Board games: Chess Books

Book Synopsis For almost two centuries the French Defense has been a universally popular opening. Many authorities have made their contribution to establishing the theory. Thanks to their efforts, players nowadays can easily make a choice between the many and various options, whether peaceful or sharp, whether statically or dynamically orientated. Just as importantly, if not more so, fans of the French worldwide can today find good options to play both for a win and a draw! All this makes the French Defense very popular. However, the authors think that many lines have not been well explained or should be revisited. Some other lines deserve a better reputation. Finally we have also suggested some new approaches. Simply speaking, the French Defense looks to be inexhaustible and there cannot be enough books dedicated to it. This book takes a step in the direction of revitalizing our favorite opening! The aut

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Book SynopsisThis second and final volume of the Anti-Sicilian series covers our approach for all alternatives to 2…Nc6. The choice against 2…d6 was obvious. The Moscow variation is the only critical alternative to 3.d4 that has caused any concerns for Black – by developing with a tempo, we force Black to make an immediate decision on move 3 and wait for the right moment to open the position. Whilst in the Rossolimo book we have tried to achieve an objective advantage against every line, our choices in the Moscow were mainly selected by their ability to create practical difficulties for the opponent. Naturally, it is not possible to find an advantage in every variation but we have ensured to add many detailed explanations to guide plans and aid understanding in the various positions we’ll encounter

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Book SynopsisThis second and final volume of the Anti-Sicilian series covers our approach for all alternatives to 2…Nc6. The choice against 2…d6 was obvious. The Moscow variation is the only critical alternative to 3.d4 that has caused any concerns for Black – by developing with a tempo, we force Black to make an immediate decision on move 3 and wait for the right moment to open the position. Whilst in the Rossolimo book we have tried to achieve an objective advantage against every line, our choices in the Moscow were mainly selected by their ability to create practical difficulties for the opponent. Naturally, it is not possible to find an advantage in every variation but we have ensured to add many detailed explanations to guide plans and aid understanding in the various positions we’ll encounter

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Book SynopsisDragonMasters volume 1 charts the history of the most exciting and dangerous opening known to chess - the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Unlike almost all other books on the Dragon, the focus is not purely on theoretical development. Instead, the author has combined the most historically important games, the famous players who chose to fight either side (sometimes both sides!) of the opening, and the most unexpected and interesting stories featuring the Dragon. World Champions, contenders of the crown, code-breakers, revolutionaries in every sense of the world - all feature in this remarkable and entirely unique look into the history of an opening variation. as the ancient may say: Here be Dragons!

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Book Synopsis In this long-awaited second Thinkers-book of International Master, Armin Juhasz, the reader is invited to take a seat in his classroom and follow his useful guidelines how to improve your practical play. The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games, and detailed analysis is always given where it is necessary. Each game and fragment contain many lessons and practical tips, guiding the reader through the most important ideas in each phase of the game. This book illustrates an increasingly prevalent and successful style of play, a method that begins by slowly accumulating small but permanent advantages. The author does a very good job of explaining the key points of the game in such a way that the reader is given a true account of what is happening and not some watered down version. Translating the muddy world of modern master chess into something that is underst

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Book SynopsisAdrian and Oleg compiled, resulting from all different kind of middlegames, an impressive amount of most instructive endgames. The ideal material for any chess player or trainer in search of the need endgame finesses and skills.Trade ReviewFor this book, the authors have collected examples of complex endgames, which in most cases never appeared in endgame manuals. A number of these games belong to chess history, but are studied from a modern point of view. A lot of space is devoted to the practice of contemporary grandmasters, and use is made of analyses which have been published in chess publications like the Russian Journal "64", to which the authors regularly contribute. In the examples discussed by the authors, the stronger party always had a hard time converting his small advantage, and in some cases even very experienced Grandmasters were let down by their technique. But this is also a learning experience, and those who study the secrets of complex endgames can learn quite a lot from the kind of struggle characterised by very profound plans, surprising clues, and sometimes even real paradoxes. An excellent read! Chess Direct UK

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Book SynopsisProper handling of Bishops in the Endgame is an important feature in today’s chess and a must for every chess player who wants to climb the world’s chess hierarchy. This book deals with all important themes and ideas on the world of Bishop endings.

