come. Buy it - you won't regret it." - Starbuck
"This is a Great Book! Every time I look at it, I think WOW because every variation, game, is explained in massive detail. It takes a long time just to scroll through the variations! Buy this if you want a resource for almost EVERY SINGLE variation there is in Chess. Don't judge Elijah's rating- it does not reflect his knowledge or skill and I, as a student can vouch for that. Anyways, I was extremely pleased with this book and I am sure that anybody else who reads this will be pleased too!" - Koudar331
"I would whole-heartedly recommend this book for any chess player. [...]
If you are an e4 player, this book thoroughly covers the lines the author, Elijah Logozar, recommends. Not only that, in all the lines white has an advantage, whether it be a slight, positional advantage, a huge advantage, or an equal position in which black must find a series of forced moves to survive.
If you are not an e4 player, this book is great to expand your horizons, or knowledge of different positions. As a 2086 USCF rated player, I can assure you that knowing more openings is better for you because you learn new ideas or you learn a new application of an idea you already know. Not only that, you might like this book so much that you might want to buy it because of its in-depth theory and easy to understand lines.
The structure of the book makes it very easy for the reader to comprehend. The structure of the book is the following: the reader goes through the annotated games, which are all classics, and gets an understanding of the opening that Logozar is covering. Then, the reader goes through the introduction of the theory section and gets even more understanding of the line through a bit of theory and Logozar's many words, arrows, and circles. Following that, the reader then deeply studies the theory. And finally, the reader does their review reinforcing their knowledge of the opening.
Logozar does an excellent job with his recommendations. Logozar chooses well-scoring lines which are objective and some of which happen to be novelties. Not only that, Logozar put in a lot of work into the theory by buying endless amounts of books and sources to make sure his recommendations were correct. Logozar also disproved what grandmasters were using against his lines with over 3 months of work and determination. In conclusion, I recommend this book to any and every chess player whether they are e4 players or not. This book does an excellent job explaining the lines Logozar recommends. The book does so through its annotated games, the annotations Logozar included, the arrows and circles which give a visual representation of what he is explaining, and the videos he made to make it easier for the reader to understand his lines. Very nice book and I highly recommend it to all chess players!" - TheTheoritician
"Comprehensive: complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something. You may not have bought this repertoire yet, but if you bothered to read the intro to it (and watch its intro video as well), I’m sure you’d already describe them as being “comprehensive”. Even this review, as well as all the others, are long! But unfortunately (or fortunately) for you, this is nothing compared to the actual repertoire itself. I intended on making this review a fine piece of literature, but since I’m not in that mood today, I will simply be like everyone else and cite statistics:
There are 1246 variations, according to the variation counter (good though we have machines). However, this is actually a little misleading. If a “variation” is defined as a branching point for each separate move and reply, there is actually a lot more. In many lines, LogozRAR added possible replies to the text, in order to reduce the number of variations you have to study. This is because he is trying to market this product to all players, not just lazy ones like me. And 149,764 words? (Yes, I counted them all myself) That is insane! There are about half a million words in the English language, and LogozRAR used a third of them in this repertoire (Edit: I was notified by chessable staff that the same word can count more than twice, so this might not be completely accurate.)
Time for a commercial break: But what I like best about this repertoire is the support level, which is marked as “high”. If you ever start to be discouraged and think that this repertoire is getting a little bit too hard for you, simply let us know, and we will support you through it. If you think a variation isn’t covered well enough? Pay me $5 and I’ll relay a message to the author myself. If you find yourself annoyed that you are 38th on the leaderboard? I charge $30/hour to do chessable on your account to let you reach #1 on the leaderboard, so you can brag to your friends (if you have any) that you study more than all of them at chess.
I’ve listed the basics (I told you this would be comprehensive, I’m nowhere near finished!) Now I’ll actually get into the repertoire, and attempt to make it the most comprehensive review ever made. The intro covers the recommendations, but for those of you preferring a simple list:
Against 1...e5: Main Line Petroff, Ruy Lopez
Against 1...c5: All mainline stuff with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4.
Since this repertoire is supposedly aimed at players from “beginning” all the way to “advanced”, I won’t name specific lines. He just tries to find what he views as the most challenging Against 1...c6: Advance Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5). It’s a line that nowadays is looking quite dangerous for Black. But beware, like every line, there is a ton of theory. Against 1...e6: 3.Nc3. Against 3...Bb4, he recommends the main line with 7.Qg4, and against 3...Nf6 he recommends the normal 4.e5. Against other moves, he simply recommends systems that get an advantage. These openings aren’t a concern, but he covers all of the lines. There might be some specific lines that you wished were covered deeper, but every line is mentioned. Seriously. Every move that’s been played. It’s ridiculous. I think I’ve given a good summary of what the repertoire recommends. Now I’ll state what I like and didn’t like.
What I liked:
1. Coverage of all lines. Understandably, a book can not cover all lines. But this is no book. This repertoire really is better than getting a book, because as noted earlier, LogozRAR will add lines, process expedited if you pay me. This is a virtual book, and it’s better. After all, how often do you go to sleep and find out your most recent chess book decided to add 5 pages to itself? I feel like I can’t stress this enough, so I’ll stress it more. Every line is covered! No fear of being out prepared! That is insane!
2. Explanation: LogozRAR doesn’t hold back from using as many words as possible. Pretty much every idea is explained in the position, so even without theory, you should have some idea of what you’re doing.
3. The lines themselves: I worked with LogozRAR myself to bust his repertoire. (It was hard, but I did manage to scare him a few times.) Amazingly enough, there were quite a few times he proved the engine (Stockfish) wrong! This makes it especially strong, as even if your opponent has prepared, if it’s a sharp line, you will surprise him when you play right into his prep... and end up with an advantage! I love doing this, and after the game, I tease my opponents so much that many of them quit chess.
What I didn’t like:
Coverage of all lines: As a player who gets paired as black in almost half my tournament games and faces 1.e4 in half of those games, I am concerned what would happen if all my opponents were using this repertoire. There is no escape.
Explanations: LogozRAR, just like me, in an effort to get his word count up (I do it to avoid failing grades), will frequently overexplain the position, at least for players of my lofty caliber. Lower rated players might benefit more from it, but as an expert, I felt slighted.
Time to complete: I’ve put in hours into this, and I’m only 13% of the way through. And I definitely don’t even remember most of the lines. The fact that it takes so much time to learn this is disheartening and disappointing. Fortunately, chessable is quickly innovating, and soon they will find a way to import PGNs into your brain. So by the time you read this, that will not be a problem.
I can’t really recommend this product, because I’m not being paid by the author or chessable to write this. But I will say, it is the best chess opening “book” I’ve ever seen in my life. And I didn’t even mention the annotated games! Too much stuff!
This ends the comprehensive review of the comprehensive repertoire."
