The Symmetrical English

Rating:
Summary: Symmetrical but not dull
Review: A book like I like!
The different systems are well separated with enough comments to choose your lines without having to read all the book. The author doesn't try to sell you miracles; if a system is often drawish Mr.Hansen won't try to hide it.

Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners of English opening
Review: After two weeks of study I have found that this book is great disappointment). After reading Hansen's impressive book: Dynamic english I found that Hansen's book of symmetrical english lacks essentially most basic element of good opening book: study of basic strategys and tactical tricks. Unfortunately Hansen's book is totally concentrated on chess theory.
The Symmetrical English is defenetily meanted for appr. +1800 ELO players with previous experience with Symmetrical English. For those who do not belong to this group: this book is not for you.
Besides I found one telling example about level of analysis in this book: after moves: 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
e6 5. g3 Qb6 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. e3 Nc6 8. Nb3 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Ne5 '10. Qc2 d5 11. cxd5, here Qa6!? is not mentioned (despite for instance NCO mentions it) at all leading to either to 12. Bf1 Nf3+ 13. Kd1 Qb6 with compensation (according to Nunns Chess Opening) or to 12. Bxb4! Nd3 13. Kd2 Nb4...(Sosonko-Suba, Tunis 1985) with rougly equal position.
This omission is serious chess theoretical mistake and one only hopes that there are not many of such mistakes in this book. However IMHO such error tells something about quality of the analysis, since Qa6!? is widely known and important option for black to play.