user33209: I'm looking for QGD repertoire book as Black. Would Sadler's Queen's Gambit Declined fulfill this, or is it focused on White?

user18809: I haven't read the book but from a quick view at the first few pages it looks like it comes from a White perspective, at least when it comes to "completion" (it covers several options for Black from the same position, while it sticks to one recommendation for White).
This doesn't mean the book is useless if you want to study the QGD for Black though. It can give you an overview and some examples of the options you have and help you choose the most practical one.
As for the opinions that old opening books are not useful anymore today, well, it depends. Some lines may be outdated and need revision or further analysis if you want to play them at stronger levels, but you can still get a lot of knowledge about common themes and middlegames arising from the QGD. At lower levels you may even do well with theory that is a century old specially considering the QGD does not rely on too many "critical" lines.
For instance, in the QGD, you'll find much more use in learning how to play isolated "d" pawn positions and Karlsbad structures than in studying the exact best continuation in most lines. It all depends on your level though, could you give us an approximation of your current Elo?

user33371: I got pointed to this topic by a friendly chatter at the TCEC. In principle, Brian is absolutely right - an opening book 20 years old is really going to be missing some stuff and certainly won't give you the complete modern picture of the opening. In the specific case of the QGD book, there are some parts of my book that are still relevant and still very useful - in particular about the typical pawn structures that you can encounter in the opening. I once had the privilege of studying for a couple of weeks with the great trainer Mark Dvoretsky and he gave me an amazing overview of how to play the Carlsbad structures from both sides (when White plays cxd5 and Black replies ...exd5). That went into the book, and I think it's timeless advice! Whatever you do, you should get a modern course as the basis, but if you're looking later for some extra insight into typical positions (maybe once you've got all your lines sorted out) then this is one of the extras you could think about! Hope that helps! Best Wishes, Matthew

33209: <p>I'm looking for QGD repertoire book as Black. Would Sadler's Queen's Gambit Declined fulfill this, or is it focused on White?</p>
 18809: <p>I haven't read the book but from a quick view at the first few pages it looks like it comes from a White perspective, at least when it comes to &quot;completion&quot; (it covers several options for Black from the same position, while it sticks to one recommendation for White).</p>
<p>This doesn't mean the book is useless if you want to study the QGD for Black though. It can give you an overview and some examples of the options you have and help you choose the most practical one.</p>
<p>As for the opinions that old opening books are not useful anymore today, well, it depends. Some lines may be outdated and need revision or further analysis if you want to play them at stronger levels, but you can still get a lot of knowledge about common themes and middlegames arising from the QGD. At lower levels you may even do well with theory that is a century old specially considering the QGD does not rely on too many &quot;critical&quot; lines.</p>
<p>For instance, in the QGD, you'll find much more use in learning how to play isolated &quot;d&quot; pawn positions and Karlsbad structures than in studying the exact best continuation in most lines. It all depends on your level though, could you give us an approximation of your current Elo?</p>
 33371: <p>I got pointed to this topic by a friendly chatter at the TCEC. In principle, Brian is absolutely right - an opening book 20 years old is really going to be missing some stuff and certainly won't give you the complete modern picture of the opening. In the specific case of the QGD book, there are some parts of my book that are still relevant and still very useful - in particular about the typical pawn structures that you can encounter in the opening. I once had the privilege of studying for a couple of weeks with the great trainer Mark Dvoretsky and he gave me an amazing overview of how to play the Carlsbad structures from both sides (when White plays cxd5 and Black replies ...exd5). That went into the book, and I think it's timeless advice! Whatever you do, you should get a modern course as the basis, but if you're looking later for some extra insight into typical positions (maybe once you've got all your lines sorted out) then this is one of the extras you could think about! Hope that helps! Best Wishes, Matthew</p>
