Timothy Taylor (6) (1953–)

This book is certainly among the better opening surveys I've read. Though the sections on the modern line (4 Nf3) get a little tedious, understanding the underlying strategies developed by Kengis and Larsen are essential to playing this defense against a prepared e4 player. As soon as the book departs from these difficult responses Taylor lightens up considerably. I even laughed out loud a few times. He's a great writer to spend time with and this book is a solid introduction to a daring show more defense. show less

This book is certainly among the better opening surveys I've read. Though the sections on the modern line (4 Nf3) get a little tedious, understanding the underlying strategies developed by Kengis and Larsen are essential to playing this defense against a prepared e4 player. As soon as the book departs from these difficult responses Taylor lightens up considerably. I even laughed out loud a few times. He's a great writer to spend time with and this book is a solid introduction to a daring show more defense. show less

I give this book 4 stars because I really like Taylor's writing-- it is a book after all. I've tried the opening a few times after reading it. I had mixed results, but that's true for most things I play. Is it a great opening? No. It is the kind of thing where you hope to know the terrain of the battle better than your opponent.

Taylor writes for club players who play over the board, where things like the element of surprise and who is better prepared matter. Taylor writes with enthusiasm show more for his subject, be it pawn sacrifices or his choice of perhaps less commonly found openings and variations. I think he is trying to arm his reader with confidence in his preparation as much as he is trying to arm his reader with playable variations. You do need both to win at chess consistently.

With that in mind, I don't mind if Taylor's enthusiasm out paces the solidity of the lines he's offering. He is a unique writer, imho, offering often original analysis. He takes chances. His readers should be willing to do the same. show less

This is one of the better chess books I've read. It's focused, the examples are thorough, but not overly technical or assuming. While the author does follow the tendency to spiral off into alternate lines at times without diagrams, generally speaking there are enough board diagrams of the main lines that you don't need to set up a chessboard while you read.