The
Ark has always been considered one of the theoretically-heaviest
defences in meeting the Ruy Lopez, though also the most exciting and
definitely the most beautiful of all. It requires tactical vision, good
calculation and memory, but not just from us – from the White side too.
Let’s not forget that! I also must say that no good lines are absent of
theory, so if we’ve decided to learn something “finally”, I argue that
it can very well be an ambitious, double-edged line too!
I
should also mention that this book is a complete Black repertoire
starting from 3. Bb5 a6, the exchange variation being the first chapter.
The publisher and me agreed on offering a full package, one that should
prove useful for many years to come!
My
aim with the book was to provide you with a lot of insights into this
remarkable variation, The Ark, and to entertain the reader with
spectacular, resourceful lines to illustrate the ideas. Thus, I must
stress that my book should also be interesting for those who just enjoy
chess in general, not just for the fans of this line seeking new ideas!
Of course, you don’t need to memorize everything to be able to play the
variation successfully. Longer lines merely tend to be examples of how
the game might develop, which help to enhance your understanding.
I
hope my book will attract a lot of chess players of all levels and that
we will soon see many more new games in this fascinating variation in
practice!
Viktor Erdos, 2022