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 Chess
Bibliography 1850 - 1968compiled by Douglas A Betts |
A facsimile edition of an annotated bibliography of works published in the English language between 1850 and 1968. Originally published in 1974. Coverage includes all facets of chess play, records of matches, tournaments and the games of individual players, works on, and collections of, chess problems, historical works, periodicals and other serial publications, works on the games derived from chess and literary works in which reference to chess is made • Read the December 2005 review | 659 pp hardcover | £34.99 | |
| The History of Chess by Duncan Forbes. |
Originally published in 1860. The history of chess, from the time of the early invention of the game in the East, until the period of its establishment in Western and Central Europe. Traces the early history of the game dealing with Chaturanga and Shatranj, their oriental variations, and the medieval game in Arabia and Europe • Read the December 2005 review | 312 pp hardcover | £24.99 |
This issue includes: Lausanne Young Masters • European Club Cup
• Russian championship in Kazan • European Team Championship
• American Continental Championship • Jonathan Rowson explains
why he lost a game at the British championship • and much more.
In this issue: the correspondence chess career of the controversial
Ukrainian master Fedor Bohatirchuk, revealing some new facts about his
life and early CC games. The Canadian and Ukrainian CC federations recently
completed a memorial tournament for him, and we have detailed coverage
of that also with many deeply annotated games.
When chess masters Louis Charles Mahé de la Bourdonnais and Alexander
McDonnell met at London’s Westminster Chess Club in 1834, the occasion
was notable for a number of reasons. Hard-earned reputations were zealously
protected, and masters of equal standing seldom faced each other on even
terms. The chess world was watching closely, but it was the actions of
bystander William Greenwood Walker, who carefully recorded each move of
the 85 games, that would have the greatest impact on the future of chess.
The recording and publication of game scores from a series of matches
between masters was a first in chess history. The event irrevocably altered
the game, giving birth to modern chess theory. Once based upon composed,
abstract exercises, studied in isolation, theory now became concrete and
measurable. Practice replaced contrivance, and tactics could be studied
and honed in light of the avalanche of match records that followed. Louis
Charles Mahé de la Bourdonnais and Alexander McDonnell played six
chess matches in 1834. Biographies of the combatants illuminate their
place in the game’s history, and their historic venue is examined.
The 85 games are analyzed using modern theory; there are numerous diagrams
and previously published commentary. The merits of the openings, middle-
and endgame maneuvers of the two are weighed. Nine appendices present
selected games against other opponents; excerpt a contemporary account
of the games’ ambience; provide other interesting documents; present
statistics; and provide a schematic of mistakes made by both contestants.
Bibliography, notes, indexes • 404 pages hardcover
• Read
the November 2005 review
It's all here, entertainment and fun about one of everyone's favorite
topics....movies....only this book on flicks is about how chess is used
and abused as a "prop." Dentist, chess guy, and film buff Bob
Basalla goes through more than 2000 movies to find the howlers, the silliness,
and some of the most amazing conversations you wish you had never heard.
There are illegal moves, checks that aren't checks, positions that are
impossible according to the rules of chess, and plots that are off the
charts with continuity problems being tougher than the chess problems!
