By carefully choosing variations that lead to similar structures, IM Sam
Collins has put together a powerful repertoire book ideal for players
with limited study time. White opens with 1 e4 and develops his pieces
to natural squares, seeking open lines and the initiative. The dominant
theme of this sound and active repertoire is that - where reasonable -
White seeks out Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP) positions: i.e. with the c3
Sicilian, Panov Caro-Kann, Tarrasch French, and the Italian Game with
early c3 and d4.
There are no speculative gambits here, just plenty of healthy aggression
and new ideas. Because so many of Collins's recommendations lead to
familiar structures, ideas can easily be transplanted from one opening
to another. He gives illustrative games that emphasize the key themes,
including White's many opportunities to forcibly weaken and attack the
black king. The specific analysis is up-to-the-minute and features ideas
that have proven their worth in grandmaster practice. Throughout there
is attention to move-order subtleties, with clever nuances in
'sidelines' that your opponents are unlikely to have examined in detail.
Irish international master Sam Collins won the championship of his
home country in 2002 and 2014. He has represented Ireland in numerous
Olympiads, winning an individual gold medal at Bled in 2002. He is also
an experienced chess teacher who has lectured at the Berkeley Chess
School in California. His previous books for Gambit were Chess
Explained: The c3 Sicilian and the highly successful general opening
work Understanding the Chess Openings.
