i am quite sure the op knows how to read and study a book
Best books/resources to learn the Black side of the QGD?
Sort:
This is all excellent stuff, thanks everyone!
I will say that am guilty of buying too many books that I don’t intensively study ... my studying is mainly limited to my mobile device (tactics) whenever I can steal a moment. A lot of my time with chess has been squandered, but hopefully I continue to “learn how to learn.” To supplement my tactics, I am hoping to learn the basics of strategic thinking in the opening and middlegame using a classical repertoire as my consistent model. Unfortunately, I don’t hardly play (I know I know), but maybe one day.
I will say that am guilty of buying too many books that I don’t intensively study ... my studying is mainly limited to my mobile device (tactics) whenever I can steal a moment. A lot of my time with chess has been squandered, but hopefully I continue to “learn how to learn.” To supplement my tactics, I am hoping to learn the basics of strategic thinking in the opening and middlegame using a classical repertoire as my consistent model. Unfortunately, I don’t hardly play (I know I know), but maybe one day.
One final question ...
For coverage of White’s move 2 sidelines after 1.d4 d5, I see Ntirlis’ Play 1.d4 d5 and Avrukh’s Beating 1.d4 Sidelines, but these seem more like references for advanced players... Are there any more elementary explanatory/conceptual books that cover Black’s perspective of these early deviations?
For coverage of White’s move 2 sidelines after 1.d4 d5, I see Ntirlis’ Play 1.d4 d5 and Avrukh’s Beating 1.d4 Sidelines, but these seem more like references for advanced players... Are there any more elementary explanatory/conceptual books that cover Black’s perspective of these early deviations?
RussBell έγραψε:
1. Matthew Sadler's "Queen's Gambit Declined" - an excellent, instructive and award winning introduction to the QGD (and pronounced the winner by the OP). Focuses on themes, plans, goals etc.
Seconded. Start from this one (not so easy to find anymore, but...).
The other two are fine as well, but Sadler's book is an all-time classic.
dannyhume wrote:
… Ntirlis’ Play 1.d4 d5 ...
https://www.chess.com/blog/pfren/playing-1-d5-d5-a-classical-repertoire
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1d4d5-excerpt.pdf
dannyhume wrote:
... Avrukh’s Beating 1.d4 Sidelines ...
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Beating-1-d4-Sidelines-p3724.htm
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/GM11-1d4Sidelines-excerpt.pdf
Thanks, IM pfren and again kindaspongey! Sadler’s book is available as an ebook sold direct by Everyman... I guess it’s making a comeback.
Jun 5, 2018
0
#29
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/307/playing_1d4_d5_-_a_classical_repertoire_by_nikolaos_ntirlis/ is also a nice book. There is an explanation chapter for each theory one, so is virtually a middle game book. The chapter(s) on the exchange variation are particularly good, and will cause club player opponents great problems getting anywhere with the exchange, if really only the explanation parts are well studied.
Also think highly of Alekhine's first volume of best games. Modern chess is built on top of the classical chess of players like Capablanca and Alekhine. Too many people in this forum think they can shortcut chess understanding by using software, database stats etc which if have any value at all is for experienced tournament players and above, who have some understanding of the basics.
TwoMove wrote:
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/307/playing_1d4_d5_-_a_classical_repertoire_by_nikolaos_ntirlis/ is also a nice book. There is an explanation chapter for each theory one, so is virtually a middle game book. The chapter(s) on the exchange variation are particularly good, and will cause club player opponents great problems getting anywhere with the exchange, if really only the explanation parts are well studied.
Also think highly of Alekhine's first volume of best games. Modern chess is built on top of the classical chess of players like Capablanca and Alekhine. Too many people in this forum think they can shortcut chess understanding by using software, database stats etc which if have any value at all is for experienced tournament players and above, who have some understanding of the basics.
Totally agree, there! Use books, rather than engines and databases, to start with. Also, definitely worth playing over Capablanca and Alekhine games in the GQD, but I would recommend going over Rubinstein's games first (he's generally great for 1.d4 d5 games, as is Botvinnik) as well as Lasker.
