Jeremy Silman Latest Book Review

THE ITALIAN GAMBIT SYSTEM
And A Guiding Repertoire For White – 1.e4
Authors: Jude Acers & George S. Laven
Trafford Publishing (2003)
http://www.trafford.com/
$24.95
344 pages

Reviewed by Jeremy Silman

Over thirty years ago Jude Acers was a living San Francisco legend. He was opinionated, gave off enough energy to power a small city, spoke in quick staccato-like bursts that always left an impression (though that impression varied enormously from person to person!), drew a match with Walter Browne, wrote dozens of thought-provoking articles in various publications, authored a book on the 5th Lone Pine tournament, and never hesitated to proclaim his chess greatness to any who would listen.

Now, Jude is a living New Orleans’ legend. Sitting with his chess set next to the Gazebo in the French Quarter – often with a pretty lady by his side – the chess dynamo challenges anyone and everyone to a game (for a fee, of course). Everyone there knows him – shopkeepers, bus drivers, restaurateurs, and locals taking their daily stroll wave and smile as they go by.

I met him briefly in my youth, but though we both resided in San Francisco and often heard tales of each other, we lived in very different (though perhaps equally insane) worlds. Twenty years later I once again encountered Jude, sharing a pleasant afternoon’s conversation on New Orleans’ fascinating streets and byways. Each of us had changed: a glance showed that he obviously shared my love of food (Oh to be young and thin again!), my hair no longer cascaded from head to waist like cousin “It” from The Adams Family, and Jude’s famed energy – once volcanic and uncontrollable – now “merely” registered a 5.5 on the Richter Scale.

The full title of Jude’s new book reflects his personality very well. He’s a man with things to say, and though he speaks quickly, his thoughts go on and on. Thus, instead of merely getting THE ITALIAN GAMBIT SYSTEM, we find that it continues: INCLUDING THE NEW MIAMI VARIATION, A GUIDING REPERTOIRE FOR WHITE – 1.e4, A CHESS MASTER’S GUIDE TO THE 1.e4 PLAYER’S REPERTOIRE. Whew!

The content is as individualistic as the title. On one hand (called “Volume One”) we get a fascinating repertoire based on an extremely sharp gambit (the “New Miami Variation”: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 Nxd4 5.Be3). His microscope takes us up close and personal with the Max Lange Attack, the Giuoco Piano, and all sorts of other delightful attacking lines. In “Volume Two” (Don’t worry, both “Volumes” are in the same book!) he completes the repertoire by telling us what to do against the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann, and just about everything else Black can throw at you.

All this makes THE ITALIAN GAMBIT SYSTEM sound like a typical repertoire book, but nothing could be further from the truth! Jude’s aura engulfs every page, and what you end up with is a lesson on tactics and the art of attack, thickly coated with anecdotes, and delicious tastes of times long past. The amazing Mr. Acers regales us with over the top analysis (Is it all correct? I don’t know, nor do I care!), instructive sound bytes, time warps into yesteryear, biographical details of many great players and teachers, and so much more that one can easily believe that he’s fallen into Alice’s rabbit hole.

One small example: page 163 sees the end of an analysis of the Steinitz-Moller Variation of the Giuoco Piano (filled with bios for all, of course). Afterwards he suddenly leaps into “Acers Remembers” where he gives us a two-page rendition of “The Acers-McAuley Showdown.” Turning to page 166 (and expecting the opening analysis to resume), we are slam-dunked by a five-page article titled, “Just What Makes A Game Immortal?” He then follows with a five-page analysis of the Steinitz vs. von Bardeleben game from Hastings 1895!

“Volume One” (1.e4 e5) was a rich 223 pages long. Unfortunately, “Volume Two” doesn’t measure up (I should mention that “Volume Two” starts from page one all over again). The lines here, while perfectly acceptable for the core audience (I would guess that to be 1000 to 1700), are not as interesting. And the molten energy that poured from “Volume One” but is sorely missing from “Volume Two” shows that even a force of nature like Jude must occasionally rest. We still get interesting quotes, a bit of history, and fairly straightforward analysis, but Jude unplugged just isn’t Jude. Yes, he rises from the dead on pages 75 to 79, and gives us a further rush on pages 83 and 84, but it’s clear that the book is REALLY about gambit play against 1.e4 e5.

This book will appeal to players looking for a wild and fun way to meet 1.e4 e5 as White. The secondary part of the repertoire (against non-double king pawn choices) is playable but won’t excite the reader in the same way that Jude’s ideas against 1.e4 e5 did.

THE ITALIAN GAMBIT SYSTEM will also appeal to chess fans that are a bit cracked. If you’re straight, afraid of psychedelics, or possess a very conservative life philosophy, then you might find that this book is just not your cup of tea. On the other hand, perhaps I’m wrong and you’ll simply read the text and laugh uproariously for untold hours.

Personally, I see this book serving three functions:

* Read the text throughout while ignoring the games and analysis. This is the first thing I did, and I derived great pleasure from doing so.

* Treat “Volume One” as a book of tactical and attacking instruction. Go over all the analysis, check out the deeply annotated games, and you can’t help but walk away tactically enriched.

* Use it as a repertoire book IF you like to attack like a bat out of hell. For the range mentioned earlier (1000 to 1700), it will bring you many exhilarating victories, and even your defeats will probably be memorable adventures!

All in all, Jude Acers & George S. Laven have created a one of a kind book that takes me back several decades, and could very well transport you to times and places you’ve never experienced before. We might never see anything like this again.
Copyright © 2004 Jeremy Silman