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New Chess Books, CD-ROMs and BargainsMain chess book page • Reviews • BCM Bound Volumes • Chessbase Opening/Training CD-ROMS • Chess SoftwareBooks by publisher: Batsford
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Editions • Caissa Kft •
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• Thinker's Press • MISCELLANEOUS
MORE NEW CHESS BOOKS • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • Garry Kasparov BooksNew Books: Page 1 • Page 2 • Page 3 • Page 4
Play the Grunfeld by Yelena Dembo (Everyman,
2007)
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Most opening books are either too detailed or too shallow. Chess Opening
Essentials has exactly the right balance and is an accessible primer
and a reference book at the same time. It gives a flavour of how every
opening works and explains the similarities with other openings as well
as the differences. In addition, it also points at the various middlegame
plans that apply after the opening has ended. The authors do not propagate
forcing tactical variations to be memorized mechanically, but explain
what you should actually be trying to achieve when playing the opening
of your choice. They include the main alternative responses and give clear
indications for further study. Chess Opening Essentials helps you
to get out of any opening in good shape. This thorough, understandable,
and very readable manual gives you a foundation on which to build your
repertoire on. Beginning and improving chess players should get this powerful
book before they buy any other chess opening book! • Comprehensive:
covers all main variations likely to arise • Easy-to-use: important
moves and key positions are highlighted in colour • Long-lasting:
it doesn't outdate because it is about basics - not the latest fashions
• Complete: explains the plans and counterplans for both Black and
White • Down-to-earth: simple, verbal introductions (not a database
dump full of dead trees) • Convenient: every opening is illustrated
with a number of instructive games • Prize-winning: received the
Golden Award of the Italian Chess Federation • 358 pages, softback
The Najdorf variation in the Sicilian Defence has a legendary reputation
as a counter-attacking weapon for Black. It is an opening where people
often strive for a full point, instead of simply defending the position
with the black pieces. Many great players have contributed to the development
of this complex opening. Two world champions used the Najdorf variation
as their weapon of choice against 1 e4: Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.
Both players celebrated spectacular successes with it, retaining it as
an important part of their repertoire throughout their entire careers.
For chess amateurs and professionals alike it is a great moment when the
world's leading expert shares all the secrets of his favourite opening.
In part one Garry Kasparov introduced the various subsystems of the Najdorf,
including the central 'Poisoned Pawn' variation. Part two was devoted
to the main lines against 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4, including the legendary Polugaevsky
Variation. In Part three he examines the move 6 Be3 which is today considered
the main line of the Najdorf. The DVD contains more than five hours of
first-class private video tuition. The package includes the latest ChessBase
9.0 Reader, a big reference database featuring all relevant Najdorf games,
as well as a complete opening book that can be used to practice what you
have learnt with Fritz. System requirements: PC (minimum 233 MHz and 32
MB RAM, recommended 1 GHz, 256 MB), DVD drive, Windows Vista or XP, sound
card, Windows Media Player 9 or higher (for the multimedia lessons).
The Colle is a solid, reliable system of development based on the popular
opening move 1 d4. One of its major advantages is that although the system
is very easy to learn and play, it leads to exciting middlegame positions
where White often launches a violent attack against Black's king. The
Colle is a particular favourite amongst club players, but is also seen
at grandmaster level; perhaps its most well-known exponents are the former
World Championship Candidate Artur Yusupov and the twice World Junior
Champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov • 251 pages, softback
Sub-titled "A Hard-Hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for White".
