The British Chess Magazine
541
for either side you will certainly find plenty of ideas. For example,
for Black there is the variation 4 e3 0–0 5 d3 d5 6 f3 c5 7 0–0
c6 8 a3 ×c3 9 b×c3 e8!?, which I’ve never seen before, but
which has some intriguing differences from the similar 9…c7,
which Sokolov covers nicely.
The book has two main strengths. The first is a multitude of
throw-away lines which indicate the standard mini-plans for
both sides (but particularly White) in typical structures. These
remind me very much of the splendid ‘Winning Chess Middlegames’ (which in fact would be an excellent complement to
this book for anyone seriously interested in understanding
these systems).
For one example among many, take the position opposite.
Sokolov explains here that Black’s bishop belongs prophylactically on c6, the rooks on d8 and e8, and that rather than advancing his queenside
pawns (for fear of opening lines for the c1 bishop) Black should concentrate on looking
for opportunities to disrupt White’s build-up on the kingside by pushing the g- or h-pawn,
while White should focus on gaining space and trying to improve his dark-squared bishop
gradually. Sokolov’s coverage is built around the two games Karpov–Spassky, Leningrad,
1974, and Yusupov–Belyavsky, Munich, 1994, in both of which Black handled the position
brilliantly (in the former case only after losing a tempo with …e6 before relocating via
d7 to c6) and which Sokolov explains superbly. (This position is not in Sokolov’s recommended White repertoire.)
The second great strength is simply the enthusiasm for White’s cause which shines
through and the sheer number of improvements proposed, many of which involve the
sacrifice of material.
For one example of the latter (among many), in the Reykjavik variation (starting from the
main position given above after seven moves; 8 a3 a5!?), a standard reference in many
books is Bronstein–Moiseev, Moscow, 1951, which went 9 c×d5 e×d5 10 d×c5 ×c3 11
b×c3 a5 12 b1 ×c5 13 b5 e7 14 c4 a6 and now Sokolov points out, almost in passing, the sacrifice 15 ×d5 ×d5 16 c×d5 e5 17 ×e5 ×e5 18 b3 with advantage to
White (rather than Bronstein’s feeble 15 b2?).
As to the former, I suspect the assessment of White’s chances in this book is a little on the
optimistic side (not a problem in my view; objectivity in opening books is a thing not much
to be desired). According to Sokolov the only major system in which Black can equalise is
4 e3 c5 5 d3 0–0 6 f3 b6 7 0–0 c5. Black has a few routes to this position, and Sokolov’s
repertoire basically seeks to avoid it by 4 e3 c5 5 e2, or 4…0–0 5 d3 c5 6 e2 (a particularly controversial proposition since many players are unhappy in the IQP positions which
result with White’s knight on e2), or 4…b6 5 e2. If the book has a weakness then I think
this would be it (a defect of its qualities), and a more studious and better-informed friend
than I tells me that in various variations there are known moves for Black which have equalised in previous practice and are overlooked. If true – and my friend is very reliable – this