Grand Prix Attack Bibliography, 2006-2014

I have not updated my Grand Prix Attack Bibliography since 2006, and a large number of excellent new books and videos have come out on this popular "anti-Sicilian" line, which might begin 1.e4 c5 2.f4 (B21) or 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 (B23).   I have tried my best to put together a complete list of resources, but I know that several items have escaped me and so I will continue to update this list over the coming week.  As always, I welcome additions and suggestions from readers.

Bibliography

The Modern Grand Prix Attack by Lawrence Trent, ChessBase DVD (2014).
Follows the games of GM Gawain Jones to present an aggressive but modern Grand Prix system.  I own this item but have not had a chance to review it closely.

Nuke the Sicilian by Dana Mackenzie, ChessLecture.com DVD (2013)
A series of lectures on the Bryntse Gambit line 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Ng5 Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg4, when White sacrifices the Queen for two pieces with 6.Bxf7+ Kd7 7.Qxg4+ Nxg4 8.Be6+ etc.  Includes a bonus lecture by GM Jesse Kraai.  All lectures first appeared at ChessLecture.com and are available there for those with a subscription.  This was the first DVD produced by ChessLecture.com because of the popularity of LM Mackenzie's very interesting presentation on the concepts that he developed (after many games vs the computer) that helped him win in Mackenzie - Pruess, Western States Open 2006.  Also available at House of Staunton. 

"A Venomous Sicilian According to Saidali Yuldashev" by Rustam Khusnutdinov, New in Chess Yearbook #108 (2013): 63-68.  This article explores the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6, which is related (and often transposes) to the Grand Prix with Bb5.  This approach is also discussed by Bryan Smith (2013), Matthieu Cornette (2011), Gawain Jones (2008), and Paul Motwani (1998), the latter of whom recommends meeting 3...Nd4 with 4.Nf3!?  Sample games include Gubaydulin - Golubev, Uzbekistan 2008; Tiviakov - Arlandi, Mondariz 2000; Yuldashev - Nguyen Ahn Dung, Dhaka 1997; Yuldashev - Fier, Turin 2006; Tiviakov - Maze, Montreal 2009; Kasimdzhanov - Afek, Vlissingen 2003; Petrosian - Ferrufino, Istanbul 2012; Hou - Wan, China 2012; Tiviakov - Van der Wiel, Leeuwarden 2004; Bartel - Koch, Eilat 2012; Macieja - Haznedaroglu, Antalya 2004; Cornette - Cochet, France 2009; and Jones - Abhishek, Erevan 2007. 

"Beating the Sicilian with the Tiviakov Grand Prix, Part 4" by Bryan Smith, ChessLecture.com (May. 28, 2013).  A 40:34 online video discussing Tiviakov's 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5.  Membership required.

"Beating the Sicilian with the Tiviakov Grand Prix, Part 3" by Bryan Smith, ChessLecture.com (May. 21, 2013).  A 29:21 online video discussing Tiviakov's 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5. Membership required.

"Beating the Sicilian with the Tiviakov Grand Prix, Part 2" by Bryan Smith, ChessLecture.com (May 14, 2013).  A 37:21 online video discussing Tiviakov's 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5. Membership required.


"Beating the Sicilian with the Tiviakov Grand Prix, Part 1" by Bryan Smith, ChessLecture.com (May. 7, 2013).  A 29:08 online video introducing the Tiviakov System with 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5, which will often transpose to the Grand Prix Attack but can also present other attacking ideas. Membership required.

The Grand Prix Attack by Evgeny Sveshnikov, New in Chess (2013).  Table of contents and excerpt online.  This is one of those "must-have" books for any serious student of the Grand Prix, but it will be sure to disappoint the majority of Grand Prix players because of how little attention it devotes to the popular 2.Nc3 lines (covered in Chapter 5, on pages 151-188, with only brief mention elsewhere).  Sveshnikov's goal, though, is to discuss the lines following 1.e4 c5 2.f4 (B21) from the perspective of both White and Black, focusing only on GM-quality ideas (so off-beat lines like the Bryntse are not even mentioned -- though, honestly, most people would consider any game starting 1.e4 c5 2.f4 slightly "off-beat" today).  Sveshnikov's prejudices are clearly on display, with statements against the McDonnell French (to which he gives a "?!" in the historical introduction -- though he later suggests that 1.e4 c5 2.f4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e5 "is quite an ambitious continuation" [108]) and the popular line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4, where he says 6.a4 is "the only way to fight for the advantage" [51].  I was also disappointed that, in the "short historical introduction," the editors presented a picture of George Alcock MacDonnell as that of Alexander McDonnell (of whom a picture has never been found, according to Edward Winter).  But, those issues aside, there is a lot here to like and learn from.  Most of my readers will likely be most interested in those few games with Nc3, which include: Adams - Anand, Groningen 1997; Lazarevic - Volpert, Leningrad 1964; Campora - Khalifman, New York 1998; Hodgson - Speelman, Brighton 1980; Hebden - DeFirmian, London 1986; Hebden - Umesh, Glasgow 1995; Anand - Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 1996; Topalov - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1996; Short - Gelfand, Brussels 1991; Anand - Sveshnikov, Moscow 1987; and Sale - Sveshnikov, Dubai 2001 (notice that many are by transposition from 2.f4).  For those interested in learning more about the fascinating 1.e4 c5 2.f4 lines: buy the book!

