Dear Readers,
Do not buy this book unless you have already purchased "THE FLEXIBLE FRENCH" by the same author!! You will regret it sincerely! This book is a continuation of the FF and ONLY covers the Winawer Variation of the French D. Most White players play 3. Nd2 instead of 3. Nc3 so the FF book will be much more valuable to you. Having said that, "Why should you purchase this book?" The immediate answer is, "to lead your opponent down the slippery slope of complications when 3. Nc3 Bb4 IS played!" If you want an "outside of the box" variation then the Winawer is truly it! Victor Moskalenko's book IS wonderful and gives a very detailed analysis and history of this variation in this regard. I sense the author couldn't include this work in the FF book since it would have been too much for digestion and retention. Very good decision on part of the author and publishers. The WW book has three parts:
P1: "Black and White Deviations"
P2: "The Sub and Old Winawer" and
P3: "The Ultimate Winawer" for a total of eleven chapters.
Each chapter is broken into detailed analysis of the mainline opening moves of the WW with the following improvements:
1. the reference game moves are in bold print and commented,
2. the primary alternative moves are in bold italics; branching into sub-variations and alternate variations with sub-variations outlined by A) then A1), A2), B), then B1a), B2) etc. followed by numbered sub-variations as needed,
3. Even more sub-titled analysis diagrams are added to improve the reading and visual flow of the book, after the main alternate moves and sub-variations.
4. the author gives a statistical reference and history beginning each chapter, helping the reader know the number of games researched for the variation and winning potential if used, also with a comment, and
5.the reference games come from mostly exclusive French players or French Terminators! (love or hate the french D) Who says the second time around isn't better than the first? All opening guides could take a follow of this book! Black immediately goes for the counter punch in this variation and only has to remember a few lines to play well, meanwhile White has to prove his ability. Again this book teaches you how to play this French variation and if you have purchased the FF by the same author you will be ready for play.
P1 covers deviations after 3. Nc3 Bb4 mostly encountered using statistics;
P2 covers without the exchange on c3 with the sub Winawer chps. 4 & 5, 4. e5 c5 5. a3 and with c3 exchange the Old Winawer chps. 6 (Armenian variation), 7 (Knight system) and 8 (Eingorn variation);
P3 covers the Ultimate Winawer in chps. 9 (Warsaw variation) 10 Poisoned Pawn variation (PPV)) and 11 (Black Queen Blues (BQB)). Commonly played lines from professional games are deeply analised and commented with improvements to the referenced game moves.
As a reader, you shouldn't expect repertoire books to hold your hand through a chess game but be a good guide, allowing you to develop your own style and creativity during play. Our play improves knowing what to do at the appointed time and situation. This book and author's writing style help you accomplish that task. I had the opportunity to play this variation in CC play right off the starting block after purchasing this book and wow! I'm holding my own against master players! Buy this book and enjoy the wondrous Winawer ride!! If you have the opportunity to play this variation as BLACK, White players will not know what hit them!