Thanks to the scanners and the up-loaders in the threads:
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/2379-gm-repertoire-10-the-tarrasch-defence/
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/637-aagaard-jacob-lund-esben-meeting-1d4/
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/14871-the-tarrasch-defence-move-by-move-version-2/
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/15753-the-semi-tarrasch-defence-version-2/
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/6739-henning-schara-gambit/hl=%2Bhenning-schara+%2Bgambit+%2Bsmith
http://chessindia.net/community/topic/9573-eric-schiller-the-ultimate-tarrasch-defense/
The Tarrrasch defense to the Queen's Gambit Declines (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. 3. Nc3 c5) was the invention of the great Dr Tarrasch, in my opinion one of the five greatest players in chess history NOT to have won the world title (the other four are Rubinstein, Keres, Bronstein and Korchnoi). He was the greatest chess teacher of his generation (see on this my post in the thread http://chessindia.net/community/topic/16460-tarrasch-the-teacher-of-the-world-5-books/?hl=%2Btarrasch+%2Bteacher+%2Bthe+%2Bworld, where you will find the books by him and about him). He hated the cramped, rather passive positions resulting from the main lines of the QGD, and he advocated instead 3...c5, which normally results in an isolated queen's pawn for black. Tarrasch argued that "he who is afraid of the isolated pawn should give up chess." At one point, the argument became one between the doctor on the one hand, and the rest of the chess world on the other. In historical perspective, the result is a draw...
While not exactly popular, the Tarrasch is played today by quite a few players, on all levels, including world champions. At least two of these, Spassky and Kasparov used it for a while, with various degrees of success. In any case, ambitious players with aggressive styles like it.
Needless to say, all general books on 1.d4 openings (on these, see my post in the thread http://chessindia.net/community/topic/15994-the-best-d4-repertoire-books/),let alone books about the Queen's Gambit say something about the Tarrasch (and its relative, the semi-Tarrasch). I have found in my own library only seven books (actually only six, given that one of them has two volumes), which devoted the analysis exclusively and explicitly to the Tarrasch defense (not be confused, of course, with the Tarrasch variation of the French).
I have condensed the seven books into a single RAR file, for the benefit and convenience of our members, particularly those who are looking for energetic and active responses to 1.d4. For the books by Aagaard I have used copies from my own library of older scans, while the others have originated in the relevant CIC thread, and once again, thanks to the scanners and the up-loaders contributing to them.
"Unhappy that you're reaching passive or difficult positions with Black? Fed up with having to learn many different defences to all of White's attacks? Then this book is the answer to your problems! International Master Jacob Aagaard and Esben Lund provide an all-in-one solution to the popular opening move 1 d4 and other White systems that do not involve 1 e4. The lines suggested are based around the Tarrasch Defence (1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 c5) and are easy to learn, fun to play and promise the black player dynamic counterplay. This book is especially useful for players who have neither the time nor inclination to learn reams of the latest opening theory. Throughout this work, Aagaard & Lund delve into the strategies, ideas and tactics for Black, while also showing the possible traps and pitfalls."
"
The Tarrasch Defence arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 and leads to dynamic play. Based on the variation 9.Bg5 c4, Ntirlis and Aagaard radically change the theoretical landscape for this classic opening, with analysis checked many times over and an ocean of new ideas.
Nikolaos Ntirlis is a computer specialist and successful trainer from Greece.
GM Jacob Aagaard has won the Guardian, ECF and ChessCafe book of the year awards, as well as many international tournaments. This is his first opening book for 8 years.
ISBN 978-1-906552-91-6 - 352 pages - Published 9 December 2011
Reviews
"These two authors collaborated earlier on the fantastic The Tarrasch Defence. I thought I knew a fair amount about the Tarrasch, but after reading this book, I was amazed/aghast at how much I didn't know!"
GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
"Books of this nature are not just about authors doing a good job of collating the material and checking on their computer to avoid missing anything obvious. The authors go beyond the routine. They take the time and make the effort to go just that litle bit further, that little bit deeper. They develop the confidence to challenge the accepted view and supply the analytical proof to present their case with conviction. Boris Avrukh started the ball rolling, and now every one of the Grandmaster Repertoire series authors just has to keep up the highest standards...
Many players (I'm thinking about myself!) are a bit touchy about accepting an isolated pawn with Black, but if they get beyond their prejudice they'll find this to be a worthy addition to the best series in chess literature. Put it on the shopping list."
GM Glenn Flear, New in Chess
"Most opening books are a collection of existing knowledge and a few extra ideas in critical positions. This is not the case with Jacob Aagaard’s and Nikolaos Ntirlis’ (called Nikos) new book on the Tarrasch Defence in the Queen’s Gambit. The book is the result of a large piece of research where the two authors have succeeded in turning completely new pages in opening theory.
Before The Tarrasch Defence was published the opening was considered dubious, but now that it is here, all super-GMs have been recalled to the laboratory. All main lines have been repaired, including those no one knew were broken. Have a look: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.dxc5! This line has always been considered completely harmless, but it is not and is handled over 37 pages! (Don’t fear – Black will be all right in the end.) The book is ground breaking and sets new standards for the future of opening books."
GM Sune Berg Hansen
"As usual with Quality Chess books, production values are high and the paper is of an excellent standard. The authors have geuinely tried to unearth new possibilities and overturn existing theory and it will be interesting to see if the Tarrasch Defence enjoys a revival in the near future."