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Book SynopsisThe Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Gambit Declined are amongst black's soundest and most universal answers to 1.d4. In his trademark style, Milos investigates the most positional ways to proceed after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6. He analyses all the critical lines whilst also taking a close look at all the sidelines and gives Black many new possibilities to spice up the game. We are convinced that this book will bring you inspirational games and results.

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Book SynopsisYour opponent plays a gambit against you. How dare they!? But how can you punish them? Spanish Grandmaster Salgado has taken a close look at a wide variety of 'Gambit Lines'. Many gambit lines, where one or more pawns are sacrificed for the initiative, have to be taken seriously, but Ivan has succeeded in finding many new ideas and theoretical improvements. The result is the neutralisation or refutation of most of these common and well known 'Gambits'. This book is simply a must for anyone who wants to be fully prepared to engage in battle against a 'Gambit Player'. If you are a gambit player yourself, you need to read this to prepare yourself for new challenges to your systems.

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Book SynopsisGata will share in his first volume how he became one of the world elite class players and contender for the title of World Chess Champion. Why and how he used different styles of play and will reveal how this learning process helped him to become a chess professional.Trade ReviewKamsky analyses these games exhaustively, often explaining the mindset with which he approached them and why they have special meaning for him....it is still an amazing read... Carsten Hansen - ACM 01/2019. Kudos to Thinkers Publishing for convincing the American Chess Legend to publish with them, especially when we learn that "This is going to be my only work on chess, a subject that I feel I have learned enough about to share with you some of my knowledge". - Chess Magazine April 2019.So far two volumes in this series have been released and they do not disappoint in the slightest. Kamsky has a unique story in that after losing the 1996 FIDE world championship match to Karpov, he hardly played until his return in 2004. Shortly returning to a top level after his return, Kamsky has given us a splendid collection of his best efforts with some of the most in depth annotations I have ever seen. With each game taking up approximately 15-20 pages of analysis this is definitely not a book for the lazy. However Kamsky does not seek to drown the reader in an endless sea of variations, rather it is representative of the depth to which he understands chess, providing first-class explanations in the process. One of the few books I have read which gave me the instant impression of feeling stronger from going over the content. Gopal Menon 0620

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Book SynopsisIn this brandnew revised edition from 2017, Raja presents the Hyper Accelerated Dragon. He demonstrates from the second move a dynamic way to fight 1.e4! He covers all main lines and side-lines, even the most critical ones get a new and objective treatment. Raja’s book is recommended for all players that are eager to enter critical lines in this exciting Sicilian Opening.Trade ReviewRaja who has been playing this opening for years, so he clearly understands what he is talking about. One thing stands out to me is his intelligent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of computer evaluations in these middlegames. Excellent content, could be Book of the Year 2017. John Upper, Canadian Chess Newsfeed 05.2017The Hyper-Accelerated Dragon hasn't been given enough credit as far as I can see and I really hope to see it do well in the stores. Panjwani's efforts deserve it. Final rating: 6* /6 - this is easily my favourite opening book that I've read in recent times. Go get it! IM Kevin Goh, Chess.com 11.2017

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Book SynopsisThe Najdorf is one of the most respected variations of the Sicilian Defence. Over decades it has remained a sound yet attacking weapon in the hands of the world's finest players including several world champions. Join Robert James Fischer, Kasparov, Anand, Topalov, MVL and legions of club players by playing for a win with Black using the Najdorf. Expert and Grandmaster Milos Pavlovic will be your practical and honest guide in this fifth book for Thinkers Publishing.

