New Chess Books, CD-ROMs and Bargains
Books by publisher: Batsford
• BCM • Caissa
Editions • Caissa Kft •
Chess Digest • Chess
Enterprises • Chess Player
• Chess Stars • Dover
• Everyman • Gambit
• Hardinge Simpole •
Hays • ICE
• Informator • McFarland
• McKay • Moravian
Chess • New in Chess • Olms
• Pickard • Quality
Chessbooks • Russell Enterprises
• Thinker's Press • MISCELLANEOUS
Year Published: 2007 • 2006
• 2005 • 2004
• 2003 • 2002
• 2001 • 2000
• 1999
New Books: Page 1 •
Page 2 • Page 3
• Page 4
Chess Explained: The Queen's Gambit Declined by James Rizzitano (Gambit,
2007)
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The Queen’s Gambit Declined is one of the most important and popular of chess openings. While an immensely solid and classical choice for Black, it has remained highly topical for more than a century. Both sides have ways to create imbalance and test their opponent’s skills and knowledge in a full-blooded struggle. Most of the world champions have taken both sides of the QGD, with Spassky and Karpov especially notable defenders of Black’s cause. In addition to the traditional main lines with Bg5, White has at his disposal the Exchange Variation and the Bf4 system, both of which can be handled in highly aggressive style if he wishes. Rizzitano covers all these lines and a plethora of other important lines, focusing on the fundamental ideas on which they are based •
127 pages, softback
The Immortal Game: A History of Chess by David Shenk (Souvenir Press, 2007)
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A surprising, charming, and ever-fascinating history of the seemingly simple game that has had a profound effect on societies the world over. Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and madness, and yet is hailed as a remarkably powerful intellectual tool?
Nearly everyone has played chess at some point in their lives. Its rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society, influencing military strategy, mathematics, artificial intelligence, and literature and the arts. It has been condemned as the devil’s game by popes, rabbis, and imams, and lauded as a guide to proper living by other popes, rabbis, and imams. Marcel Duchamp was so absorbed in the game that he ignored his wife on their honeymoon. Caliph Muhammad al-Amin lost his throne (and his head) trying to checkmate a courtier. Ben Franklin used the game as a cover for secret diplomacy.
In his wide-ranging and ever-fascinating examination of chess, David Shenk gleefully unearths the hidden history of a game that seems so simple yet contains infinity. From its invention somewhere in India around 500 A.D., to its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its remarkable use as a moral guide in the Middle Ages and its political utility in the Enlightenment, to its crucial importance in the birth of cognitive science and its key role in the aesthetic of modernism in twentieth-century art, to its 21st century importance in the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization.
Indeed, as Shenk shows, some neuroscientists believe that playing chess may actually alter the structure of the brain, that it may be for individuals what it has been for civilization: a virus that makes us smarter • 327 pages, hardback
1...d6 Universal by Nigel Davies (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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1...d6 can be used as a universal defence against every White opening, offering Black the kind of dynamic play that is absent from more traditional defences. If White eschews the chance to occupy the centre with e4 and d4, it is often Black who gains space early on, and this can be used as the basis for a powerful attack on the kingside. On this DVD, Nigel Davies presents everything you need to know to convert the Pirc Defence into a universal system of counterattack, offering winning chances against every White opening under the sun. Video running time: 5 hours. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard
New In Chess Magazine 2007/6
(New in Chess, 2007)
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Carlsen 'Brilliant and Resilient' wins the 40th Biel Festival • Interview
with Alexander Grischuk • Unstoppable Ivanchuk wins in Canada • The World
Open is won by Varuzhan Akobian • Victor Bologan on Chess Amazons • Rowson
on the SOS series • and much more.
Informator 99 (Sahovski Informator, 2007)
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The latest issue covers events held between 1 January 2007 and 30 April 2007, including Wijk aan Zee, Moscow, Morelia/Linares, Poikovsky, Zafra, Monaco, Dresden, Gausdal, Malmo, Kramnik-Leko rapidplay. It includes the usual trademark sections: the voting for the ten best games and the ten most important theoretical novelties from the previous issue, theoretical survey in ECO format, the most interesting recent combinations, endings and studies, tournament standings and crosstables, and the best of Yasser Seirawan’s creative output • 339 pages, softback
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings Volume C, 5th Edition (Informator CD-ROM, 2007)
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This thoroughly revised and updated fifth edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Volume C, brings additional 104 'pages of brand new material: 1 e4 e6, 1 e4 e5 (Ruy Lopez, French, Petroff, King's Gambit, Two Knights', Philidor, Italian, Scotch, etc). It is based on games and analyses from Chess Informators 1-96, with analysis and assessments by leading grandmasters. Four different formats (CIE, PGN, CBH, CA).
