Board games: Chess Books

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe Najdorf is that very rare thing - an opening for Black that is highly aggressive but is also recognised as being objectively sound. In this book, FIDE Master John Doknjas and National Master Joshua Doknjas navigate through the main lines of the Najdorf and provide the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening, and contains instructive commentary on typical middle-game plans. With thorough variations and explanations on pawn structures and piece placement, this book provides insight to both strong masters and less experienced players alike. ----- The format is ideal for the chessplayer keen to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions - a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study chess while providing the best possible chance to retain what has been learnt.Trade ReviewI highly recommend this volume by two fine young master chessplayers from British Columbia, Canada. I can't wait to see what their next book will cover if this is typical of what we can expect from them.--Vladimir, Drkulec "President Chess Federation of Canada " When I was asked to review this book, I thought I was doing John and Joshua Doknjas a favor by writing it; after all, I am a grandmaster with more than 20 years of experience in the Najdorf, on both sides of the board. I was curious what the book could offer me. I jumped immediately to the chapter featuring my life-long pet line (with both colors), the English Attack... and I almost instantly fell in love with the book. Easy to read, yet covering all the critical lines, well-chosen sample games, thorough engine analysis where needed, and, maybe the most important asset: a crystal-clear, "human" explanation of the ideas and plans.--GM Gergely Szabo "FIDE Trainer " The Doknjas brothers penned a comprehensive repertoire book on one of the most complex openings, and managed to make it a good read as well as an in-depth research. This is the first such massive work for the Doknjas brothers, and as often happens in these cases - you see a lot of passion for the work and it resulted in a book that will be useful for both club players and Grandmasters.--GM Emil Sutovsky "President of the APCP " Every now and then there comes a book that just makes things simple and understandable. This book is one such rare gem... If you would like to develop an appreciation for this complex opening, improve your general understanding of the game, and have an enjoyable read, then this book is for you, whether you are a weekend club player or a seasoned grandmaster.--International Master Yan Teplitsky "Former Canadian National Youth Coach " The Najdorf is a difficult opening to write about, especially when publishing a book for the first time, but John and Joshua Doknjas surpassed expectations and delivered a wonderful piece of work. Each one of the chosen games are very instructive and well annotated, covering a variety of different lines. The exercises and questions are a fantastic supplement to the sample games and allow the reader to gain a better understanding of the opening--FIDE Master Jason Cao "2010 World U10 Champion " Opening Repertoire: The Sicilian Najdorf is a must-read for any aspiring chess player who wishes to deepen their understanding of this complex opening. John and Joshua Doknjas, two young Canadian masters, have extensive experience playing the Najdorf against titled players on the international stage. For the first time, they reveal a treasure trove of opening secrets that they have discovered through their own praxis and research--National Master Josh Sinanan "President, Washington Chess Federation "

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Book SynopsisTwo great books from the Everyman Chess Library, play 1…b6! a dynamic and hypermodern opening system for Black by Christian Bauer and Nimzo Larsen Attack by Byron Jacobs and Jonathan Tait, brought together in one volume. ----- Fed up with getting difficult positions with the black pieces? Tired of always having to keep up with all the latest developments. Take a break from the mountains of opening theory and play 1...b6! With the move, preparing a bishop fianchetto, Black immediately directs the game into relatively uncharted territory, one where White players are not able to sit back and rely on their 'opening book' knowledge. ----- The real beauty of 1...b6 is that it can be played against virtually every single first move by White, so it is a perfect choice for Black players with neither the time nor inclination to memorise a multitude of different defences. Despite being relatively unexplored, 1...b6 has been the weapon of some dynamic and uncompromising world-class players, including Britain's first Grandmaster, the late Tony Miles. ----- In this revolutionary book, Christian Bauer reveals for the first time the secrets of how to play 1...b6 with success. He takes an in-depth look at both the main lines and White's more offbeat tries, creating a comprehensive repertoire for the Black player and highlighting the tactical and positional ideas for both players. ----- In Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Byron Jacobs and Jonathan Tait explain how you can use this dynamic opening to attack your opponent from move one. The Nimzo-Larsen Attack has been unfairly neglected in recent times, and this book aims to redress the balance.