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Book Synopsis'Learn from Michal Krasenkow' is a splendid walk through the games and life of the author. Michal presents his games in the most instructive way and gives the reader a deeper look of his own thinking. We are convinced you will find many fascinating games inspiring the reader to improve his game as well!Trade ReviewThe games are enjoyable, instructively and reasonably lightly annotated. And to be honest, you do not want to miss some of those variations: there are some amazing attacks. Perhaps the most astonishing chess content, however, is in the endgame section, which features analysis of pawn endgames and rook endgames...but I don't think I've seen better analysis of practical endgames. Krasenkow does a really great job of making the games fun and readable. In conclusion an excellent book and a 5-star commendation - GM Matthew Sadler - NIC Magazine 02/2019.One very positive aspect of the book is that the games will be very fresh to most readers. This is a book showing the gritty side of chess battles at a level just below the absolute top. - Sean Marsh - Chess 04.2019.The compelling star feature of the book is the high quality of the annotations themselves. Krasenkow provides clear explanations of many of the moves, and supplements this with concrete (sometimes quite deep!) lines when the position requires it. In my opinion he gets the balance just right, and it is easy to see why Krasenkow is a top coach as well as a strong player. Players of widely differing strengths will be able to enjoy and benefit from the author’s annotations. In summary: I highly recommend this book. It can be read for enjoyment by those who simply like going through well-annotated chess games, and there is little doubt that more serious study will benefit those looking to improve. Colin Purdon, July 20th 2019, BRITISH CHESS NEWS.

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Book SynopsisGrandmaster Grivas presents the reader an unique and massive amount of amazing puzzles including their historical background. All the most famous and rare tactical themes are covered, promising the read of the year!

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Book SynopsisIn this book Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov describes his experiences as captain of national and club teams. He coached also individuals players such as Karpov, Korchnoi, Eljanov, Giri and So, to name some. To improve and grow, every chess player needs to address the issues that prevent him from moving on to a higher level. Collaboration with an experienced mentor can greatly accelerate the player's creative growth and improve his results. In this book the author give the reader a close-up opportunity to witness his coaching experiences with the chess stars.Trade ReviewI read Tukmakov’s book Coaching the Chess Stars. I would recommend the chapter on Anish Giri – it certainly helped me a lot! - Magnus Carlsen, interview 'chess24' 040519Coaching the Chess Stars is a fascinating view 'behind the curtains' of chess at the highest levels. Tukmakov is a good writer and a better annotator, and the fact that the book is successful despite the near impossibility of his task, having to respect privacy while revealing the nature of elite coaching, speaks to the difficulty of the project as well as his skills in executing it. CHESSLIFE, JULY 2019, John HartmannHis account of the collaborations with such players as Kortchnoi, Tseshkovsky as well as Giri and So are just as interesting. Just as with Edouard's account of working with Topalov, the insights of an insider lend colour and might not have grabbed your attention. In summary a really fascinating book that I enjoyed greatly! 5 Stars! GM Matthew Sadler NIC Magazine 07/19.An excellent book, then, fascinating and, at times, brutally honest. Tukmakov offers a different insight into top level chess from two perspectives: a captain and a coach. If your main aim is improving your chess you might not consider it an essential purchase, but if the subject matter appeals, don’t hesitate. You won’t be disappointed. Richard James, Twickenham, 29th February 2020 BRITISH CHESS NEWS

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Book SynopsisIn his second volume Robert Ris continues to explore the essential elements of practical play for any club player. Again the result is that Ris offers a course to help chess students master all facets of the game. A most instructive and need book for any player that wants to improve his basics skills!Trade ReviewIn summary then, this book covers familiar ground, but it does so very impressively, with plenty of diagrams, lucid explanations and appropriate levels of analysis. In my opinion Ris’ book becomes the leader of the pack in a relatively crowded field. I commend it unreservedly. Mark Taylor, Windsor, Berkshire, 1st February 2020, BRITISH CHESS NEWS.

