The Ruy Lopez Revisited: Offbeat Weapons & Unexplored Resources

The Ruy Lopez Revisited contains, among MANY other things, in-depth but highly accessible analysis of the Jaenisch Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5.

Vassily Ivanchuk played this gambit successfully against world champion Viswanathan Anand in the third round of the 4th Grand Slam Masters Final, held in Sao Paulo, in September 2011. 

Ivan Sokolov:
"The Jaenisch should appeal to any black player who is loorey for trouble at an early stage of the game. There are many dynamic ideas and still many lines to explore. I personally support Black's cause and I think the Jaenisch is a fully fledged variation."

The Ruy Lopez (or Spanish Opening) is one of the most important and oldest chess openings, forever popular with amateurs as well as professional players. 

In this ground-brearey book, one of today’s greatest Ruy Lopez experts, Ivan Sokolov, presents a practical opening guide with a wide repertoire for black players who want to play for a win.

Besides the Jaenisch this book brings you:

 · the Delayed Jaenisch: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5

 · the Cozio Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Ne7

 · the Smyslov Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6

 · the Bird Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4

 · the Classical Variation: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5

The lines Sokolov presents are always dynamic and sometimes quite offbeat. But he has played most of them himself on numerous occasions, even against the strongest opponents. 

Many of these lines turn out to be stronger than their reputation suggests, but Sokolov always remains an objective analyst. As well as numerous improvements for Black, the book also contains some crushing novelties for White!

Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik as well as Viswanathan Anand.

Nicholas P.Sterling, Chess Horizons:
"An essential resource for Ruy Lopez players."

Paul Motwani, The Scotsman:
"Superb"

Arne Moll, ChessVibes:  
"This is simply a great opening book, probably one of the best ever on the Spanish Opening."

British Chess Magazine:
"A well-written, well-structured book with a lot of interesting ideas to explore. Sokolov introduces each chapter with plenty of textual material and also summarises at the end."

Pete Tamburro, Chess Life Magazine:
"With the line that Smyslov made famous, he devotes a decidedly simple and correct ten pages, and -voilà!- you have an understandable defense against the Ruy Lopez."


Fernando Offermann, Schachwelt:
"Sokolov's Spanish book with half-forgotten variations has something to offer for everyone (..) It is well suited for practical players, adventurers and connoisseurs."

Richard Vedder, Schakers.info:
"We must be grateful Ivan Sokolov wishes to share his knowledge of these variations with us, because he treats more or less everything Spanish where 3. ... a7-a6, 3. ...d7-d6 or that awful Berlin is not played."

Glenn Flear, Yearbook 94:
"Sokolov clears the cobwebs on lines that haven't received due attention and demonstrates that there are many w
ays for Black to seek winning chances (..) White Spanish players would be unwise to ignore this work (..) I am recommending this book to players of all strengths."

Sverre Johnsson, author of 'The Ruy Lopez, A Guide for Black':
"My evaluation (for players interested in the Ruy Lopez from Black's viewpoint): for players below 1300: not a bad introduction to the Ruy Lopez (..), for players 1300 - 1800: a very useful book (..), for players 1800 - 2300: some of the suggested lines are perfect for open tournaments and this book is the ideal guide, for players above 2300: a lot of useful ideas and some very high class analysis. The book is close to indispensable for those who want to be thoroughly prepared for playing the White side of the RL."

Marshtower Chess Reviews:
"Would suit strong 'Open' category players who would appreciate a detailed, Grandmaster analysis of the rarer branches of the Ruy Lopez."

KARL Chess Magazine (Germany):
"He who plunges into this material will not only give his opponents lots of trouble at the board, but will also generally improve his chess."

Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Association:
"It is quite pleasantly strirey that Sokolov has written an honest and level-headed book."