Are you fearless in your approach to chess openings? Do you like to attack
your opponents from the very beginning? Are you happy to take calculated
risks? Do you loathe trivial positional chess? Do you feel the need to
sacrifice pawns early in the game? Are you a Gambiteer? If the answer
to these questions is 'yes!' then this is the book for you! In his two-volume
Gambiteer series, opening expert Nigel Davies produces a complete opening
repertoire which is certainly not for the faint-hearted: uncompromising
and wild attacking ideas for both colours. This first volume deals with
a gambit-style approach for White; the second volume will concentrate
on an ambitious black repertoire. All of the opening lines Davies advocates
in this book lead to positions of open warfare, where sharp, tactical
play completely dominates dreary positional subtleties. Are you ready
for the battle? Then cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war! Contents:
Sicilian Defence, Wing Gambit • Danish Gambit • French Defence,
Wing Gambit • Caro-Kann Fantasy Variation • Alekhine's Defence
with 3 Nc3 • Pirc Defence, Austrian with 5 a3 • Scandinavian
Defence • Nimzowitsch Defence • The Pseudo-Philidor • and
other defences • 176 pages, softback
No opening in recent times has captured the imagination of the chess public
more than the Sicilian Sveshnikov. Initially popularized in the 1970s,
the Sveshnikov has exploded onto the chess scene at the highest levels
and is now regarded by many experts as one of Black's most promising answers
to 1 e4. One of its major attractions is that more often than not the
opening leads to incredibly sharp and complex play. In such situations
both sides must play with extreme accuracy just to stay on the board as
a single slip may lead to disaster! This uncompromising and modern approach
with the black pieces has found favour with many of today's leading Grandmasters,
including Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Leko, while Garry Kasparov also began
playing it towards the end of his career • 271 pages, softback
Tactics are the reason most people find chess fun. This book will greatly
enhance your enjoyment learning about, and benefiting from, the recurring
patterns of tactics. In chess, if you lose all your pieces you can't win.
And if you capture each of your opponent's pieces, winning should be easy.
Even if you just get ahead by a small amount of material, your chances
of winning soar. The way to win your opponent's pieces is through the
use of tactics. This book is about all types of chess tactics. The subject
is comprehensively covered with basic instructional material, examples,
and problems of all types - about 500 examples and problems ranging from
very easy to very difficult • 192 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
This is the autobiography of John Healy. Born in London of poor Irish
parents, hardened on the streets by the age of seven, out of school at
fourteen, John Healy casts himself neither as hero nor villain as he recalls
the downward spiral of his teenage years, overwhelmed by alcoholism, isolated
on the edge of society. Pressed into the army, bruised by military prison
and the boxing ring, dependent on booze, he ends up in the grass arena
- the terrifying world ruled by psychopaths and peopled by beggars, con-men,
thieves, prostitutes and killers, where the law is enforced with the broken
bottle, the boot, and the knife. A sordid early death seems inevitable
until, in prison, he learns to play chess. His single-minded devotion
to the game combines with a remarkable natural ability: he becomes a tournament
champion, he plays grandmasters; his games are reported in the national
press. One addiction is abandoned for another and his life is transformed.
Peace of mind, however, remains elusive - and the quest continues •
193 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
This is a chess biography of a forgotten British player, Ernest Eugene
Colman (1878-1964) - chess expert, civil servant and doyen of Singapore's
chess community. Today Colman's name is primarily associated with a variation
of the Two Knights' Defence named after him - the Colman Variation (1
e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na5 6 Bb5+ c6 7 dxc6 bxc6 8
Qf3 Rb8). While Colman never reached the highest peaks in world chess,
his contribution to the development of chess as a serious sport in Singapore
and Malaya was remarkable. In the pre-war years, Colman was Singapore's
top chess player and leading chess light. He reorganised the Singapore
Chess Club and was its President for decades. More importantly, he saw
chess and football as a way to bridge the gap between the various races
in Singapore. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), Colman was interned
at Changi Jail as a civilian internee. He taught chess to his fellow inmates
as a way to keep their minds off their hardships, secretly wrote a chess
manual and invented a new chess variation. This book is in two parts.
The first chronicles the life and times of Colman while the second contains
all recoverable games Colman played • 349 pages, hardback
• Read the June 2007
review
The Pirc Defence is a highly flexible and double-edged opening with which
Black can avoid premature simplification and go for the full point. By
first developing his kingside he waits to see how White will deploy his
own forces before striking back in the most effective way. The top exponents
of the Pirc include Gurevich, Chernin, Timman, Seirawan, Speelman, Azmaiparashvili
and Belyavsky; in the past it was a great favourite of Botvinnik and Miles.
Here Nigel Davies explains the ideas and backs this up by showing exactly
how Black should react to White's different formations. Video running
time: 7 hours. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher,
64 MB RAM, Windows Vista, Windows XP, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard
• Read the
June 2007 review
Informator 98 contains 432 annotated games and 490 variations. Events
covered: Lausanne, Kramnik-Topalov, Barcelona, Hoogeveen, Cap d'Agde (rapid),
Moscow, La Habana, Kramnik-Deep Fritz (m), Russia (ch), Topalov - Ju.
