In
general, a player will start the game with either
1.e4
or 1.d4.
Beginners are told to learn tactics, so they usually
go for sharp attacking positions with 1.e4.
However, after dealing with all of Black's vexing
replies to 1.e4,
some players back off a bit and try to slow the
game down with 1.d4
(often employing the Colle-1...d5
2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nbd2
followed by Bd3, 0-0, c3 and eventually e3-e4-or
the Torre Attack-1.d4
Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 4.e3).
Players who enjoy positional
games in somewhat lesser known territories often
employ the English Opening (1.c4).
This is quite a good choice, and I recall the
young Yasser Seirawan wiping out many experienced
older players with this move.
Some odd birds enjoy "fringe"
moves like 1.g3,
1.b3, 1.b4, 1.f4 or
even 1.g4.
However, these lines, as interesting as they may
be, aren't usually retained for the long haul,
simply because players using the White pieces
will eventually want to fight for an opening advantage.
This leaves us with 1.Nf3,
an extremely flexible move that can lead to "Reti"
type positions or transpose into various English
or 1.d4
systems. One positive thing about 1.Nf3
is that it often leaves Black without a heavily
memorized reply (usually Black is well prepared
to meet both 1.e4
and 1.d4).
Another big plus is that the resulting positions
are rich strategically, sharp (if you wish to
steer the game into such wild waters), and will
be known to you while being virgin territory to
your opponent.
There are very few repertoire
books on 1.Nf3;
the only two that come to mind are Donaldson's
A Strategic
Opening Repertoire and
the present volume by Dunnington. The Donaldson
book is poorly designed and the layout doesn't
help the non-master get a grip on the nuances
of 1.Nf3.
Also, the recommended repertoire in Donaldson's
book (often transposing into English Openings
and 1.d4
systems) is vastly different than Dunnington's,
which is more Reti-like and easier to absorb.
The strength of the Donaldson
book is its coverage of the popular Reversed Closed
Sicilian (1.Nf3
Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 d6 5.Nc3 e5 6.d3 Nc6
7.0-0 0-0 8.Rb1). This
is the system that Kotronias recommends for Black
in Beating the
Flank Openings. Donaldson
shows that Black's life isn't necessarily so easy,
while Dunnington avoids it completely with Smyslov's
old favorite: 1.Nf3
Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4!? (I
also used to play this system with good effect).
What attracts me to Easy
Guide to the Reti Opening
is Dunnington's insistence on staying within Reti
guidelines. He meets 1.Nf3
d5 with 2.c4,
when 2...d4
leads to many sharp reversed Benoni positions.
On 2...c6
(or 2...e6),
he recommends 3.b3
Nf6 4.g3. No main line
QP or English systems here!
One of the weaknesses of
the book is the short introduction (only four
pages). Since it's dealing with positions that
are largely alien to non-masters, a lot of good
could have been done by adding 20 pages of typical
Reti planning and themes. Nevertheless, the recommended
lines are clear, attractive, well laid out, and
structurally consistent. These plusses make this
the only book you will need with the White pieces
if you decide to make 1.Nf3
your opening move.
YOU
CAN FIND THIS BOOK AT
|
