By IM John Donaldson, USA Olympic Team Captain and author
The Modernized Vienna of the Queen’s Gambit Declined by Fernado Peralta really stood out to this reviewer. The Vienna variation of the Queen’s Gambit occurs after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4, with the main line and only testing reply 5.e4 (5.e3 transposes to a line of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted where the early development of White’s knight on c3 is not considered challenging).
During much of the Vienna’s existence, Black invariably played 5…Bb4 and White instantly replied 6.Bg5. That line is now considered theoretically quite drawish, but more recently the substitution of the gambit continuation 6.Bxc4! Nxe4 7.0-0! has led to many White victories and put the Vienna temporarily under a cloud. This changed with the invention of 5…b5 by the Argentine born Spanish GM Salvador Del Rio.
Here is what the author has to say about the line covered in this book:
The primary goal of this work is not to recount a story or to acknowledge the creative efforts of a friend, although those are satisfying perks, I allow myself. This is a theoretical book about a chess variation that (it could not be otherwise) I will call the Del Rio Variation. It is one of the most fascinating openings that can be played today, leading almost immediately to highly dynamic and complex positions. Additionally, it can be set up quite easily. For example, after 1.d4 Nf6 (1…d5 is another possible move order to reach the same position) 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 (from 1.d4 all of White’s moves are the most popular). Then 4…dxc4, establishing the Vienna Variation.
Today opening books rely heavily on computer engines (could it be otherwise?) with the author responsible for presenting to the reader what they consider the most important variations. This process is not simply a matter of copying the engine assessments (at least it shouldn’t be!). Ideally, at a minimum, the student should get an idea of what the main lines are, especially what is most important for games played between human beings.
Peralta, long one of Argentina’s top players with a rating fluctuating between 2550 and 2630, has gone well beyond this. The Modernized Vienna of the Queen’s Gambit Declined is a model of what an opening book should be. A strong player with considerable experience playing the Vienna, Peralta keeps an objective viewpoint throughout despite this book being written from Black’s perspective. He identifies the most critical variations and offers not only an overview of existing theory but his own assessments of the variations, primarily with concrete variations but also through explanatory prose that explains the key ideas for both sides.
Here is one example that examines one of the most important lines in the Vienna, where White transfers his queen to the kingside (Qd1-d2-f4) looking to attack.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 8.Be2 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Qf4 Nb4 13.Qg4 Kh8 14.Rd1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-mk0
9zplzp-vlpzpp0
9-sn-+p+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-snpzP-+Q+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-vLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14…Qe8!?
The author writes:
You will probably not find any game in your database with this move at the moment. It was played by IM Mario Villaneuva in the Argentine National League (I already mentioned that this variation is very popular in my country!). The move may seem quite mysterious at first sight but it contains some subtle ideas:
- It defends e6 which sometimes allows us to play …f6 or …f5.
- When we exchange White’s knight on g5 and White recaptures with his bishop he does not win a tempo by threatening the queen.
- The White queen on h5 (a recurring square in this variation) can allow us to play …f5. After the eventual exchange of queens, the move exf6 is no longer permissible.
- The rook on a8, instead of going to its classic (but somewhat abstract) position on b8 can move to d8 and exert strong pressure on d4. We already know that this system of White’s get along badly with the bishop on e3 so the pressure makes more sense here.
- In addition, the Queen can appear on g6, c6 or a4 as the game progresses. Not so bad for a single move. Even so, the Black king is in this variation and it will be necessary to play with a fair amount of precision to maintain good chances.
This reviewer was struck by the fact that this variation (5…b5) leads to play that bears some affinity with the Meran variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.e4 b4 10.Na4 c5 11.e5. Like the Meran variation Black gets the use of the d5 square and all his minor pieces are active. The lines are relatively easy to learn and not over theoretical.
The Modernized Vienna of the Queen’s Gambit Declined is a great book. Anyone looking for a defense to 1.d4 (paired with either the Nimzo-Indian or Queen’s Gambit Declined) will find Peralta’s work an excellent guide.
Highly Recommended
