“A game as complex as chess can be approached in an infinite number of ways. Nowadays, in the era of computer chess, GMs generally tend to focus their preparation on looking for playable ideas rather than outright refutations. In his second volume of work, Alex Ipatov once again shows his expertise and creative approach in this regard. The reader is presented with an abundance of interesting ideas for White which can pose real practical problems for Black. On top of that, Alex provides invaluable insights into his own chess opening psychology and the preparation of a strong Grandmaster. I found it a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read, and one that I believe enriched my chess knowledge!” ~ GM Dariusz Swiercz, March 2020.
“Appraisal for Volume 1: Rather than learning and keeping up-to-date with main lines, Ipatov recommends preparing several less studied or neglected lines to cultivate ‘predictable unpredictability’! He describes his philosophy as combatting several generally accepted misconceptions such as a) only studying opening theory will make you a better player, b) one should always follow the first or second line shown by Komodo or Stockfish, and finally c) that ‘in theory’ is equivalent to ‘over the board’. In general, I think you’ll use the book to spice up your current repertoire with a couple of additional interesting lines and possibly provide you with a one-off weapon for a must win game. My rating is somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but Ipatov’s generosity is sharing all this original analysis tips the balance to 5! Recommended!” ~ GM Matthew Sadler, NIC Magazine 04-2019.
A game as complex as chess can be approached in an infinite number of ways. Nowadays, in the era of computer chess, GMs generally tend to focus their preparation on looking for playable ideas rather than outright refutations. In his second volume of work, Alex Ipatov once again shows his expertise and creative approach in this regard. The reader is presented with an abundance of interesting ideas for White which can pose real practical problems for Black.
