Introduction
I have recently started playing the Dutch and the Bird. I’ve changed my repertoire from positional openings, the Semi-Slav against d4, to sharp, dynamic positions that force me to get outside of my comfort zone – the Dutch! So far, I have been playing the Classical and the Stonewall.
I started studying the Stonewall by going through GM Sedlak’s book. If an opening book is published by Quality Chess, you know it’s going to be useful. I think I never learned more ideas from a single opening book before.
Sedlak begins the book with his own first experiences with the Stonewall. In 2002, when he was stuck, and couldn’t make progress and cross 2450 FIDE, he was searching for changes, especially in his repertoire. He approached Jovan Todorović for help. Jovan recommended the Stonewall. Sedlak writes: “How could you seriously suggest that I make a gaping hole on the e5-square while blocking the c8-bishop with my own pawns? At first I rejected the proposal but, on Jovan’s insistence, I agreed to check a few ideas from strong players such as Predrag Nikolić, Artur Yusupov, Evgeny Gleizerov and Mikhail Ulybin. As I looked through their games, my opinion on the Stonewall began to change.”
I think this explains the aversion many strong players feel towards the Stonewall. If you know a bit about chess, you have to consider the downsides of playing d5 and f5 extremely significant and weakening. But if you know a lot, you will be able to see past the weaknesses and consider the potential of the Stonewall as well. Sedlak needed to examine games of strong Stonewall players to reach that point. I tried to do the same using his book.
One of the biggest upsides of the Stonewall, along with its attacking potential and complexity, is the inability of your opponents to use engines and opening books to prepare. The Stonewall is a closed system opening, in which a single tempo is often meaningless, and knowing ideas, themes, patterns, and tactical motifs is much more significant than knowing theory. That makes the Stonewall a perfect opening weapon in the modern age of engines.
About the Author
Nikola Sedlak is a grandmaster and former Serbian Champion who has won both the EU Individual Open Championship and an Olympiad gold medal. He has been playing the Stonewall Dutch for many years against strong opponents achieving excellent results. He has also written Winning With the Modern London System, probably the best book on the London in existence.
How is Playing the Stonewall Dutch structured?
The book consists of 11 chapters. The final one is devoted to exercises (only 7) and their solutions. They were very useful but I wish there were many more included.
The first 10 chapters are devoted to the Stonewall move orders, ideas, and theory.
I say ideas and move orders before theory because Sedlak focused on explaining the why and hows instead of going over endless variations. The Stonewall lends itself to such an approach.
Chessbook is the fastest way to build a bulletproof opening repertoire. It helps you find the gaps in your repertoire before your opponents do, pick the best moves to maximize your win-rate, and you’ll only spend time on the moves you’ll actually see in real games.
Chapters like – Move Orders, in which Sedlak explains the differences and pros and cons to starting with 1…f5 and 1…e6, avoiding all the Dutch Gambits. Chapters like The Flexible Stonewall or The Aggressive Stonewall, in which he recommends specific ways of playing the opening. I loved the Aggressive Stonewall, where he goes over what is known as the Rapport Stonewall now, playing Nc6 instead of c6. This is something I’ve tried getting in a game 10 times now. I haven’t succeeded yet.
The rest of the chapters are devoted to different move orders and setups white could choose, including starting with the English and the Reti.
Each chapter comes with annotated model games.
Quality of Annotations
This is a Quality Chess opening book. They are always well annotated and well written. I think no other publisher has a reputation for high-quality opening books. Still, Sedlak could have written more, which is always the case. Since the Stonewall is a system opening, there is no need for endless sidelines and he managed to explain the ideas well, which is the most important thing. I would rate the annotations 7/10.
The Variations Sedlak Recommends
This may be the highlight of the book. The two chapters in which GM Sedlak recommends specific setups – The Flexible Stonewall and The Aggressive Stonewall, are, in my opinion, the most useful in the book. Personally, I like his aggressive Stonewall, or Rapport Stonewall best, and that chapter alone could be used as an opening book.
Difficulty
I think anyone could use Sedlak’s Stonewall and start playing it as their repertoire. It doesn’t matter if you’re rated 1000 or 2500, GM Sedlak’s recommendations are sound. I also think that the book and the repertoire is best suited for advanced players, ideally around 2000 FIDE, because it avoids dry lines, and chooses complications you’re going to understand better than your opponent. That is often needed on my level, a way to get my opponent into a sharp position I understand and they don’t.
Conclusion
Probably the best source on the Stonewall Dutch out there. GM Sedlak has written the book after almost 20 years of experience playing the Stonewall himself, which is why the ideas are explained so well. If you’re looking for a complex, aggressive opening system you can use against d4, c4, Nf3, and which you can play with white as well, look no further.
