The book deals with a reliable and interesting system (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3) which has been played by most of the world's elite, starting with ex-world champion Tigran Petrosian. It is not a repertoire book though. Beliavsky & Mikhalchishin present an objective work which discusses the possibilities of both sides.

White's main strategic goal in this system is to build a perfect pawn centre and then organise a kingside attack. Such an approach is much more natural than the modern fianchetto systems against the Queen's Indian Defence. Database statistics seem to confirm that, as White is scoring better with 4.a3 than with 4.g3. The authors' own practical experience shows that they feel comfortably in the Petrosian system with any colour. They are especially effective with White and have not allowed a single loss in 27 years. The structure of this book is similar to other recent Chess Stars publications. Every part starts with a "Main Ideas" section that explains the major plans and typical positions which are then ana­lysed in the "Move by Move" chapters. The book will be interesting to a wide range of players who enter QID positions as White or Black.

Content:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3

005 Introduction by the Editor

007 Foreword

Part 1 Early Deviations

014 4...c5; 4...Ba6

Part 2 Rare Answers on Move 5

036 4...Bb7 5.Nc3

Part 3 The Fianchetto System

045 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 g6

Part 4 Rare Sixth Moves of White

057 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5

Part 5 Tarrasch Structures

068 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5

Part 6 The Old Main Line

080 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3

Part 7 The Dementiev System

098 4...Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bd2

Part 8 White Takes on c3 by Queen

115 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.Qxc3

Part 9 The Main Line

125 7.Qc2 Be7 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3

Part 10 Black Deviations from the Main Line

143 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5

Part 11 Black Deviations from the Main Line-2

149 7.Qc2 c5 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nc6; 9...Nd7

163 Part 12 Gambit Lines

167 Index of Variations