Attack with Black

by Valery Aveskulov

A Ukrainian Champion provides a blockbuster repertoire with the Benko and Blumenfeld GambitsNew ebook each diagram is also a link to an interactive Lichess analysis board!“A remarkable work on the Benko Gambit ... a truly golden source for the adventurous player” - Heinz Däubler, Der Neue TagSick of defending with Black? Never found a reliable way to fight for the initiative when White plays 1 d4 ?Allow Grandmaster Aveskulov to assist. He has put together a sound but ultra-aggressive repertoire based on gambits that have proved their worth in grandmaster play over many years. The Benko Gambit is dreaded by many 1 d4 players. Black gets very active piece-play, and even if White reaches a pawn-up endgame, he is often shocked to find he is worse due to Black’s intense positional pressure! If White avoids the Benko, that’s when we hit him with the Blumenfeld, sacrificing a pawn to set up a strong pawn-centre and attacking chances.Aveskulov examines all of White’s options and move-orders after 1 d4 Nf6, and shows an aggressive reply to each of them. He is never willing to take existing theory on faith, and throughout the book presents an extraordinary wealth of new analysis and ideas. He also explains typical plans in depth, so you will always know how to turn the screw once you have your opponent on the run.“One of the most important novelties of the year... includes material and suggestions not to be found in any database” - Uwe Bekemann, FernschachpostAt the age of 21, Grandmaster Valery Aveskulov won the championship of Ukraine, one of the world’s strongest chess nations. He has represented his country in junior and team events, winning three medals in 2008 at the World Sports Mind Games in Beijing. He is an experienced trainer, and has acted as a second for the top-class grandmaster Alexander Moiseenko.“This isn’t like previous books on the Benko... this book has the real strength of taking the total Black approach in hand. Anyone looking to fill out a full defense to 1.d4 would do well to pick this up.”- Bill McGeary, Chessville“... the Benko Gambit is the main meat of the book, with a total of seven chapters and almost 100 pages devoted to it. Whether White accepts or declines the pawn on offer, Black’s way forward is well charted out. In addition to the analysis in these seven chapters there is a short final section entitled Understanding the Benko. One chapter examines Dream Positions for Black, counter-balanced by the following chapter Positions to Avoid. There is a short final chapter with 25 tactical exercises for the reader to tackle. If, as Black, you like a long, slow manoeuvring game, then this book will clearly not appeal to you. But if you like a bit of excitement, with double-edged positions and the adrenaline in full flow, then I suggest you buy this book. You will certainly enjoy your games, and you might even win more.” - Alan Sutton, En Passant“An extremely well-balanced survey ... we are grateful and impressed” – British Chess Magazine“All in all, I think Aveskulov deserves attention from motivated club players and grandmasters, who will both certainly benefit from his outstanding analytical efforts. Moreover, it’s definitely a valuable tool for people who are eager to start out on this new repertoire, since the basic ideas are well explained. Highly recommended!” – Robert Ris, Chess Vibes

Genres: Chess

722 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2012

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is basically a Benko and Blumenfeld gambit repertoire book and it is really excellent on those openings, getting you through all the main lines, but also suggesting some new and exciting tactical sidelines if you don't want to simply play for the small advantages of the well-trod lines. But it takes 4 and 5 moves to reach the Benko and Blumenfeld lines and there are many chances to deviate, so another strength of Aveskulov's analysis is that he points out the pitfalls and provides lines to play if the White player heads in other directions before the Benko and Blumenfeld lines are reached. This is my go to reference against 1. d4.