Winning with the Grand Prix Attack Bb5 System by Eugene Perelshteyn, OnlineChessLessons.net (2013).  GM Perelshteyn does an excellent job of presenting the repertoire he developed with GM Dzindzichashvili, which was documented in Chess Openings for White, Explained, in this nicely produced 2-hour video  Though most of the material here was covered in the book or has been discussed by Dzindzi on video, I still found it useful to have GM Perelshteyn's commentary on his own games with these lines, including Perelshteyn - Shahade, US Junior 1998 and Perelshteyn - Ibrahimov, Menorca 1996.




"Aggressive Pawn Moves to Open Up Files" by Eugene Perelshteyn, ChessLecture.com (May. 10, 2013).  A 14:29 video featuring the game Eugene Perelshteyn vs. Nick Faulks in the Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack (B23).  Membership required.

"King Hunt in the Grand Prix Attack" by Eugene Perelshteyn, ChessLecture.com (Apr. 10, 2013).  Features the game Eugene Perelshteyn vs. Gregory Shahade in the Grand Prix Attack (B23).  Membership required.

"Maybe Tomorrow - Opening Lanes #171" by Gary Lane, ChessCafe (March 2013)
A 99-cent download of Gary Lane's column, partly devoted to Bb5 in the Grand Prix.



 




"Bryntse Gambit" by BigGStikman at Chess.com (December 2012)

"Refuting the Grand Prix Attack" by Andrew Martin, ChessBase (November 2012)
IM Martin offers several games that illustrate the dangers of White's Bc4 and f5 attack in the Grand Prix before introducing his video (see below) where he offers the antidote 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.O-O e6 7.f5 exf5 8.d3 Nge7 9.Qe1 h6!



"Modern Opening Miniatures, Game 3" by Eugene Perelshteyn, ChessLecture.com (Aug. 31, 2012).  Discusses the game Carlsen - Topalov, Monaco Amber 2011.  Membership required.

"When Two Pieces Beat a Queen" by Tim Harding, Kibitzer #190 at ChessCafe (March 2012)
 IM Tim Harding presents a tour de force treatment of the Bryntse Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3!? dxe4 4.Ng5), focusing on the Queen-sac line made famous by Dana Mackenzie which arises after 4...Nf6 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.Qxg4! Nxg4 7.Bxf7+ Kd7 8.Be6+ Kc6 9.Bxg4.  At the end of the article I get a nice mention for my article on the Bryntse-Faj, which features 4.Ne5!? instead of 4.Ng5.  Too bad they messed up the link!

"A Game of Shadows - Opening Lanes #158" by Gary Lane at ChessCafe (February 2012).  Examines the game Gawain Jones – Artur Zarkaj, European Cup, Kallithea 2008 in the Grand Prix with Bc4. 

"Declining Freddie?  How about Eddie?" by Junior Tay, New in Chess Yearbook #103 (2012): 98-103.  An article on the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d3 Nf6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qe1 e6 9.f5!? which is playable due to the idea of 9...d5 10.e5!?   Tay presents his own analysis and sample games, which include Tay - Tan, Singapore 2012; Milliet - l'Ami, Plovdiv 2003; Sabirova - Zhao, Doha 2006; Nepomniachtchi - Van Haastert, Wijk aan Zee 2007; and Tay - Bacherier, Internet 2012.  Download PGN online.



Killer Grand Prix by Gawain Jones, ChessCube (2011)
An excellent 5 hour and 30 minute presentation by Gawain Jones that does a great job of setting forth an attacking repertoire for White in the Grand Prix, based loosely on his "Starting Out" book.  Features the games Jones - Zarkaj, European Cup 2008; Jones - Wall, 2010; Jones - Bates, England 2010; Jones - Van der Nat, Cape Town 2009 (copare Adams - Anand); Jones - Garner, Australia 2010;  Jones - Rublevsky, European Blitz 2010; Jones - Satyapragyan, Syndney 2009; Jones - Orlov, European Ch 2008; Jones - Ashwin, World Junior Yerevan 2007; Jones - Abhishek, Jones - Nijboer, Groningen 2004;  Jones - Carlin, London League 2010; and McShane - Cheparinov, European Team 2009, among others.

The Other Bryntse Gambit by Michael Goeller, Kenilworth Chess Club (December 2011)
An original article on the "Bryntse-Faj": 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5! 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Ne5!?  I unearthed 25 game scores (most previously unknown) and contributed some analysis.  Fellow chess blogger Dana Mackenzie generously contributed notes on his three games with the line (played before he switched to "Nuking" the Sicilian with 4.Ng5).  See also the related blog post on "The Bryntse-Faj Gambit."

Roman's Lab #102: Killing the Sicilian with the Grand Prix Attack!! by Roman Dzindzichashvili, ChessDVDs.com (2011).  A 2 hour and 30 minute DVD that discusses many of GM Roman Dzindzichashvili's recent and unpublished ICC blitz games vs. strong opposition.  I really like this video because it presents some original games that demonstrate interesting ideas (such as the attack on Black's d-pawn after a Knight exchange at d4) which have wide application in the Grand Prix.




"Pulling Ahead in the Grand Prix" by Dennis Monokroussos, ChessLecture.com (Oct. 6, 2011).  A 31:23 video discussing Polgar - Dominguez Perez in the Grand Prix Attack (B23).  Membership required.

