Article Number
LOWESTPCG
Author
The Philidor Counter-Gambit
55 pages, paperback, Chess Enterprises, 1994
Discontinued
James West has played the Philidor Countergarnbit over a period of years, with solid success. Thus he writes with complete knowledge of the various responses, and makes sound recommendations for the enterprising player. Most players have no knowledge of how to play the variation since so many texts simply dismiss the line as weak or unsound, and then over the board players find that they do not have the answers to hold their own. It is not just a surprise opening. Even opponents who may know that you are going to play it often fail to understand the situation sufficiently to survive. GM Larsen strongly supported this line as one well worth playing, and especially suited to his aggressive style. Author West has published on this variation previously and his analysis has withstood exposure to doubters. Try this line on your next opponent and find for yourself what an interesting game it can be!
From February 1990 through the time of this writing in April 1994,1 have essayed the Philidor Countergambit on fifty-nine occasions. My record stands at twenty eight wins, eighteen losses, and thirteen draws. In other words, I win with it nearly half the time and lose with it slightly less than one-third of the time. Not bad for a defensive system that has four supposed refutations!
Actually, I played the PCG on one earlier occasion in the 1970's. Even though I won that encounter (see Supplemental Game *9), I gave up the variation for many years because the conventional wisdom has always been that the line isn't any good. During those years, playing correct chess was the most important consideration for me. Why should I play the PCG, which has an unsound reputation, when I could play the Sicilian Defense, an opening that has never been refuted?
Lately, I have experienced a change of heart. Where it once seemed madness to play into the unclear complexities of the PCG, it now seems foolhardy to play the Sicilian Defense, when even Class C players know the first fifteen moves from memory. One advantage I have found to playing the PCG is that it forces my opponent to think for himself and make his own mistakes, rather than getting a free ride from some grandmaster's published analysis. I recall how, in that February 1990 game (see supplemental game #2), my opponent (a master) spent one full hour on his fourth move!
Despite my many over-the-board successes, my proudest moments occurred when I observed other players (including an expert whom I have beaten four times with the PCG) adopting the defense themselves as Black. Perhaps, as a result of this book, the PCG will be seen more frequently at chess tournaments.
From February 1990 through the time of this writing in April 1994,1 have essayed the Philidor Countergambit on fifty-nine occasions. My record stands at twenty eight wins, eighteen losses, and thirteen draws. In other words, I win with it nearly half the time and lose with it slightly less than one-third of the time. Not bad for a defensive system that has four supposed refutations!
Actually, I played the PCG on one earlier occasion in the 1970's. Even though I won that encounter (see Supplemental Game *9), I gave up the variation for many years because the conventional wisdom has always been that the line isn't any good. During those years, playing correct chess was the most important consideration for me. Why should I play the PCG, which has an unsound reputation, when I could play the Sicilian Defense, an opening that has never been refuted?
Lately, I have experienced a change of heart. Where it once seemed madness to play into the unclear complexities of the PCG, it now seems foolhardy to play the Sicilian Defense, when even Class C players know the first fifteen moves from memory. One advantage I have found to playing the PCG is that it forces my opponent to think for himself and make his own mistakes, rather than getting a free ride from some grandmaster's published analysis. I recall how, in that February 1990 game (see supplemental game #2), my opponent (a master) spent one full hour on his fourth move!
Despite my many over-the-board successes, my proudest moments occurred when I observed other players (including an expert whom I have beaten four times with the PCG) adopting the defense themselves as Black. Perhaps, as a result of this book, the PCG will be seen more frequently at chess tournaments.
James West has played the Philidor Countergarnbit over a period of years, with solid success. Thus he writes with complete knowledge of the various responses, and makes sound recommendations for the enterprising player. Most players have no knowledge of how to play the variation since so many texts simply dismiss the line as weak or unsound, and then over the board players find that they do not have the answers to hold their own. It is not just a surprise opening. Even opponents who may know that you are going to play it often fail to understand the situation sufficiently to survive. GM Larsen strongly supported this line as one well worth playing, and especially suited to his aggressive style. Author West has published on this variation previously and his analysis has withstood exposure to doubters. Try this line on your next opponent and find for yourself what an interesting game it can be!