Polgar (m-blindfold), Merida, Pamplona, etc. Contributors include: Anand,
Kramnik, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morozevich, Gelfand, Svidler, Ju. Polgar, Ponomariov,
Navara, Grischuk, Shirov, Short, Kasimdzhanov, Karyakin, Xie Yun, Speelman
and many others. Also the voting for the ten best games and the ten most
important theoretical novelties from Informator 97, theoretical survey
in ECO format, the most interesting recent combinations, endings and studies,
tournament standings and crosstables, and the best of Boris Gelfand's
creative output • 331 pages, softback
• Read the
June 2007 review
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has long been the definitive work
on opening theory, employing Informator's comprehensive and easy-to-use
chess opening classification and reference system which has gone on to
become the world's de facto standard. This volume contains all opening
moves other than 1 d4 and 1 e4, plus 1 d4 without 1...d5, 1...Nf6, 1 d4
Nf6 without 2 c4, 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 without 2...e6 or 2...g6. Hence this volume
covers the English Opening, Dutch Defence, Benoni, Reti, Volga Gambit
amongst others. The basis of ECO are games from Informator annotated by
the best players of today and their assessments. In four different formats
(ChessBase CBH, PGN, Chess Assistant and Informator Reader)
• Read the
June 2007 review
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has long been the definitive work
on opening theory, employing Informator's comprehensive and easy-to-use
chess opening classification and reference system which has gone on to
become the world's de facto standard. Volume B contains all Black's responses
to 1 e4 except 1...e6 and 1...e5. Hence this volume includes the Sicilian,
Caro-Kann, Pirc, Modern, Alekhine, Scandinavian and other more unusual
opening choices against 1 e4. The basis of ECO are games from Informator
as annotated by the best players of today. In four different formats (ChessBase
CBH, PGN, Chess Assistant and Informator Reader)
• Read the
June 2007 review
One of the main problems of tournament play is successfully negotiating
the opening. This CD-based Small Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings gives
easy access to clear and reliable information for the numerous chess players
who have competitive ambitions but only limited time to dedicate to chess,
while for players with greater competitive experience and chess professionals,
it offers an ideal repository of information and the exact evaluation
of critical lines. In four different formats (ChessBase CBH, PGN, Chess
Assistant and Informator Reader)
• Read the
June 2007 review
This CD-ROM database (in four different database formats - ChessBase,
PGN, Chess Assistant and Informator Reader) gives a close-up of world
champion Vladimir Kramnik: biography and facts, tournament statistics,
classification of openings, 843 published games (391 annotated by Kramnik),
White/Black repertoire trees, best games, five golden games, 100 best
games, most important theoretical novelties, theoretical surveys (C42,
C85, E04), combinations, excellent moves, initiative, defence, endings,
rare blunders and misconceptions
• Read the
June 2007 review
This is a Gambit re-issue of a classic work on chess defence. Many books
discuss how to attack in chess, but resourceful defensive play is also
a vital ingredient in competitive success. This is an area largely neglected
in the literature of the game. This book fills the gap admirably. Following
a survey of general defensive methods in chess, Dr Colin Crouch investigates
the techniques of World Champions Emanuel Lasker and Tigran Petrosian,
both highly effective defenders. Lasker would place myriad practical obstacles
in the opponent's way, and was a master of the counterattack. Petrosian
developed Nimzowitsch's theories of prophylaxis to a new level. His opponents
would find that somehow their attacking chances had been nullified long
before they could become reality • 224 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
This product includes 6 DVDs with more than 50 Gbs of data in total:
1 DVD with Nalimov Endgame Tablebases, all 3-4-5 piece endgames •
5 DVDs with Nalimov Endgame Tablebases, main 6 piece endings, as follows:
• P+P v P+P • P+P+P v P • N+P v B+P • N+P v N+P •
B+P v B+P. Includes a database of 376,000 correspondence games in PGN
format as a bonus item. Nalimov Tablebases and Correspondence database
are supplied in standard formats and can be used with all well-known programs
including Fritz, Junior, ChessBase, Chess Assistant, Rybka, Chess Openings
and others.
