by Tim Harding, 228pp. (1996 Chess Digest)
The Budapest, 1 d4, Nf6 2 c4, e5, is really a counter-attack rather than a defence. It appeals to players who like to challenge White for the initiative from early in the game. This particularly applies to the Fajarowicz Variation, 3 dxe5, Ne4, in which (by contrast with the 3...Ng4 main line of the Budapest) Black puts more emphasis on fighting for key squares than on seeking the early recapture of the sacrificed pawn. Harding always does a very good job with opening books, and this is no exception.
"This variation is far more dangerous to White than its current reputation, probably because relatively few strong players and analysts have taken it seriously. Consequently, there are a lot of points to be gained by being among the few to champion the Faj. My book falls into three distinct sections. First comes the ideas Section, in which I explain what Black is aiming to do and give some striking examples of what he can aim for and what he must avoid. Then there is the Analysis Section, twelve chapters (including a final one on what to do if White avoids the Fajarowicz at move three). Finally there is the Games Section; well over 300 complete Fajarowicz games (unannotated to ones with light notes) for you to study." – From the author’s Introduction