Chess Informant 5-99 Endings Section (Informator CD-ROM, 2007)
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This disk contains 2,494 prime examples of endgame positions culled from nearly four decades (1968-2007) of Chess Informator, thus offering a rich treasury of available endgame material. History has not been rewritten - all the game continuations are quoted in full, with annotations honed to near perfection with a little help from computer analysis. This product comes with fully searchable endgame classification keys, which can also be used for training purposes in training mode. In four different formats (CIE, PGN, CBH, CA)
Chess Results 1936-1940 by Gino Di Felice (McFarland,
2007)
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This comprehensive chronological reference lists the results of men’s chess competitions all over the world. From the famous to the lesser known, both individual and team matches from 1936 through 1940 are remembered here. Entries record location and, when available, the group that sponsored the event. Both first and last names of players are included whenever possible and are standardized for easy reference. Compiled from contemporary sources such as newspapers, periodicals, tournament records and match books, this work contains 990 tournament crosstables and 125 match scores. It is indexed by events and players •
380 pages, softback
Chess Explained: The Modern Benoni by Zenon Franco (Gambit,
2007)
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The Modern Benoni is a perennial favourite among players looking to create winning chances with Black. It is one of the few openings where White has no easy way to force drawish simplifications or deny Black any dynamic counterplay. Both players need to understand the imbalances in the position and pursue their plans with great vigour. In this book Franco shows how Black can seek to create the kind of mayhem that has attracted champions such as Tal, Kasparov and Topalov to the Benoni, and also demonstrates how White can seek either to put a positional clamp on the game, or else to storm Black's position before his development is complete. A special section deals with the vital question of move-orders •
111 pages, softback
Fighting the Anti-Sicilians by Richard Palliser (Everyman,
2007)
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The Sicilian Defence is by far Black's most popular answer to 1 e4 at all levels of chess. The reason for this is easy to understand: from the very first move Black unbalances the position and can play for a win without needing to take unjustified risks. This is particularly the case with the Open Sicilian, where Black can take comfort from the knowledge that his superior pawn structure ensures control of the centre and excellent long-term chances. Faced with this problem, along with the fact that Open Sicilians generally carry a massive build-up of theory, it's unsurprising that many White players prefer to play one of the various 'Anti-Sicilian' lines on offer. These numerous alternatives to 2 Nf3 include the primitive but dangerous Grand Prix Attack, one or two wild gambits, and also some tedious and niggling variations such as 2 c3 and the Closed Sicilian, which are designed to stamp out any fun Black was envisaging when playing 1...c5. These annoying lines have become the scourge of Sicilian players, but in this book Richard Palliser, a lifelong Sicilian devotee, decides it's finally time for Black players to fight back! Drawing upon his vast experience and understanding of Anti-Sicilians, Palliser creates a dynamic and practical repertoire for Sicilian players to use against these possibilities. In many instances he offers more than one solution for Black - ambitious or solid - and he pays special attention to tricky move orders, weapons that present-day players are likely to use •
256 pages, softback
ChessBase Magazine 119 (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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Top tournaments: Dortmund, Elista and Foros • Kramnik Speaks about Dortmund, Mexico and much more (video) • Van Wely and his tricky victory in Baku (video) • Carlsen analyses his victory over Aronian • Gelfand demonstrates an interesting drawn game from Elista • Van Wely with the best attacking game from Foros • Karjakin analysis on his brilliancy from Foros
Vladimir Kramnik: My Path to the Top by Vladimir Kramnik (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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Born in 1975 in Tuapse on the shores of the Black Sea, Vladimir Kramnik studied at the Botvinnik-Kasparov chess school. At 16 he was included in the Russian Olympiad team and scored a sensational 8½/9, the best result at the 1992 Olympiad. After that followed a string of great tournament results, culminating in a world championship challenge. In 2000 Kramnik played the chess legend Garry Kasparov and beat him to take the title, which he successfully defended in 2004 against Peter Leko and 2006 against FIDE champion Veselin Topalov, whom he defeated to take the unified world championship title. On this DVD Vladimir Kramnik retraces his career from talented schoolboy to undisputed world champion in 