Bob Basalla was editor of the Cleveland Chess Bulletin from 1983
through 1992. He has won numerous accolades for his chess satires and
parodies. Although increasing amounts of his "chess time" are
now taken up off the board, Basalla still managed to "grab the brass
ring" and won himself a share of the 2003 Ohio chess Championship
• 422 pages
• Read the
November 2005 review
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest and most famous openings with plenty
of attacking options for White and Black. It is favoured by world champions,
such as Kasparov and Anand, and played successfully at every level. It
is possible to understand and improve by knowing the typical themes and
tactical combinations that have been discovered in recent years. Popular
amongst beginners and advanced players alike, the Ruy Lopez is easy to
learn but difficult to beat • 160 pages
• Read
the November 2005 review
In a major event in chess publishing, Susan Polgar provides a candid inside
view of the lives of the Polgar sisters, each with their own goals and
aspirations. She takes readers through the incredible development of the
three sisters as they pursued their dreams: becoming chess prodigies,
growing into contenders, winning World titles and Olympiad gold medals,
ending the Soviet dominance in womens chess, breaking through the gender
and age barriers, and generally revolutionising the game. Readers will
also be privy to the thoughts and feelings the sisters experienced during
major triumphs and disappointments, as Susan shares their most joyous
moments and biggest heartbreaks. Another important issue covered is the
strict but ultimately successful training techniques used by the Polgar
sisters in their chess evolution. Finally the chess public will have a
chance to find out how the sisters really feel about these controversial
methods of studying the game.This volume wouldt be complete without a
marvellous compilation of the Polgar sister most stunning chess games,
providing a move-by-move explanation of their best and most memorable
encounters • 320 pages, hardcover
• Read
the November 2005 review
Author and national master Alex Angos was the Champion of Greece in the
late 50s before moving to the States. His forte is the endgame. The book
has 250 diagrams showing positions which are likely to show up, most often
in the endgame, where one side is totally stymied, i.e., can't move without
losing either material or the game. These can be considered, winning by
force. Most players are unaware of the prolific possibilities for such
game winners. But more than providing additional ammo for the chess player's
armory, Angos writes with style in his explanations which include personal
comments. Many "Secret" Ideas! Angos also teaches many techniques
unknown by many such as: the Chinese Feet, Bähr's Color Rule, and
the Unorthodox Color Opposition • 188 pages
• Read the
November 2005 review
Chess Informants 1-91 CD (in Chess Informant Expert, PGN, ChessBase &
Chess Assistant formats) is a complete run of the the world-famous Chess
Informator containing 92,478 fully annotated theoretically important
games played between January 1966 and September 2004. It features major
contributions from the chess elite, including 14 world champions: Euwe
(2 games), Botvinnik (72), Smyslov (604), Tal (963), Petrosian (531),
Spassky (760), Fischer (221), Karpov (1592), Kasparov (1169), Kramnik
(776), Khalifman (610), Anand (887), etc
• Read the
November 2005 review
The London System is a perennial favourite of club players, as it is a
very sound and solid system with a real practical sting. The authors of
this new book seek to maximize this sting in two principal ways. Firstly,
by explaining in detail the typical plans for White, they help readers
to make the most of their chances, whether they are based on a kingside
attack, queenside penetration, central play, or transition to a favourable
endgame. Secondly, they advocate some subtle move-orders that limit Black's
options, and give White possibilities to change the nature of the game
and go straight for the kill if Black responds casually or inappropriately.
These move-orders have been tested successfully by co-author Kovacevic
at grandmaster level, and much of the analysis presented here is of totally
new variations, and is previously unpublished. Covers all responses to
1 d4 against which White can use the London System • 176 pages
• Read
the November 2005 review
This book presents a full repertoire for Black against 1 d4, based on
the Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA). The QGA is an extremely popular opening
amongst players of all levels, as it gives Black free development and
counterpunching potential, especially if White takes up the challenge
and tries to set up a broad pawn centre. The QGA's soundness is shown
by the number of top-class grandmasters who have used it in critical games
- it was a key factor in Short's victory over Karpov, and has even been
used by Garry Kasparov at world-championship level. Rizzitano has chosen
to recommend dependable main lines of the QGA, and throughout emphasizes
how Black can create winning chances and White's typical ways to go wrong.
The repertoire is completed by a set of weapons against White's alternatives
to offering the Queen's Gambit, ranging from the stolid Colle to the weird
Hodgson Attack and the reckless Blackmar-Diemer • 160 pages
• Read
the November 2005 review
Informant 93 contains 476 annotated games and 567 variations from
1 February 2005 to 31 May 2005. Events covered: Moscow, Cappelle la Grande,
Linares, Poikovsky, Monaco, Dos Hermanas, Malmo/Copenhagen, Havana, Sofia,
Sarajevo, Istratescu – Karpov (m), Adams – Leko (m), etc. Contributors:
Kasparov, Anand, Ivanchuk, Kramnik, Gelfand, Grischuk, Adams, Shirov,
Ponomariov, etc. The voting for the ten best games and the ten most important
theoretical novelties from Informant 92, theoretical survey in ECO format,
the most interesting recent combinations, endings and studies, tournament
standings and crosstables, and the best of Michael Adams' creative output
• 381 pages
• Read the November
2005 review
The book offers a selection of 2,709 of the most beautiful combinations.