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Book SynopsisCafferty covers the career of the brilliantly aggressive and stunningly speculative Soviet Grandmaster Boris Spassky through where he conquers Petrosian, on to the celebrated match of the century against the mercurial Bobby Fischer. Contains the very best of Boris Spassky.

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Book SynopsisMikhail Tal took the chess world by storm when he blasted a path through the titans of the global chess board - Fischer, Smyslov, Keres, Petrosian - and seized the crown of the mighty Botvinnik. Tal sacrificed as if there were no tomorrow and the very greatest were humbled and smashed by his whirlwind tactics.

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Book SynopsisInspiration and controversy alike still surround the 1948 match tournament. Why for example was the Polish grandmaster Miguel Najdorf not invited when US Grandmaster Reuben Fine dropped out?

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Book SynopsisA first hand account of the strengths and weaknesses, of the genius and foibles, of the world's elite, graced by the most elegant prose, courtesy of Stahlberg , improved, if anything, by Harry Golombek's superb translation. The book is full of telling and memorable phrases.

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Book SynopsisLeonid Stein?s brilliant chess career, cut tragically short in 1973, included overwhelming victories against the world?s leading grandmasters, Stein not only stormed to an incredible total of 3 first prizes (out of 4 attempts) in the USSR Championships, but also won what were arguably the two strongest tournaments of all time, (Moscow 1967 and Moscow 1971)

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Book SynopsisIn these pages we see how Alekhine's preparation, both psychological and technical, bore brilliant fruit. Once he had pinpointed Euwe's weaknesses Alekhine struck with the force of a hurricane and regained the title by virtue of some of the most energetic, accurate and elegant play ever witnessed at world championship level.

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Book SynopsisFrank Marshall?s watchwords were brilliancy and attack! For decades he was the leading USA grandmaster and he succeeded in scalping most of the world?s elite during that time. Noted as a successful tournament rather than match player, Marshall?s hit and run tactics will repay careful study.

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Book SynopsisLondon 1932 is one of the lesser known books from the pen of the prolific Russian genius, Alekhine. In 1932 Alekhine was still revelling in the blinding nimbus of invincibility which had surrounded him ever since his match victory against Capablanca in 1927. The new champion duly won the London tournament and furnished some equally fine notes to explain his victory, which Hardinge Simpole are proud and privileged to revive here.

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Book SynopsisA companion volume to Larry Evans's selection from the 1960's, this book takes the story of the best games of the top players from the beginnning of the 20th century up to 1940. This volume is arranged chronologically and reaches the period of the Second World War. The games by such immortals as Capablanca, Alekhine, Lasker, Botvinnik, Nimzowitsch and Rubinstein are annotated with the customary lucidity, authority and elegance synonymous with Golombek.

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Book SynopsisMorphy, Charousek, Pillsbury, Fischer...the history of chess is illuminated by shooting stars who burn briefly across the chess firmament, only to vanish without trace. The parabolic career of the Latvian genius Mikhail Tal conforms all too well to this astonishing pattern. As a virtually unknown student in 1957 Tal swept aside the revered phalanxes of Soviet Grandmasters and ultimately annihilated the Red Czar of Soviet chess himself - Mikhail Botvinnik - all within a mere three year period.

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Book SynopsisHoward Staunton, the organiser of London 1851 and writer of the book, was the epitome of mid-Victorian versatility and self confidence. By defeating the leading French and German masters such as St Amant, Horwitz and Harrwitz in gruelling set matches, Staunton had established himself as the champion. Now, by organising the first ever International Chess Tournament, Staunton hoped to display chess in its true colours, amongst the imperial splendour of the 1851 Great Exhibition in Queen Victoria's London. Although Staunton did not win the tournament, this honour falling to the German master Adolph Anderssen, this record of the inaugural international chess gathering provides a fitting monument to Staunton's prowess and love of the game.