2006. With humour and charm he describes his first successes, what it meant to be part of the Russian Gold Medal team at the Olympiad, and how he undertook the Herculean task of beating his former mentor and teacher Garry Kasparov. Kramnik dissects his wins against Leko and Topalov, giving us a vivid impression of the super-dramatic final games of the 2006 match. His commentary is full of useful advice and provides a fascinating insight into the thought processes that govern top level play. The DVD contains more than six hours of video with narrative and game analysis. There are also five additional segments from an exclusive video interview on the intrigues that surrounded the 2006 world championship, and on the state of the chess world in general. System requirements: PC, Windows Vista or XP, sound card and DVD-Drive
True Lies in Chess by Lluis Comas Fabrego (Quality Chess,
2007)
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For Lluis Comas Fabrego, chess is about more than just winning as many games as possible, it is the creative search for the truth. In this book, Comas Fabrego takes on the challenging task of separating the truth from lies in chess literature. Guided by many practical examples and clear advice, the readers will learn how to reduce the complexity of chess towards the essential features of each position, and so improve their play. The author argues that in modern chess the tendency to prefer concrete analysis to the written word is dangerous. Humans are incapable of finding the correct move by brute-force calculation like a computer. We must simplify the problem by focusing on the elements that our judgement tells us are most significant. Comas Fabrego shows how this creative approach has helped him find many novelties in the opening, particularly concentrating on the Na6 lines of the King's Indian Defence in which he is a renowned expert •
160 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
Castles with Knights and Bishops by Alex Angos (Impala,
2007)
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This new book by the former Greek chess champion Dr Alex Angos covers rook endings with a rook and minor piece on each side with varying number of pawns. Also included in the book are two chapters dealing with positions involving the bishop pair as well as positions including two pairs of rooks. The book is aimed at players with a ELO of approx. 1600 plus and attempts to present the endgame in a reader-friendly manner. It contains a generous portion of diagrams and clearly explains the general plans of campaign in each example as well as the rationale behind many of the specific moves •
391 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
Secrets of Opening Surprises Vol. 7, Ed. Jeroen Bosch (New in Chess,
2007)
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This latest volume in the series brings you a wide variety of unusual opening ideas. They may seem outrageous at first sight, but have proven to be perfectly playable. An SOS deviates very early from the regular lines in a mainstream opening, usually even before move six! That is why it is so easy to actually bring the variation on the board. You will baffle your opponent without having studied large quantities of stuffy theory. Contents: Jeroen Bosch - The SOS Files • John van der Wiel - A Harmless Little Bishop Move • Jeroen Bosch - Sicilian: the O’Kelly Variation • Glenn Flear - Really Accepting the QGA • Friso Nijboer - The Shirov Gambit versus the Philidor • Dorian Rogozenko - Early Surprise in a Classical Nimzo • Adrian Mikhalchishin - The Caro-Kann of Bukhuti Gurgenidze • Jeroen Bosch - Bayonet Blow in the Bogo • Arthur Kogan - Inspiration versus the Dragon • Jeroen Bosch - Chasing the ‘Trompowsky’ Bishop • Dimitri Reinderman - Edgy Knight against the Bird • Glenn Flear - The Semi-Slav with 6 a3 • Alexander Finkel - Modern for Advanced Players • Jeroen Bosch - Taimanov’s Surprise Sac in the Kan • Adrian Mikhalchishin - Anti-Grünfeld and Anti-Volga • Igor Glek & J-O Leconte - French: the Gledhill Attack • Hikaru Nakamura - Not Going for Scholar’s Mate •
144 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
How to Play the English Opening by Anatoly Karpov (Batsford,
2007)
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The English Opening was developed by Howard Staunton. In this opening, White avoids or delays the occupation of the centre with pawns. Once considered a minor diversion, the English is now one of the main openings and all modern world champions have played it. One of the most famous world champions, Anatoly Karpov, brings his sharp eye and extensive experience to bear in this concise introduction to the opening. Like the previous volumes from Karpov on the Caro-Kann, it is a rich book with terrific insight that is ideal for all players, particularly club players •
191 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
New In Chess Magazine 2007/5
(New in Chess, 2007)
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Kramnik wins in Dortmund • the Candidates' matches in Elista • the
insatiable Ivanchuk claims first place at the Aerosvit Tournament • Ivanchuk wins again in Havana • Clichy clinches French title • Rowson on
Books • and much more.