The third edition of the Anthology of Chess Combinations features several
major changes introduced by the Chess Informant Editorial Board, the main
one being that it has been divided into two main parts: educative and
practical examples. As a foundation for the first part, the previous edition
of the Anthology has been used with the original classification keys pertaining
to fundamental tactical motifs. All the material inherited from the previous
edition underwent rigorous re-examination by critically-minded experts
from the Editorial Board armed with top-level computer engines to ensure
the quality of the examples. The second part has been produced to incorporate
the elements of a workbook with some of the more recent examples divided
into three groups to maintain a clear-cut structure. Our editors also
opted to omit a number of old examples for newer, more challenging brain
teasers. Each group has three levels of difficulty without any classification
keys, thereby prohibiting the prospective solver from benefiting from
any hints. However, index of the themes is made available at the end of
each level • 573 pages, hardcover
• Read the
November 2005 review
This is the first full-length book about this interesting opening, unfolding
a complete theory of 1 Nc3; including several off-beat lines against semi-open
defences like the Alekhine or the Caro-Kann. The author thoroughly explains
the basic structures which supply huge scope for creativity. There is
broad discussion of move order subtleties and transposition issues, so
that the book deepens your understanding of opening play in general! "If
you have a liking for the unusual and daring, you will probably not find
many books this year that are better than this one!" (Carsten
Hansen on Chesscafe, Checkpoint, September 2003) • 383 pages, hardcover
• Read
the November 2005 review
This magnificent volume contains the extraordinary story of the prolonged
battle between Bobby Fischer, the lone American genius who is perhaps
the most famous chess player of all time, and the long-standing and all-dominating
Soviet chess machine. For the first time readers will be able to view
virtually all the secret documents on ,'the Fischer problem', many of
which have never previously been published. These include papers from
the archives of the KGB, the Communist Party Central Committee, the USSR
Sports Committee and the Chess Federation. Together with this, there are
reports and analysis of Fischer's personality and play, written at the
demand of the Soviet authorities by the country's leading Grandmasters,
legends such as Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, Paul Keres,
Viktor Korchnoi and Efim Geller. Also contained in Russians Versus
Fischer are annotations and the stories on all of the 158 chess encounters
between Fischer and his Soviet adversaries, and a large number of rare
photographs and drawings. This book is a significantly enlarged and updated
version of the one first published in Russia in 1994 • 462 pages,
hardcover
• Read
the November 2005 review
The Scotch Game is one of the oldest openings in chess and has a great
history, but more recently it was catapulted back into the limelight due
to the enterprise of World number one Garry Kasparov, who completely rejuvenated
the opening with an abundance of original ideas for White. He utilised
the opening in World Championship matches and other elite events, with
very successful results. As a direct result of this, the Scotch Game,
a dynamic and sharp opening, has once again become popular at all levels
of chess. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster and openings expert
John Emms goes back to basics, studying the essential principles of the
Scotch Opening and its numerous variations. Throughout the book there
are an abundance of notes, tips and warnings to guide the improving player,
while key strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated
• 224 pages
• Read the
November 2005 review
How do you react in the line of fire? Are you able to remain calm in a
storm? Defending against a threatening attack on your own king is one
of the most difficult aspects to master in chess. Yet given the frequency
of such offensives, it's certainly worthwhile investing a good amount
of time on honing the ability to defend properly. In this valuable and
entertaining book, Angus Dunnington arms the reader with all the necessary
skills to be able to cope with vicious assaults on his or her king. Using
illustrative games, Dunnington investigates in depth defensive ideas such
as blockading, giving up material and the timely launch of counterattacks.
