Dutch Defense. - Dynamic New Plans

Dallas, Texas: Chess Digest, Inc., 1989. Assumed First Edition . Trade Paperback. Very Good. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2. 219 Pages Indexed. The last of the blank Notes pages has some scribbling. No other marks of any kind. Throughout the history of the Dutch Defense, it has not been particularly popular. Used on occasion as a "must win" surprise weapon, it was thought to be positionally unsound and not worthy of a permanent place in the repertoire of a Grandmaster. The one player of note who disagreed with this view was World champion Botvinnik who scored many nice wins with the Stonewall Variation. However when he retired, it seemed that the Dutch Defense retired with him. Within the last six years though, a group of players in their continual search for a dynamic Black opening, started experimenting with various lines in the Dutch. These players (Agdestein, Malaniuk, Dolmatov, etc.) surprised everyone by scoring many nice wins. Naturally, other heads started turning towards the beacon of the Dutch. Today such superstars as Ps a k h i s, Yusupov, and Short use it regularly, and the Dutch is starting to gain a popularity and respectability that it has never before experienced. The reason for this popularity resides in the fact that it is not as well studied as some other openings, and that Black can immediately fight for the initiative rather than the usual dull plodding after equality that most openings offer. Though Black has tried to rehabilitate many different lines in the Dutch, it has finally been made clear that his best chances lie in the tactical complexities of the Leningrad Variation or the strategic difficulties of the Stonewall Defense. Both of these systems offer Black excellent practical chances, and should be where the student focuses his attention if he wishes to learn this promising opening for Black. A study of this book from the Black side should enable the student to turn this opening into a deadly weapon.