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Book SynopsisThe famous Russian Grandmaster Evgeny Bareev took a real challenge in writing this book: "Say No to Chess Principles!". The author presents his material in a typically humorous style, but not forgetting the players behind the moves. The material is divided into several chapters including ' A Queen Behind Enemy Lines', 'At the Edge of the Board' and 'Killer Delayed Castling'. In his introduction Bareev explains: "However it also happens that chess players often discover significant resources which formally exist outside the typical rules of chess. Those who know how to break all the rules and work around those specific guidelines reach the very top". This book is simply an amazing read discovering an unique tool: break the dogmatic rules when possible!Trade Review“A magnificent book about the immense variety in chess – it is very inspiring and makes a lot of fun.” German IM Dirk Schuh. 230519What I do look at when I think about a chess book is whether the material will help me to improve, and whether I will recall any of it in six months’ time. I feel that this book fulfils those goals, because what is within is both thought-provoking and inspiring. And is Bareev’s book worth the investment? Well, I would say: yes! Grandmaster Danny Gormally - Chess 06.19

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Book SynopsisThe Winawer variation of the French is reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4. This is one of the most exciting openings in the game. It’s an alternative universe with alternative rules. In return for the Bishop Black gets a rock solid pawn structure and lots of dynamic capabilities. It should not come as a surprise that in these unbalanced fights Black can really play for a win. The groundwork was done by Nimzowitsch, Botvinnik and Kortchnoi in the old days. Nowadays players like Carlsen, So and Mamedyarov still use their ideas with success. People often ask, “does true love exist?” Well, Miedema and the French might be one of those rare examples. Fortunately the love has translated to countless novelties and fighting lines. This is his first volume on the French defence and his debut as an author.Trade ReviewThe good news for many French exponents is that Miedema doesn't disappoint, the backbone of his repertoire for Black being highly complex. Coverage is extremely up-to-date, as well as complete and features plenty of unplayed improvements for Black. Chess Magazine May 2019.

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Book SynopsisThese three volumes contain the most memorable games of five-time US Champion Gata Kamsky. Volume 1 covers the period before his early retirement. Volume 2 and 3 cover the period after his return to the game and will be available in the Autumn of 2019 and 2020. The annotations are an attempt to search for the truth and reveal the workings of a Grandmaster’s mind. The introductions are designed to show the reader what he thought, felt and experienced at the time and during each game. In addition, he sometimes shares his personal opinions on subjects like politics and his philosophy of life.Trade ReviewIn some respects, then, this is a very personal book: much more than just a games collection. Every one of the games is fascinating, the annotations are superb, but you probably need to be round about 2200 strength to gain full benefit from following all the variations. Below that level, you might find yourself shouting “too much information, Mr Kamsky” and perhaps prefer to spend your money on something with more games and fewer variations. The production standards, as usual from this publisher, are excellent. I noticed very few typos (a redundant check sign and Jeffrey rather than Jeffery Xiong). If you’re looking for a collection of grandmaster games with exceptionally detailed annotations, along with some very personal insights into the world of top level chess, this is the book for you. Richard James, Twickenham, 26th February 2020 BRITISH CHESS NEWS.So far two volumes in this series have been released and they do not disappoint in the slightest. Kamsky has a unique story in that after losing the 1996 FIDE world championship match to Karpov, he hardly played until his return in 2004. Shortly returning to a top level after his return, Kamsky has given us a splendid collection of his best efforts with some of the most in depth annotations I have ever seen. With each game taking up approximately 15-20 pages of analysis this is definitely not a book for the lazy. However Kamsky does not seek to drown the reader in an endless sea of variations, rather it is representative of the depth to which he understands chess, providing first-class explanations in the process. One of the few books I have read which gave me the instant impression of feeling stronger from going over the content. Gopal Menon CHESS BOOK COLLECTORS 0620

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Book SynopsisThe Modernized Dutch Defense leads to unbalanced structures and dynamic play. White must be well prepared to understand this most aggressive defense which we might even call an 'attack'. Adrien Demuth delivered a fighting repertoire for Black starting from move one!Trade ReviewIn summary this is an excellent book providing a complete repertoire for black against 1.d4, 1.Nf3 & 1.c4 It contains a lot of original analysis and sound recommendations. Although this opening may not be considered to be totally sound at GM level it is perfectly playable at Club level. Tony Williams, January 5 2020, BRITISH CHESS NEWS.

