Customer Reviews

Queen's Gambit Declined

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you first pick this book up, you are struck by its quality. Nice binding, sturdy and beautiful flex-cover, clear typesetting, white pages that are opaque and have almost no bleedthrough. (Hold one of the pages up to a strong light and you can barely see the print on the opposite side of the page!) I have spent many hours in this book preparing this review, (somewhere between 20-50); and the book shows almost no wear-and-tear at all! The publisher obviously went through great pains to produce a quality product. Begin to read inside and you see the author has produced an atypical opening book also. The first part of the book is an introduction where the author explains some of the basic ideas of the QGD in a very instructive question and answer format. The author even delves into things not usually covered by an opening book, such as various possible move orders and how they affect what you have to learn in the Opening as White and Black. I went through the book with a fine-toothed comb looking for errors of the type that chess books usually contain dozens, if not hundreds, of. I found no typo's, no diagrams with an incorrect position, no games with move pairs left out, no mistakes in analysis, etc. Obviously, the PC and chess programs are having a huge impact on the market of chess books. The publisher must also have a first-rate proofreader, someone who obviously must play chess!! (A plus over convention!)

The author covers virtually every line one could conceive of facing in the Queen's Gambit Declined, with one notable exception. (The Cambridge Spring's Defense for some reason is left out.) The author continues his highly instructive question and answer format. He often delves into questions of strategy and many other topics not usually covered by a chess opening's book. He uses complete games for a model, and the student always gets the entire game - from move one to the resignation! (An improvement over the norm for chess books.)

Chapter One covers the Lasker's variation, an early ...Ne4 in the QGD. Chap. Two covers the Orthodox variation with 6...Nbd7, (Old Main Line), and the various systems after 7. Rc1, c6. (He covers Capablanca's freeing maneuver, [early ...dxc4; and/or ...Nd5;]; without crediting the originator.) Chap. Three covers the Orthodox variation and even covers the ultra-modern 7. Rc1, a6!? Chap. Four covers White's 7th move alternatives in the Orthodox variation. Chapters Five and Six covers the Tartakower Variation in complete and up-to-date fashion. Part Two, [Chapters 7 & 8]; covers The Exchange Variation. (An early cxd5 by White.) The final section of the book [Part Three], deals with such lines as an early BxN/f6 by White, and 5. Bf4.

The coverage in this book is very modern; you will find very few "old/classic" games in here. (Necessary for a modern chess opening's book. The average game dates from 1985 to the present.) The coverage is fairly balanced, with both White and Black on the winning side. The author has obviously strived to make this a quality book and has even turned it into an outstanding teaching vehicle! I can find only a few minor faults with this book. I am puzzled how one could write a book on the "Classical" QGD and omit coverage of the Cambridge Spring's Defense. (A modern player can certainly count on seeing this line even today. It is certainly as likely a variation as any of the others in this book.) Some of the games that I thought were key to opening theory, (See any Informant, NCO, or MCO-14.); are not necessarily covered here. I am not sure what the criterion was for choosing the games, and the author does not explain that in this book. And the author often lets 25 moves of a game, (or more) transpire with virtually no comment. (BUT! ... the games are ALL complete; again, this is a plus over "the norm.") But again, for the most part, these concerns are trivial. I will conclude my critique by noting that the Table of Contents serves as an outstanding index of the variations, and there is a first-rate index of complete games.

If I were grading this book as a teacher might, I would give an "A+." On a scale of 1-10, I would give it an 8.5, which is as high a mark as I would be willing to give any opening book. (A pity. Had all of my concerns mentioned here [above] been addressed, I might have awarded it a perfect 10!!) This book sets a very high mark for a book on the openings, and all the others that come after this one will be judged by this new standard. The bottom line? If you currently play the White or Black side of the QGD in either postal or over-the-board chess, then you MUST buy this book! If you are below 1800 USCF and spend just a little time with this book, then you will probably learn as much as you have ever learned from any chess book, period. This is the highest praise you will ever see this reviewer giving an opening book.

I emphasize that this is an extremely good book, with clear explanations, and provides everything you must know to play the QGD as Black. For those of you that play it as White (I play the QGD from both sides, but luckily, I play the Exchange as White, and lines with 4...Be7 as Black, which are both covered in this book), this book is not complete, and you will have to find other sources for lines in which Black delays or avoids the bishop development to e7 (i.e. The Cambridge Springs variation, just to name one). Other than the omissions of the 4...Nbd7 lines, it's an excellent book.

This book deals mainly with 4...Be7 systems, with chapters on the Lasker, Orthodox systems, Tartakover, Exchange, Bxf6 systems, and the 5.Bf4 variation. All 110 games in these chapters are complete. The notes are relevant and a joy to read, with complete sentences to explain the moves or alternate moves in question, unlike those in pretentious books that try to be exhaustive by giving too many irrelevant variations, and are just tedious and boring. The last chapter, "Queen's Gambit Declined: `General Knowledge'", is four pages long and has two classical traps and a paragraph for each of four alternatives to 4...Be7: Bb4, Nbd7, c5, and dxc4. If you want a QGD book that delves deeper into some of these variations in addition to 4...Be7, check out Bogdan Lalic's "Queen's Gambit Declined: Bg5 Systems", also from Everyman and runner-up for the British Chess Federation's Book of the Year award, the award "Queen's Gambit Declined" got in 2000. If you want a book on the Tarrasch, look at Jacob Aagaard's "Meeting 1 d4".

