Offbeat Weapons & Unexplored Resources
by Ivan Sokolov, 271pp. (New In Chess, 2009)
Read an excerpt here
The Ruy Lopez Revisited contains, among MANY other things, in-depth but highly accessible analysis of the Jaenisch Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5.
Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu surprised world's number one Magnus Carlsen, by choosing this gambit to equalize easily in the ninth round of the Kings Tournament, held in Bazna, Romania, in June 2010.
Ivan Sokolov:
"The Jaenisch should appeal to any black player who is looking for trouble at an early stage of the game. There are many dynamic ideas and still many lines to explore. I personally support Black's cause and I think the Jaenisch is a fully fledged variation."
The Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Opening) is one of the most important and oldest chess openings, forever popular with amateurs as well as professional players.
In this ground-breaking book, one of today’s greatest Ruy Lopez experts, Ivan Sokolov, presents a practical opening guide with a wide repertoire for black players who want to play for a win.
Besides the Jaenisch this book brings you:
-
the Delayed Jaenisch: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5
-
the Cozio Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ne7
-
the Smyslov Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6
-
the Bird Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4
-
the Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 bc5
Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik as well as Viswanathan Anand.
British Chess Magazine: "A well-written, well-structured book with a lot of interesting ideas to explore. Sokolov introduces each chapter with plenty of textual material and also summarises at the end."
Sverre Johnsson, author of The Ruy Lopez, A Guide for Black: "My evaluation (for players interested in the Ruy Lopez from Black's viewpoint):
-- for players below 1300: not a bad introduction to the Ruy Lopez (..)
-- for players 1300 - 1800: a very useful book (..)
-- for players 1800 - 2300: some of the suggested lines are perfect for open tournaments and this book is the ideal guide
-- for players above 2300: a lot of useful ideas and some very high class analysis (..)
It should be added that the book is close to indispensible for those who want to be thoroughly prepared for playing the White side of the Ruy Lopez."
Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Association: "It is quite pleasantly striking that Sokolov has written an honest and level-headed book. He does not look at the variations he treats with rose-coloured glasses, and his conclusions and valuations are always honest."