The ABC of Alekhine by Andrew Martin (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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Alekhine’s Defence is an excellent opening to play if Black wants to go for the win. Black invariably gets a tough and resilient position with ample opportunity for counterchances. With 1...Nf6 he immediately throws down the gauntlet to the pawn on e4 and tries to take the initiative from the very first moves. This is a particularly effective game-plan at club level, where knowledge of exact theory is sketchy and where a passive response to immediate aggression is commonplace. This DVD takes a look at how the opening stands in 2007. IM Andrew Martin provides sound, active recommendations for Black, which can be used at all levels of play and demonstrates that the Alekhine is actually in pretty good shape. To underestimate Alekhine‘s Defence would be a big mistake indeed! Video running time: 5 h 40 min. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
September 2007 review
The Maroczy System by Sergei Tiviakov (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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The Maroczy System of the Sicilian Defence is one of the modern openings where Black attacks the white centre mainly with pieces. After the moves 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 c4 Nf6, the pawns c4 and e4 secure White a space advantage in the middle. However, it is exactly these central pillars which may easily become targets of the black counterattack. Sergei Tiviakov has been employing this system with Black in tournaments since 1991 and is considered one its greatest experts. His explanations make it easy to understand the black set-up where recognizing typical recurring piece manoeuvres is far more important than concrete knowledge of variations. The Maroczy System can be learned within a short time, and due to its solidity it is best suited to score good results even against strong opponents. Video running time: 3 h 15 min. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
September 2007 review
Queen’s Pawn Openings by Andrew Martin (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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Queen‘s Pawn Openings such as the Trompowsky, the London System, the Colle System, the Torre Attack and many others crop up all the time at club level. From time to time they are popular with grandmasters too. It is essential for players at all levels to have something prepared, or one runs the risk of getting smashed by a standard plan. The players who use these openings usually understand them very well and know how to angle the game in the right direction for them and the wrong direction for you. IM Andrew Martin presents solutions for Black against the following remarkable array of QP Openings: Trompowsky, Pseudo-Trompowsky, Torre Attack, Colle System and Colle-Zukertort System, London System, Stonewall, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Prie System 2 a3, Reversed French, 1 d4 Nf6 2 g4?!. Move orders with 1...d5 and 1...Nf6 with either ...g6 or ...e6 are all covered. You may not agree with all of Martin’s suggestions, but you will certainly get a decent position as Black with chances to play for the win every time! This is just what the club player needs. Video running time: more than 6 hours. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
September 2007 review
Decision Making in Chess by Adrian Mikhalchishin (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
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The theory of the critical moment in the chess game was explained once by GM Iosif Dorfman, who suggested that every game has 5 or 6 “forks” at which the important decisions are made. Accordingly, all major erroneous decisions are made at these moments when there are multiple possible choices. Mikhalchishin describes different critical moments in detail and explains how to react correctly. Understanding the play at such a critical moment is the key to improving one’s results and general understanding of chess. Critical moments are characterized by the presence of between 2 and 4 different possibilities - the exchange of pieces, the calculation of a long variation, a positional solution or transposition into an endgame. Mikhalchishin shows how to perform correctly in the above situations. Video playing time: 3 h 26 min. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
September 2007 review
My Best Games by Anatoly Karpov (Olms,
2007)
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With a foreword by Igor Zaitsev and a pen-portrait by Raymund Stolze, translated (2007) by Ken Neat. ‘I always want to be first,’ stated Anatoly Karpov, who in 1975 was declared chess champion of the world when the eccentric American Robert James Fischer declined to defend his title against his Russian challenger. The fact that ‘Tolya’ was no ‘paper tiger’ was something he proved over the next three decades: during it he held the FIDE world championship for 17 years (1975-1985 and 1993-1999) and won more than 160 major chess tournaments – an all-time record! The unique career of the Russian grandmaster can be appreciated from these 100 annotated games, which demonstrate that Karpov is not only a master in the conversion of a minimal advantage. All chess enthusiasts can profit and learn from them! ‘Anatoly Karpov’s absolute will to survive and his singular chess talent unite to form an inseparable combination of Lasker’s psychological skill and Capablanca’s perfect machine-like technique.’Garry Kasparov, 13th world chess champion. ‘When Karpov had an advantage he would maintain the status quo and thereby mysteriously increase his advantage! Nobody before or since him has managed to do this.’ Vladimir Kramnik, 14th world chess champion •
295 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
French Defence Advance Variation, Vol. 1 by Evgeny Sveshnikov (Olms,
2007)
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White Repertoire for Tournament Players. With a Foreword by Anatoly Karpov (2007). ‘I consider this book to be a real manual, original in its conception and excellent in its execution. It not only teaches you how to play a specific variation of the French Defence, but it also helps you understand many strategic ideas and their practical application in the middlegame, which for the majority of players is even more important.’
