Easy Guide to the Najdorf
by Tony Kosten, 1999, Everyman Chess, softcover, 128 pp., $18.95

The Najdorf Sicilian is one of the sharpest and most popular defenses known to the royal game. A great deal of theory has built up over the years, creating a barrier between this fabulous defense and some enthusiasts who may not feel up to the task of climbing a steep staircase of theory to play it at a lofty level.

GM Tony Kosten has written a book which simplifies the task of learning the Najdorf as much as can reasonably be expected. He doesn't cover every variation, but merely recommends quality lines for black while including most, if not all, of white's logical responses at every turn.

Each chapter covers one of white's popular 6th move alternatives: Be3, Bg5, Bc4, Be2, g3, f4, as well as less common options, such as 6. f3, a4, Bd3, h3, and Rg1. Kosten discourses on the theory behind each variation and white's and black's standard plans of attack.

There is no discussion of the Poison Pawn, for example, because Kosten suggests another line of play; namely, the rather unusual 7.... Nc6 in reply to 6. Bg5 and 7. f4. Early Sicilian divergences are also ignored, such as the Alapin, Smith-Morra, Closed, etc.

My initial impression was to feel a bit cheated, since the book doesn't cover all of black's possibilities, but only Kosten's own recommendations. But I was won over after playing numerous online games with the book in hand. Rarely did an opponent try something plausible as white which wasn't mentioned in the book. The lines all gave me playable positions. I even became fond of the previously mentioned Nc6 in answer to Bg5, as I was quite successful with it.

Anyone seeking to unravel the mysteries of the Najdorf would probably do well with this book, remembering that it is not encyclopedic but only covers the author's recommendations. I can say for myself that I feel much more confident with the Najdorf than I did before opening Kosten's book. This difficult defense doesn't seem so daunting anymore, and that is a tribute to the author's skill in explaining what once seemed unexplainable.

Reviewed by Stephen Leary.

*****

Chess Software Sourcebook
by Robert J. Pawlak, 2000, Treehaus Books, softcover, 150 pp., $16.95

The goal of this book is to explain the various types of chess software that are available for purchase, which features are more important than others, how you can best use your software program, and which programs are best for certain types of players.

The book is divided into two main sections: Choosing Chess Software and Using Chess Software. Chapters cover: what's available, what's best for me, playing programs (Chessmaster, Fritz, Rebel, etc.), database programs (ChessBase, Chess Assistant, etc.), tutorial programs, opening references, chess software basics, modifying playing strength, analyzing your game, learning an opening, and playing on the internet.

The advice given by Pawlak seems practical and logical. The book is most valuable for those new to computerized chess and are not sure what kind of software to buy. Pawlak examines the strengths and weaknesses of the various programs and compares them with each other. It is a handy buying guide for those who don't know where to start, given all the available options. Consulting this book would be a wise idea before plopping down hundreds for software which may or may not be appropriate for one's specific needs. Recommended.

Reviewed by Stephen Leary.

*****

The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time
by John Emms, 2000, Gambit Publications, softcover, 192 pp., $19.95

What a fun idea. A grandmaster explains what he purports to be the "200 most astonishing and instructive moves in the history of chess." Not an easy selection task for anyone, regardless of his determination.

The idea is to present the reader with chess positions and invite him to discover the "amazing and instructive" move for each one. The answers and game scores (not all the puzzles have complete game scores included--who knows why?), along with analysis of the crucial moments are given at the end of each chapter.

My first thought was to check the back of the book to see if the author proudly included any of his own games. The book, unfortunately, is marred by the lack of an index, which I suppose can only mean it isn't supposed to be taken seriously and is merely a "fun" book. Pity. Are any of Morphy's games, for example, included by Emms? Does Emms include Emms? You'll have to thumb through all the pages to find out (No, the games aren't in chronological order, either).

Right from Puzzle number 1, I knew I was in trouble: "There has been some doubts cast over this game's veracity...." An inauspicious start, to say the least. There are actually many well-chosen positions. One would expect the game's greatest players to hammer down the most "amazing" moves ever seen, and Emms dutifully walks us down memory lane by pointing out some of the most famous chess moments from Botvinnik, Capablanca, Fischer, Karpov, and Kasparov.

The overall selection, however, is highly idiosyncratic and will leave many a chessplayer skeptical of the author's choices. His scoring system is detailed in the introduction, but judging from the results, it needs a bit of tweaking. Included are games Alekhine played in a simul and giving odds! Kind of cheapens the history of the game a bit, methinks. But what is this on page 47--a game played by Morphy! So the author decided Morphy was worthy after all. I was worried, believe me. Actually, I remember seeing only about 3 games that were played before the year 1900 (did I miss the index somehow?). They really were awful back then, weren't they?

But what seems astonishing to me is that the author has included at least two of his own games, and a couple more as notes to other puzzles. He was a victim in most of them, but still, GM Emms is surely a most fortunate man to have taken part in some of the most "astonishing," not to mention "instructive" games ever played. If only Morphy had been so lucky.... Would anyone else writing this same book have included even one of Mr. Emms' games? We've come to the end of the book, the score is still Emms 2, Morphy 1, at least as I remember it. Did I mention there's no index?

This book has many good games in it, but it's only for fun. It would be most useful when you are at the beach and want to pretend you are reading it while a pretty girl in a bikini walks by.

Reviewed by Stephen Leary.

*****

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