"A Strategic Opening Repertoire" by IM John Donaldson, 1998
International Chess Enterprises, Paperback, Figurine Algebraic
Notation, 148pp., $14.95

The presentation of material in most opening books follows a
standard pattern. Chapters are divided into main variations and
sub-variations, with explanations and discussions of the particular
moves appearing as the author sees fit. The depth and insight given
by an author as well as the amount of original material determines
in large part whether the book is intended for weaker, middling or
advanced players and the overall quality of the book. Although
authors stress time and again that the understanding of the opening
is more important than memorization of lines, the fact is that in
most cases for most players it is memorization and recall that
counts. How many times have you seen a clearly weaker player
take an opponent deep into well charted opening waters? This is
not understanding, but rote.

It is against that backdrop that the look at IM John Donaldson's
latest book becomes so interesting. In an introduction and thirteen
chapters, Donaldson's objective is to help shape an opening system
for the 2000-2400 player that is based on an understanding, a true
understanding,  of the underlying system more than specific
concrete lines. The system is basically an English with White's
King Knight going to f3 and the fianchetto of the King Bishop.
The recommended move order for White is 1 Nf3, 2 c4 and 3 g3,
thus limiting the scope of Black replies.

The thirteen chapters are arranged according to Black's responses
to this system: Closed Sicilian Reversed, Symmetrical English,
Catalan, Queen's Indian, and so forth. Each chapter begins with a
brief overview of the strategic objectives for both sides and then a
selection of complete games is presented with light notes designed
to illustrate certain aspects of play in that line. For example, from
Chapter Seven...

The Symmetrical English is light years removed from the Closed
Sicilian Reversed. Here the two players jockey for small
advantages and kingside safety is rarely an issue. After 1 c4 c5 2
Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 many GMs today would prefer the
elastic 5 a3, but our move-order doesn't allow such luxuries. The
aim is to steer for the position arising after 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 0-0 0-0 7
d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 (see chapter eight), but there are lots of ways for
Black to try to break the symmetry early. Systems based on ...e6
and ...e5 tend to occur the most frequently by a wide margin.

Victor Frias-Antonio Frois
Plasencia 1996
1 Nf3 c5 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 c4 Nc6 5 Nc3 Nf6 6 0-0 d6 Black
plays this move here, because he wants to meet 7 d4 with 7...cxd4
8 Nxd4 Bd7. If he castled immediately he wouldn't have this
option after 7 d4. On the other hand, the text costs some flexibility.
Witness Illescas-Anand, Dos Hermanas 1996, which saw 7...0-0 8
Rb1 d5! 7 a3 a6 (7...0-0 8 Rb1 d5?! 9 cxd5 Nxd5 10 Nxd5 Qxd5
11 d3 a5 12 Be3 Qh5 13 Qa4 [13 Rxc1 b6? {13...Bxb2 14 Rxc5+}
14 Ng5 Bd7 15 Bf3+-] 13...Nd4 14 Nxd4 cxd4 15 Bxd4 Qg4 16 e3
Bxd4 17 Qxd4 Qxd4 18 exd4+- and White was a pawn up in the
ending, Donaldson-D.Gurevich, Chicago, 1997) 8 Rb1 Rb8 9 b4
cxb4 10 axb4 b5 11 cxb5 axb5 12 d4 Bf5 Black's early ...d7-d6
comes back to aunt him. He would now much prefer to have
castled on move six so as to be able to play ...d5 with only slight
disadvantage. Now things go from bad to worse. 13
d5!? This intuitive sacrifice by Frias is not totally necessary, but is
certainly very attractive. 13...Bxb1 14 dxc6 Be4? (14...Bf5 15 Nd4
0-0 16 Ndxb5 is very good for White who has two big passed
pawns for his slight deficit.) 15 Nxe4 Nxe4 16 Qc2 Oops! The
double threat to capture on e4 or play c7 ends things quickly.
16...Nc3 17 Bb2 Rc8 18 Bxc3 Rxc6 19 Nd4 Rc4 20 Nxb5 0-0 21
Qd3 Qc8 22 Bxg7 Kxg7 23 Bb7 1-0.

Those players who need clear "if...then..." lines to learn an opening
may become a bit anxious with this book. They may find it is more
productive to enter the book's games as data into a database
program such as BookUp for the purposes of mastering the
opening repertoire. Of course, whether that actually turns out to be
an effective method of learning this system remains to be seen, as
it seems to run contrary to the author's approach.

In this day and age when original play and ideas in some openings
do not begin until after two dozen moves or more have been
played, Donaldson, in his quiet, unassuming way, is breaking some
new ground. It seems to this reviewer that an opening book that
takes a relatively new path for presenting material runs certain
risks for both the author and the publisher. And in this instance
they are both to be commended. Donaldson has produced a little
gem. 

Players who regard their openings as a series of forced moves
leading to the middlegame should avoid this book. However, if you
do not mind being required to do some thinking about how the
opening should be played, and welcome the opportunity to play
thematically consistent lines that are understood more than they are
memorized, this  may be the diamond-in-the-rough you have been
searching for.