Sean Marsh, Chess Monthly
"The two authors have done an outstanding job of not only explaining the basic themes and plans that are typical of this opening but also extensively analyzing the theory in detail, offering many important improvements.
This book is an important contribution to opening theory and is highly recommended, without reservation."
"Here's the kind of opening you've got to love - invented and promoted by a lone pioneer, against all norms of "sound play" in his day. Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch believed in free and easy play for his pieces, in rapid development, and was unwilling to patiently defend the orthodox Queen's Gambit. Therefore, in answer to 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3, Tarrasch played 3...c5 to open the game immediately. No crouching on the first three ranks, no maneuvering to make a "liberating" advance late in the opening - each piece will be brought at once to it's best square, and Black will own the center What could be better?These benefits, however, come at a price: Black must accept an isolated d-pawn in the middle of the board. There it may be blockaded, attacked, perhaps even lost. But the "isolani" can equally become the springboard for a Black invasion, and drive wedge-like into the White formation. In a word, the Tarrasch Defense is dynamic - just the weapon needed by anyone aiming to win with the Black pieces."
This book, as is the case with Schiller's opening books in general, is not nearly as good as the two previous ones, but it belongs in the library of this variation, at least for historical reasons.
"This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.
The Tarrasch is an ambitious defense to the Queen's Gambit. Black's concept is a fearless one – he willingly accepts an isolated queen's pawn but in return seizes space in the centre and gains freedom of development for all his pieces. In this book, International Master and Tarrasch expert Sam Collins invites you to join him in examining this popular opening and its many variations. Using illustrative games, Collins highlights the typical plans and tactics for both sides, answers all the key questions and tells you everything you need to know about playing the Tarrasch Defence.
*Essential guidance and training in the Tarrasch Defence
*Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study
*Includes repertoire options for Black"
About the Author
Sam Collins is an International Master with two Grandmaster norms, and a former Irish and Japanese Champion. He has represented Ireland at six Olympiads, winning an individual gold medal at Bled 2002.
Now one of the most exciting variations of the Tarrasch, a true gambit for the adventurous spirits among our members.
This short book, published in 1995, seems to the only one devoted to what is also called at times "the Tarrasch Gambit", which is rarely played in practice, but when it is, is has at least surprise value...
And now to the nearest relative of the Tarrasch, namely the Semi-Tarrasch.
"International Grandmaster József Pintér is now the leading theoretician in Hungary. He was Hungarian Champion in 1978 and 1979. He played three times in the Interzonal Final.
In a game of his against Kasparov, even the then active world champion had to struggle hard to achieve a draw. He is the captain of the Hungarian Olympic Chess Team. The leading teacher of the Maróczy Chess School, he has educated a large number of young talents.
In this book, he deals with one of the most popular openings of today, The Semi-Tarrasch Defence. Within the framework of 64 games (divided over two volumes), he surveys the whole opening, examining some deviations very profoundly, spicing them with not only variations but also with textual explanations.
He is dealing at great length with the subject of 'isolated pawn', which plays an important part in this opening, quoting Dr Siegbert Tarrasch words: "Whoever is afraid of playing with an isolated pawn should give up chess."
This is an essential handbook for all those who want to gain insight into the mysteries of this very interesting opening."
"Volume 2: contains all the variations beginning with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e3. It also includes an Index of Variations for both Volumes.
These are essential handbooks for all those who want to gain insight into the mysteries of this very interesting opening. "
Foreword:
This book attempts to give a survey of the Improved Tarrasch Defence, not restricting the analysis to the initial stage of the game, but allowing insight into the mysteries of the middle and endgame, too.
The Improved Tarrasch Defence has been, and still is, one of my favourite openings. In the 70s, under the influence of Robert Fischer, we had closely studied the then very fashionable defence.
Our joint analyses with grandmasters Ivan Farago and Peter Lukacs hold good even nowadays, though some of them have become outdated by now. In the book I used all literature I could find, as well as works published on the internet, naturally supplementing them with my own analyses.
Within the framework of 64 games I survey the whole opening, examining some deviations very profoundly, spicing them with not only variations but also with textual explanations.
As for the less important ones, I deal with them only briefly, with few annotations. I sketch out the middle and end games arising after the opening in full games.
With the subject of 'isolated pawn', which is one of the most difficult problems of the strategy and tactics of chess, I am dealing at great length. (..)
Studying positions with isolated pawns intensively is not only great fun, but it also improves one's strategical understanding as well as one's ability to spot tactics. In short, it raises one's playing strength!
I examine the opening I'm dealing with from the point of view of both White and Black. This book therefore does not offer a panacea, a wonder variation, it does not promise a forced getting from the opening move to checkmate; no, instead it wishes to illustrate subtly and in a complex manner the plans, efforts and typical motifs of both White and Black.
Examining the transitions is also important, since the Improved Tarrasch Defence can also arise by transpositions from many other openings, such as Caro-Kann Defence, Nimzo-Indian Defence, Queen's Gambit Accepted, English Opening, Sicilian Defence, and some deviations of the Queen's Indian Defence.
From this it follows that you can, at the same time, gain a better survey of various systems.
József Pintér
I must have missed some relevant books (but I intentionally omitted short articles, pamphlets and such). If you have one or more, please add them to this thread. Thanks in advance!
Link (zipped PDF):
http://www.solidfiles.com/d/81a5ecca69/
Password: Caissa