Thanks for responding! I think this could be a cool way to learn more.
I want to think about the line you're discussing. I like to play the advanced fianchetto variation of the English although I'm very new at it and I think I have a book that has a good line against that type of Black response.
I don't like to play a QP game either and like to keep the English flavor throughout the game. Plus it keeps people out of their 'normal' game sometimes.
You have that book too? Hehehe......I don't like the four knights with Bc5 lines that they give in that book......I don't know but I have had horrible success with that and the Botvinnik systems in that book......so I play 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 and go for the Four Knights English with g3 instead of d4........I also don't like some of the lines he gives for the Symmetrical English when you gambit of the b-pawn.....otherwise I play from that book pretty straight!
It's quite an awesome book! Being a new English player it has helped me to begin understanding the ideas about what to do with the various Black responses.
As far as the lines that you have mentioned, have you run them through Fritz before? I want to try to figure out some good responses so over the weekend I'll try to see what Fritz recommends.
You guys have piqued my interest! I'm always looking for a new opening to try (kinda shopping around before I settle on one).
I've ordered Kosten's book from Amazon. Should be here in a few days.
Tell me, can anyone compare Kosten's book to Soltis' "Winning with c4" from Chess Digest? Soltis can be simplistic (which is not a bad thing from my patzer point of view) but he usually gets the main concepts across pretty clearly.
Anyone care to comment on "Winning with c4"?
Sorry, I haven't read it but I've seen wonderful reviews on the book. Kosten's is an awesome book as !~Tony~! could tell you (Better than I😉). I like the English as it keeps most players at my level off balance. They are used to e4 or d4 and I like getting them out of their comfort zone. Let me know what you think of it as compared to Soltis' book. I may have to pick that one up.
We have one on the Symmetrical English. It's fairly new and published by Everyman Chess (my Dad has it so I don't know the name) I DO NOT recommend it! Definately not as well written as Kosten's.
I can't hold it back any longer. For days I've seen this thread and wanted to post in it. And for days I've stopped myself, resisting the urges, holding back from posting the obvious and the silly. But I can no longer.
<They're a quaint, pale-skinned sort of bunch who take afternoon tea and talk about the weather a lot>
There. It's done. I'll leave you chess talking grown ups to carry on with an otherwise very good thread.
Originally posted by ChessNutThe cover blurb for Soltis' c4 book makes it sound a lot like Kosten's in that the main strategy for getting away from theory and injecting some vigor into the position is achieved through the Kingside fianchetto. It sounded like it might be a good supplement (or primer even), so I ordered that one too. You can never have enough chess books! 😀
Sorry, I haven't read it but I've seen wonderful reviews on the book. Kosten's is an awesome book as !~Tony~! could tell you (Better than I😉). I like the English as it keeps most players at my level off balance. They are used to e4 or d4 and I like getting them out of their comfort zone. Let me know what you think of it as compared to Soltis' book. I may have to pick that one up.
Some of Soltis' stuff can be a bit 'thin' as far as variations go. But I find that his verbal explanations of what each side is trying to achieve are better than average. At least for me. I don't think I would ever rely solely on one of his books once I got serious about a particular repertoire, though.
After this, I really need to settle down to one opening... but I've been saying *that* for about a year now. 😕
Speaking of chosing a repertoire, I hear the Schliemann will help newbies analyse their playing style and choose the appropriate openings? Is this right?
I'll let you know how the two books compare... I have no doubt that Kosten's is the more thorough and complete. I ordered Soltis' mostly as an appetizer.