In this updated English edition, Christian Seel presents a complete
repertoire against 1 e4, based on the Antoshin Variation (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3
d6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Be7) of the Philidor Defence. Underestimated
for a long time, this line is now a solid component in the repertoire
of world-class grandmasters such as Aronian, Nisipeanu and Bacrot. Seel
sets out the latest state of play in all important lines, with thorough
strategic and tactical explanations, and is not afraid to betray some
of the secrets from his own analysis lab. The preface to the book was
written by Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu • 132 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
Anand on Top of the World • Kramnik’s Monaco Come-Back •
Yakovenko Wins Poikovsky • The Marshall Myth • Rowson’s
Reviews • S.O.S.: 1 d4 d5 2 Bg5 f6!? • Encounters with Dick
van Geet • and much more.
The Pirc is an ambitious counter-attacking response to White's most popular
opening move, 1 e4. Black's philosophy is based around allowing White
to build a large and impressive-looking pawn centre, only to plot its
downfall by attacking it with pieces or timely pawn strikes. When it works,
the results can be spectacular, but of course this method of play carries
with it some danger; if Black is not careful he runs the risk of simply
being swamped in the centre. Such a provocative approach has found favour
with a line of uncompromising grandmasters including former Soviet Champion
Alexander Beliavsky and Mikhail Gurevich. In this book, FM James Vigus
provides an up-to-date appraisal of the Pirc and its many variations.
Using illustrative games, he examines the traditional main lines, the
fashionable alternatives and the tricky sidelines, while outlining the
typical tactical and positional ideas for both White and Black. A study
of this book will allow the reader to begin playing the Pirc with confidence
in his or her own games • 381 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
The Caro-Kann is a reliable and highly respected answer to White's most
popular opening move, 1 e4. It has the seal of approval of numerous leading
grandmasters including Vishy Anand, Evgeny Bareev and Alexey Dreev, as
well as former World Champion Anatoly Karpov, who has utilized it with
great success throughout his illustrious career. One of the attractions
of the Caro-Kann is that it suits a variety of different styles; it can
lead to wild tactical battles as well as quiet, positional play. In this
book, IM Jovanka Houska presents the reader with a concise and trustworthy
repertoire within the Caro-Kann, providing a solution against all of White's
main options, and efficient methods to deal with tricky sidelines. Houska
examines the important tactical and strategic plans for both sides, arming
the reader with enough information to begin playing the Caro-Kann with
confidence in his or her own games • 208 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
Do you need a well-deserved break from your normal chess openings? Are
you tired of constantly having to keep up with modern chess theory? Or
perhaps you simply wish to try out something new and exciting, but cannot
decide amongst the embarrassment of choices available? Look no further
for the answer! In this book, IM John Watson takes a revolutionary look
at one of the most famous and widely-played chess openings: the French
Defence. Instead of travelling down well-trodden and analyzed paths, Watson
concentrates on fresh or little-explored variations of the French, selecting
a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colours. Whether playing White
or Black, a study of this book will leave you confident and fully-armed,
and your opponents running for cover! This is the latest volume in a brand-new
series of opening books which supply the reader with an abundance of hard-hitting
ideas to revitalize his or her opening repertoire. Many of the carefully-chosen
weapons are innovative, visually shocking, incredibly tricky, or have
been unfairly discarded; they are guaranteed to throw even your most experienced
opponent off balance • 320 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
Bob Wade OBE was born and bred in New Zealand but, arriving in the UK
shortly after the war, he became the doyen of British chess. He made his
mark on British chess, shining against the home-grown contingent both
by virtue of the sharp attacks and astute endgame skills. He earned the
IM title, competed in the World Championship Interzonal, twice won the
British Championship, took first prize in numerous tournaments and inflicted
defeat on such luminaries of the game as Korchnoi, Olafsson, Benko, Portisch,
Uhlmann, Penrose, Speelman and Keene. This book contains 27 annotated
games, annotated mainly by Wade himself, followed by another 213 unannotated
games in chronological order, drawn from his long career. There is also
a series of positions drawn from some of these games and a short appendix
giving tournament results and crosstables from some of the more prominent
events in which he has participated • 350 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard to
know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is
vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically
often, once the opening is over, a player won't know what plan to follow,
or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit.
John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful
view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, he explained
vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players.
Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking
and notions such as 'rule-independence' can apply to the opening too.
Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players
really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model.