From February 1990 through the time of this writing in April 1994,1 have essayed the Philidor Countergambit on fifty-nine occasions. My record stands at twenty eight wins, eighteen losses, and thirteen draws. In other words, I win with it nearly half the time and lose with it slightly less than one-third of the time. Not bad for a defensive system that has four supposed refutations!
Actually, I played the PCG on one earlier occasion in the 1970's. Even though I won that encounter (see Supplemental Game *9), I gave up the variation for many years because the conventional wisdom has always been that the line isn't any good. During those years, playing correct chess was the most important consideration for me. Why should I play the PCG, which has an unsound reputation, when I could play the Sicilian Defense, an opening that has never been refuted?
Lately, I have experienced a change of heart. Where it once seemed madness to play into the unclear complexities of the PCG, it now seems foolhardy to play the Sicilian Defense, when even Class C players know the first fifteen moves from memory. One advantage I have found to playing the PCG is that it forces my opponent to think for himself and make his own mistakes, rather than getting a free ride from some grandmaster's published analysis. I recall how, in that February 1990 game (see supplemental game #2), my opponent (a master) spent one full hour on his fourth move!
Despite my many over-the-board successes, my proudest moments occurred when I observed other players (including an expert whom I have beaten four times with the PCG) adopting the defense themselves as Black. Perhaps, as a result of this book, the PCG will be seen more frequently at chess tournaments.
From February 1990 through the time of this writing in April 1994,1 have essayed the Philidor Countergambit on fifty-nine occasions. My record stands at twenty eight wins, eighteen losses, and thirteen draws. In other words, I win with it nearly half the time and lose with it slightly less than one-third of the time. Not bad for a defensive system that has four supposed refutations!
Actually, I played the PCG on one earlier occasion in the 1970's. Even though I won that encounter (see Supplemental Game *9), I gave up the variation for many years because the conventional wisdom has always been that the line isn't any good. During those years, playing correct chess was the most important consideration for me. Why should I play the PCG, which has an unsound reputation, when I could play the Sicilian Defense, an opening that has never been refuted?
Lately, I have experienced a change of heart. Where it once seemed madness to play into the unclear complexities of the PCG, it now seems foolhardy to play the Sicilian Defense, when even Class C players know the first fifteen moves from memory. One advantage I have found to playing the PCG is that it forces my opponent to think for himself and make his own mistakes, rather than getting a free ride from some grandmaster's published analysis. I recall how, in that February 1990 game (see supplemental game #2), my opponent (a master) spent one full hour on his fourth move!
Despite my many over-the-board successes, my proudest moments occurred when I observed other players (including an expert whom I have beaten four times with the PCG) adopting the defense themselves as Black. Perhaps, as a result of this book, the PCG will be seen more frequently at chess tournaments.
| EAN | 0945470428 |
|---|---|
| Weight | 100 g |
| Manufacturer | Chess Enterprises |
| Width | 13.6 cm |
| Height | 21.5 cm |
| Medium | Book |
| Year of Publication | 1994 |
| Author | James R. West |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-10 | 0945470428 |
| Pages | 55 |
| Binding | paperback |
03 Introduction
04 Chapter One 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe5 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6
13 Chapter Two 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe5 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6 Bc5
21 Chapter Three 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3
27 Chapter Four 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4
35 Supplement Games
52 Bibliography
53 Index of Variations
54 Players
55 About the Author
04 Chapter One 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe5 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6
13 Chapter Two 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe5 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6 Bc5
21 Chapter Three 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Ng3
27 Chapter Four 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4
35 Supplement Games
52 Bibliography
53 Index of Variations
54 Players
55 About the Author