Chess Books

This book recounts the third of the five chapters in the half-decade long rivalry which erupted between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In the eyes of many this conflict symbolised the clash between the Brezhnev-inspired forces of reaction in the old USSR and the new Gorbachev/Yeltsin-driven imperatives of perestroika and glasnost which ultimately led to the collapse of the creaking Soviet empire. This match was held in London and Leningrad and was the first all-Soviet summit to be staged outside the USSR! Books on the Karpov-Kasparov clashes of 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1990 are also published by Hardinge Simpole.
David Goodman is an International Master who resides in New York. During the Karpov-Kasparov clashes David worked as a correspondent in Moscow, London and Leningrad enjoying unrivalled access to behind-the-scenes information. He has, amongst many other publications, co-authored three books on Kasparov's matches against Karpov.

Raymond Keene is a British Chess Champion, and the first British Player to achieve a FIDE (World Chess Federation) Grandmaster norm. He was awarded the OBE for services to chess in 1985. He is Chess Correspondent of The Times, The Sunday Times, The Spectator, and The International Herald Tribune. He is a prolific author of chess books, several of which are classics of the genre. He was Chief Organiser of the London leg of the 1986 Championship Match.


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A true Rosetta Stone for unlocking the mysteries of how White maintains (or tries to !) an advantage in the highly theoretical Rb1 lines of the Modern Exchange variation. Well formatted, peppered with pithy comments and (including the chapter titles themselves), and crammed full of concrete analysis to back up assessments made by the author.

In such a volatile line as the Grunfeld, there are sure to be micro improvements and novelties found-a-plenty since its publication, but the underpinnings and foundational knowledge of this very specific line are so well detailed here that this book will be relevent for much longer than most other opening books. In that line, it seems to be in keeping with other efforts from this publisher, (Vigorito's Challenging the Nimzo & Marin's epic tomes on Open games and the Spanish) all of which seem to be aimed at a higher (rating-wise) market than their leading competitors.

To be certain, it is more analysis than prose heavy, but the narrative contained is as clear as it is concise, providing ample verbage for the rhetorically hungry strategist.

I applaud their efforts, and hope Pinski's next book on the mercurial King's Gambit delivers the goods as well as he did here.

Charlie is a young boy who receives an old chess set for Christmas. Charlie wasn't wishing for a chess set. In fact, he was pretty unhappy about getting it. But that is when the magic begins. With the help of an unusual cast of characters, Charlie learns just how interesting and fun the game of chess can be. You will learn the rules of chess while you enjoy a good story. A well written book with a spark of imagination that keeps you turning the pages.

Excellent reading with great graphics. It is a book ideal as a teaching aid or a 'Learn Yourself' book.

This is a great book for the student. Imagine if Capablanca could really write and put things into simple terms that the reader could understand. That is what we have here, as Karpov writes from his throne in the days when his supremacy was absolute. But he never suffered from the arrogance (at least in his writing) that plagues the literature of Capablanca and Kasparov. He tells the story of a game objectively, but chock full of high quality advice. Karpov is the best guy to study, as his games shimmer with clarity, and you can emulate his opening style. Plus, he is a modern player who studies hard, so his openings are not occasionally ridiculous, as was Capablanca's, for instance, in the first game of his disastrous match with Alekhine. He never seeks complications, but always plays solid moves from which tactics logically arise. This is a great, great book. You should certainly buy it. I also own How Karpov Wins by Mednis, Karpov's Best Games by Karpov and the 1976 collection of his games by O'Connell and Adams. I think this is the most valuable of all of them. He was at his peak and most eager to talk, and he knew he would have a legacy.

I have all of his books and this is another great addition. CJS Purdy really knows how to teach chess secrets like no one else. Even Bobby Fischer gave praise to his work when he was starting out in chess. Book is very enjoyable and you always learn chessic knowledge to apply in your own games.

Over 100 problems are mentioned in this outrageous book. The author himself is funny, in a weird sort of way, but the truly outrageous characteristic of this book is its problems. they go well beyond the "legal" logics of chess, breaks every rule of it, and drives everyone who reads it crazy. Including the world's hardest problem (no one can probably solve it- it's basically impossible) this book is sure to be one good - and crazy- ride. Buy it, read it, and go crazy!

This book is simply packed from end to end with chess lore, wisdom and - true to its title - art. Many of the combinations simply take your breath away, while others elicit a nod of satisfaction. What's more, players of virtually any strength can learn a huge amount by studying the analysis and extensive variations. After all, chess is at least three-quarters tactics! (You can be a grandmaster of strategy, but you will flounder even at club level if you are prone to miss combinations).

A few decades have passed since the book was writen, but don't let that discourage you - chess truths are immutable, and there is nothing in here that is less valid in 2005 than in 1951. The writers indulge in a chatty style, witty in a learned sort of way, but refreshing compared to the half-baked quality of too many chess books. To be fair, I suspect that grandmaster Keres' contribution was much less than master Golz's (the Russian spelling of German "Holtz"?), but it doesn't really make any difference. The value of this book lies in the hundreds of combinations, sacrifices and tricks, and it will reward many subsequent re-readings. One of my perpetual favourites.

Vera covers the Semi-Slav (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6) from White's point of view after 5. e3. Especially the Meran variation (5...Nbd7 6. Bd3 d×c4 7. B×c4 b5) is covered in chapters 1 to 4 (without black deviations on the sixth move) but also modern Anti-Meran systems after 5...Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 in chapters 5 and 6 got analysed (incl. the Shirov-Shabalov-Attack). In addition chapter 7 covers 5...a6. A very nice chapter is chapter 8 where Vera discusses several move order problems.
Analysis looks honest to me and although it's not an encyclopaedic work all important ideas are explained sufficiently. I can recommend this book for everyone you want to learn the Meran (like me who want to understand the queen's pawn openings).
Have fun
Ulrich (FIDE master)

This is a relatively short book with a page count of 128 (including title page, contents, etc., and advertising at the back!) but it is filled with useful information that emphasizes ideas more than an endless list of variations. It is probably the best overall QGD survey book in my sizeable (550 volume) chess library.

The book presents 25 complete games. This is a great approach for the class player (compared to a variations tree) because you see the middle games and even endgames that arise. The games are spread over 8 chapters which cover the Alatortsev variation, Tarrasch Defense, Exchange and Blackburne, Ragozin and Vienna, Semi-Tarrasch, Cambridge Springs and Laskers, Tartakower, and Classical. As you see the coverage is wide, treating to at least some degree (one or more games) the major variants which are in play. The notes also treat (briefly) many other options including oddities such as the Dutch-Peruvian Gambit. Games are from modern practice.

While plenty of variants are presented in the notes (certainly enough to cover the ground and be useful) the book is really on the "chatty" side and there is plenty of text which explains concepts and ideas. This is all made to fit in a low page count by means of slightly oversized pages and a rather small font size. However, the diagrams are large, clear, and copious. Even though I can't play blindfold, I am able to read a lot of the book without the aid of a chess set and board.

There is no real white/black bias. Ideas for both sides are discussed making this book suitable for basic repertoire development for either color. I say "basic" repertoire development and what I mean is that there is more than enough here for the class player, but at a high level of play (perhaps expert and up) you will want specialist books which cover your favorite lines in more detail.

Overall: a very nice effort and well worth the cost. Don't be put off by the low page count. More is not always better.