| Notes: Minor shelf wear, inside cover has a sticker that has been inked over, stapled binding, pages clean and unmarked. Philidor's Defense is undergoing a definite revival, under the influence of Larsen and other masters and grandmasters who have in recent years discovered now tactical resources, and whole novel strategies, for Black. Of course, the defense has always had a few loyal advocates (e.g. Nimzowitsch, Marco and lat-er Ilin-Zhenevsky and Koltanowski) but it has never before been so popular. Now seems the time to publish a re-appraisal of the main ideas and main lines in the opening, and I shall concentrate on the two ways for Black that seem to be viable at master level (though other lines will also be considered), namely Nimzowit!3ch's improved Hanham (or Closed) Variation, and Larsen's fianchetto variation. I am grateful to the British Master John Littlewood for discussions on the defense which I have had with him in recent weeks, also to Raymond Keene for allow-;rid me to consult the proofs of his forthcoming 'magnum opu,s' on Nimzowitsch. Thanks also to Bob Wade for the use of his library, and to Kevin O'Connell and Norman Oliver for other helpful discussions of detail. Bibliography The main sources for this work were: V. I. Sozin (general editor: Levenfish) 'Sovremenny Debut' (USSR 1940) P. Keres 'Open Game' (USSR 1952) & 'Dreispringerspiel bis Konigsgambit' (Berlin 1971) B. Larsen 'Why not Philidor's Defense?' (Riga/Dallas 1971) L.M. Pickett 'Philidor Defense!?' (London 1973) Informator vols. 1-15 (reference E 12b) Chess Player vols. 1-4 Fernschach 1963-1973 |