Read this book and defend with confidence! As is commonplace with the
renowned Starting Out series, there are an abundance of notes, tips and
warnings throughout the book to help the improving player. Starting
Out: Defensive Play is perfect for those who have previously honed
their chess skills with the earlier books Starting Out in Chess
and Tips for Young Players • 151 pages
• Read
the November 2005 review
The Bangiev method of thinking is a strategy based on squares. Before every move, it therefore checks the constellation of pieces against quite specific pre-determined criteria. What it encourages is not your memory but your thinking: learn to understand the logic of the game by means of a few rules! It always the same restricted number of questions which you have to ask yourself and to answer at whatever stage of the game. Once you have understood the principle, you can have the pleasure of discovering that, with a little practice, you are always able to fi nd the best move. You can check your progress with grandmaster games, because grandmasters apply the correct thought processes without even being aware of it! The third CD, which is based on Bangiev‘s new method of training, is dedicated to the middlegame. There is a „Learning“ database in which the new method of training is presented in 20 introductory texts and 131 annotated game fragments. In a second database there are then 69 game fragments by means of which you can put into practice what you have learned. This is what makes chess training fun • suited to club players • thorough learning database • training database with 69 exercises • ChessBase Reader based on ChessBase 9 • Read the November 2005 review
Pocket Chess Strategy is the first chess program to teach strategy and positional play on a Pocket PC. This program presents 18 important strategic themes, including: Pawn structure, Weak square, Central squares, Exchange, Plan, Prophylaxis, Hanging pawns etc. This course was composed by GM Kalinin and contains as many as 250 examples for self-study and 1100 selected exercises for you to solve. While solving, you are shown refutations of wrong moves as well as other hints to help. Multiple user profiles are possible, with independent ratings and statistics for each user. System requirements: Pocket Chess Strategy runs on Pocket PCs with Windows Mobile 2003 or Pocket PC 2002 • Read the November 2005 review
This course was composed by GM Kalinin. It is aimed at teaching a student much of the middlegame methods and intricacies through a theoretical section which includes over 560 games/lectures, each of them illustrating typical plans and methods in the following openings: Two Knights' defence, Ruy Lopez (Schliemann and 5...b5 variations), Sicilian defence (Richter attack), French defence (3 e5 and 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 variations), Caro-Kann defence (3 e5 variation), English defense, King's Indian defence (Classical, Saemisch, Fianchetto and Averbakh variations), Nimzo-Indian defence, Slav defence (4...dc variation), Old Indian defence, etc. A special training section includes more than 530 exercises for a user to solve, giving refutations of wrong moves as well as numerous hints to help you find the correct answer. There are also 380 training positions to be played against the embedded chess playing program Crafty. Multiple user profiles are featured with independent ratings and statistics for each. Printing options are also available • Read the November 2005 review
Every chess player loves to win early in the game with a deadly combination
or a cunning trap. On the other hand, nobody wants to be tricked by his
opponent before the game has really started. The chess opening is a minefield.
The popular series Tactics in the Chess Opening teaches casual
players and club players how to recognize opportunities to attack early
in the game. You will also learn how to avoid standard pitfalls in the
opening. This book explains, in more than 230 carefully selected and annotated
games, all the tactical themes and typical traps of the main lines in
the French Defence, the Caro-Kann, the Pirc and the Scandinavian Defence.
After studying these brilliant surprise attacks, or just enjoying them,
the adventurous chess player will win more games • 237 pages
• Read the
November 2005 review
NIC Forum: Readers from all over the world join in discussions of previous
surveys. Contributions by Boris Gelfand, Erwin l'Ami, Geert van der Stricht,
Edward Dearing giving a passionate answer to Sergey Tiviakov's negative
comments on his Dragon book, and many others. Sosonko's Corner: This time,
Genna Sosonko has a look at 2 Qh5 and other early queen sorties in the
opening. Book Review: Glenn Flear muses on a new phenomenon: the Chess
DVD. Plus, an ambitious repertoire book for Black by joint authors Alburt,
Dzindzichashvili, Perelshteyn and Lawrence; Tiger Hillarp Persson's book
