Winning With The French

Rating:
Summary: Sensational!
Review: GM Uhlmann is certainly an acknowledged specialist in the French defense. I for one decided to buy this book to deal with problematic variations as black (i.e., Tarrasch variation and KIA) I found more than I could possibly hope to find in the book. For one, this is not just an insuferable encyclopedic treatise bound to be outdated the minute you buy it. It isn't a pedantic presentation of lines with no logical sense but a concise and fun explanation of IDEAS commonly used in the French. GM Uhlmann promises in his book to show you what's typical and how to find your way out from unknown situations over the board and gives you an arsenal of weapons to enrich your French defense.

The book's format is simple: Anotated games by Uhlmann full of comments, variations, ideas, and opinions. I found it interesting to see that GM Uhlmann shows a remarkable objectivity when mistakes by him appear on the games. With utmost professionalism he warns about his mistakes, suggests an alternative approach, and implicitly tells you how to fine tune the opening. I have applied many of the ideas presented on this book and can say that I feel more confident each time I play the French. GM Uhlmann makes you fall in love with the French by exposing the ideas behind each variation and how to thrive when facing unknown situations.

I must forewarn anyone reading this review that the book is very specific in the variations covered: Tarrasch closed and open (with an isolated queen pawn), Winnawer, Advance, KIA and exchange. Do not expect to see the classical variation among the lines covered or any other non-fashionable lines. GM Uhlmann has worked the above repertoire of the French defense and since those lines are his specialty you will learn them thoroughly with him.

In regards to negative aspects of the book I can say that I would like to see a more thorough discussion about the pawn structures that result commonly and how to play the resulting endings. This is of course very subjective and it is just my opinion on how to deal with the study of chess openings. In spite of that, I believe that discussing pawn structures resulting in the French would make the book just perfect. However, I am giving the book 5 stars because it delivers what it promises to the reader.

Rating:
Summary: A must have for the serious French defense player
Review: GM Uhlmann is certainly an acknowledged specialist in the French defense. I for one decided to buy this book to deal with problematic variations as black (i.e., Tarrasch variation and KIA) I found more than I could possibly hope to find in the book. For one, this is not just an insuferable encyclopedic treatise bound to be outdated the minute you buy it. It isn't a pedantic presentation of lines with no logical sense but a concise and fun explanation of IDEAS commonly used in the French. GM Uhlmann promises in his book to show you what's typical and how to find your way out from unknown situations over the board and gives you an arsenal of weapons to enrich your French defense.

The book's format is simple: Anotated games by Uhlmann full of comments, variations, ideas, and opinions. I found it interesting to see that GM Uhlmann shows a remarkable objectivity when mistakes by him appear on the games. With utmost professionalism he warns about his mistakes, suggests an alternative approach, and implicitly tells you how to fine tune the opening. I have applied many of the ideas presented on this book and can say that I feel more confident each time I play the French. GM Uhlmann makes you fall in love with the French by exposing the ideas behind each variation and how to thrive when facing unknown situations.

I must forewarn anyone reading this review that the book is very specific in the variations covered: Tarrasch closed and open (with an isolated queen pawn), Winnawer, Advance, KIA and exchange. Do not expect to see the classical variation among the lines covered or any other non-fashionable lines. GM Uhlmann has worked the above repertoire of the French defense and since those lines are his specialty you will learn them thoroughly with him.

In regards to negative aspects of the book I can say that I would like to see a more thorough discussion about the pawn structures that result commonly and how to play the resulting endings. This is of course very subjective and it is just my opinion on how to deal with the study of chess openings. In spite of that, I believe that discussing pawn structures resulting in the French would make the book just perfect. However, I am giving the book 5 stars because it delivers what it promises to the reader.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: I have had this book since 1995, and it was the first opening book I bought. Went through the 60 games, and still refer back to it at times now. Uhlmann does an excellent job of explaining the ideas. I would recommend this book to anybody that is interested in playing the French. Only after reading this book and fully understanding the concepts would I recommend diving into more theoretical books on specific lines, like Kosten's "The French Advance", Emms's "The French Tarrasch", or the Monograph on the Winawer.

With how good this book is, (and that should be obvious considering I'm still reading it 5 years after buying the book) I might even recommend that you use your sorry Schiller books to dust off your shelf each weeek at the location on your shelf where you keep this book!

Rating:
Summary: Without doubt the best book written on the French Defense
Review: This book provides an excellent coverage on the principles & concepts involved in the French Defense. Although not complete in its coverage for all the lines of this opening, it is highly recommended to all French players.

This book provides an enlightening view on the principles & motives behind French Defense. Instead of providing all possible lines & variations on the opening as most books do, it presents readers with 60 games that features the concepts behind the French Defense. It contains most of the main variations and is considered a practical yet entertaining book.

Who else but GM Wolfgang Uhlmann who has scores of victories against GMs like Fischer, Bronstein, Short and etc. is more qualified to write such a book

Rating:
Summary: It is true, what they say about this one.
Review: This one by Uhlmann has the special something that separates art from the mundane. It brims with love and care about his French Defence, yet it is objective too. He does not smirk at white's various lines, such as the King's Indian Attack. He treats chess with respect, and he does not make ridiculous claims, ala Watson, that the French will give black an edge in every line. This book is a keeper, and I don't even play the french!

Rating:
Summary: Best reperetoire book on the French
Review: What's great about this book is that it is based on 60 complete games, not just variations with an evaluation of +- or =. Uhlmann does a great job anotating the games as well as telling the reader the ideas behind the lines he chooses. Of course he does not go into all of the main lines for Black, it is a reperetoire book after all, but his choice of lines are the best for those who really want to put up a fight with the French. All of his games in this book are nice struggles against some of the best ever. Uhlmann is a true advocate of the French and only played this defense against e4. What better person than he to write a book on the French!

If you could own only one reperetoire book on the French, this should be it!