"Avoiding the Najdorf Variation" by Sergey Tiviakov, New in Chess Yearbook #99 (2011): 50-59.  Download PGN.

"Facing an Aggressive Line" by Zaven Andriasian, New in Chess Yearbook #99 (2011): 55-59. Download PGN.  Sample games include Popov - Andriasian, Kirishi 2007; Sabirov - Vovk, Tashkent 2008; Jones - Zarkaj, Kallithea 2008; Parligras - Horvat, Cluj 2008; Conquest - Villavicencio, La Laguna 2008; Gdanski - Sammalvuo, Myyrmanni 1999; Khalifman - Savon, Moscow 1992; Kulaots - Wunnink, Tallinn 2000; Short - Oll, Tallinn 1998; and Zilberman - Iosif, Bucharest 1997.

"Tiviakov Grand Prix" by Matthieu Cornette, Experts on the Anti-Sicilian edited by Jacob Aagard and John Shaw, Quality Chess (2011): 317-389.

"Aronian Wins the Last Amber" by Lubomir Kavalek, Huffington Post (March 2011)
Analyzes the game Carlsen - Topalov, Monaco Amber 2011.  Also available at ChessBase.

"The Big Clamp" by Michael Goeller, Kenilworth Chess Club (2011).  Includes a link to a game collection at Chessgames.com.  Documents IM Lawrence Day's "big clamp" theme, with some discussion of how this line relates to the Grand Prix.

Chess Openings for White, Explained: Winning with 1.e4, 2nd Revised and Fully Updated Edition, by Lev Alburt, Roman Dzindzichashvili, and Eugene Perelshteyn, Chess Information and Research Center (2010): 209-245.  This section does not seem significantly revised from the first edition, which I reviewed online with analysis of the Grand Prix.

"The Grand Prix with Na3!?" by Michael Goeller, The Kenilworthian (2010).
Analyzes the interesting amateur game Pullin - Villarreal, 1st North American Amateur Closed, Skokie, IL USA 2010, where White played a "Big Clamp"- or Zvjagintsev-inspired Na3 in the Grand Prix with 2.f4.

"Left Hook Grand Prix Videos" by Michael Goeller, The Kenilworthian (2010).
This was the last post I made on the Left Hook Grand Prix, which usually arises via the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.a3!?  White waits for Black to commit himself to either 5...e6 (which can be met with the "left hook" 6.b4!?) or 5...d6 (which can be met with 6.Bc4 -- when the Bishop has a nice retreat square later).  In this post, I discuss two excellent videos by Matt Pullin about the line and give links to all of my previous posts on this line as well.




"Concepts in the Grand Prix Attack 2" by GM Melikset Khachiyan, Chess.com (Dec. 30, 2009)


"Concepts in the Grand Prix Attack 1" by GM Melikset Khachiyan, Chess.com (Dec. 26, 2009).  Two lectures on the Grand Prix attack for amateur players.  Membership required.

Auf Sieg spielen gegen Sizilianisch. Reinhold Ripperger, Verlag Chess Coach (2009).  Download PDF sample.

"My Best Games from SPICE III; Part II; My Miniature in the Grand Prix Bb5" by Eugene Perelshteyn, ChessLecture.com (Oct. 7, 2009).  A 16:03 video discussing the game Eugene Perelshteyn vs. Andre Diamant (2009) in the Grand Prix Attack (B23).  Membership required.





The f4 Sicilian by GM Nigel Davies, ChessBase (2009) 
Running Time: 4 hrs.  Less a repertoire DVD than an interesting overview of the Grand Prix, practically in historical perspective, beginning with 1.e4 c5 2.f4 and ending with 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 lines.

"The Expanded Grand Prix Attack - Part II" by Efstratios Grivas, New in Chess Yearbook #92 (2009):  67- 70.  Discusses the "Vinken Attack" line with 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7.  Sample games include Melero Fidalgo - Khamrakulov, Navalmoral 2007 and Wippermann - Mamedov, Izmir 2006 (both very deeply commented).  Games in PGN.

"The Expanded Grand Prix Attack - Part I" by Efstratios Grivas, New in Chess Yearbook #91 (2009): 72 - 79.  Discusses the Bc4 attack line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.O-O e6 7.d3 Nge7 8.Qe1 from the Black perspective.  Main sample games (all deeply annotated) include Lilov - Baramidze, Plovdiv 2008; Polgar - Gelfand, Pamplona 1999-2000; and Hellers - Gelfand, Novi Sad ol 1990.  Games in PGN.

