The Moment of Zuke: Critical Positions and Pivotal Decisions for Colle System Players [Anglais] [Broché]

The Moment of Zuke has the best instructional format - it is suited ideally for self-study as well as an for instructional Course on the Colle Zukertort (C-Z)opening specifically, or tactics generally (Coaches, please make note of it!).

The opening related material includes 1. When to advantageously transpose out of C-Z 2. Middle game plans when Black plays ...Ne4 3. When to play g4. 4. How to react when Black prepares ...f5?

The tactics related material includes over a hundred different positions that arise out of C-Z and C-K openings where the Classic Bishop sacrifice (1.Bxh7+!?) and Double bishop sacrifice on h7 and g7 possibilities are available.

The moment of Zuke contains 7 modules. Each module has a Lesson section, an Exercises section and a Solutions section. The lesson is delivered clearly, in a conversational language that beginners can understand. The exercises are very relevant to the lesson and a diligent student will benefit tremendously by spending time on each exercise. The solutions section is appropriate and correct - it contains either the tactical solution or a strategic explanation accompanied by the entire game to demonstrate the strategic ideas - this mix is very good.

The seven modules themselves are each an independent entity on their own. Perhaps the most accessible and fun module is the last one - Module Seven: The classic bishop sacrifice. David Rudel found 60 positions from real games to test us on this most fundamental of the sacrifices.

The module 4 contains the Double Bishop Sacrifice. The double bishop sacrifice used to be impossible for me to produce over the board. It always belonged to the realm of tactics that one solved online or found in a book - never in one's own game. But The Moment Of Zuke has changed that. It gives you specific conditions to look for: for instance, location of the Black queen, presence of Knight and Bishop on d7 and e7 squares, presence of a pawn on c5, etc. It gives you a checklist and the necessary ammunition to execute the idea. Even when you know all of this, and are looking at a won position, you won't be able to believe it is winning, unless you know one trick - a trick that I have seen mentioned only in The Moment Of Zuke - and that trick is to sacrifice your knight on e4 too at the right moment. All this sounds complicated, and it indeed is, but thanks to David Rudel, this mysterious combination has been broken down into its elements that even a beginner can recognize. There are 20 exercises presented for us to practice the double bishop sacrifice. After reading this book, when I was playing a tournament game, I was already calculating all sorts of combination move 8 onwards!

Module 3 addresses a subject that is of paramount importance to C-Z player that has not been illuminated by other authors at all - what to do when Black plays an early ...Ne4? David Rudel gives the reader a complete arsenal of tricks to try in such a situation by demonstrating all the problems for Black when ...Ne4 is played. Now I can really believe that ...Ne4 is a bad move.

Module 5 is about early middle game strategy when a key event happens towards the end of the opening - this key event is Black's Knight at f6 square retreats to either d7 or e8 to make way for f-pawn push. Again, a catalogue of readymade plans is presented along with the decision making algorithm. You can navigate the opening on autopilot, if you digest the material in this chapter.

Module 6 is about g4. When to make, when to avoid, what are the consequences, etc. It is a very advanced chapter but written very simply. If your chess strategy understanding is expert level or higher, then this chapter is a gem for you.

Module 2 is about some sister openings of C-Z and how to react differently to come out with an advantage. Moudle 1 is about move order in the opening. Both modules 1 and 2 are important for perfecting one's repertoire.

The modules are organized in the chronological order - 1. opening, 2. early deviation, 3.dealing with Ne4, 4.Double bishop sacrifice, 5.game changing moment, 6.deciding on g4 and to end it all with 7. Classic Bishop sacrifice.

Perhaps the best thing about buying a book from David Rudel is that there is "post sales support" - in that there is an online forum where you can discuss your ideas, clarify your doubts and share your games directly with the author!!! So, this is one book that I recommend to anyone who:
a. doesn't have any opening repertoire, but wants to pick one.
b. wants to improve tactics - not just in a text book but in a real game situation.
c. plays Colle/London/Trompowsky/Torre/Stonewall attack system already.
d. wants to learn C-Z:

Note that there are other books and DVDs on this opening, and I have read most of them that are available from amazon, but this is an original piece of work and represents a breakthrough in dissemination of Colle-Zukertort knowledge to the general audience.