Anatoly Karpov, 12th world chess champion. The well-known grandmaster and theoretician Evgeny Sveshnikov has used the Closed Variation (1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5) more than 150 times in tournament play with a score of more than 70%. Many theoretically important games have been excluded by the author from ‘official’ chess databases, and here they are exclusively published for the first time. Volume 1 (Basic Course) contains the following main chapters: Historical overview of the Closed Variation • Plans for White and Black on the basis of thoroughly annotated • games • A lesson on the blockade • 70 test positions: what would you play? •
176 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
French Defence Advance Variation, Vol. 2 by Evgeny Sveshnikov (Olms,
2007)
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White Repertoire for Tournament Players. With a Foreword by Anatoly Karpov (2007). Volume 2 (Master Course) contains the following main chapters: 61 theoretically important games for independent analysis • Encyclopaedia of variations • Summary of the 3 e5 system • Games for further study • Latest theoretical developments. This two-volume work is intended for a broad range of chess enthusiasts. The author guarantees that anyone making a thorough study of the available material can expect an improvement in his playing strength in this system of approximate 200 Elo points •
152 pages, softback • Read the
September 2007 review
Kingpin No.39 (Editor: Jonathan Manley)
(Kingpin, 2007)
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The first issue of this occasional satirical magazine for over a year.
The usual irreverent mixture of articles on the game and its players •
64 pages, softback
Play 1...Nc6! by Christoph Wisnewski (Everyman,
2007)
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Subtitled A complete chess opening repertoire for Black. Are you
constantly struggling with the black pieces? Can't make up your mind which
openings to play? Are you looking for something new: an all-in-one solution
to your problems? Look no further! In this original book, Christoph Wisnewski,
who is renowned for his innovative and adventurous opening ideas, provides
the reader with an ambitious and all-encompassing repertoire for Black
against every main line opening that White can play, based on the initial
move 1...Nc6. The principal components of this black repertoire are the
uncompromising Chigorin Defence, a long-time favourite of the brilliant
Russian Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich, and the equally tricky Nimzowitsch
Defence, advocated by Britain's first ever Grandmaster, Tony Miles. Drawing
upon his wealth of practical experience in this opening, which has produced
a remarkable success rate and some notable Grandmaster scalps, Wisnewski
uncovers the secrets behind 1...Nc6 and divulges his findings to the reader.
He examines both the critical main lines and the tricky sidelines, and
provides a thorough grounding in the crucial tactical and positional concepts
for both White and Black. Reading through this book will allow you to
begin playing 1...Nc6 with skill and assurance in your own games •
268 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review • Read the
September 2007 review
The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess
by John Emms (Everyman, 2007)
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Are you making the most of your chess talent? Do you always perform to
the best of your ability? Do your results match up with your understanding
of the game? If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' then read
on! In The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess, Grandmaster and experienced
tournament player John Emms reveals the secrets of how to maximize your
potential and improve your results. Drawing upon his own over-the-board
experiences, Emms tackles the all-important aspects of practical play:
concentration and behaviour at the chessboard; playing for a win or a
draw; winning good positions and saving difficult ones; handling time
trouble; avoiding silly mistakes; understanding your strengths and weaknesses;
building an opening repertoire; using chess computers and software; preparing
for opponents; understanding and utilizing the finer points of the rules;
and much more besides. Read this book and play every game with the confidence
that you really can give it your best shot • 160 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Chess Exam and Training Guide 2: Tactics
by Igor Khmelnitsky (Iamcoach Press, 2007)
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In the sequel to 2004's popular Chess Exam and Training Guide the
focus is exclusively on tactics. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned
master, this book will help you to evaluate your current level, identify
your weaknesses, and get training advice. You will discover: 60 diagrams
with 120 multiple-choice questions of varied complexity. Comprehensive
answers with diagrams to make reviewing easier. Distributions of answers
and other statistical reports by rating. Results are evaluated and ratings
are assigned overall and by 29(!) distinct sub-categories. Comprehensive
reports on each of the categories with examples, training recommendations
and training material suggestions • 207 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Chess Explained: The Meran Semi-Slav by
Reinaldo Vera (Gambit, 2007)
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Belying its solid classical appearance, the Semi-Slav is one of Black's
most aggressive responses when White opens with the queen's pawn. The
Meran is its traditional main line, and often leads to chaotic positions
of immense strategic and tactical richness. This is territory where the
player who is better prepared and has a superior 'feel' for the nuances
will typically emerge victorious, even against a stronger opponent. Vera
draws upon decades of personal experience to explain the underlying logic
of the Meran and related lines, and to pick out the key features of positions
that to the untrained eye might appear random and unfathomable. In addition
to discussing all major lines after 5 e3, Vera also covers many subtle
issues of move-order, which are of great importance when trying to steer
the game into the desired channels • 112 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Tactics in the Chess Opening 5: Indian Defences
by S Ernst & G van der Stricht (New in Chess,
2007)
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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 popular series Tactics
in the Chess Opening teaches 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 around 230 carefully selected and
annotated games, all the tactical themes and typical traps of the main
lines in the Indian Openings and related systems like the Catalan Opening
and the Benoni Defence. After studying these brilliant surprise attacks,
or just enjoying them, the adventurous chess player will win more games
• 237 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
A Spanish Repertoire for Black by Mihail
Marin (Quality Chess, 2007)
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This book presents a first-class repertoire for Black against 1 e4. As
the title suggests, it is based on the respected Spanish (Ruy Lopez) Opening.
