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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
The Endgame by Marat Makarov (Chess Stars,
2007)
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Welcome to a new type of endgame book. A book that includes...
Forget those books which just recycle established theory. Forget those books which concentrate on fantastical studies. Grandmaster and endgame expert Glenn Flear has created an in-depth book of all endgames which feature either two pieces for each side, or two pieces against one - an essential area of the game that has never before been comprehensively covered in one volume. Why is this so important? Because these situations arise incredibly frequently in practical play. These are the endgames that matter. If you can handle such endgames well, your results will improve. This book shows you how •
544 pages, softback • Read the
October 2007 review
Hungarian GM Jozsef Pinter continues his series of endgame books following the successful 1000 Pawn Endings and 1000 Rook Endings. This 550-page volume concentrates on endings containing bishops and knights. The book is split into 39 sections with an index of the players at the rear •
550 pages, hardback • Read the
November 2007 review
Chess Praxis is a superb collection of Aron Nimzowitch’s best games annotated by the great man himself, but it is even more than that. Nimzowitsch and his hypermodern ideas had a huge influence on modern chess thinking. Nimzowitsch first expounded his ideas in My System. In his follow-up Chess Praxis he demonstrated and explained how his concepts worked in his own games. This is a completely new translation of Nimzowitsch’s classic work, which will allow the reader to appreciate influential ideas explained in modern language •
215 pages, softback • Read the
November 2007 review
Volume 12 includes: Chess Biographies of K. Hromadka, Rudolph Sze and W Lewis, Forgotten Chess Tournaments of Munich 1886 and Zoppot 1937, Chess Match Showalter vs Albin 1894, Correspondence Chess in Singapore 1900-1902, Women's Chess - Mrs Showalter vs Mrs Worrall 1894, Chess Research, Chess Miscellany no.301 -325, Chess Reviews •
436 pages, hardback • Read the
November 2007 review
This volume contains the complete run of the chess magazine Chess Student Quarterly that ran irregularly between November 1946 and March 1952. The magazine deals mainly with practical chess - games and tournaments, etc. Included is a book on the candidates match between Boleslavski - Bronstein in Moscow 1950, published by the authors in 1951 •
569 pages, hardback • Read the
November 2007 review
This complete run of seven issues published quarterly in Chicago by C. C. Moore from October 1879 to April 1881. Moore was assisted with the journal by Sam Loyd, G H Mackenzie and James Mason. Contained articles, games, and news from across the USA •
154 pages, hardback • Read the
November 2007 review
The Accelerated Dragon is much more than just a dynamic yet solid means of countering 1 e4. By knowing how to counter the Maroczy Bind, Black can counter both the English and Reti Openings and even develop the basis of a defence against 1 d4. Whilst having been used extensively by superstars such as Bent Larsen and Tigran Petrosian, Davies argues that the Accelerated Dragon is an even more effective proposition for club players. As he explains on this DVD, many White players are under the mistaken impression that the positions are like a regular Sicilian Dragon. And if this is the case they can find himself being demolished right out of the opening. Video running time: 4 hours. System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard • Read the
November 2007 review
Moldovan star Victor Bologan is among the world's strongest and most dynamic grandmasters. You are invited to join him on a highly personal, autobiographical journey, as he presents 52 of his games, deeply annotated. These games are highlighted against a background of his life experiences and development, resulting in one of the most splendid game collections available today. The text and games are nicely complemented by over thirty photographs, and indexes of players, openings, tournament results and even strategic, tactical and psychological techniques •
236 pages, softback • Read the
November 2007 review
This match featured two world champions in a class by themselves: the profound Russian world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who had defeated the seemingly invincible Kasparov to take the traditional matchplay world title in 2000 and the brilliant Bulgarian challenger Veselin Topalov, ranked no. 1 in the world, winner of the FIDE title in 2005. Truly it was the immovable object versus the irresistible force. Not since Bobby Fischer had faced Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972 had the chess world seen such a tumultuous, controversial title bout with such major implications for the future of world chess. The match had it all: deep positional play, razor-sharp tactics, accusations of cheating and political interference, threats of lawsuits, and even a game forfeited under protest. This is Veselin Topalov's very personal account of his 2006 world championship match against the reigning world champion Vladimir Kramnik. With the help of co-author Zhivko Ginchev, Topalov shares his thoughts, hopes and fears as he fought for the most prestigious title in the chess world •