Starting Out: Grand Prix Attack by Gawain Jones, Everyman Chess (2008).  This is a very good book full of interesting ideas and inspiring games.  Main games include Jones - Abhishek, World Junior Yerevan 2007; Macieja - Alvarez, Bermuda 2001; Hellers - Gelfand, Novi Sad Olympiad 1990; Rogers - Johansson, Reykjavik 2006; Lazic - Ninov, Novi Sad 1992; Meister - Manic, Pardubice 1995; Alexa Ivanov - Abeln, Dutch Open Ch 1992; Paschall - Bakre, Budapest 2001; Giorgadze - Corral Blanco, Spanish Team Ch 2003; Benjamin - Smith, Philadelphia World Open 2006; Minasian - Petrosian, Yerevan 2004; Macieja - Wells, European Championship Warsaw 2005; Jones - Agopov, European Team Ch Crete 2007; Jones - Gelashvili, European Team Ch Crete 2007; Adams - Anand, Groningen 1997; Jones - Van Wely; Polgar - Topalov, Dortmund 1996;  London 2007; Short - Oll, Tallinn 1998; Chandler - Schenk, British League 2006; Anand - Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 1996; Mitkov - Alvarez, Istanbul ol 2000; Iuldachev - El Arousy, Abu Dhabi 2003; Ekebjaerg - Lundholm, Correspondence 1989; Lutton - Dougherty, Isle of Man 2002; Jones - Arakhamia, British League 2006; Tiviakov - Kurnosov, Istanbul 2003; Giorgadze - Kouatly, Manila ol 1992; Harikrishna - Bu Xiangzhi, Tiayuan 2005; Lobron - Andruet, Marseilles 1989; Najer - Kron, Moscow 1998; Kosten - Arakhamia, Aosta 1990; Hernandez - Minzer, Mislata 2000; Jones - Stojanovski, Pula 2007; Jones - Eppinger, Calvia 2006; Macieja - Haznedaroglu, Antalya 2004; Jones - Horvath, Fuegen 2006; Jones - Sarkar, Gibraltar 2007; Jones - Nijboer, Groningen 2004; Jones - Devereaux, Swansea 2006; Spassky - Kasparov, Reykjavik 1988; and Svidler - Leko, Dortmund 2004.

The Art of Bisguier: Selected Games 1961-2003 by Arthur B. Bisguier & Newton Berry, Russell Enterprises, Inc. (2008).  Features several games with Bisguier's signature 1.e4 c5 2.f4 Grand Prix.  He also used a Grand Prix system vs. the English.

"Fun with the Left Hook Grand Prix" by Michael Goeller, Kenilworth Chess Club (2008).

"The Left Hook Grand Prix with a3" by Michael Goeller, Kenilworth Chess Club (2008).  This is my most complete analysis of the "Left Hook" Grand Prix with 5.a3.

"A Black Repertoire Against the Morra and the Grand Prix Attack" by Efstrafios Grivas, New in Chess Yearbook #88 (2008): 66-71.  Focused on 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5! as an equalizing line, as seen in Short - Kasparov, Paris 1990.




Fighting the Anti-Sicilians by Richard Palliser, Everyman Chess (2007): 127-180.  Recommends the early ...e6 lines, which are completely in keeping with the overall repertoire of the book (which should appeal most to players who prefer early ...e6 lines in the open Sicilian as well).

Grand Prix Attack, Explained by Michael Goeller, The Kenilworthian (2006).  A close analysis of the game Benjamin - Smith, World Open 2006 and Iuldachev - El Arousy, Abu Dhabi 2003, while the associated blog post provided a review of the book The Openings for White, Explained.

Roman's Forum #33 by Roman Dzindzichashvivli, Chess DVDs (2006).  Following the repertoire presented in his Chess Openings for White, Explained, in a very compact (60 minute) format.  He does simplify the repertoire slightly by focusing on the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.Bd3 rather than the more complex 6.O-O! that was the focus of his and Perelshteyn's work. The remaining two hours of the video mostly covers other lines from Chess Openings for White, Explained, including the Two Knights Defense and Giuoco Piano.  Among the games discussed are Benjamin - Geller, Lone Pine 1980; Dzindzichashvili - Huebner, Tilburg 1985; and Ljubojevic - Kasparov, Linares 1991.

"Avoiding the Najdorf" (B23) by Viktor Gavrikov, ChessBase Magazine #116 (2006).  Discusses the anti-Najdorf move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 when Black usually plays 3...g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nf6 6.e5 Nc6 7.Bb5 which presents challenges to Black.  Sample games include Romanishin - Portisch, Tilburg 1979; Christiansen - Ftacinik, Groningen 1991; Certic - Szuhanek, Belgrade 1995; Romanishin - Rashkovsky, Moscow 1976; Nakamura - Castellanos, Pan Am Ch U20 2002; Romanishin - Ftacnik, Biel 1988; Romanishin - Ilincic, Lvov-Belgrade 1993; Pogosian - Yagupov, RUS Cup 2003; Turov - Sakaev, Russia Internet Cup Final 2004; Nakamura - Karjakin, Cuernavaca 2004; Adams - Anand, FIDE KO 1997; and Heberla - Neelotpal, Marianske Lazne 2006.  This article is available in the ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia.

There are game collections at ChessTempo, 365 Chess, and  Sjakkapninger, as well as Grand Prix Attack and B23 Sicilian at Chessgames.

For sources before 2006, consult my earlier Grand Prix Attack Bibliography.

Review of Dejan Bojkov's "Modernized: The King's Indian Defense"

One of the most original King's Indian repertoire books to appear in print is GM Dejan Bojkov's Modernized: The King's Indian Defense (Metropolitan Chess Publishing, 2014), which can be purchased from USCF Sales or via Amazon. I was so taken by the repertoire that I decided to check out some of GM Bojkov's games with the lines he recommends, and I have written up Dejan Bojkov Plays the Modernized KID (PGN / Replay) to give you an overview of his system.  You can also find a "sneak peek" at Chess.com.

