The Modern Scandinavian
The Modern Scandinavian: Themes, Structures & Plans in an Increasingly Popular Chess Opening Paperback – April 16, 2011
The Scandinavian Defense is increasingly popular with club and internet players. It is easy to learn because there is relatively little theory and once White has played 1.e4 he cannot avoid Black uncorking the Scandinavian.
This book is the long-awaited translation of a German bestseller considered by many to be the best book ever on the Scandinavian.
It does not concentrate on theoretical lines but on the structural ideas that govern this opening.
Basic strategic themes, how pawn structures dictate plans of attacks, which tactical motifs you can expect in certain typical positions, that is what this book is about.
You will learn how to outplay your opponent with solid and relatively easy-to-learn moves.
This new, English language edition has been augmented by additional input from co-authors GM Karsten Mueller and IM Hannes Langrock.
It’s tempting to play an opening White can’t avoid and after 1 e4 d5 Black has already achieved his liberating central break. Yet both 2 …Qxd5 and 2 …Nf6 both have their tricky moments. This book focuses firmly on the former and eschews the more eccentric variations, preferring 3 Nc3 Qa5 to other Queen moves.
There has been something of a revolution in the Scandinavian Defence in recent years, as GM Wahls correctly acknowledges: ‘When ‘Modernes Skandinavisch 1’ appeared nine years ago, on one could have guessed how popular the line with 2…Qxd5 would one day become. Moreover, at the time it was regarded to be insufficient to achieve equality, or even unsound’.
There have been a number of books on it, so what does this new one have to offer? It definitely takes a different approach. In fact, it’s much more of a middlegame textbook than an opening tome.
‘Of course, we are discussing only those typical middlegame structures which arise in the Scandinavian Defence. All the important plans, pawn structures and a multiplicity of strategic and tactical motifs will be presented through the medium of whole games’
The downside of the increased respect afforded to 1 e4 d5 is apparent too: ‘Since players with white have had to accept that the Scandinavian is an opening which must be taken seriously, they have started to work out methods to combat it. The most dangerous of these in our opinion is the Kupreichik Variation, which arises after the moves: 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 c6 Bc4 Nf6 6 Bd2. Our recommendation here is unambiguous: it is best simply to avoid it’. The advice is to change the move-order with 4 …Nf6, which grants Black some extra options.
The recommended repertoire heads for this solid position: 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bf5 6 Bc4 e6 7 Bd2 c6
Black sometimes has the opportunity to play very aggressively, setting up his pieces with …Nc6, …Bg4 and …0-0-0. This is dubbed ‘The Viking Centre’.
‘Just like Vikings in their day, Black gets down to business and goes after his opponent at once’.
The book concludes with a series of exercises to test the reader’s Scandinavian skill, followed by a ‘Theoretical Appendix’, detailing the suggested Black repertoire. It’s an impressive work and it is clear that a lot of effort has been put in by the authors. Fans of 1 e4 d5 will find it required reading, but there is a lot more on offer than merely guiding the Scandinavian faithful through their favourite opening; the middlegame wisdom imparted should be of interest to all practical players.
Source: marshtowers.blogspot.com and amazon.com
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