Play the Najdorf: A Complete Repertoire for Black in this Most Dynamic of Openings

Rating:
Summary: The Best So Far in Understanding the Scheveningen
Review: Grandmaster Emms does a commendable job in providing an ample slice of contemporary examples of master play to explain the primary strategic ideas for players of both the white and black pieces. The Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian Defense is arguably the most durable and least subject to fashion and fad of all of the semi-open variations. Emms is a seasoned grandmaster with an analgous mastery of the written word. For players attempting to decide how to play the Najdorf Sicilian, Emms' case is both sound and strong for adopting the a6, d6, and e6 pawn structure of the Scheveningen variation. As with any opening book, the student must build upon the lessons in this work by collecting and studying further high level game scores. This book is a fine template for that further study.

Rating:
Summary: Author picks suspect lines
Review: Hmm? I am not that good of a player, but surely the lines that Emms has picked here (within variations) are suspect. For instance in the Be2 variation he does not give any ample evidence on what to do with f4 g4 lines...these are very very tough to meet over the board and Black is in trouble without some theory to help him/her. The Bg5 Qc7 lines are adequate, but suited for under Master level? Emms is not sure who he is writing this book for. Surely the Najdorf word is sellable, but e6 for all these systems is not worth a weak word for all the possible variations that can occur with this move. e6 for every system is surely not as good as e5 and other tries...and this book will confuse players more then help help them build a system of openings. Just cause Kaspy plays it- not worth a whole general book.