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Book SynopsisThe Berlin Defense is one of the most popular openings for Black against 1.e4 for the last two decades in the higher echelons of the chess world. In this book, the critical ideas are explained in a way that even Club players will feel the confidence to add this evergreen opening to their repertoire by explaining the opening concepts lucidly in such a way that anyone who reads this Book will have the courage to play Berlin in their games. In this book, GM Priyadharshan Kannappan has chosen some off-beat tracks on the Berlin endgame and also has considered 4.d3 as the mainline of Berlin, the 1st for any Berlin book, but is a modern necessity due to the increasing popularity of 4.d3. The book packs enough punch in novelties for the opening aficionados, and this up to date book presents new ideas and variations that were previously never shed light on in the Berlin. GM Priyadharshan has given equal importance to the various sidelines that lead up to the Berlin endgame, and also in the Berlin endgame, and has suggested options where Black actively fights for dynamic positions, and not just gets satisfied with equal positions. The book also has 100 games suggestion that one must study to improve their overall understanding of the various pawn structures and ideas involved in the Queenless endgame.Trade ReviewI found the general content to be attractive, intros, text, the right balance of game segments plus conclusions, and the English language and typesetting were both of a high quality. If you are attracted to the Berlin, but want to avoid the highly-theoretical lines, then this Modernized version could be for you. GM Glenn Flear - YB 134 - 04.2020.

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Book SynopsisThis book marks the start of a series of four on 1.d4 in which Ivan will share the secrets from two decades spent analyzing and playing it at the pinnacle of world chess. This volume in particular deals with two of the most popular replies Black can play after 1.d4: the King’s Indian & Grûnfeld Defense. This repertoire book is cutting-edge theory, recommending f3 for White against the fianchetto systems.Trade ReviewThis repertoire book is cutting-edge theory, recommending f3 for White against the fianchetto systems. In fact, at the time of writing this column, Ding and Nepomniachtchi fought out a theoretical line analysed in depth in this book. There is a tremendous amount of original ideas and analysis in this book. I was intrigued what Cheparinov recommended against Ivan Ivanisevic's in the Modernized Delayed Benoni! As it happens it is 1-0 to Cheparinov in that regard, as he both considers Ivanisevic's subtle move order in depth, and then suggests a move that Ivanisevic does not consider! Once again, it's definitely a book for experts, but really a good one! GM Matthew Sadler, NIC Magazine 2020/4.To say Cheparinov's coverage is exhaustive would be an understatement and it is easy to see why he was Topalov's second during his days as World Champion. The lines in this book routinely go 20 to 25 moves deep and in some cases up to move 40! Explanatory prose is provided to assist the reader but concrete lines are the heart of Cheparinov's 1.d4!. Some amateurs might mistakenly believe they can reproduce Cheparinov's analysis using a strong computer engine but they would be grossly mistaken. It takes a world class grandmaster with a strong work ethic and deep knowledge of opening theory to produce a work like this which is aimed only at the most serious and ambitious. IM John Donaldson, September 2020.

