The Meran defense, Semi-Slav, has experienced renewed vigor since Kasparov added this line to his repertoire. The line received its name from the game Grunfeld - Rubinstein, played in the strong 1924 Meran tournament. This dynamic defense deserves an up-to-date treatment and author Donaldson has provided a thoroughly researched treatise. That he is a practitioner of the line is clearly evident from the rich analysis and feel for the nuances of the variation. Current developments were reflected in the text right up to press time. This book is an invaluable resource for the student of the openings.