Chess Books

After having played the Sveshnikov variation since 1980, I finally came across this book a few months ago. It didn't look much at first. The binding is tacky, typographically so-so. It had its fair portion of wear and tear as well. If the sayings about judging a book by its cover etc were all gobbledegook they are true now. It turned out to be an incredible work of knowledge, far exceeding any other book on openings in historical value. The way Evgeny Sveshnikov searches for truth in dazzling variations, never losing sight of the big picture, is most instructive. This book is obviously the fruit of enormous creativity, hard work, and a large dosis of perfectionism. If anybody is thinking about a reprint and thinks I may be of help, contact me by e-mail. I think this is the best opening book in existence and it will stand out in chess history.

This could be the best, and is certainly one of the most current references on the Sicilian Scheveningen. Unlike the "Starting Out" title that covers the whole Siclian, this is not dumbed down, just get your feet wet coverage. While not a truly comprehensive book, the Scheveningen is very well covered with 46 example games covering most major lines that White can throw at Black. Pritchett gives many, many other lines and there are theoretical sections preceding the games in each section that are filled with many useful, practical tips. Pritchett has been a dedicated practitioner of this defense for decades, and that makes ALL the diference when it comes to authoritative, and truly USEFUL advice. A notable line not covered is 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 O-O 9. Be3 Qc7 (the Classical Scheveningen), but Pritchett's coverage of the more modern and less theoretical alternate lines will give most players ample weapons. What I especially like about this book is that Pritchett has obviously done his own analysis, and has many valuable pointers along the way. Like most works, every line and every move has not been computer checked, so don't take his every word as gospel, but this is a great tool for just about anybody below Expert or possibly even Master strength who is interested in this solid, yet dynamic defense.

This book lies somewhere between the Searching for Bobby Fischer and Victor Korcnoi's Persona non Grata. But is much closer to the first. The book can be read as a novel, and if done properly, could make a very nice movie; which I think would be inspiring to many, but especially, to female players. The book includes games and key positions that can can be analyzed by the serious chess player. The back section of the book includes a set of photos (I counted 100) that are essentially a nice time capsule from Maria's life [many are in color]. There is a color photo of Karpov relaxing at the chess board, shirt off and a drink to his right. The photos from the 1960s are quite interesting in regard to fashion and an era gone by.

If you have to go to work tomorrow, don't open this book after 10 p.m. You may be awake 'til the a.m. hours! These crostics are challenging and fun for the word puzzle lover who likes to go a step beyond crosswords to solve a quote and author puzzle. There are even a few cryptic acrostics - a triple treat!

This book contains eighteen chess-themed short stories. It is subtitled "Murder and Mystery at the Chessboard". This subtitle is somewhat misleading. Although there are three or four mystery stories included in this book, the majority of the selections are psychological horror and ghost stories. Many of the selections are stories of chess obsession, such as "The Dreams of Albert Moreland,", "The Devil that Troubled the Chessboard" and Stefan Zweig's incomparable "Royal Game." There are a number of good chess fantasy stories, like Poul Anderson's "Immortal Game," and Lucretia Hale's "Queen of the Red Chessmen." There are two truly hair-raising, finely-crafted murder mysteries: Robert Barr's "A Game of Chess" and Frederic Brown's "The Cat from Siam."

There are a number of good chess fiction anthologies available. I recommend Burt Hochberg's 64-Square Looking Glass and Marcello Truozzi's Chess in Literature in addition to this book. I must say that Sinister Gambits is my favorite chess fiction anthology for two reasons. This is the only chess fiction anthology I have come across which contains complete works. The other anthologies I've read offer excerpts, brief quotations and an occasional complete tale. Also, author Richard Peyton wrote five insightful essays for this book which shed much light on the selections and have led me to further research and reading. Don't miss his comments upon Poul Anderson's "Immortal Game." The story takes on a whole new meaning.

This is the third installment of Genna Sosonko's recollections of chess and chess personalities in the last half of the twentieth century.

While non-Soviet players are covered, the theme I took away from the series was that as repressive as the USSR was, chess in the age of Soviet dominance was still a very "human" endeavor and its practitioners, for good or ill, were characters worthy of remembrance.

It took the coming of the computer to make chess at the highest levels a cold pursuit.

This book seems primarily aimed at practical players, with the purpose of introducing such players to the problem-solving world. As my title indicates, I think Nunn succeeds admirably. Here are just some of the book's outstanding features: 1) Great balance between many different areas of problem-solving. Almost everything covered -- retrograde analysis, endgame studies, series-movers, helpmates, selfmates, direct mates etc. etc. (No fairy pieces, however, but I agree with this omission since if you change the pieces you don't really have a "chess problem".)
2) Perfect balance between problems to solve and problems analyzed. Solving problems are what the book's all about. On the other hand, reading through a solution is also enjoyable and often instructive. I very much like Nunn's balance between the two.
3) Unchanged since the original in 1985. Hats off again, since the common practice of making very minor changes, and then asking previous readers to waste their money on a new edition is an unfortunate one. This book admits up front that almost no changes were made.
4) An emphasis on original problems that are not likely to have been seen by many readers. I think Nunn was very wise not to bore us by further discussion of Reti's K and P v K and P study, Saavedra's ending etc. We've seen them too many times already!

You won't regret buying this book!

Soviet Chess
by Nicolai Grekov
Translated by Theodore Reich
Brought up to date by David Bronstein

This clear and detailed work deals with the origins of chess in Russia and the development of the specifically Soviet brand of chess, as encouraged by the government. Including dozens of game analyses of the struggles between such giants as Tchigorin, Botvinnik, Flohr, Smyslov, Keres and the other Soviet masters against such foreign champions as Reshevsky, Capablanca, Tartakover, Vidmar, Euwe and Steinitz, this is the most detailed account in existence of one of the greatest centers of this age-old game. The last twenty years of Soviet chess has been analyzed in a brilliant afterword by international grand master David Bronstein.

I've got a lot of opening books, but none like this.

Marin's Beating the Open Games, and A Spanish Opening Repertoire for black combine the best features of an informant encyclopedia style layout, and English descriptions of the concepts.

Each variation is summarized at the end of every chapter in an Informant Encyclopedia type layout. The notes on the moves are in English and offer far more explanation than someone would get from an Informant Encyclopedia. In addition, the main concepts are shown using games and verbal explanations prior to the Encyclopedic layout at the end of the chapter.

Amazingly, no one else has ever organized an opening book this way. It's always been one or the other. Games with notes, or Informant like dumps with symbols.

Both books are essentially repertoire books for Black, but players on the White side will get some benefit as well. I'm sure a lot of these lines will start showing up in tournaments in the future.

For the main line of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening), Marin offers two systems for Black, The Rubenstein system or the Petrosion system, so don't expect to learn the Marshall attack. Even if you have no desire to play the main-lines that Marin offers, this book has the best analysis available for a lot of sidelines White can throw at you.

I actually switched my repertoire from the Sicilian (1.e4 c5) to 1.e4 e5 temporarily because of Marin's two books. They offered a simple and effective way for me to initially study that line of play without having to refer to a lot of other sources. I wasn't completely happy with using his Rubenstein recommendations however. I'll probably try the Petrosian system next, or perhaps find something that covers the Marshall attack to complement Marin's analysis.

I believe these books are probably effective for anyone rated from 1400 on up to even Grandmaster. The concise Informant like tables that document the lines at the end of each chapter will appeal to stronger players and the early chapter explanations with sample games are good for anyone learning the opening.

i think that this book is the best kids book of all time.