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Book SynopsisThe advantage of “our” Benoni is based on a waiting approach. Black would like to choose a perfect moment to play …e6xd5, waiting for White to adopt some piece setup that turns out to be inconvenient for him after this exchange. At the same time, we would like to avoid some dangerous or deeply explored variations like the Flick-Knife (a.k.a Taimanov) or systems where White can place his bishop on the optimal f4-square. A lot of variations in this book can also be useful for King’s Indian players, as a main or alternative way to play. My own journey in the world of the Delayed Benoni started when I was a King’s Indian kind of guy! As every rose has its thorn, so White can annoy us by answering our …e6xd5 not with the routine c4xd5 but rather with e4xd5. This produces a completely different pawn formation, with an open e-file. White enjoys a space advantage but Black has his chances. And just as White can depart from the well-trodden path with e4xd5, so Black can dispense with the almost automatic …e6xd5 and instead play …e6-e5, producing a sort of King’s Indian formation. In the Main Line, covered in Chapter 4, White has already played h2-h3 and this pawn can become a target when Black gets his kingside attack moving. Our opponent can force us into a Modern Benoni, by playing f3 (Sämisch) or f4 (Four Pawns). I think that I have succeeded defending Black’s case, even finding some important nuances improving on the existing theory. From my personal experience, the only way for White to achieve some advantage is the h3 and Bd3 variation with e4xd5, the Main Variation covered in Chapter 4. The problem for White, though, is that Black can answer that line in many different ways. So White must be thoroughly prepared and acquainted with all the nuances of our system. And even then, White’s advantage is just a “normal” one. I give a different approach to this variation, three (!) different ways for Black to respond. The reader can also, through the game commentaries, see the development of the variation in my practice. In my opinion, the Delayed Benoni is a kind of mystery for White also, since it has not been covered deeply enough in chess publications. So I think that this work could be useful for White players, too.Trade ReviewThe Modernized Delayed Benoni is much more than the title makes you think! I like the author's approach very much: it is a mixture of a personal journey and a theoretical manual. The author has been probably the main exponent of this line for the past ten years and he uses many of his games to illustrate the variations he has recommended. Although the book is again extremely detailed, there is careful attention to move orders and enough passages of explanations to make much of it understandable for non-experts. An excellent effort. GM Matthew Sadler, NIC Magazine 2020/4.The Modernized Delayed Benoni is written by Grandmaster Ivan Ivanisevic, with an important contribution by GM Ivan Sokolov. It is an excellent 240-page book, produced by Thinkers Publishing. There is a lot of detailed analysis here, complimented by plenty of relevant text. The book revives a system in the Benoni which has not been given the respect it deserves over the years. I can strongly recommend the Modernized Delayed Benoni. Players from 1800 upwards will get a lot out of it and master-level players perhaps most of all. The quality of the ideas suggested, and the original thinking make this a 5 STAR book. IM Andrew Martin, British Chess News, July 2020

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Book SynopsisThe Royal Chess Couple in Action introduces the dominant leadership of the royal game. The King is its most significant piece while the Queen is its mightiest one. Following a brief historical overview the reader is met with the wealth of tactical abilities characterizing the main heroes, their strengths and weaknesses in attack and defence, while acting on their own or collaborating with other pieces. The authors, both are experienced players and tutors, offer to the improving player a selection of almost 500 instructive positions he may choose to use for training, just as fun read…or both!Trade ReviewThe Royal Chess Couple in Action (Thinkers Publishing 2020, 384 pages, paperback) by International Masters Hans Bohm and Yochanan Afek is an original work that seeks to show the powers of the two most important pieces through over the board examples and endgame studies. The Royal Chess Couple in Action is a good choice for those rated 2000 on up looking to increase their understanding in a pleasurable way. One can easily imagine using these books to develop a daily habit of playing over a game and solving a study while drinking one’s beverage of choice. IM John Donaldson August 2020.