On a general note, I've read both Sadler's and Marovic' books on the GQD, and although both are great works, I personally prefer the latter. I can't quite put my finger on why, although I do have an inkling: I read Sadler first (before Marovic), and I couldn't escape the feeling that he isn't a natural QGD player himself. That perhaps his proclivities lie more with the hypermodern game.
dannyhume wrote:
One final question ...
For coverage of White’s move 2 sidelines after 1.d4 d5, I see Ntirlis’ Play 1.d4 d5 and Avrukh’s Beating 1.d4 Sidelines, but these seem more like references for advanced players... Are there any more elementary explanatory/conceptual books that cover Black’s perspective of these early deviations?
For coverage of White’s move 2 sidelines after 1.d4 d5, I see Ntirlis’ Play 1.d4 d5 and Avrukh’s Beating 1.d4 Sidelines, but these seem more like references for advanced players... Are there any more elementary explanatory/conceptual books that cover Black’s perspective of these early deviations?
Yes.
Dealing with d4 Deviations: Fighting The Trompowsky, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer, Stonewall, Colle And Other Problem Openings by John Cox presents a succinct and coherent opening repertoire for Black against the so-called Queen's Pawn openings - the Colle, London, Trompowsky, Torre and Veresov sytems and the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. See also "Beating Unusual Chess Openings..." by Richard Palliser.
RussBell wrote:
... "Beating Unusual Chess Openings..." by Richard Palliser.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627072813/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen107.pdf
Thanks for the suggestions on “Deviations” (and the other suggestions), RussBell! Thanks for the Marovic insight, thougtdancer... thought about his strategy books, too.
And thanks BonTheCat for the first Marovic insights on this thread ... I admit that I am a bit hesitant at my level to try to apply books biased in favor of White toward Black, though I should hope that quality authors give balanced assessments for both sides.
dannyhume wrote:
And thanks BonTheCat for the first Marovic insights on this thread ... I admit that I am a bit hesitant at my level to try to apply books biased in favor of White toward Black, though I should hope that quality authors give balanced assessments for both sides.
The title of Drazen Marovic's book, 'Play the Queen's Gambit', is actually a misnomer. It's a highly objective assessment for both sides. I think the Yugoslav original was just called 'The Queen's Gambit'.* Marovic is an excellent writer (he's an old coach, the former Junior World Champion Bojan Kurajica was his star pupil), and in the 70s and early 80s he was a top class grandmaster himself. He's included a few of his own games with both colours, one of them a game against Kasparov if memory serves me right.
* Anglo-Saxon publishers had this mania in the 80s and 90s about using 'Play the ...' in the title, and then banging the drum even harder with 'Winning with ...', no doubt thinking they wouldn't sell otherwise. The 'Winning with ...' series on the whole were complete duds, I still haven't forgiven Gary Lane for his two 'Winning with the Closed Sicilian' books!
That's great to know... I might have to see what it's price is running since Amazon can sometimes have very expensive older chess books.
Check out Abebooks, as well. That's where I bought my copy for something like $10-15. Failing that, I think you should be able to go onto Scribd, pay a monthly subscription of $8.99 and find a pdf version of it there.
BonTheCat wrote:
Check out Abebooks, as well. That's where I bought my copy for something like $10-15. Failing that, I think you should be able to go onto Scribd, pay a monthly subscription of $8.99 and find a pdf version of it there.
Excellent, thanks!
Marovic's book is available on Amazon used for as low as (US dollars) 7.59 used paperback, 60.34 new paperback, or 995.56 used hardcover (maybe it is a gold-plated hardcover autographed by Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Spassky, Fischer, Karpov, and Kasparov? It doesn't say).
I have quite a few of the books mentioned above.
The key isn't to choose the right book, as there are several good choices. The key is to actually study the book thoroughly. Go through the main lines first and really understand Black's goals and thematic plans.
Buying a book is easy. Getting the most out of it will require a real commitment.
Man, ain't that the truth!