Chess Strategy

I borrowed this book from a friend to take a look at the variation of my interest - dubed by Moskalenko as “Black Queen Blues”. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5!? 7. Bd2 Qa4

Flexible French: Strategic Explanations & Surprise Weapons for Dynamic Players

The chapter introduction, which includes History, Plans, Typical Endings and Directions, is almost perfect. Moskalenko will detail on all possible continuations and resources for both sides. However, there are many better examples for Typical Endings than one sole piece taken from author’s practice.

Moving on, there are 10 games attached to the chapter, with abundance of ideas that greatly expand on the material given in the introduction. Together with excellent sub-variations, this all makes a strong foundation for one’s deeper study on the BQB line.

On the other hand, the game text is of poor language and bad/useless verbal annotations. The author is probably not fluent in English, neither am I, so maybe I shouldn’t criticize on this aspect, but it is him that wanted to publish a book. It is not entirely his fault though, as the publisher, Dutch company New In Chess, should have provided an editor to doublecheck and “enrich” the text where necessary. Now I have the feeling that book would have looked better in pure Chess Informant code system.

The final remark is that annotated games appear to be prepared separately sometime in the past and then simply packed together in a book. I couldn’t think of better explanation for Moskalenko’s need to comment differently on 6…Qa5 in four of the ten given games.

But the verdict is that players interested in French Defence should have this book regardless of its shortcomings. The wealth of ideas simply eclipses the lack of text.