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Book SynopsisMost tactics and training books are good for boosting your calculation ability, but they do not teach you how to calculate. This is the difference I want to make with my own books, by arranging the exercises in different categories so that the thinking process more closely resembles the one we have during a game. Level 1 of my new series consists of learning how to checkmate your opponent. The first three chapters are a rather classical tactics training, then things get harder. In Chapter 4, you have to trap your opponent’s king; in Chapter 5, you have to win by eliminating the defender in your opponent’s position; in Chapter 6, by using a decisive double threat and in Chapter 7, with an unexpected winning sacrifice. Chapter 8 consists of a few other problems which required short instructions. You should go through the book chapter by chapter. The complexity of the examples increases throughout the book, and you shouldn’t skip a category if you consider it too easy. The book covers the full thinking process you should have when trying to mate your opponent, or when the situation of your opponent’s king may tempt you to look further in a mating direction. As with all training, there is a warm-up, a tough phase, a break, a relaxing phase, then another tough phase, and respecting the pedagogical order of the book will make sure that you derive the maximum benefit from it, and are 100% ready for Level 2. After you have completed all 276 exercises in the book you won’t let your opponent’s king escape when it shouldn’t. Reading it should pay off quickly in terms of results! And this is exactly what I wish you.Trade ReviewEdouard is not shy about visiting the classics and his selection of positions reaches far back into history. This book should appeal to anyone wanting to build up their checkmating skills and with its progressing approach it will enjoy an extended self life too. Sean Marsh - Chess - April 2020.One nicety of Edouard's presentation is chapter four, "Trap Your Opponent's King". While many mate problems, including no small number in Chess Calculation Training for Kids and Club Players, involve flashy sacrifices, it's arguably more useful to solve those where you have a quietly encircle and lasso the king over a series of moves. That Edouard included a set of these type of positions shows good authorial (and editorial!) judgment. John Hartmann - Chess Life - April 2020.As with every recent Thinkers Publishing publication high quality paper is used and the printing is clear. The book can easily be laid flat next to the board and does not require weights to prevent it from “self-closing” (a particular bugbear of ours !). Each diagram is clear and the instructional text is typeset in two column format, which, we find, enables the reader to maintain their place easily. Figurine algebraic notation is used throughout and the diagrams are placed adjacent to the relevant text and each diagram has a “to move” indicator.We have reviewed several tactics books in the last few months and this one from GM Romain Edouard competes in the busy improving juniors and club players market. There is another market sometimes not considered as important which is the adult player who does not play OTB (who does right now?) or even online but does enjoy solving chess problems : this book will satisfy these readers.Noteworthy is the absence of patronizing cartoons which can put off the more serious juniors and adults. For very young players these are fine but for probably 10 year old plus these (IMHO) are not welcome. The presentation is excellent and the solutions clear. As a coach I am looking to unleashing these on my students. I’ve recommended this book to their parents without hesitation and am looking forward to Level 2 and beyond. Chess parents take note ! John Upham, British Chess News, 8th October, 2020

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Book SynopsisEn este nuevo libro, Romain examina el más reciente aspecto de su carrera: ser asistente de un jugador de la élite. Trabajó con Veselin Topalov desde 2010 hasta 2014, período en el que con su ayuda sobresalen la victoria del búlgaro en la serie Grand Prix 2012-2013 y el convertirse en Candidato a la Corona Mundial. Edouard nos cuenta todo sobre esta mágica experiencia. Al repasar los torneos donde asistió al GM Topalov, el autor, no sólo analiza bellas partidas sino que además explica cómo se las agenciaron para crear nuevas ideas e incluso llega a revelar algunas que no se han jugado todavía. También da respuesta a las preguntas que más curiosidad despiertan en la mayoría de los entusiastas del ajedrez: ¿Cómo te conviertes en ayudante de un jugador de la élite?, ¿En qué consiste ese trabajo?, ¿Cómo se aúnan esfuerzos para colaborar?, ¿Cómo se prepara una partida o torneo importante?, ¿Cómo se comporta un genio ajedrecístico en la vida real? Si disfrutas las partidas fascinantes, las ideas inesperadas en la apertura y deseas conocer lo que sucede tras bambalinas, definitivamente, ¡este libro es para ti!

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Book SynopsisAfter his first two most successful volumes of Chess Middlegame Strategies, Ivan Solokov explores in his final volume ideas related to the symbiosis of the strategic and dynamic elements of chess. He combined the most exceptional ideas, strategies and positional play essentials. These three volumes will give you a serious head start when studying and playing a middlegame. A book and series that cannot be missed in any serious chess library!

