Two great books from the Everyman Chess Library, Starting Out: Benoni
Systems by Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik and Starting Out: The
Modern Benoni by Endre Vegh, brought together in one volume. Starting
Out: Benoni Systems is a study of all the crucial Benoni systems apart
from the Modern Benoni. It presents diverse and practical options
against the queen's pawn opening for dynamic, tactical players and
solid, positional players alike. Included are such daring defences as
the controversial Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit and the Benko Gambit, a
favourite with uncompromising Grandmasters such as Veselin Topalov and
Vassily Ivanchuk. On the other hand, Black also has the opportunity to
adopt solid, respectable defences such as the Czech Benoni and the
Schmid Benoni. The Modern Benoni is one of Black's most ambitious and
audacious defences to the queen's pawn opening, and it has been used
with devastating effect by such legends as Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer
and Garry Kasparov. From the very start Black creates an exceptional
imbalance in the position, one which leads to dynamic play and gives
Black real chances to seize the initiative. Both players must be
fearless in their approach, as hesitation in the Modern Benoni often
leads to disaster! In this user-friendly book, International Master
Endre Vegh goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of
the Modern Benoni and its many variations. Throughout the book there are
an abundance of notes, tips, warnings and exercises to help the
improving player, while key strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides
are clearly illustrated.
