NIC Forum
Readers from all over the world join in discussions of previous surveys. Both (grand)masters and club players shed their light on new opening developments and search together for the truth. With contributions by John Watson, Jacob Aagaard, and many others.

Sosonko's Corner
Yasser Seirawan believes 1.e4 is 'obviously the most aggressive move', but Evgeny Sveshnikov takes it a step further. He is a man of strong opinions and labels 1.e4 as 'the strongest opening move for White beyond any doubt. Sosonko describes in which of three categories (correct, semi-coorect and incorrect) young Garry Kasparov classified all openings after 1.e4 and explains why Sveshnikov stopped playing the Sveshnikov Variation. In reply to a fashionable way to circumvent his latest love (4...e5!) Sveshnikov has developed a new gambit. Read all about it.

Book Review
The word 'repertoire' is widely used, but not always explained. So for that matter is the term 'World Champion', but that's another story. In his column Glenn Flear reviews Khalifman's two books on the repertoire of Vishy Anand (1.e4) and gives it 'thumbs up'. He asked a GM-friend to have a look at them and give his opinion. His reaction: 'I don't buy chess books any more, but I'll make an exception for these two! Plus Konstantin Sakaev's book on How to Get the Edge Against the Gruenfeld.

33 NIC Surveys Yearbook 71
Sicilian Defence: Najdorf Variation 6.Bg5, by Van der Tak
Sicilian Defence: Najdorf Variation 6.Be3 e5, by Lukacs/Hazai
Sicilian Defence: Dragon Variation 9.Bc4, by Golubev/Aagaard
Sicilian Defence: Dragon Variation 9.Bc4, by Anka
Sicilian Defence: Sveshnikov Variation 10...f5, by Nikitin
Sicilian Defence: Taimanov Variation 6.Be3, 7.Qd2, by Fogarasi
Sicilian Defence: Paulsen Variation 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3, by Van der Wiel
Pirc Defence: Austrian Attack 4.f4, by Tzermiadianos
French Defence: Exchange Variation 4.Nf3 Bd6, by Boersma
French Defence: MacCutcheon Variation 4...Bb4, by Glek
French Defence: MacCutcheon Variation 4...Bb4, by Cebalo
French Defence: Winawer Variation 7.Qg4 0-0, by I.Almasi
Caro-Kann Defence: Classical Variation 4...Bf5, by Lukacs/Hazai
Caro-Kann Defence: Classical Variation 4...Bf5, by Greenfeld
Petroff Defence: Jaenisch Variation 6...Be7, by Karolyi
Ruy Lopez: New Arkhangelsk Variation 6...Bc5, by Lukacs/Hazai
Italian Game: Two Knights Defence 4.d3, by Tiviakov
Philidor Defence: Antoshin Variation 5...Be7, by Fogarasi
Albin Counter-Gambit: 5...Nge7, by Raetsky/Chetverik
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation 3...Be7, by Boersma
Slav Defence: Krause Variation 6.Ne5, by Rogozenko
Slav Defence: Meran Variation 6.Qc2, by Karolyi
Tarrasch Defence: Rubinstein Variation 6.g3, by Bosch
Nimzo-Indian Defence: Rubinstein Variation 4.e3, by Bosch
Queen’s Indian Defence: Miles Variation 4.Bf4, by Gavrilov
Grünfeld Indian Defence: Anti-Grünfeld 4.Bf4, by Rytshagov
King’s Indian Defence: Classical Variation 7...Qe8, by Greenfeld
King’s Indian Defence: Gligoric Variation 7.Be3, by Van der Weide
Volga Gambit: Dlugy Variation 5.f3, by Tay
Queen’s Pawn Opening: Trompowsky Variation 2.Bg5 c5, by Nijboer
English Opening: Reversed Sicilian 2...c6, by Raetsky/Chetverik
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation 4...d5, by Marin
Réti Opening: Markowski Variation 4.Qa4, by Dautov