The Dutch for the Attacking Player

Rating:
Summary: not a good book
Review: he doesnt tell u nothing about the pawn structures in this. there are some errors in this book and on the staunton gambit. it is not very well explained . he doesnt tell you how continue on and much less he doesnt explain nothing so he tells the variation and basicly yer on yer own form there . like i said there are errors in that book and there not up-to-date variation eaither some are really old . and all in all the dutch itself is not really a good opening i'd perfer u play the grunfeld defense. please there are better openings than this 1 . dutch weakens the king way too much so i suggest u get Starting Out: The Grunfeld . it is a much better defense to 1d4

Rating:
Summary: Excellent repertoire book with Qe8 variation!
Review: This book is a repertoire book centered around the Leningrad Dutch - a very aggressive (yet slightly risky for both white and black), tactical line. The specific line highlighted is as follows- 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. o-o o-o 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8.

This book has three features that I really like-

1)An intro chapter discussing typical middlegame plans, tactics, and various pawn structure that are likely to arise in this variation.

2)It covers many other sidelines such as staunton gambit, english, etc. that one is likely to face in addition to the main line.

3)It has a final chapter with "test" positions so that you can find out how well you have learned the opening.

Warning! This opening is not for the fainthearted! - If you like an all out slug fest where both sides "burn their bridges" early, and you enjoy putting maximum pressure on white's position-then play this opening.

Note: I have had pretty decent results with this opening. I am currently rated in the 1800-1900 USCF range and I find that many of my opponents are not terribly versed in dutch lines- they spend thier time preparing against the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian, Queen's Gambit, etc. Therefore, an additional bonus in playing the dutch is that I have generally been more familiar with what's going on during the game than my opponent.

Rating:
Summary: Special magic
Review: This book, The Dutch for the Attacking Player, has that special magic that some great opening books have: it is written by a fanatic of the opening, but someone who points out plans for both sides, and explains things with just enough variations, but focused on ideas and themes. But it is not a general or starter book; it focuses very heavily on the variation 7... Qe8, but provides you a whole repertoire against all feasible early white moves. It ireally is a great book, and when you start to play the Dutch, you will have so much fun. I had been playing dreary queen's gambits, and nimzo-indians and queen's indians, and I never enjoyed them. And the King's Indian I like, but not as much as the Dutch. The Dutch is more exciting, and has much more of a shock value on white. I think 1... f5 is the last thing white wants to face when he plays 1. d4. Play the Dutch, and enjoy your chess against 1. d4!

Rating:
Summary: Great book on a diffcult opening-line.
Review: This is a repertoire book for black, and it's geared towards the attacking player. The basis of the suggested repertoire is the Leningraddutch (with 7. - Qe8 ), but the more rare continuations after 1.d4/c4/Ktf3 f5 are also covered using 36 commented games. Analysis of typical dutch middlegamepositions are therefore thouroughly covered.

The books starts with a chapter on the common plans in the dutch for both sides, which gives you a jump start in understanding the opening. At the end there are also 9 strategical tests with the motto "How well do you understand the Dutch?", to test you and give you hints on what parts you need to study again. This book does a great job in explaining a difficult opening system to the point where it becomes close to being percieved as simple.

If you are planning on playing the dutch you must buy this book!