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Book SynopsisThe seminal work of the Cuban genius who repeated the exploits of Morphy, suddenly bursting onto the European scene and annihilating the great masters who had hitherto dominated the international arena. This book captures the magic of Capablanca's early victory at San Sebastian 1911 and his second place - bowing only to Lasker - at St Petersburg 1914. All in all, 35 games are annotated by Capablanca in person with remarkable objectivity - bestowing praise and hurling criticism as and when required.

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Book SynopsisAt the height of the British Empire, the chess loving Indian servant, Sultan Khan, arrived in the imperial capital as part of the feudal retinue of Sir Umar, his high caste master. While Sir Umar deliberated in the rarefied atmosphere of London conferences, with British panjandra, on the future of the Raj, his retainer started to take on the British elite at chess. Sweeping all before him, the Indian genius entered the international arena where, playing top board for the British Empire team, he defeated grandmasters, such as Rubinstein.

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Book SynopsisDuring the 1930s, it appeared that the USA, not the USSR, would inevitably become the dominant force in the chess world. During that time the USA team won four consecutive gold medals in the Chess Olympiads. Moreover, the USA could boast two world beaters in the form of Sammy Reshevsky and Reuben Fine, whose best games appear in this book.

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Book SynopsisThe essential sequel to Peter Clarke's companion book on Tal, Mikhail Tal's Best Games of Chess. Cafferty takes us further on Tal's career path, covering his loss to Botvinnik in the revenge match, but also the triumphs of Bled 1961 and Tal's remarkable sequence of tournament victories in 1973. Tal is the chess public's favourite - a knight of the chessboard who knew no fear and joyously sacrificed to fight at close quarters with the enemy king. In the annals of chess, Tal ranks with Anderssen, Alekhine, Stein and Kasparov as the undisputed archetypes of aggression on the 64 squares

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Book SynopsisNo book has exerted a greater impact on chess thought over the past 80 years. Variations may come and go, but Nimzowitsch was a seeker after eternal truths and the precepts outlined in this strategic manual have withstood the ravages of time. Breakthroughs in understanding often follow breakthroughs in verbal formulation - Nimzowitsch's skill at translating chess board operations into words was one of the secrets both of his personal success and of the longevity of his system.

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Book SynopsisSmyslov launched his first bid for the supreme title in the 1948 match tournament - coming second to Botvinnik. Eventually, after two victories in Candidates contests and a drawn match with Botvinnik, Smyslov overcame his great and perennial rival to become World Champion in 1957 while still in his mid 30's. Originally published as My Best Games of Chess - 1935-1957. Now published with corrections.

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Book SynopsisJose Capablanca was a phenomenon who burst onto the chess world and took top prize in the first ever elite tournament in which he participated. This was at San Sebastian - otherwise known as Donostia - in the Basque country of Spain in 1911. Capablanca's style was serene - no position seemed to trouble him, and he crushed most of the established European grandmasters with seemingly little effort. Only against the mighty Lasker did he experience serious problems. Then in 1921 Capa - as he was known - obliterated Lasker in their world title match and took the championship without losing a single game. Other triumphs followed, such as London 1922, and Capablanca acquired the legend of an invincible superman when he went for 8 years without losing a game! His supreme moment was in New York 1927 - a quadruple round trial of strength between Capa himself Alekhine, Nimzowitsch and three other contenders for the crown. Capa whitewashed the field, creating a fresh masterpiece practically every day. Possibly this easy victory left him over-confident for later the same year he lost his world title to Alekhine.

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Book SynopsisThe 1978 world chess championship in the Philippines was the most riotous of modern times. Pitting the soviet defector Korchnoi against the golden boy of the soviet establishment - Karpov - the players were not just content to hammer each other over the chess board; they also enlisted such weird assistants as the parapsychologist Dr Vladimir Zukhar and orange-robed gurus from the Ananda Marga sect. The dramatis personae were completed by President Marcos, his shoe-collecting First Lady Imelda and a gaggle of shady characters from the KGB. Grandmaster Ray Keene was Korchnoi's chief second during this wild chess extravaganza and this book tells the inside story of one of the most exotic chess competitions ever staged.

