Sedlak: Playing the Stonewall Dutch (hardcover)

Autor: Sedlak, Nikolai
Verlag: Quality Chess
Erscheinungsjahr: 2020
Sprache: English
Buchumschlag: hardcover
Seiten: 352

The Dutch Defence is one of Black's most combative responses to 1.d4, and the Stonewall is the boldest version of this opening. Black immediately seizes space in the centre and clamps down on the e4-square, laying the foundations for a complicated strategic battle.

Many players believe the Stonewall to be a substandard opening, naively assuming that the e5-outpost and bad light-squared bishop must give White the advantage. GM Nikola Sedlak disagrees, and in Playing the Stonewall Dutch he shares the insights that have helped him to rack up a healthy plus score from Black's side. In addition to providing a complete repertoire in the main lines of the Stonewall, this book also offers useful guidance on dealing with Anti-Dutch variations and various move-order subtleties.

GM Nikola Sedlak is a former Serbian Champion who has won both the EU Individual Open Championship and an Olympiad gold medal. He has played the Stonewall for many years against strong opponents, achieving excellent results.

"Those looking for an aggressive but solid answer to 1.d4, which emphasizes understanding over tons of theory, will find Playing the Stonewall Dutch an excellent guide to this practical opening. Sedlak offers the reader an excellent mixture of analysis and explanatory prose and the conclusions at the end of each chapter, in which the author emphasizes the key points he wishes to make, are especially helpful."

IM John Donaldson

"Nikola Sedlak is a Serbian Grandmaster and he clearly likes to practise what he preaches (surely an essential trait for any author of opening books), as there are numerous illustrative games of his own."

"The aggressive lines given in this book will be a boon for those who need to play for a win as Black in Swiss tournaments and the like."

Sean Marsh , CHESS magazine

"The Introduction chapter is 13 pages of invaluable discussion of the overall strategy of the Stonewall structure interspersed with plans, strategic ideas, themes and motifs. Re-reading until you fully understand these ideas will be time well spent. Each main content chapter comprises of a schematic of variations followed by a detailed introduction to the ideas and then a number of high quality model games many of which have the author playing the black pieces. The analysis and recommendations are generous with explanations...

Usually I like to point out important lines that have been missed out but I get the impression that coverage is comprehensive and devoid of such omissions. The overall impression is of a superbly produced book suitable for someone considering adding the Stonewall Dutch to their repertoire as well as an excellent booster for someone who is experienced with it. Highly recommended!"

John Upham , British Chess New

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