In his previous book, Beating the Open Games, Grandmaster Mihail
Marin dealt with White's options up to 3 Bb5. Now Marin provides all the
answers for Black after 4 Ba4. This depth of chess expertise has rarely
been published for a mass audience before, as grandmasters usually prefer
to keep their secrets. The complexity of the material could have been
daunting, but Marin is also a master of explaining profound ideas to a
wide audience • 231 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Alexei Dreev: My 100 Best Games by Alexei
Dreev (Chess Stars, 2007)
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The top Russian grandmaster is famous for his deep understanding of chess
and fine endgame technique. Many of his games are milestones in the theory
of the Slav Defence, the King's Indian Defence and others. Here is a short
list of his major achievements: World Under 16 champion in 1983-1984;
European Under 20 champion in 1988; participant in the candidates matches
for the World title; winner of the world team championships 1997, 2005;
participant in the Russia vs Rest of the World match 2002; winner of many
international tournaments, including Biel 1995, Wijk aan Zee 1995, Reggio
Emilia 1996, Dos Hermanas 2001 Esbjerg 2003 • 299 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Play the Grunfeld by Yelena Dembo (Everyman,
2007)
£14.99 plus postage
10% UK, 20% overseas
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The Grünfeld is an exciting and dynamic answer to 1 d4, and has become
very popular at all levels of chess. A major reason for this is that it
has been a long-time favourite of the World's strongest-ever chess player,
Garry Kasparov, who used it many times in his numerous World Championship
battles. The Grünfeld very much relies on the principles of the hypermodern
school of chess: Black allows White to erect an impressive-looking centre
on the assumption that in the long run it could prove to be more of a
liability than an asset. Play often becomes very complex and tactical,
one of the reasons the Grünfeld appeals to ambitious players. Despite
its attractions, some prospective Grünfeld players are discouraged
by the necessity of needing to learn numerous different variations in
such a complex opening. In Play the Grünfeld, however, opening expert
Yelena Dembo circumvents this problem by producing a comprehensive and
yet workable repertoire for Black, offering a solution against each of
White's tries, whether it's a critical main line or a tricky sideline.
After reading this book, you will have the required knowledge and confidence
to begin playing the Grünfeld in your own games • 192 pages,
softback • Read the
August 2007 review
My Best Games in the Caro Kann by Alexei
Shirov (ChessBase DVD-ROM, 2007)
£24.50 plus postage
£1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas
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The Caro-Kann Defence (1...c6) is considered one of the most solid and
reliable replies to 1 e4. Black fights for his share of the centre without
accepting an unnecessary weakening of his position, patiently waiting
for his chance. Shirov's preferred weapon against this sound black set-up
has always been the Advance Variation 3 e5, avoiding the simplification
after 3 Nc3 dxe4 and reaching a type of position of greater tactical and
strategic complexity - with chances and risks for both sides. Thus, the
main topics of the DVD are the white and black plans following 1 e4 c6
2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5 4 Nc3, which the super-grandmaster explains by means
of the best games from his own practice. And apart from impressive White
wins, these also include two examples with Shirov leading the black pieces!