But missing those lines is not a problem, because the author aims to give the reader a general understanding of the opening, not a complete repertoire. To this end, Sadler uses several examples from other queen pawn openings (like Semi-Slav, QGA, Nimzo-Indian) which are not digressions, but very relevant because after all, "(t)he QGD is the original queen's pawn opening; modern systems such as the Slav and Semi-Slav or the QGA have developed by taking features from the QGD and accelerating them..." (Sadler).

Sadler uses a wonderful Q&A format to explain the ideas of the QGD. These questions and answers give the reader a more solid understanding of the opening based on general strategy, which is something missing in most chess books.

"QGD" gives advice to both sides on how to transpose into the QGD. For example, 3 Nf3 avoids the Nimzo-Indian, 1 c4 avoids the QGA, and then 1...e6! can transpose into the QGD. This flexibility makes knowing the line good for both Black and White players.

Don't let the fact that Sadler deals mainly with 4...Be7 discourage you from buying this book. You will find after reading it that 4...Be7 can be much more solid than the alternatives, and that your game against other queen pawn openings will improve.

I have read many chess opening books. These are easily 2 of the best opening books I have ever read. The author selects a few relevant games and explains them in some detail. They have a question and answer style that gives much information in a few pages. He doesn't try to analyse every sub variation. They are well organized, and well written. I have had the books for a few months, and still go back to refresh my memory. They are permanent additions in my chess library.

I recommend them highly to anyone from beginner to expert level.
(My current USCF level is A - 1990)

I would also buy any book GM Sadler writes on openings.

I recently purchased Sadler's QGD book because Silman had recommended this line as a solid, easy to learn response to d4 and I wanted a deeper understanding than what Silman provided in his short article(available on his web site). My initial reaction to Sadler's book is simple, "Why don't chess publishers REQUIRE all opening books be written like this?" QGD uses the typical complete game method found in most opening books. What sets it apart is the Socratic method Q and A that explains just about everything about the lines discussed. I believe that far too many opening books expect you to know a lot about the line before you begin the book, this book does not make that fatal error. In short, this book can TEACH you the lines it covers. My understanding is growing daily. Hats off to Mr. Sadler. Now let's urge publishers to follow his format with all their opening books.

I emphasize that this is an extremely good book, with clear explanations, and provides everything you must know to play the QGD as Black. For those of you that play it as White (I play the QGD from both sides, but luckily, I play the Exchange as White, and lines with 4...Be7 as Black, which are both covered in this book), this book is not complete, and you will have to find other sources for lines in which Black delays or avoids the bishop development to e7 (i.e. The Cambridge Springs variation, just to name one). Other than the omissions of the 4...Nbd7 lines, it's an excellent book.

It is well established that the main QGD branches are the Orthodox Defence, Tartakover Variation, Lasker's Defence, Cambridge Springs Defence, Exchange Variation, Tarrasch Defence and Semi-Tarrasch Defence. Most of the standard chess opening manuals (MCO,NCO) adhere to this classification. It is therefore incomprehensible to me how a book bearing the title "Queen's Gambit Declined" could omit the Cambridge Springs, the Tarrasch and the Semi-Tarrasch and still merit five stars from so many readers. Likewise, I could not imagine a book entitled "Sicilian Defence" that would not cover the Dragon and the Richter-Rauzer. True, the author does an excellent job in covering the remaining branches, but the title is simply misleading. Perhaps "Queen's Gambit Declined from Black Perspective" would be more appropriate? This could have been a five-star book; Sadler's style is engaging (a conversation between a grandmaster and a novice) and ideas behind moves are clearly expounded. However, you'll need to buy additional books to cover Cambridge Springs , Tarrasch and the semi-Tarrasch.

Since I was about 11 years old I always played the queens gambit (I am 23 years old now but took a 2 year break from chess). I was always a strong youth player that never really had chess coaches to teach openings , but I was always though in competition .

Most of my QGD knowledge is from rueben fine's book ideas behind the chess openings. I was fine with that because I could just play the opening getting nice positions with plans and I could spend the saved time on sharper systems with black!). I wil now give my argumentations why it is great to have studied and read this book.

1. QGD has the ideas of all QP opening in it (Sadler) so you will really benefit even if you wil play the slav or QGA later on
2. It is more based on understanding (where to put your pieces, pawn structure psycholigical factors, move orders) so you will actually learn more about chess (themes like hanging pawn, minority attack isolated pawn kingside attack are all there!!)
The question and answer format really helps with this, especially people like me who dont't work much with coaches and stronger players. ( NB sadler uses a question and answer format to explain the ideas)
3. A lot of white players play it because it is safe, playing and knowing it with black gives good chances to equalize in the opening!
4. The quality of the book is great, I found only one move pair left out in game 48 that was all. The diagrams and games are very good.

some disadvantages:

1. only Be7 (no cambridge springs etc)
2. Capablanca - Alekhine match is not really mentioned
3. A bit slow sometimes, if you are new to the opening you can get bored (very subtle games, many draws etc..)

Anyway for my it is one of the greatest chess books I have read, and i will reread it in the future.

About the required audience level, great for club players/ even youth players I think, stronger players (candidate masters etc) will need more and sharper stuff i guess and will already know most of it. I am rated about 1900 but i think 1400-2100 rating level can benefit the most.

bravo sadler !

While this is primarily an opening book, it does a wonderful job of explaining typical middlegame strategies such as the minority attack, the isolated pawn and hanging pawns. Sadler uses a question and answer approach that facilitates understanding.

Sadler does a great job explaining the ideas and strategies behind the moves which is important if your rating is below 2000 USCF (mine's about 1920). Class players (2000 and below) too frequently make the mistake of trying to memorize reams of variations without much understanding. This can lead to quick losses when an opponent doesn't comply and plays something "out of book."