220 pages, softback • Read the
November 2007 review
An English translation of this original famous tournament book in German by Georg Marco and Karl Schlechter. This edition has the advantage of enhancements such as the addition of 15 photos of many of the players along with corrections and additional analysis using the new, very strong program, Rybka. The tournament was one of the strongest of the last century with only Lasker, Tarrasch and Burn, missing from the roster of the world's best players of that day. The young player Rubinstein won in fine style, followed by Maroczy just one-half point behind and by Leonhardt, Nimzovich, Schlechter, Vidmar, Duras, Teichmann, Salwe, Wolf, Dus-Chotimirski, Marshall, Spielmann, Tartakower, Berger, Mieses, Chigorin, Olland, E. Cohn, and Johner in that order. This was to be Chigorin's last tournament, though he still showed flashes of his brilliance in individual games. Marco and Schlechter contributed superb notes in a style combining wit, depth, and accuracy •
451 pages, hardback • Read the
November 2007 review
Readers from all over the world join in discussions on previous surveys. Titled players, correspondence players and club players shed their light on opening developments and search for the truth together. With contributions by Richard Palliser, Miso Cebalo, Valery Bronznik, Bogdan Lalic, José Vilela and many others. Sicilian Defence - Najdorf Variation 6 Be3 e5 7 Nb3 - SI 14 8 - Anka Sicilian Defence - Najdorf Variation 6 Be3 e5 7 Nf3 - SI 14 8 - Kolev Sicilian Defence - Rauzer Variation 6...Bd7 - SI 27 5 - Galkin Sicilian Defence - Rossolimo Variation 4...Qc7 - SI 31 9 - Kolev Sicilian Defence - Taimanov Variation 6 Nc6 - SI 39 12 - Langeweg Sicilian Defence - Alapin Variation 2...d5 - SI 46 6 - Mikhalchishin Sicilian Defence - Alapin Variation 2...Nf6 - SI 47 6 - Sveshnikov Sicilian Defence - Alapin Variation 2...Nf6 - SI 47 10 - Grivas Pirc Defence - Classical Variation 5 Be2 - PU 16 7 - Marin/Stoica French Defence - Steinitz Variation 5 f4 - FR 4 4 - Matamoros French Defence - Winawer Variation 7...0-0 - FR 11 4 - I Almasi French Defence - Tarrasch Variation 3...Be7 - FR 14 4 - Pert Caro-Kann Defence - Panov Variation 6 Nf3 - CK 3 1 - Olthof Scandinavian Defence - Main Line 5 Bc4 - SD 11 7 - Prié Alekhine Defence - Larsen Variation 4...de5 - AL 10 2 - Finkel Petroff Defence - Steinitz Variation 3 d4 - RG 2 2 - Fogarasi Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defence 3...Nf6 - RL 7 1 - Grivas Ruy Lopez - Siesta Variation 5...f5 - RL 11 2 - Van der Tak Ruy Lopez - Marshall Attack 8...d5 - RL 17 4 - Morgado/Alvarez King’s Pawn Opening - Two Knights Defence 4 Ng5 - KP 12 8 - Van der Tak Slav Defence - Marshall Gambit 4 e4 - SL 6 1 - A Kuzmin Tarrasch Defence - Marshall Gambit 5 e4 - TD 1 3 - Williams Catalan Opening - Accepted 4...dc4 - CA 3 1 - Stohl Queen’s Gambit Accepted - Central Variation 3 e4 b5 - QG 3 2 - Karolyi Nimzo-Indian Defence - Classical Variation 4 Qc2 d5 - NI 23 4 - Lukacs/Hazai Queen’s Indian Defence - Petrosian System 4 a3 - QI 4 18 - A Kuzmin Queen’s Indian Defence - Nimzowitsch Variation 4...Ba6 - QI 15 6 - Antic Grünfeld Indian Defence - Exchange Variation 7 Bc4 - GI 5 8 - Mikhalevski King’s Indian Defence - Fianchetto Variation 3 g3 - KI 67 3 - Lukacs/Hazai King’s Indian Defence - Anti-Grünfeld 3 Bg5 - KI 81 1 - Fogarasi Benoni Defence - Blumenfeld Gambit 4...b5 - BI 3 8 - Landa English Opening - Hedgehog Variation 3...e6 - EO 40 6 - Greenfeld Réti Opening - Lasker Variation ...Bf5 - RE 6 2 - Vilela • 246 pages, softcover • Read the
November 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review • Read the
November 2007 review
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.
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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) • Read the
October 2007 review
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) • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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 • Read the
October 2007 review
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
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
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
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.
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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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