This volume, focusing on queen's pawn openings, is a book that will make
chess-players think hard about how they begin their games. It also offers
both entertainment and challenging study material in openings such as
the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian and the entire Queen's Gambit complex
• 318 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
Good planning is central to good chess. A plan gives meaning to manoeuvres
and tactical devices, forming a coherent whole that brings us closer to
our goals. The modern understanding of chess planning has evolved considerably
since the days of the "grand plan", whereby a player might even
try to map out the whole course of the game. Nowadays, top-class players
appreciate that the opponent's ideas also deserve respect, and our own
plans must take them into account too. Modern grandmasters plan with great
purpose but also flexibly, ready to adjust or even change direction completely
when the situation demands it. Grivas provides 75 superb practical examples
where it is important to make the right plan. Once the critical position
is reached, he guides you through the options and challenges you to find
the right path. Detailed solutions are provided, with a full discussion
of the pros and cons of the various options • 143 pages, softback
• Read
the June 2007 review
In this day and age of opening databases you might be surprised to find
players getting caught out in the opening. Yet one sees it all the time.
Players take liberties - they grab a hot pawn, attempt a complicated manoeuvre,
or simply develop their pieces inefficiently. Whatever our playing strength,
we need to take care in the opening. This DVD will help you to analyse
and reassess your opening play so that you can begin the game off the
right footing. At the end of the DVD you can test your attacking and defensive
skills by examining a series of specially selected test positions. The
Power Play series is suitable for anyone looking to improve their chess,
but also provides ready-made lessons and exercises for a trainer. Video
playing time: 5 hrs 50 min. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at
300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP or Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard
• Read the
June 2007 review
The Slav is typified by the move ...c6 and, in the Semi-Slav, ...e6 is
also played; the relationship between the two is obvious. At some points,
Shirov's lecture is closely related to the history of the opening, because
the Spanish-registered super-GM has contributed to and advanced the development
of many lines. In the Meran Variation, Shirov's name is linked to a line
which is now known as the Shabalov Attack. After 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3
Nf6 4 Nf3 e6 5 e3 Nbd7 6 Qc2 Bd6, it was Shirov and Shabalov who introduced
the move 7 g4 into chess praxis in 1992. Today there are over 1,000 games
in the Mega Database with that variation. Shirov recounts the way this
extravagant line arose and explains some of its most important ideas.
Video running time: 5 hrs 20 min. System requirements: Pentium-Processor
at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP or Vista, DVD drive, mouse,
soundcard
• Read
the June 2007 review
San Luis 2005 is the most celebrated chess tournament of the decade. Bulgarian
Grandmaster Veselin Topalov triumphed and proved himself a worthy successor
to World Champions such as Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. In this ambitious
work, Gershon and Nor analyse all the games from the tournament, but there
is no danger of the reader drowning in masses of variations, as the authors
clearly explain the ideas behind the moves. Tournament books used to be
a familiar part of chess literature with Zurich 1953 a classic example,
however such books are now rare because of the huge effort they demand
from the authors. Gershon and Nor have risen to the challenge and produced
a book that is destined to become a modern classic: a magnificent book
worthy of an extraordinary tournament. Many colour photographs of the
event and the surrounding Argentinian scenery help the reader feel what
it was like to be at San Luis 2005 • 442 pages, softback
• Read the June
2007 review
This set of four DVDs (for conventional TV-connected DVD players (PAL)
as well as computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives) presents the complete
12 TV programmes from this 1980s Thames Television series written and
presented by GM Raymond Keene. Together the games form a fascinating history
of the world chess championship and feature a wealth of rare interviews
and archive film. Enjoy all 12 games in this 4-DVD set • more than
five hours' viewing time
• Read
the May 2007 review
The year 2007 had the traditional opening for the world's élite
at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands. On this DVD Karjakin, Carlsen, van
Wely and Navara each annotate one of their best games for you. The second
tournament highlight in this issue, is the Morelia/Linares tournament,
