This is the latest volume in a series that, taken together, presents a complete White repertoire with 1.e4. The conceit behind the series’ title is that these are lines that Anand has played, or might play. In essence, what we have here are a set of opening choices ‘in the style of Anand’ (or rather, according to Khalifman’s conception of Anand’s style). In general, the lines chosen are sound, active and testing for Black.
The twelfth volume is devoted to a system that ‘has not acquired yet a universally acknowledged name’, as Khalifman correctly says in the preface, though in recent years it has come to be called – almost by default – the Classical Variation of the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6). Against it, Khalifman essays the Rauzer Attack, or the Richter-Rauzer Attack (6.Bg5), a line that Anand has played on many occasions.
The theoretical material is set out in three parts.
The first part examines pretty much all conceivable ways by which Black can deviate from the sequence 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 on moves 3, 4, 5 and 6. The most important deviations are undoubtedly 6...Bd7 and 6...Qb6, but as a demonstration of Khalifman’s rigor and thoroughness, let me point out that he considers various alternatives to the automatic (and clearly best) 3...cxd4. Here is one short game which he quotes: 3...b6 4.dxc5 bxc5? (to avoid the exchange of Queens, or perhaps to capture towards the centre) 5.Qd5 and Black resigned in Michel-Iliesco, Mar del Plata 1943. It is a guilty pleasure almost to watch as Khalifman, an ex-world champion and still a world-class player, examines such lines.
Following 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2, part two considers all Black alternatives to 7...a6, chief among them 7...Qb6 and 7...Be7, but also Botvinnik’s 7...h6. Again, Khalifman is admirably thorough, not to say exhaustive, in his treatment of Black’s various possibilities.
The final part, Part 3, looks at 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 and all possibilities arising thereafter. Most attention is devoted to the main lines 8...Bd7 9.f4 Be7 and 8...Bd7 9.f4 b5.
All in all, OPENING FOR WHITE ACCORDING TO ANAND, Volume 12 is a comprehensive, heavy-duty theoretical work. Although an advocate for the White side, the author’s rigor and objectivity can hardly be questioned. And the sheer industry of his endeavor can only be admired.