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Book SynopsisAll too often chess openings books consist of reams of variations and sub-variations and bracketed sub-sub-variations, with no apparent explanation for why a move is chosen or why one path deserves precedence over another. Golombek fought tenaciously against this denigration of his art, for he considered chess an art form. The Grandmaster Emeritus always sought to explain the ideas behind the moves and give the strategic justification for any course of action. For this reason alone Golombek's chief openings manual, reprinted here, will outlive the ephemera which largely characterise rival efforts to explain the entire gamut of openings available to the ambitious player. Armed with Golombek you will understand what you are doing -not just become a performing monkey which apes the movements of the masters!

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Book SynopsisCompiled by three grandmasters and two international masters this scholarly treatise explains in depth the thinking behind a defence that has been a favourite of champions such as Capablanca, Botvinnik, Petrosian and Karpov. Even Kasparov has been known to use the Caro Kann on occasion, for example in one case to defeat Mikhail Tal.

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Book SynopsisEmanuel Lasker held the World Chess Championship for a record period from 1894-1921. During this time he dominated his contemporaries in elite events such as St Petersburg 1896, London 1899, Paris 1900 and St Petersburg again in 1914. He won numerous matches against such greats as Steinitz, Marshall, Janowski and Tarrasch, as well as defending his title in a drawn match against Schlechter. This account of Lasker's life and games reads like a novel - how as a young man he fought his way to the world title while still in his twenties, how he survived the First World War and the later Nazi persecution of Jews in Germany, and how Lasker emerged at over 60 years of age to once again carve out a career for himself amongst the hungry young lions of world chess.

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Book SynopsisWith FIDE (the World Chess Federation) claiming that its Tournament in Libya - in fact, little more than a rapidplay open - was the world title clincher, this match for the Classical World Chess Championship would confirm one of the two mental matadors -Kramnik or Leko - as the legitimate heir of Steinitz, Alekhine, Fischer and Kasparov. Peter Leko, the Hungarian Grandmaster, qualified from the Dortmund Candidates' Tournament in 2002 to meet Vladimir Kramnik from Moscow, who had unseated Garry Kasparov in London 2000. Although both contenders were noted for their solidity, the clash turned out to be a sporting classic, as Kramnik poured every ounce of energy into the last games in an effort to rescue his title.

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Book SynopsisThe St. Petersburg Grand International Masters' Tournament of 1914 was undoubtedly the most important tournament since the first San Sebastian Tournament, when Capablanca won his spurs, or, as some will have it, since the St. Petersburg Quadrangular Tournament of 1895. It would be noteworthy even if for no other reason than that the World's Champion, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, took part - the first occasion since the last International Tournament in St. Petersburg in 1909. On that occasion, however he tied for the first place with Akuba K. Rubinstein instead of winning outright, as on this occasion and in 1895. It is a remarkable circumstance that this time Rubinstein did not even attain so high as fifth place, which would have enabled him to play in the second section for the allocation of the prizes, the more extraordinary in view of his almost unbroken success of late years. The St. Petersburg Chess Society was responsible for the initiation, organization, and conduct of the Tournament, the Tsar himself subscribing 1,000 roubles towards the prize fund. With notes by Lasker, Burn, Gunsberg, Yates and other prominent analysts of the day