Most repertoire books lead KID players toward a closed center to play for an attack on the kingside, as in the Mar del Plata Variation, which is most amateurs' idea of the King's Indian.  But many different ways of playing the King's Indian have emerged over the years.  In my own quest to bring the KID back into my repertoire, I have been exploring a wide range of flexible systems, so I guess I have been very well prepared psychologically -- sufficiently "modernized" you might say -- to understand and appreciate a repertoire that focuses exclusively on fighting for the center, always seeking to blast open lines with pawn advances or sharp sacrifices there.  And while some of the lines where Black breaks in the center can result in potentially lifeless equality, they are clearly quite principled.

The Table of Contents and a Sample can be viewed online, and each chapter deserves some discussion:

Introduction (pp. 5-14)
The introduction might have been a good place to explain why Bojkov eschews more familiar KID territory for the "modernized" approach. Instead, he gives what reads like a personal argument for the beauties of the King's Indian, commenting on the brilliant games Skembris - Van Wely, Skei 1993; Naumkin - Smirin, Ischia 1995; Kamsky - Kasparov, Manila ol 1992; Kotov - Gligoric, Zurich 1953; Avery - Gligoric, USA 1971; Miroshnichenko - Bojkov, Plovdiv 2008; Piket - Kasparov, Tilburg 1989; and Kramnik - Kasparov, Munich blitz 1994.  While some of the lines and ideas in those games are reflected to some extent in the system that follows, fewer than half are directly relevant to the repertoire.  So this chapter, while interesting in its own right for anyone who loves the KID, feels to me like a missed opportunity to present Bojkov's brilliantly original concept of the book as a whole.  A more focused introduction, in my view, might have pointed to the fight for the center theme and perhaps analyzed two great games of Kramnik's: Kramnik - Ponomariov, Dortmund 2011 (annotated by Gustafsson!) and Gustafsson - Kramnik, Dresden 2012 (one of the very few times Kramnik played the Black side of the KID, and annotated at ChessBase and by Claus Jensen on YouTube); both games nicely illustrate the way the center-focused approach can be used against White's Classical set-up.   

1. The Classical Variation: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 (pp. 15-120)
The focus on blasting open the center is most clear in Bojkov's approach to the important Classical Variation, where he shows Black surrendering the center with ...exd4 with the plan later to blast through with ...c6 and an eventual ...d5.  The Classical Variation makes up the core of the book and comprises about a third of its pages. Main sample games include Fier - Bologan, Aeroflot Open Moscow 2011; Eljanov - Bologan, Croation Team Championship Sibenik 2010; Kramnik - Ponomariov, Dortmund 2011; Shankland - Vorobiov, Dresden 2011; Popov - Giri, Olginka 2011; and Onischuk - Bacrot, Poikovsky 2011 among many others.  I think the book is worth having for this section alone, which will repay close study by players of either Black or White.

2. The Sämisch Variation - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 c5 (pp. 121-188)
Bojkov offers excellent coverage of this standard gambit line, which is widely recommended and very likely responsible for sending the Sämisch into retreat at the GM level.  However, other than its invitation to play a wide-open position with the center blasted to bits, it does not seem thematically related to the rest of the repertoire.  What's more, White has several ways to respond (grabbing the pawn with 7.dxc5, maintaining the center with 7.Nge2, or closing the center with 7.d5), each of which leads to completely different types of positions.  I think a better fit for the repertoire and a more original approach to the Sämisch would have been the Byrne System with ...c6, ...a6, and ...b5, where Black often is able to clear the way for a later ...d5 advance.  But this is my personal prejudice.  Those who like the ...c5-gambit approach to the Sämisch will find this chapter valuable.

3. The Four Pawns Attack - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 O-O 6.Nf3 e5!? (pp. 189-212)
Though I was persuaded by Bojkov's ChessBase DVD "A Modern Way to Play the King's Indian" to play 6...Na6 against the dangerous Four Pawns, I mostly liked the lines (such as 6...Na6 7.Be2 e5!) where Black goes for a quick pawn break, immediately challenging White's giant center.  So it makes sense to look again at the gambit 6...e5!? This line was discussed in Dangerous Weapons: The King's Indian, where the illustrative game Mamedyarov - Svidler, Baku 2008 shows how play might tend toward a draw between very  well-prepared opponents -- but a less prepared opponent would definitely be in some danger.  Main sample games here include Jobava - Jianu, Brasov 2011 and Bromberger - Nyzhnyk, Bahia Feliz 2011, both very deeply annotated.  This is another excellent chapter.

4. The Averbakh System - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 Na6 (pp. 213-236)
Here Bojkov returns to his other "modern" approach with ...Na6, presenting games where Black plays ...c6 and then often brings the Na6 to c7 and then e6 to harrass the Bg5.  In several games, Black also plays a ...d5 break as well, as in Dumitrache - Golubev, Bucharest 1996.  An interesting approach.

5. The Bagirov Line - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 Na6!? (pp. 237-272)
Again, the early Na6 returns, to be followed by an ...e5 break.

6. The Fianchetto System - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O Qa5 (pp. 273-306)
Bojkov recommends the Kavalek System, which I discussed in a previous post.  Main games are Laznicka - Vachier-Lagrave, Sestao 2010 and Harikrishna - Radjabov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010.  Rather than playing the main lines (covered in my bibliography), Bojkov chooses a different idea with 8...e5 to be followed by ...exd4, ...Nbd7-e5, and possibly an early ....d5 push, which resembles his approach against the Classical.