on his pet Modern Defence. 33 NIC Surveys Yearbook 76 • Sicilian
Defence: Dragon Variation, by Williams • Sicilian Defence: English
Attack, by Olthof • Sicilian Defence: English Attack, by Greenfeld
• Sicilian Defence: Sveshnikov Variation, by Rodriguez/Olthof •
Sicilian Defence: Taimanov Variation, by Fogarasi • Sicilian Defence:
Alapin Variation, by Tiviakov • French Defence: Advance Variation,
by Sveshnikov • French Defence: Advance Variation, by Gavrilov •
Scandinavian Defence: Gubnitsky/Pytel Variation, by Tzermiadianos •
Alekhine's Defence: Larsen Variation, by Scherbakov • Petroff Defence:
Nimzowitsch Variation, by Skatchkov • Petroff Defence: Jaenisch Variation,
by Rytshagov • Ruy Lopez: Closed Line with 9.d4, by Olthof •
Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Variation, by Galkin • Ruy Lopez: Open Variation,
by Flear • Ruy Lopez: Dilworth Variation, by Van der Tak • Scotch
Opening: Miles Variation, by Afek • King's Pawn Opening: Elephant
Gambit 2...d5, by Pliester • King's Pawn Opening: Two Knights Defence,
by De Zeeuw • Various Openings: Chigorin Defence 3...e5, by Karolyi
• Slav Defence: Alapin Variation, by Van der Stricht • Slav
Defence: Botvinnik Variation 9.ef6, by Lukacs/Hazai • Queen's Gambit
Accepted: Classical Variation, by Rogozenko • Catalan Opening: Open
Variation, by Marin • Nimzo-Indian Defence: Queen-Nimzo Hybrid, by
Scherbakov • Queen's Indian Defence: Nimzowitsch Variation, by Lukacs/Hazai
• Grünfeld Indian Defence: Stockholm Variation, by l'Ami •
King's Indian Defence: Classical Variation, by Matamoros • King's
Indian Defence: Fianchetto Variation, by Langeweg • Benoni Defence:
Modern Variation, by Greenfeld • Queen's Pawn Opening: Trompowsky
Attack, by Anka • Dutch Defence: Classical Variation, by Karolyi
• Réti Opening: King's Indian Attack, by Matamoros •
244 pages
• Read the November
2005 review
The Nimzo-Indian is not only one of the most solid openings against 1
d4, but it also suits the player with Black who is aiming from the start
for the full point. In many treatments of the opening, White runs slight
risks - doubled pawns and an isolated queen pawn are typical. At the peak
of world chess, there is thus a clear preference for the Classical System
4 Qc2, in which White usually retains the bishop pair and the pawn structure
remains intact; however on some occasions it is necessary to make up for
being behind in development.
A long-overdue
book on the records, from the trivial to monumental, set in the chess
world. From the most unfortunate players in chess history to the longest
queen moves, and from the longest tournaments to the record time for thinking
about the next move, everything is included here - this amusing, entertaining,
and often astounding guide is a must for all chess players. The
book aims to fill a gap in chess literature by listing the record holders
in numerous aspects of the game. It is divided into four sections: Games;
People; Tournaments, Matches and Events; and Around the
Black and White Board, giving the chess play of some amazing chess
record moves. Author Yakov Damsky is a chess journalist, chess master
and international chess arbiter. He is the author of several chess books
• 304
pages, softcover • Read
the October 2005 review
The latest issue of the electronic CD-ROM-based magazine contains 1661
recent games, 550 with expert annotations. In addition there are 10,000
correspondence chess games, sections on tactics, strategy, endgames, and
extensive theory articles. The multimedia section features a full TV report
by Indian producer Vijay Kumar, as seen by millions in 34 different countries
• Read the October
2005 review
One of the most influential books on chess ever published – now
in its third edition. The Tiger is a vicious beast. He doesn’t care
about the aesthetic side of chess. He doesn’t even care about making
the ‘best’ moves. All he cares about is winning. Do you want
to win more games? Then become a Tiger. Chess for Tigers tells
you how to make the most of your playing strength, how to play upon your
opponent’s weaknesses, how to steer the game into a position which
suits you and not your opponent, how to get results against strong opposition
and how to avoid silly mistakes. This is a cult classic that is as relevant
to today's generation of chess players as the first edition was. Regularly
voted in the top 10 best chess books of all time, this book should be
read by all chess players, especially beginners who want to win at all
costs. Not just a reprint of the late English IM’s celebrated work:
this is a revised third edition which Simon Webb completed shortly before
his tragic death in March of
this year. It contains eminently practical (and richly humorous) advice
for playing competition chess, and it only remains to recommend it warmly
to anyone who has not already read it. You are in for a treat • 152
pages, softcover
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