From: hwr@intercal.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Subject: Book Review: "Scandinavian Defense - Anderssen Counter Attack"
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 18:32:19 GMT


SCANDINAVIAN DEFENSE - Anderssen Counter Attack, Second Edition, 
by W. John Lutes, 1992 Chess Enterprises, English Algebraic 
Notation, $14.95 list, 135 + xiii pp.

When we were initially given this book to review, we thought - 
"Hmmm, another run-of-the-mill opening manual on a quirky line 
which will unfortunately induce a few players to play it and get 
creamed." What a pleasant surprise to have our first impressions 
proven so very wrong.

Yes, this is a very unusual line: 1 e4 d5 2 ed5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 
d4 e5, but the author and publisher are refreshingly up front 
about it: "This very aggressive counterattack may not be totally 
sound, but it is certainly a line with tremendous appeal to the 
attacking player, and has potential for quick wins, especially 
in speed chess in which your opponent may not be at all 
acquainted with the intricacies of this dangerous variation."

>From virtually every other point of view, however, this book is 
a sheer delight. The material is given a thorough (14 pages; 46 
footnotes!) historical introduction which covers the development 
of the Scandinavian from the 15th century. For example, did you 
ever wonder why 1 e4 d5 is named the "Scandinavian Defense?" The 
author explains: "The entire defense, in all its ramifications, 
was repeatedly played and analyzed by Gustaf Nyholm, Gustaf 
Collijn, Ludvig Collijn, Fritz Englund, Karl Berndtsson, and 
Erhard Bjoerklund, as well as many others. These Scandinavian 
masters completely reshaped the defense into an exciting and 
interesting asymmetrical opening. Their monumental analysis 
appeared in the 'Laerobok i Schack' in 1912 and again in 1921, 
as the 'Dambonde mot Kungsbonde.'"

The material is presented in ECO/MCO type columns with notes 
appended. The author, in his "Theoretical Examination" section, 
gives honest appraisals of all variations. The data is packed 
into page after page and is complemented by a bibliography that 
includes no less than 165 sources covering several centuries!

As an example of the type of analysis and presentation you will 
find, here is one line of the so-called Classical System, 
Orthodox Attack. The reference is p. 58, col. 61:

Brekke-Dahl, Stockholm 1912: 1 e4 d5 2 ed5 Qd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 e5 
5 de5 Bb4 6 Bd2 Nc6 7 Nf3 (The Orthodox Attack. This variation 
may also arise from the Goteborg System [1 e4 d5 2 ed Qxd5 3 Nc3 
Qa5 4 d4 e5 5 Nf3]; where Black responds with either 6...Bg4 or 
6...Bb4, and White eventually captures the e-pawn.Another 
transposition arises from the Metschkarov Continuation (1 e4 d5 
2 ed Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 e5 5 de Nc6) via 6 Nf3 Bb4 7 Bd2 Bg4 
(Ivanchuk-Angelov, Varna, 1987) 7...Bg4 8 Be2 (The normal or 
classic line, this variation is found in almost every text on 
the defense and dates at least to the 1905 Stockholm 
tournament.) 8...O-O-O (8...Bxf3 9 Bxf3 Qxe5 10 Qe2 Qxe2 11 Bxe2 
0-0-0 12 a3! Be7 13 0-0-0 Nf6 14 Be3 +/=)9 O-O (This is the most 
commonly employed response as it is essential to remove the 
White King from the center. The move was introduced by Jacob 
E. Brekke [the 1925 champion of Norway] at Stockholm in 1912. 
Alternatives are much weaker: A - 9 h3 Bxf3! 10 Bxf3 Nxe5 
[10...Qxe5 11 Qe2 Qxe2 12 Bxe2 Nf6 13 0-0-0 Rhe8= E. 
Bulloff-W.W. Young,Ohio State University,Columbus 1965] 11 Be2 
Nf6 12 0-0 [12 a3 Bxc3] 12...Rhe8 13 a3 Bxc3 14 Bxc3 Qb6 15 Qc1 
Ne4 16 Bxe5 Rxe5 =/+; B - 9 Ng5 Bxe2 10 Qxe2 Nh6 11 0-0 [11 f4 
Nd4! 12 Qe4 f5 -/+] 11...Rhe8 12 e6 [12 f4 f6!] 12...Nd4 =/+ D. 
Bourgerie-W. Lutes, Northern Illinois Championship, Chicago 
1973; C - 9 Qc1 Bxf3 [9...Nxe5 10 Nxe5 Qxe5 11 f3 Bf5 12 a3 Be7 
13 Bf4 Qc5 14 Be3 Qa5 =/+] 10 Bxf3 Qxe5! 11 Kf1 [11 Be2? Nd4 12 
Qd1 Re8 -/+] 11...Nd4 =/+; D - 9 a3 Bxc3 10 bc Nh6 [10...Nxe5 11 
Nd4! Bxe2 12 Qxe2 Nf6 13 0-0 Rhe8 =/+] 11 0-0 Rhe8 12 Qe1 [12 
Re1 Bxf3 13 Bxf3 Nxe5 =/+] 12...Nxe5 13 Nd4 Nc4 14 f3 Bf5 =/+) 
9...Bf3 (9...Nh6 10 Qc1 [10 a3 Bxc3] 10...Nxe5 11 a3! +/=) 10 
Bf3 Ne5 11 Be2 (11 Qe2? Nxf3 12 gf Qh5 13 Kh1 Nf6 14 Ne4 Bxd2 15 
Nxd2 Rhe8 16 Qd1 Qh6 [0-1, D. Lybarger-W. Lutes, Peoria 
1976].11...Nf6 12 a3 Bc3 13 Bc3 Qb6 14 Qc1 Rhe8 15 Qf4 Nd5 16 
Qf5 Qe6 17 Qe6 (17 Qxh7? Nf4 18 Rfe1 Qd5 -/+ Collijn: "Nordiska 
Schackfoerbundets, Sjaette Kongress med Turneringar, Stockholm 
1912", 1912, p. 203) 17... Re6 18 Be5 (18 Bd2 Nb6 19 Rad1 Nbc4 
20 Bxc4 Nxc4 21 Bc3. Collijn: Ibid., pp. 203-204) 18...Re5 19 
Bf3 Rde8 20 Bd5 Rd5 21 Rfd1 (21 Rad1! Rb5 22 b3 Re2 23 Rfe1. 
Collijn: Ibid., pp. 203-204) 21...Rb5 22 b3 (22 b4 Re2 23 c4 
Rf4. Collijn: Ibid., pp. 203-204) 22...Re2 23 Rac1 Rf5 24 f3 Rg5 
25 g3 Rc5 26 c4 Re3 27 Rb1 Rf3 28 Rb2 b6 29 Rf1 Rcf5 30 Rf3 Rf3 
31 Kg2 Rc3 32 Kh3 a5 33 Kg2 a4 34 ba4 Rc4 35 Rb4 Rc3 0-1

Even if you have no intention of meeting 1 e4 with 1...e5, you 
will find this book a satisfying addition to your library for 
many reasons. This is another fine opening publication from 
Chess Enterprises. Kudos to John Lutes for an outstanding 
opening manual which also has considerable historical 
significance.

The books which are reviewed by Mr. Russell are furnished 
courtesy of the United States Chess Federation. The views 
expressed are those of Mr. Russell and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the United States Chess Federation. You may 
order this book and/or obtain the latest catalog of chess books 
and equipment from the U.S.C.F., 186 Rt. 9W, New Windsor, NY 
12553 or call toll-free 1-800-388-5464.

Copyright 1992 Hanon W. Russell
All Rights Reserved