Solutions to the Exercises (307-354)
When Al Lawrence designed Alburt and Chernin's excellent Pirc Alert! book, he set the standard for effective opening training manuals. Modernized is the first I have seen, besides Lawrence's other work for Alburt and company, to adopt some of those innovations -- especially lots of diagrams, including "memory markers" and tactical exercises at the end of each chapter to assist with training.  I especially appreciate the great tactical exercises, which are important for a repertoire build around tactical and positional themes.  

Overall, this is a very exciting book. And while I might wish it had a more inspired introduction, maybe a better cover (why lettering in all caps and dark against a dark background? and what is the cover image supposed to represent?), and one or two different sub-variations in the repertoire, I think it is a very sturdy and well-analyzed opening book -- one that would be useful for players at all levels.

Here are some exercises from Bojkov's own games.  Solutions can be found at Dejan Bojkov Plays the Modernized KID.

Castaneda - Bojkov, Montreal 2012
Black to play and completely equalize.

Vucic - Bojkov, ICC 3-minute 2005
Black to play and gain a clear advantage.

Nordahl - Bojkov, Gothenburg 2005
Black to play and equalize or draw.

Navara - Bojkov, Greece 2005
Black to play and gain the advantage.

The Kavalek System vs the King's Indian Fianchetto Variation (E62)

The Kavalek System against the King's Indian Fianchetto Variation (E62) begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O Qa5.  Developed in the 1960s by the Czech-born American GM Lubomir Kavalek, the line offers a very flexible response to the positionally challenging white Fianchetto.  Black begins with 6...c6, blocking the fianchettoed Bishop's diagonal and opening a line for the queen to go to the active square a5, from whence it might start an attack on the queenside pawns with Qb4, support an ...e5 break, or even threaten to swing over to the kingside with Qh5 (where it can support Bh3 and possibly an attack with Ng4 as well -- which can be quite effective against unprepared opponents).

As I was assembling this bibliography, GM Eugene Perelshteyn began a series of videos on the line at Chess.com which should continue in the coming weeks and will make an excellent introduction to the line for those with a Chess.com membership.  I also recommend playing through some games with the line at 365Chess, ChessTempo, Chess-DB, and Chess.com. 

I have been inspired by GM Perelshteyn's recommendations in the King's Indian, which follow much of Dzindzichashvili's repertoire and focus on classic but lesser-known variations that tend to offer Black lots of options and ideas.  Other articles in my expanding King's Indian repertoire for Black include the Byrne Variation vs. the Saemisch, the Classical King's Indian with 6...Na6, and the Old Main Line King's Indian with 7...exd4.  A future article will cover meeting the Four Pawns Attack with Na6.

Bibliography

The King's Indian Defense: Beating the Fianchetto System - Part 2 by Eugene Perelshteyn, Chess.com (April 18, 2014)
A 17-minute online video that features a Shabalov - Perelshteyn game with the Kavalek.

The King's Indian Defense: Beating the Fianchetto System, Part 1 by Eugene Perelshteyn, Chess.com  (April 8, 2014)

A 22-minute online video on an early ...c6 against the Fianchetto System, featuring the game Uesugi-Perelshteyn, Virginia Open 2009.  Members only.

Modernized: The King's Indian Defense by Dejan Bojkov, Metropolitan Chess Publishing (2014): 273-306.  I was alerted to this additional resource by a reader and ordered it from USCF Sales.  I like Bojkov's past work a lot (on the KID with Na6 and the Pirc), and the Table of Contents and Sample was very promising.  The book itself did not disappoint.  I love the repertoire, which typically involves an early Black ...c6 advance, including in the Classical with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 c6, which is a fascinating line.  The coverage of the Fianchetto System focuses on the Kavalek, but typically with an early ...e5 advance and ...exd4 exchange, making it resemble Bojkov's Classical line too, as seen in Laznicka - Vachier-Lagrave, Sestao 2010 and Harikrishna - Radjabov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. 

Wojo's Weapons: Winning With White, Volume II by Jonathan Hilton and Dean Ippolito, Boston: Mongoose Press (2013): 250-267.  See the Table of Contents online.  Recommends meeting Black's "premature flank attack" with "a counterstrike in the center" with 8.e4, after which it advocates Ippolito's pet line 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3!? which most sources say is weaker than 10.Bxf3 because the d4 pawn is left unguarded -- but the IM has had success nonetheless.  The book offers excellent coverage of this line for amateur players as White, because the games generally feature the sort of mistakes by Black that amateur players will often see over the board.  Featured games include Pigusov - Zaichik, Moscow 1987; Lechtynsky - Kranzl, Linz 1993; Wojtkiewicz - Huss, Germany 1998; Wojtkiewicz - de Guzman, Los Angeles 2004; Ippolito - Gross, New York 1995; Ippolito - Smith, Foxwood 2000.  An interesting game (not mentioned in the book) is Ippolito - Becera Rivero, Foxwoods 2008, where Black equalized easily with ...e5.

"An Interesting System for Black Against KID g3" by Eugene Perelshteyn, ChessLecture.com (November 29, 2013).  A 16-minute video offering an overview of the Kavalek system in the King's Indian Defense vs White's g3 based on GM Perelshteyn's analysis, with no specific games cited.  By subscription only.

