Everyman Chess
UK and Europe Release Date: April 2020
Amazon.com
USA and Canada Release Date: April 2020
The Modern Benoni is just about the most aggressive method that Black can choose to counter White’s 1 d4. In the main line variations Black allows White to have a preponderance of central pawns which, traditionally, grants the first player the advantage. However, in return, Black gains the opportunity for tremendously dynamic counterplay. This places White and under immediate pressure as any inaccurate moves can prove to be disastrous.
In this book, FIDE Master John Doknjas examines all aspects of this highly complex opening and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening and contains instructive commentary on typical middlegame plans. With thorough variations and explanations on pawn structures and piece placement, this book provides insight for both strong masters and less experienced players alike. The format is ideal for the chessplayer keen to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions – a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess knowledge.
- A complete repertoire for Black in the Modern Benoni.
- A question and answer approach provides an excellent study method.
John Doknjas is a FIDE Master, who has finished first in the Under 18 2017 Canadian Youth Chess Championships. He has won several strong tournaments in British Columbia, Canada, including the Grand Pacific Open. John is a chess teacher with over five years of experience, and has annotated games for distinguished national chess publications. He is co-author of the highly respected Opening Repertoire: the Najdorf Sicilian.
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“Doknjas provides the most original and comprehensive Benoni repertoire of recent works. It shows how to fight against not only the positional variations with Nf3, but also the sharpest attacking lines White can throw at his opponent. An excellent resource for the practical player.”
– IM John Watson, ChessLife
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“I have to say that I regard this as an excellent opening book. Doknjas provides excellent explanations, both wordy and in concrete lines, and his Q&A and Exercises are always relevant to the material. When he feels appropriate, he is not afraid to recommend lesser-played lines and he backs up his choices with solid analysis and reasoning. His recommendations appear sound and those lines I have tested with an engine do not fall foul of computer analysis.
I recommend this book to anyone who is already playing the Modern Benoni or who is looking to take it up. Even players who face the Benoni from the White side will get benefit from this book, at least an idea of the current state of theory of this opening, but obviously bear in mind that it is a repertoire book from Black’s viewpoint.”
– Colin Purdon, British Chess News
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