half of which is played in Mexico and half in Spain. The 2004 FIDE World
Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov also presents and explains Ivanchuk's brilliant
win against Topalov in Morelia in pictures and words. Another game presented
in video format in this issue is one of Alexei Shirov's latest brilliancies
from the current Bundesliga season. The Aeroflot-Open in Moscow is another
major tournament in the year. On the DVD you will find many annotated
games from Moscow. In addition to this, the present issue of ChessBase
Magazine contains 12 up-to-the minute openings surveys by renowned authors
and grandmasters, as well as our usual training columns (Strategy, Tactics,
The trap, Move by move and Endgames) which you can reach by a direct link
from the column on the left. In total, ChessBase Magazine 117 contains
more than 2 hours of chess training in video format (and much more, with
the videos from the 'New products')
• Read the
June 2007 review
The Czech Benoni has never quite made it to the top of the charts as
a reply to 1 d4. Perhaps it is the very nature of blocked central positions
which put people off. Thus after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5 the first impression
is that the Black position could become rather passive and it's not difficult
to find excellent games by White where all the life is stifled out of
Black's game. Repertoire books are similarly pessimistic about Black's
chances but it could be that the best Black wins have been overlooked,
with players of the calibre of Nisipeanu, Ivan Sokolov, Milidanovic taking
a fresh look at the opening and using the Czech Benoni with success in
recent games. Thus by playing 3...e5, you angle the game into a path of
your own choosing, which is very much the modern style and very difficult
to do with Black. Some fascinating chess, demonstrating that the Czech
Benoni is well worth playing. Video playing time: 4 hrs. System requirements:
Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows
Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard
• Read
the June 2007 review
In this volume, ex-FIDE champion Khalifman continues the analysis of the
Sicilian Defence. The first part covers variations arising after the moves
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 and especially the Kalashnikov (3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5).
In answer to 2...Nc6, just like after the majority of the basic lines,
he recommends the most principled answer for White - 3 d4. Parts 2 and
3 deal with systems arising after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6.
In the basic tabya of the Paulsen system (5 Nc3 Qc7), Khalifman advocates
the aggressive set-up, which has become nowadays an almost universal plan
in numerous lines of the Sicilian Defence. It includes Be3, followed by
Qd2, castling long and a kingside attack. All that is too schematic, since
Black has numerous plans at his disposal, but the author believes that
White can rely on obtaining the advantage thanks to several very important
original novelties and principally new ideas in the main lines •
274 pages, softback
• Read
the May 2007 review
Most games of chess are decided through tactics. This is good news, since
virtually all players love tactics. The best advice for a novice who wants
to improve quickly is therefore: improve your tactical abilities. This
books helps in identifying weak points in the position of your opponent,
in recognizing patterns of combinations, and in visualizing tricks. My
Daily Exercise is neither just a freewheeling puzzle book, nor a systematic
course in which the thematic grouping of the positions gives an unwelcome
hint to the solution. Here the tactical themes are clearly explained,
but the random order in which the exercises are presented, makes studying
the material much more similar to what a player experiences in an actual
tournament game. Tactics are both the wonder and the terror of chess,
and regular practice is the key word in getting better at it. The book
starts easy, but don't worry: the level of difficulty will steadily increase.
Don't skip the explanation if you have found the solution, because only
if you read the solutions carefully you will maximize the improvement
of your skills • 167 pages, softcover
• Read the
May 2007 review
This is a new, expanded edition of the original Encyclopaedia of Chess
Variants, published in 1994. For this edition over 200 new games have
been added, and everything has been classified by type. The material for
the book had been prepared by David Pritchard and, following his death
in 2005, the text was completed and edited by John Beasley. The book contains
descriptions of over 1,600 games, both contemporary and historical. Some
use an ordinary board and men; some use larger or smaller boards with
additional pieces; some use hexagonal boards, circular boards, cylindrical
and spherical boards, and boards of other shapes; some use boards in three
and even more dimensions; some make use of cards or dice; some are for
partnership and team play, or for several players each playing for himself.
