 The Chess Advantage in Black and White, by IM Larry Kaufman, is a complete opening repertoire for the tournament player. Kaufman is an experienced player on the international tournament circuit, who recently returned to active play. He determined that a new opening repertoire was needed, and this book is the result. His basic approach was to select among the best "secondary moves" from Grandmaster play, to cut down on theory while still maintaining an advantage with White, and a path to equality with Black. He backs up his choices with statistics, and in many cases he improves on existing theory with intelligent use of computer analysis. Don't expect any breakthrough theoretical novelties, as most of the computer-aided moves occur well into a game. Still, Kaufman seems to know how to interpret computer analysis, and most importantly, when to ignore it. While the repertoire is predominantly solid and positional, it does favor the bishop pair as much as it can. The book uses the illustrative games approach, which is nice to be able to see how positions are played after the opening is over, but on the down side it's sometimes difficult to find a specific variation. Kaufman offers chapter guides which provide a basic outline for what's in all the games of a chapter, along with a strategic summary for each chapter. Here's an outline of the repertoire:
White
This is a 1.e4 repertoire for White.
1...c5 Sicilian
After 2.Nf3, Kaufman recommends 3.Bb5 systems against 2...d6 and 2...Nc6 (Moscow and Rossolimo variations), and 3.b3 against 2...e6 (with 3.d3 as a backup). He covers non-standard replies by Black, usually recommending a c3 and d4 setup. As mentioned earlier, he tries to hold onto the b5-bishop when feasible, unlike Murray Chandler's simpler Bashing the Sicilian With Bb5 DVD set.
1...e5 Spanish, Russian, Philidor, and others
After 2.Nf3, Kaufman offers the Kauffman Attack (not the author) against the Russian (Petroff) Defence: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.c4 is bound to surprise many opponents (5.d4 is the main line here). White's idea in some lines is to play Nc3 and allow Black to double White's c-pawns. Kaufman does a nice job in explaining how to keep the Philidor harmless, and all the minor defences after 2.Nf3 are covered well (such as the Latvian Gambit). Against the Spanish, Kaufman chose the Exchange Variation. At first this seems surprising, given his claim of trying to keep the bishop pair, but what else is there in a limited (even though large) repertoire book? His argument that understanding the Spanish Exchange well will bring you many points because it is underestimated and not studied in great depth is a valid one, and the fact that Bobby Fischer play it a lot on his rise to the World Championship is a good sign. If the Exchange variation just doesn't excite you, and you want to avoid theory, GM John Emms' video, The Ruy Lopez offers a repertoire based on White playing d3 (instead of castling and allowing Black to grab the e4-pawn). You'll reach normal Spanish positions with Emms' system.
1...e6 French
Kaufman suggests the Tarrasch Variation to battle the French, and with players like GM Michael Adams consistently playing this system, it's hard to go wrong here.
Kaufman uses a slightly unusual move-order after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 with 4.Ngf3 (4.exd5 is normal). This can transpose into the main lines, but in many cases will lead to original positions that your opponent may not be prepared for.
1...c6 Caro-Kann
The Short System of the Advance Variation is recommended here.
1...d6 / 1...g6 Pirc / Modern
Against the Pirc, Kaufman recommends the 150-Attack, an easy and dangerous system
to grasp. Against the Modern, he suprisingly chooses a different system.
1...Nf6 Alekhine's Defence
The easy-to-play Exchange Variation is a good choice to face the Alekhine. This is also the choice in GM John Emms' Attacking With 1.e4.
1...d5 Scandinavian
Kaufman's choice of 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 is bound to confuse your opponents. White's idea is to be able to play both d4 and c4 (normally the b1-knight moves to c3, blocking the c-pawn), establishing a strong center. Against 2...Nf6, main lines are offered (a more rare system against 2...Nf6 is 3.Bb5+, which is covered by Emms in Attacking With 1.e4).
Black
1.e4 e5
Kaufman offers a complete 1...e5 repertoire, and this may be one of the most valuable parts of the book. The only other example of this I'm aware of is GM John Emms' excellent Play the Open Games As Black (except Emms does not offer a system against the Spanish).
Against the Spanish Kaufman recommends the Berlin Defence, another solid system where understanding is more important than learning variations (although some of the sidelines do need to be learned).
With the Italian 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, Kaufman suggests 3...Bc5, arguing that Black gets to have more of the fun in the tactical lines (those with an early d4), than in the tactical 3...Nf6 lines. So you won't have to learn the Max Lange Attack, but you will have to study up on the Evans Gambit. Many lines in the Italian where White plays an early d4 are very tactical in nature and just have to be learned.
Kaufman recommends main lines against the Scotch.
Against the King's Gambit we have 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5, a move which takes the sting out Bc4 systems, and turns the game into a more positional flavor -- something White players of this opening will probably not enjoy.
The lines against the Four Knights are more offbeat. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6, we have 4.Bb5 (Spanish Four Knights) in which case Kaufman suggests 4...Bd6, an amateurish-looking move that is quite sound. After 4.d4 (Scotch Four Knights) we have 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5, an unusual move also recommended by Emms. After 4.Bc4 (Italian Four Knights) Kaufman goes for the easy-to-play fork trick with 4...Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5. Both 4.g3 (Glek System) and 4.a3 are answered by 4...d5.
The Vienna and Bishop's Opening are pretty much standard lines, except that 2...Nc6 is recommended in the Bishop's Opening (2...Nf6 is the main line) since otherwise White can essentially force Black into lines of the Italian Three Knights outside the repertoire. Minor but dangerous (for the unprepared) openings such the Ponziani and Center Game are also covered.
1.d4 d5
Kaufman goes classical again, aiming for a Semi-Slav setup, avoiding the insanely complicated Botvinnik
variation in favor of the Meran and Moscow variations. This setup is the recommendation against 1.Nf3, 1.c4, and 1.g3, and a surprising lack of coverage for 1.c4 is present. Yes, many times lines will transpose, but the reader is pretty much left on their own in some cases. Kaufman does an excellent job of explaining the move-order is this system.
This is a remarkable book, in the sheer breadth of opening systems covered that all fit into a complete repertoire. As always, understand and computer-check any lines you're considering playing, as there are some minor mistakes in this book (and most others). I'm so impressed by this book that I've incorporated a large part of it into my OTB opening repertoire, and I know other players who have done the same. I wish Kaufman had put more effort into explaining ideas with prose, and given more specific evaluations, but these are minor complaints. Highly recommended.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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