Video playing time: 4hr 53min • System requirements: Pentium-Processor
at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive,
mouse, soundcard • Read the
August 2007 review
The Secret Weapons of the Champions by
Adrian Mikhalchishin (ChessBase DVD-ROM,
2007)
£18.50 plus postage
£1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas
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Modern middlegame theory does not exist in written form. That is why
players and trainers have to go back to the old recommendation by Nimzowitsch
- to study typical positional methods. But who is better placed to teach
us about their own powerful weapons than the great champions of the past?
So the key to understanding the middlegame lies in understanding how to
execute certain positional manoeuvres. In this DVD Mikhalchishin explains,
for example, Botvinnik's famous 'flank against centre' strategy, which
is one of the corner-stones of positional play. Also Petrosian's white
square strategy is an extremely important form of the control of squares
and space. Tal was a great master of changing the material balance in
every position - for example, rook and pawn against two pieces. GM Makogonov,
once a trainer of Vassily Smyslov, invented the famous secret positional
rule of the Soviet chess school. How and when it is possible to apply
this method you will find out from this disc. Video running time: more
than 4 hours • System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz
or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows Vista, Windows XP, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
August 2007 review
ChessBase Magazine 118 (ChessBase
DVD-ROM, 2007)
£17.50 plus postage
£1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas
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Contains the 2007 European Championship which took place in April in
Dresden. The second tournament highlight is the M-Tel Masters in Sofia.
This year there was a mixture of old and new faces, leading to a lively
and combative contest. Local hero Topalov got off to his apparently typical
bad start but won through in the long run - for the third time in succession.
Krishnan Sasikiran, who for a long time looked the most likely winner
of the tournament, annotates two of his wins for you on this DVD, as does
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, who was making his first appearance at the M-Tel
Masters and who had a good result with 5/10. Other main sections of this
ChessBase Magazine are devoted to the Bundesliga 2006/2007 season and
the Russian team championships. Alexei Shirov was once again the star
of the Bundesliga with a result of 9/10. On this DVD he examines his win
over Evgeny Postny in a video lasting almost half an hour. There is also
a Fritz-Trainer video from the Russian team championship: Sergei Tiviakov
presents and explains his game in the Dragon against Andrei Volokitin.
ChessBase Magazine 118 provides you with 15 up-to-date opening surveys
(including the "French with 3...h6" by GM Emanuel Berg) and
the usual training columns ("Tactics", "The trap",
"Move by Move", "Endgames" etc.), which you can access
directly from the links in the left-hand column • Read the
August 2007 review
Prelude to Armageddon: Kasparov and Karpov in
London (Impala DVD-Video x 2, 2007)
£24.99 plus postage
£1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas
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Before their world championship match of 1984, Anatoly Karpov and Garry
Kasparov both participated in key events in London. Kasparov met Korchnoi
in a decider for the world championship, while Karpov had to prove himself
in an elite tournament of grandmasters prior to meeting the boy from Baku.
This DVD set contains coverage of these pre-1984 enocunters in London,
plus footage of many other leading figures in the world of chess, such
as Korchnoi, Smyslov, Najdorf, Gligoric, Byrne, Miles, Timman and others
• DVD 1 has coverage of the 1983 world championship semi-finals held
in London • DVD 2 features the 1984 GLC King's Tournament won by
Karpov
• Running Time: approx. 2½ hours • Read the
August 2007 review
New In Chess Magazine 2007/4
(New in Chess, 2007)
£6.50 plus postage
10% UK, 20% overseas
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Topalov wins the MTel Masters • Shabalov wins the US Championship
• European Individual Championships • Russian Team Championship
• Sigeman & Co • Bundesliga • Rowson on Books •
and much more.
Perfect Your Chess by Andrei Volotikin
& Vladimir Grabinsky (Gambit, 2007)
£15.99 plus postage
10% UK, 20% overseas
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Andrei Volokitin is one of a rare breed of players: he achieved a ranking
in the world's top 20 while still a teenager, playing dynamic and often
brilliant chess. Although we cannot all aspire to emulate his achievements,
there is much that we can learn from his training methods, his games and
his general approach to chess. These topics are the subject of this book,
written in collaboration with his trainer • 159 pages, softback • Read the
August 2007 review
Improve Your Chess in 7 Days by Gary Lane
(Batsford, 2007)
£12.99 plus postage
10% UK, 20% overseas
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No time to study but want to win more chess games? This book is packed
with practical tips, hints on how to improve, learn from the champions
and find out how to beat them - in just a week. With one short chapter
for each day of the week, the book is ideal for social chess players and
includes a sprinkling of chess cartoons to keep you smiling as you read:
• Day 1 - So You Want to be Good? • Day 2 - Understanding the
Openings • Day 3 - Strategy versus Tactics • Day 4 - Creating
the Attack • Day 5 - Avoiding Blunders • Day 6 - Mastering the
Ending • Day 7 - The Art of Swindling. With comments and advice after
each move, this is as clear a guide to improving your chess as you will
ever need • 205 pages, softback
• Read
the July 2007 review
New In Chess Yearbook 83 (New
in Chess, 2007)
£17.50 plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas
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Forum: contributions by Erling Mortensen, Bogdan Lalic and many others.
