Well here it is…the last review I’m likely to be doing for a while since I’m using only QC products for a while.
For the record I was working on this one for a bit. In fact I nearly had it completed when my site crashed and I lost everything.
So here we go…
This book which was recently released by NM Paul Powell is subtitled “How to Defeat the Yugoslav Attack” which is of course the most critical line against the Dragon.
While Fischer may have once claimed the Dragon was a bust (“sac, sac, mate” anyone?) the truth is much more complex. The Dragon remains one of the most critical and deeply analyzed openings in chess.
It also seems to be a favorite for lower level players. I have a few thoughts as to why that is, and I think that they are relevant for this review.
First of all, I think that the Dragon seems “easy” to play due to it’s somewhat systemic nature. The first 10-11 moves are pretty easy to remember unlike many other openings.
Secondly, I think that the Dragon (along with most lines of the Sicilian) comes with reasonably easy to understand plans.
Those two things combine to make this opening very popular among certain groups of players.
Seizing on that opportunity, Paul and his publisher, Mongoose Press, have written a book that speaks to those players.
Let’s be perfectly clear about what this is not. This is not a book designed to show you the latest intricacies on move 22 against the 9.0-0-0 variation of the Yugoslav. Books like that exist and if you are a player around the Class A or above level then those books are really what you want. But if you are not (and let’s face it, the majority of chess players are not) then this book is the book for you.
Really the book is split in to two distinct books. “Book 1: Ideas and Patterns” and “Book 2: Quizzes.”
The first book is composed of chapters which cover a particular variation through the annotation of sample games. Lines include 9.Bc4 Nd7; 9.0-0-0 Nxd4; 9.g4 Nxd4; 9.g4 Bxg4; 9.Bc4 Nxd4; 9.0-0-0 d5; 9…a5; 9…Qa5; 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rb8; 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Qb8; 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Qc7, and an odds and ends chapter.
There is also a very nice interlude piece where the author discusses transpositions. I think that concept is very undercovered as relates to club level players, so it’s nice to see it here. In some cases it’s important to know what line is likely to transpose into a different line since it helps a player feel a bit more familiar in various move orders.
NM Powell’s annotations are to my taste perfect for what he is trying to achieve. Often they are along the lines of “White should reject this move on principle as it weakens the c3-knight” or “As we have seen in many games, the pattern of sacrificing a knight at g4 or e4 is a common theme for launching an attack. If you embed the search for these kinds of opportunities into your DNA you’ll win some spectacular games over your chess career.”
This is not to say that the analysis shies away from variations. It does not. In fact, when it is needed, the author goes in to some quite deep analysis to show his point. However where possible to explanations tend to be more verbal than variational, which I believe will serve readers of this book quite well.
It’s also important to point out that with so many variations covered in a 184 page book, nothing is covered deeply. Then again, I don’t believe it’s intended to be. As near as I can tell it’s intended to lightly cover a wide range of topics which will give the reader a nice broad background from which to grow.
The second book – quizzes – also offers up a nice selection of typical Dragon positions and tactics to help the reader understand how to unleash the latent power in this opening.
Of course I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that one of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is the mention of Israel Zilber in the dedication. If you don’t know who Zilber was then do yourself a favor and read Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin.
All in all I think that this book achieves it’s goal and should be read by anyone lower rated than Class A who plays or is thinking about playing the Dragon. It should also be read by anyone who prefers verbal explanatory analysis regardless of what openings they play.
Til Next Time,
Chris Wainscott