The Moment of Zuke: Critical Positions and Pivotal Decisions for Colle System Players

The Moment of Zuke by David Rudel is an exciting and eye-opening follow-up of Zuke `Em, the author's previous illuminating book on the Zukertort variation of the Colle System. But this new book is more than a sequel. At the center of Rudel's attention in this book are seven pivotal decision-points that arise with varying frequencies in both Colle-Koltanowski (C-K) games and Colle-Zukertort (C-Z) games. The decision-points include such problems as what a Colle player should do when Black plays a queen-side fianchetto defense (i.e. . . . b6 plus . . .Bb7) or places a Knight on e4 or retreats a Knight from f6. Throughout the book, Rudel explains how the C-K and C-Z relate or diverge and,in doing so, helps the reader understand the ways in which these two variations may be seen as comprising a single system.

As in Zuke 'Em, this book is aimed primarily (but not exclusively) at class chess players--those below the level of expert. It is written in a clear and engaging style that includes Socratic dialogues with the reader. The author also enlivens the text by assigning colorful--and thus more easily remembered--labels to various lines of play including, for example, the "Errant Knight," "the Kite of Doom," and "the Knight Assassination Attack."

Each pivotal decision-point is presented and analyzed in one of seven modules consisting of the lessons to be learned, a set of well-selected exercises, and a section of solutions to the exercises that includes commentary, analysis, and variations. Rudel emphasizes that each module should be re-read as many times as is needed to grasp the key points presented in the lesson. He anticipates that most students will have some difficulty solving all of the exercises the first time around and urges readers to review the lesson and try again. He expects that after following this procedure, students will see considerable improvement in their ability to solve the exercises and to identify and solve similar problems over-the-board.

Players who wish to move quickly into material that gives priority to one or the other of the two main Colle variations will appreciate a valuable chart (p. 10) that presents Rudel's estimates of the relative importance of each module to players who prefer one or the other variation. For instance, C-K players should find Module 2 (analyzing lines arising from an early . . .b6) and Module 7 (analyzing the Classic Greek Gift sacrifice Bxh7+) to be of special importance, although each of these Modules also is of some importance to C-Z players as well. In addition to these two modules that give priority to the C-K, the author also includes an appendix (Tract 2) presenting a novel analysis of the mainline of the C-K. Another appendix (Tract 1) presents a digest of the anti-Colle lines analyzed in Zuke `Em.

As is true of its predecessor, The Moment of Zuke has an attractive layout, type-face, and flexible binding. This book admirably suits its purpose and is a "must" for players of either Colle variation. It also is a valuable addition to the literature of chess.

"The Moment of Zuke" is the second book by David Rudel on the Colle System. The first, "Zuke 'Em," was an exceptional tome in many ways. The present work adds significant detail to the material in the first book. Rudel continues his efforts to promote his beloved Colle System by concentrating on a variety of attacking ideas in the middle game. Rudel explains in great depth a series of attacking methods using the Colle-Zukertort and the Colle-Koltanowski systems. The addition of material on the Colle-Koltanowski is a change from "Zuke 'Em," which focused solely on the Zukertort System.

Criticisms of Rudel's work normally include the fact that he is neither an IM or a GM, and thus his ideas and recommendations are not to be trusted. If one takes more than a cursory glance through "The Moment of Zuke," the difference between Rudel and FIDE-titled opening authors is readily seen: Rudel explores variations in far greater depth, using text much more than Informant symbols to convey key ideas for both White and Black. The subtle differences between positions where, say, the "Greek Gift" (Bxh7+) sacrifice could be used show incredible attention to detail. Rudel provides the specific reasons for success or failure of this idea in numerous positions. He presents the "kite formation," as another attacking idea, and offers clear explanations about when to consider certain variations depending on Black's set-up. This is a labor of love for Rudel, and the attention given the minute aspects of the positions demonstrates this. Perhaps there is a titled player who has examined this opening more closely than this author, but I am not aware of him/her.

As is the case with the first book, numerous exercises are provided to help the reader evaluate the learning s/he has accomplished. Following these exercises, thorough explanations of the solutions are provided so the reader can understand more clearly why the answer works. In order to present the diagrammed exercise positions, Rudel and Bob Long of Thinker's Press, Inc. have increased the surface area of each page. The text is larger than in most chess books, which is a break for those of us who are "post-bifocal." From working through a substantial portion of this book myself, I have to say that it is virtually impossible to work with this book and NOT understand the Colle System, particularly the Zukertort Variation. Moreover, in more fully understanding this opening because of Rudel's presentation, the reader's understanding of chess will also be enhanced.