A Modern Way to Play the King's Indian by Dejan Bojkov, ChessBase DVD (2011).
A really excellent video, which focuses on using the "modern" Na6 (against the Classical, Four Pawn Attack, and h3 lines, for example) and some less usual alternatives -- including   the Kavalek System against the Fianchetto Variation.  Thanks to a reader for reminding me about this resource, which I had mentioned in my previous bibliography on the Classical King's Indian with 6...Na6 but forgot to include here.

"King's Indian for Black: Part III" by David Vigorito, ChessLecture.com (April 10, 2006)

A 22:40 online video on the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation (ECO: E62) that offers a useful overview of the Kavalek system with ...c6 and ....Qa5.  By subscription only.

King's Indian Battle Plans by Andrew Martin, Thinker's Press (2004): 148-151.  I like this book because it contains a wide variety of ideas and approaches, unlike normal "repertoire" books with their mono-cultures -- which makes it a good place to discover lines you might not have seen, such as the Kavalek System.  Features the games Ljubojevic - Hausrath, Enschede 2002; Loginov - Khairullin, Samara 2002; and Marin - Hillarp Persson, Goteborg 1999.

g2-g3 w obronie królewsko-indyjskiej, część 2, Jerzy Konikowski, Wydawnictwo Szachowe Penelopa, (1999) OR Königsindisch mit g2-g3, band 2, Jerzy Konikowski, Dreier (1999).

The Fianchetto King's Indian by Colin McNab, International Chess Enterprises / Batsford (1996): 168-186.  Offers very balanced and thorough coverage of the Kavalek with extensive notes on a few main games.  Main games include Yusupov - Piket, Groningen 1992; Akopian - Sokolov, Leon 1995; Dorfman - Piket, Lvov 1988; and Ilincic - Damljanovic, Novi Sad 1995.

"King's Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation" by Leon Pliester, with notes by Pia Cramling, New in Chess Yearbook #37 (1995): 158-163.  Focuses on the line 8.h3 Be6 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nd4, when Black can sacrifice the Exchange, as in the featured game Portisch - Cramling, Prague 1995, by 10...dxc4!? 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Bxb7 Nbd7 13.Bxa8 Rxa8 with excellent compensation, as Cramling's notes support.  Other games include Saidy - Dzindzichashvili, New York Open 1989; Casafus - Cramling, Buenos Aires 1994; Kuzmin - Vukic, Biel open 1988; Granda Zuniga - Stanec, Moscow ol 1994; Akopian - Sokolov, Leon 1995; Schulze - Barle, Bern 1992; Agdestein - Plachetka, Malmo open 1986; Vagainian - Cvitan, Sarajevo 1987; Georgiev - Ermenkov, Sofia 1984; Tatai - Vukic, Lugano open 1984; Pigusov - Barlov, Sochi 1985; Nikolic - Vukic, Yugoslavia 1985; Jasnikowski - Yuferov, Mikolajki tt 1991; Fominikh - Tseitlin, Rimavska Sobota 1991; Raupp - Kvamme, Correspondence 1990; Schone - Muse, Bad Neuenahr 1991; Ornstein - Johansson, Helsingborg 1991; Navarovsky - Muse, Budapest 1993; Vlatkovic - Ristic, Igalo tt 1994; Dorfman - Piket, Lvov 1988; and Cekro - Claesen, Geel 1995.

"King's Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation" by Rustem Dautov, New in Chess Yearbook #36 (1995): 162-166.  Focuses on the main line 7...Qa5 8.e4 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 when Dautov recommends White pursue 10.Bxf3 Nfd7 11.Rb1! as in his featured game Dautov - Har Zvi, Altensteig 1994.  He also offers an excellent overview of the critical 8.e4 line, which many authors suggest is White's best try for advantage.  Games include Salov - Piket, Brussels 1992; Djuric - Barlov, New York Open 1988; Djuric - Kozul, Bled / Rogaska Slatina 1991; Anderton - Snape, Corr. 1993; Vukic - Stohl, Austria 1992; Kharitonov - Forthoffer, Leningrad Open 1991; Lengyel - Honfi, Kecskemet 1968; Goldin - Dzindzichashvili, Philadelphia It 1992; Smejkal - Muse, German Bundesliga 1992; Hulak - Rogic, Slavonski Brod 1995; Kindermann - Maus, Hamburg 1991; Pigusov - Piket, Dordrecht 1988; Razuvaev - Soltis, New York Open 1989; Dizdar - Kozul, Slavonski Brod 1995; Pigusov - Kozul, Beograd GMA 1988; Yusupov - Piket, Groningen 1992; Tukmakov - Romero Holmes, Las Palmas 1992; Vaganian - Lechtynsky, German Bundesliga 1992; Tukmakov - Kamsky, Groningen PCA 1993; Antic - Sibarevic, Banja Vrucica 1991; Stern - Van den Brink, Pumerend 1993; and Goldin - Har Zvi, Rishon-le-Zion 1995.

Winning with the King's Indian: An Aggressive Repertoire for Black by Andrew Martin, Caissa Books (1989): 50-61.  This book was an early influence on my King's Indian repertoire, but I was surprised at how few of its recommendations I follow any more.  However, it recommends the Kavalek System against the White fianchetto, featuring the games Shamkovich - Jansa, Esbjerg 1982 and Ahmylovskaya - Nenad Ristic, Tbilisi 1987. 