It represents the life's work of the leading expert in the field, and
no book remotely similar to it is in existence • 382 pages, hardcover
• Read
the May 2007 review
The latest reprint in this series. All international and national chess
club topics are included, and most top-ranking chess players of the day
are contributors in one way or another. Due to illness the period June
1887 - November 1887 is given scant coverage • 416 pages, hardcover
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the May 2007 review
Each issue of New In Chess brings you dozens of new ideas on the cutting
edge of modern chess theory. Not only the latest fashions are covered,
it offers fresh insights into underrated gambits, rare continuations,
and almost forgotten weapons as well. It has grown into an indispensable
tool for all chess players - for masters and club players alike. If you
don't want to miss the latest news in your own favourite lines, if you
are looking for inspiration, then it is vital for you, too. It refreshes
your opening repertoire, four times a year! 31 Surveys: Sicilian Defence
- Najdorf Variation 7...Qb6 - Olthof • Sicilian Defence - Najdorf
Variation 6 Be3 - Vladimirov • Sicilian Defence - Velimirovic Attack
6 Bc4 e6 7 Be3 - Van der Tak • Sicilian Defence - Rossolimo Variation
3 Bb5 - Van der Wiel • Sicilian Defence - Lowenthal Variation 4...e5
- Palliser • Sicilian Defence - Sveshnikov Variation 11 Bd3 - Van
der Weide • Sicilian Defence - Alapin Variation 2...d5 - Anka •
French Defence - Winawer Variation 7...0-0 - I. Almasi • Caro-Kann
Defence - Panov Attack 6/7 c5 - Gavrilov • Scandinavian Defence -
Main Line 3...Qd6 - Tzermiadianos • Scandinavian Defence - Main Line
5 Bd2 - Prié • Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defence 7...Nf5 - Z. Almasi
• Ruy Lopez - Exchange Variation 5...Be7 - Grivas • Ruy Lopez
- Breyer Variation 9...Nb8 - Olthof • Ruy Lopez - Open Variation
5...Ne4 - Morgado/Alvarez • King's Gambit - Early Deviations 2...Bc5
- De Zeeuw • Various Openings - Budapest Gambit 3...Ng4 - Moskalenko
• Queen's Gambit Declined - Blackburne Variation 5 Bf4 - Langeweg
• Slav Defence - Alapin Variation 5 a4 Bf5 - Ikonnikov • Slav
Defence - Anti-Moscow Gambit 6...h6 - Agrest • Slav Defence - 3 Nc3
dc4 - Flear • Tarrasch Defence - Semi-Tarrasch 6 g3 - Werle •
Nimzo-Indian Defence - Leningrad Variation 4 Bg5 - Lukacs/Hazai •
Nimzo-Indian Defence - Ragozin Variation 4 Nf3 d5 5 Bg5 - Mchedlishvili
• Nimzo-Indian Defence - Kmoch Variation 4 f3 - Van der Stricht Queen's
• Indian Defence - Classical Variation 4...Bb7 - A. Kuzmin Queen's
Indian • Defence - Nimzowitsch Variation 4...Ba6 - Giddins •
King's Indian Defence - • Bayonet Variation 9 b4 - A. Kuzmin King's
Indian Defence - Four Pawns • Attack 8 de6 - Moskalenko • English
Opening - Reversed Dragon 3 g3 - Lukacs/Hazai • English Opening -
Anti-Grünfeld Line 4 Qa4 - Landa • 248 pages, softcover
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May 2007 review
In the fourth volume of the endgame series a lot of themes with more
material are included like rook and minor piece vs rook (and minor piece),
rook vs two minor pieces, double rook endings, queen and knight vs queen
and bishop, the bishop pair and endgame principles. Typical topics are:
the so called Fischer endgame rook and bishop vs rook and knight, which
occurs quite frequently in practical play and is very often favourable
for rook and bishop; with opposite coloured bishops the presence of one
rook each greatly increases the winning chances of the attacker compared
to the pure opposite coloured bishop endgame (see DVD 1); when are queen
and knight stronger than queen and bishop; which drawing methods exist
in the pawnless endgame rook and bishop vs rook, which is quite often
won over the board. Those who have always found studying endgames with
chess textbooks too dry and tedious will enjoy this DVD with its comfortable
training system and benefit enormously - in brilliant endgames at the
actual board. Complete video running time: approx. 6 hours. System
requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows
98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Media Player 9.0
or later, DVD drive
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the May 2007 review
"In this book, chess is a teacher, and I aim to show it is a great
one" - former world champion Garry Kasparov shares the powerful
secrets of strategy he has learned from dominating the world's most intellectually
challenging game for two decades - lessons about mastering the strategic
and emotional skills to navigate life's toughest challenges and maximise
success no matter how tough the competition. Drawing on a wealth of revealing
and instructive stories, not only from his finest games, but also from
a wide-ranging and perceptive knowledge of current affairs, Kasparov reveals
the strategic ways of thinking that always give a player - in life as
in chess - the edge. We learn about the great figures of the game, and