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Book SynopsisDavid Janowski was one of the grandest of grandmasters at the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries. Victories in individual games against Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca and Alekhine, a phenomenal run of successes in major tournaments and a universally acknowledged elegance of style, combined to make him one of the most feared and respected exponents of the game. Janowski, however, has not been rewarded in English language chess literature with the accolades he deserves.In this book, the first collection in English of his best games and results, the authors introduce us to a great fighter and a great artist, knowledge of whose games will enrich the experience of any chess aficionado. Alexander Cherniaev is a Russian Grandmaster, journalist and author, now - after the collapse of the USSR - based in Guildford, England. He has been a silver medallist in the Moscow championship and is a well-known figure in the Four Nations Chess League. He has also scored fine results in tournaments at St Petersburg, Wijk aan Zee, Davos and Hastings where he has come second in the challengers and competed in the premier.Alexander Meynell is the grandson of Lord Killearn, top board player in his day for the House of Lords chess team. Continuing the family tradition for excellence at chess, Alexander Meynell is official coach of the Hammersmith Chess Club, maintains one of Britain's most extensive chess libraries and has won First Prize in the Major Tournament at Hastings.

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Book SynopsisThe World Championship Candidates' Tournament of 1950 marked a fresh phase in the history of the world title. Hitherto, the champion had chosen his challenger, of course bearing in mind such pressures as public opinion and prize purses on offer. Now, after the interregnum caused by the death of Alekhine as incumbent in 1946, FIDE, the World Chess Federation, instituted a regular series of qualifying events to determine the rightful challenger to the chess throne. Budapest 1950 was to be Bronstein's finest hour: coming from behind he caught his imperturbable compatriot Boleslavsky at the finishing post and then squeezed ahead of him in the play-off. The notes to this great event, which also featured such immortals as Smyslov, Keres, and Najdorf, are by the British publishing pioneer Cordingley, while the comments to the tie-breaking match are furnished by the world champion of chess journalists, Grandmaster emeritus Harry Golombek OBE, based on his insights for the British Chess Magazine. As we know, Bronstein advanced to challenge Botvinnik for the world title, but faltered at the final hurdle. That epic clash is covered in the companion Hardinge Simpole volume, World Chess Championship 1951, by William Winter and R.G. Wade, ISBN 1843820846 This mighty clash between the top two Soviet Grandmasters was Botvinnik's first title defence after becoming World Champion in 1948. Amazingly, the man who had dominated Soviet and World chess was only able to defend his title by the skin of his teeth after a most ferocious and determined onslaught from his youthful challenger David Bronstein. The controversial 23rd game where a demoralised Bronstein may have resigned prematurely was the key to Botvinnik's ultimate success. This book was written by two expert eye witnesses, former British Champion and International Master William Winter, and Bob Wade, International Master, vice-president of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and later to be awarded the OBE for services to chess and chess education. Together these two acknowledged experts of the game give a thrilling first hand account of the intense intellectual drama of one of the most evenly fought battles in chess history.

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Book SynopsisTony Miles was a phenomenon in English chess. From an early age it was apparent that he had no respect whatsoever for the vaunted Soviet School of chess and held their grandmasters in scant esteem. At the very start of his career victories came in quick succession against such renowned opposition as Bronstein, Geller, Smyslov and Spassky. The culmination was a victory at the head of the British Chess Federation team in the European Team Championship at snow bound Skara in Sweden against the reigning world champion Anatoly Karpov. For the very first time in any anthology of Tony Miles' games this win appears here with Tony's own profound notes. This was an historic win with Miles using the iconoclastic 1...a6 to defeat the champion's habitual 1e4. Amongst Tony's exploits were winning the Junior World Championship, becoming the UK's first FIDE grandmaster in over the board play and leading the BCF team to silver medals behind only the USSR in the prestigious Chess Olympiads. Miles also won numerous first prizes in international tournaments. He feared no-one and his will to win was legendary, as exemplified by the front jacket photograph of this book. Taken at the Tilburg 1985 tournament, this shows Miles in play on a form of stretcher against grandmaster Djinjihashvili. Although suffering from terrible back pain, Miles insisted on competing, even from this unorthodox position, the only one in which the pain subsided. Characteristically Miles went on to win shared first prize in the event. Tony Miles died tragically early in November 2001. This book is a memorial to him, written by a Grandmaster rival who faced him many times over the board. 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 has organised three World Chess Championships

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