Sosonko's Corner: dedicated to Ivanchuk's newest opening exploits. Book
Reviews: Glenn Flear's specializes in the Ruy Lopez, and passes judgment
on the fifth edition of ECO C (1 e4 e6 and 1 e4 e5), as well as
Andrew Greet's Play the Ruy Lopez (Everyman) and Johnsen/Johannessen's
The Ruy Lopez: A Guide for Black (Gambit), etc. 31 Surveys: Sicilian
Defence - Najdorf Variation 6 Bg5 - Berg • Sicilian Defence - Rauzer
Variation 6...Bd7 - Galkin • Sicilian Defence - Sveshnikov Variation
9 Nd5 - Anka • Sicilian Defence - Paulsen Variation 6...Bd6 - Fogarasi
• Sicilian Defence - Alapin Variation 2...Nf6 - Sveshnikov •
King's Fianchetto - Accelerated Dragon - Rogozenko • French Defence
- Burn Variation 4...de4 - Grivas • French Defence - Winawer Variation
7/8 h4 - Vilela • French Defence - Winawer Variation 7...0-0 - I
Almasi • Caro-Kann Defence - Advance Variation 4 Nc3 - Boersma •
Caro-Kann Defence - Classical Variation 3 Nc3 - Olthof • Scandinavian
Defence - Main Line 5 Bd2 - Prié • Petroff Defence - Steinitz
Variation 5...Nd7 - Vladimirov • Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defence 7...Nf5
- Z. Almasi • Ruy Lopez - Open Variation 5...Ne4 - Van der Tak •
Scotch Opening - Classical Variation 4...Bc5 - A. Kuzmin • King's
Gambit - Early Deviations 2...Bc5 - De Zeeuw • Slav Defence - Classical
Variation 4 Qc2 - Ikonnikov • Slav Defence - The Slow Slav 4 e3 -
A Kuzmin • Slav Defence - Alapin Variation 5 a4 Bf5 - Giddins •
Queen's Gambit Accepted - Classical Variation 4 e3 - Karolyi • Catalan
Opening - Accepted 4...dc4 - Stohl Catalan Opening - Open Variation 6...dc4
- Lukacs/Hazai • Nimzo-Indian Defence - Ragozin Variation 6 Bg5 -
Mchedlishvili • Queen's Indian Defence - Bogo-Indian 3...Bb4 - Langeweg
• Grünfeld Indian Defence - 4 h4 - Cebalo • Grünfeld
Indian Defence - Exchange Variation 7 Bc4 - Mikhalevski • King's
Indian Defence - Four Pawns Attack 8 de6 - Moskalenko • Benoni Defence
- Four Pawns Attack 5 f4 - Grivas • Queen's Pawn Openings - Neo-London
System 2 Bf4 - Prié • English Opening - Groningen Attack 4
g4 - Krasenkow • 246 pages, softcover
• Read the
July 2007 review
Transpo Tricks in Chess by Andrew Soltis
(Batsford, 2007)
£15.99 plus postage
10% UK, 20% overseas
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In chess, a transposition is a known position reached by a different move
order than usual - a less obvious way of getting to somewhere you want
to go, leading to confusion for your opponent. Every chess player has
a number of them in his arsenal, and they are used most often in openings.
There are transpositional tricks in all openings, but this is the first
book devoted to them. As the book covers all the key openings variations
it can be used by most chess players. The introduction explains what transpositions
are and why they're invaluable, followed by eight chapters discussing
transpositions, illustrated by some notorious examples from top-flight
matches. Chapters are divided by opening group - Double e-pawn openings;
Sicilian Defence; Other Semi-Open openings; Double e-pawn openings; Indian
openings; Other 1 d4 openings; Reti, English, 1 g3. The benefits and drawbacks
of each set of move orders are discussed throughout • 291 pages,
softback
• Read
the July 2007 review
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