King's Indian Defence, g3 Systems by Efim Geller, Batsford (1980): 112-116.  Following a discussion of an interesting Byrne-like system with 7...a6 planning 8...b5, Geller examines Kavalek's 7...Qa5, discussing the three main lines 8.d5, 8.e4, and 8.h3. Game references include Ivkov - Bronstein, Zagreb 1965; Furman - Tukmakov, Baku 1972; Ivkov - Larsen, Zagreb 1965; Gufeld - Lerner, Vilnius 1972; Lengyel - Honfi, Kecskemet 1968; Botvinnik - Larsen, Monte Carlo 1968; Quinteros - Panno, Mar del Plata 1969; Pachman - Tseshkovsky, Manila 1976; Cherepkov - Polugaevsky, USSR Ch 1969; Sokolov - Ivanovic, Yugoslavia 1971; Antoshin - Tsheshkovsky, Sochi 1974; Barcza - Trapl, Decin 1975; Janosevic - Vukic, Yugoslavia 1975;  Csom - Ostojic, Sao Paulo 1973; Pfleger - Kavalek, Monstilla 1974; Smejkal - Torre, Leningrad 1973; Vukic - Martinovic; Janosevic - Vukic, Sarajevo 1971; Ivkov - Kavalek, Amsterdam 1968; Portisch - Kavalek, Skopje ol 1972; Quinteros - Torre, Olot 1973; Marovic - Micheli, Madonna di Campiglio 1974; Smejkal - Tal, Leningrad 1973; Liebert - Balashov, Leipzig 1973; and Portisch - Torre, Manilla 1974.

King's Indian Defence 2: White Fianchetto Variations by Lajos Portisch, Oscar Panno, Lubosh Kavalek, David Bronstein, Ulf Andersson, and John Grefe, RHM Press (1979): 15-32.  Surprisingly, the section on the Kavalek Variation is written by John Grefe and not Kavalek.  Grefe represents the main line as 7...Qa5 8.h3 e5 9.e4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Qc5 following games of Vaganian, but this line is no longer current.  Game references include Panno - Cuartas, Bogota 1977; Padevski - Milicevic, Kragujevac 1977; Brown - Soltis, US Open 1978; Kirov - Ermenkov, Albena 1977; Rohde - Soltis, New York 1977; Hulak - Vukic, Vinkovci 1977; Webb - Fedorowicz, Hastings 1977/1978; Poutiainen - Ostojic, Stockholm 1976/1977; Keene - Korchnoi, Beersheva 1978; Csom - Mariotti, European Club Ch 1979; Kapelan - Quinteros, Vrsac 1977; Bleiman - Birnboim, Israeli Championship 1978; Tukmakov - Petrushin, USSR 1977; Ostojic - Valenti, Rome 1977; Watson - Soltis, New York 1977; Lein - Soltis, New York 1977; Rind - Haik, London 1978; Schmidt - Krnic, Belgrade 1977; A. Petrosian - Tukmakov, USSR 1st League Ch 1977; Tatai - Vaganian, Rome 1977; Csom - Vaganian, Buenos Aires Ol 1978; Whiteley - Littlewood, British Ch 1978; Ribli - Vaganian, Leningrad 1977; A. Petrosian - Vaganian, USSR Ch 1977; and Romanishin - Karner, Tallinn 1977.   

"Other Fianchetto Systems" by Raymond Keene,  Chapter 5 from The King's Indian Defence by Leonard Barden, William Hartston, and Raymond Keene, B.T. Batsford Limited (1973): 95-100.  Keene describes the Kavalek Variation as "a scheme for Black involving an early ...c6, retardation of ....e5, and reliance on piece activity."  In general, he finds that White still has a slight pull in the best lines.  Cited games include Naranja - Petrosian, Havana 1966; Rukavina - Vukic, Sarajevo 1971; Savon - Kavalek, Sarajevo 1967; Grdinic - Nemet, Vrnjacka Banja 1966; Cherepkov - Polugaevsky, USSR Ch 1969; Botvinnik - Larsen, Monaco 1968; Lengyel - Honfi, Kecakemet 1968; Kozma - Ostojic, Monaco 1968; Lengyel - Smyslov, Polanica Zdroj 1966; Ivkov - Bronstein, Zagreb 1965; Bilek - Kavalek, The Hague 1966; Filip - Larsen, Zagreb 1965; Kozma - Bronstein, Debrecen 1967; Brond - Quinteros, Mar del Plata 1971; Ivkov - Larsen, Zagreb 1965; Kozma - Honfi, Monaco 1968; Ivkov - Yepez, Caracas 1970; Marovic - Bertok, Zagreb 1965; Smejkal - Wright, Hastings 1968-1969; Smejkal - Jacobsen, Raach 1969; Vaganian - Vukic, USSR-Yugoslavia 1971; Zhidkov - Litvinov, USSR 1971; Kushnir - Zatulovskaya, Match (9) 1971; Karpov - Wittman, Mayaguez 1971; Janosevic - Vukic, Sarajevo 1971; Podgayets - Litvinov, USSR 1971; Podgayets - Vukic, Sombor 1970; Ivkov - Kavalek, Amsterdam 1968; Quinteros - Poch, Mar del Plata 1970; and Donner - Kavalek, Amsterdam 1968.

As always, I welcome additions and suggestions from readers.  I was surprised not to find many YouTube videos on this line and suspect that there are more out there.  And there are likely some older articles and books worth mentioning.