Customer Reviews

The Hedgehog (Batsford Chess Book)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author states that his intention is to make the reader love the 'hog as much as he does and he then shows a lot of games with a lot of curious anecdotes and some tips on finesses and move orders. If you're a devotee or really want to learn the opening the hard way, reading the book from cover to cover will do it for you. If you want a reference book to just have a quick glance at occasionally, not a chance.

I really enjoy going through this book. There is a ton of information on the hedgehog. This book however, is not at all for begining players. Suba is an acknowledged master of the English opening and the hedgehog in particular - it really comes across in these pages and he illucidates many of the subtle nuances one needs in order to be successful with this opening. I can sympathize with the previous reviewer - this book is frustrating at times because there is no index of variations (subtracted 1 star). I should also say though, that the number of transpositional possibilities is very high in the hedgehog. Move-order is often quite irrelevant. There is another book out there on the Hedgehog called "Hedgehog system in the English Opening". I bought this book also and it does have a "tree" index at the back. Unfortunately the book is pretty weak. If you're interested in the Hedgehog skip that one and buy this (Suba's) book. There is so much information in here that you can't really go wrong. I will again warn lesser players however, the hedgehog is quite abstruse and this book will not give you an easy, convenient repertoir against the English. Players under the 1500 rating may want to look elsewhere. The Symetrical approach to the English has served me well and I use it as a back up when my hedgehog is looking shakey.