how their contests have shaped chess history; from Capablanca and Alekhine
to Bobby Fischer and Kasparov's own nemesis, Vladimir Kramnik. With a
raconteur's engaging charm, a great chess strategist takes us inside a
brilliant strategic mind. As Sun Tzu distilled the secrets of the art
of war and Machiavelli unveiled the lessons to be learned from courtly
intrigue, Garry Kasparov - a player whose record is likely never to be
rivalled - reveals how and why the game of chess is a fitting and powerful
teacher, of how to be prepared for, and how to win in, even the most competitive
situations • 271 pages, hardback
• Read the
April 2007 review
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3. The Slav Defence to the Queen's Gambit
has always had a solid reputation, dating right back to the days of Lasker,
Alekhine and Capablanca, but it's only in the last 15 years that the popularity
of the opening has really taken off and taken off at all levels. Naturally,
Slav set-ups and ideas can also be used against the other flank openings
(1 Nf3, 1 c4, 1 b3, etc.) and so by learning the Slav, in a way you are
learning a universal approach. Coming to this DVD, we will find ideas
for Black which can be used by amateur and professional alike, predominantly
featuring the trendy new approach to Black's armoury involving a very
early ...a7-a6. The ...a6 Slav offers Black solidity, dynamism and variety
couched in an easy-to-understand setting. Perhaps this is why grandmasters
of the calibre of Kasparov, Shirov, Morozevich, Bologan and Dreev, among
many, have all used the opening with success and continue to do so! Video
playing time: 3½ hours. System requirements: Pentium-Processor
at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive,
mouse, soundcard
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the May 2007 review
Acclaimed author and chess grandmaster Mihail Marin presents an opening
repertoire for Black against the Open Games. This means providing an answer
to 1 e4, but not considering the main lines of the Ruy Lopez/Spanish Opening.
This includes openings such as the Scotch, the Vienna, the Spanish Exchange
Variation, and even the notorious King’s Gambit. Marin uses his renowned
writing skills to explain the ideas behind each move, so Beating the Open
Games escapes the standard opening book trap of being a boring list of
analysis. Marin has based the book mainly on his own repertoire and reveals
many original moves and ideas. After studying this book the reader will
not only have an excellent repertoire but also a deeper understanding
of chess • 288 pages, softback
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the May 2007 review
Every competitive chess player needs a sound grasp of how to play this
opening -- and especially how to meet the most popular lines. The Nimzo-Indian
is Black’s most respected answer to 1 d4 and is immensely popular
at all levels, from club championship to world championship. In fact,
the reputation of the Nimzo is so high that some players prefer simply
to avoid it. American International master David Vigorito shows that this
negative approach is unnecessary. Challenging the Nimzo-Indian provides
White with a complete repertoire based on 4.Qc2. The chess is certainly
at a high level, but Vigorito’s logical approach and clear conclusions
means that readers can easily grasp the concepts and less-experienced
players can play through the high-quality example games that are comprehensively
explained • 325 pages, softback
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May 2007 review
This CD-ROM-based Monograph of Chess Openings work on the Scotch C45 (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nd4) contains some additional features: reference database (1,402 reference games), Chess Informant database (625 annotated games from Chess Informants 1-98) Test your skills (180 training questions). In four different formats (Chess Informant Expert, PGN, ChessBase and Chess Assistant) • Read the May 2007 review
The ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2007 features the complete coverage
of all opening sectors, offering an optimal start for opening training.
Many well-known specialists have made contributions in their field of
expertise, such as Anand, Bareev, Huebner, Yusupov, Korchnoi, Krasenkow,
Marin, Nunn, Ribli and Rogozenko. For each of 500 opening sectors according
to ECO standard there is at least one opening survey, so that the database
is the ideal tool for building up a complete opening repertoire. The game
database includes 2.78 million games, about 77,000 of them with annotations.
Furthermore, the DVD contains a separate directory with 285 special theory
databases from ChessBase Magazine. System requirements: Pentium Processor
300 MHz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista,
DVD-ROM, drive, mouse, sound card. Upgrade from 2006 £37.99, PLEASE
RETURN 2006 DVD
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the May 2007 review
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