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Book SynopsisThe book that you are holding in your hands is a continuation of the famous Kuzmin series. The two prior books concerning the chess creativity of Alexander Morozevich and participants in the Candidates tournaments was written for rather experienced players. That last book on the Candidates recently won the FIDE Chess Book Award of the Year 2018. This book is different in that “Together With Mamdeyarov” has been written primarily for chess players with an Elo ranging 1400–2100. While working on the book I followed two objectives. First to help the players’ improvement and secondly to closer acquaint the readers with the creativity of one of the brightest contemporary grandmasters. If I were to characterize Mamedyarov’s play in one word I would use the adjective “powerful” and if I were to use two words, then perhaps “power chess”. Namely this energy and power are the dominants of his creativity with his opening preparation being only a supplementing factor. “Together With Mamedyarov” is not a collection of his selected games but it is primarily a study-book. It contains test positions taken from games of the famous Azeri grandmaster with detailed comments on the solutions to the tasks. In this book the solutions have been placed right after a diagram with a test except for the six positions given as a warm-up in the beginning of the chapter one. For those of you who work without the assistance of a coach would recommend that you cover the answer with a sheet of paper to avoid spoiling the benefit of solving the problem. This book is dedicated to all young chess players aspiring to improve but i also hope that it will be interesting for admirers of the Azeri “number one” chess player’s creativity and his fans. Further we hope this book will be useful for coaches in their work.

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Book SynopsisThis book is about the Marshall Attack and the lines which can be grouped together under the banner of the so-called Anti-Marshall. The theory has developed so much in the last decade that there is more than enough material to be going on with just in those areas, but I also decided to include a detailed look at an important line in the Exchange Variation. Black’s key concept in the Marshall is giving up a central pawn in return for activity, and I have tried to give as many lines as possible which adhere closely to this principle. Why is this so significant? Well, for starters, usually in the Ruy Lopez Black is looking for long, slow games in solid, closed positions. The Marshall flips this on its head and Black tries to accelerate the play and radically change the character of the game at an early stage. Let’s briefly discuss the material of the book itself and the lines that I have decided to give. First of all, I started off with the standard Marshall Attack, after the initial moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5. I have given direct analysis wherever possible and I have tried to cover all the essential lines. Of course, with the passing of the years and the continual development of theory we can see how the popularity of some positions has shifted and, in some cases, how certain lines have simply been rendered obsolete. I also discovered, to my surprise, that there are still new, unexplored, and interesting paths for further analysis.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book fully devoted to the double fianchetto for both colors, White and Black. GM Daniel Hausrath draws upon his vast experience to provide guidance on how to use the different kinds of set-ups the double fianchetto has available for White and Black. In a clear manner, Daniel explains the many subtle move orders, the critical resulting middle game structures and typical endgame positions. His guidance through the presented games will bring you an immediate gain in the understanding of the benefits of the ‘Double Fianchetto’. This is an ideal book for all club players and is written by one of the leading experts on the ‘Double Fianchetto’.Trade ReviewToday chess theory is exploding and entire books are written on single variations. The idea of solving all of one’s opening problems for both White and Black with just one volume seems to be too good to be true, but German Grandmaster Daniel Hausrath begs to differ. His first book Double- Fianchetto: The Modern Chess Lifestyle offers ideas on how to build a repertoire after the moves b2-b3, g2-g3, …b7-b6 and …g7-g6. Unlike most Thinkers Publishing efforts, which are arranged like standard opening book, Hausrath’s work is arranged around 62 model games. This works well for the subject matter under discussion which is based more around ideas and strategies than long concrete variations.As White the repertoire typically begins with 1.Nf3 and 2.g3, meeting the King’s Indian/Grunfeld with 3.b3, a variation Vladimir Kramnik started to play near the end of his career. The double fianchetto also works well against the Dutch, certain lines of the Queen’s Gambit (the Tarrasch for example) and various variations in the Reti. It’s also possible to transpose into some line Hausrath covers via 1.g3 or 1.c4.The heart of this book are Hausrath’s insightful annotations, primarily prose, which cover all parts of the game (opening, middlegame and endgame). If you are interested in double fianchetto setups with either color, or if you only want to improve your positional understanding, Double- Fianchetto: The Modern Chess Lifestyle is the book for you. IM John Donaldson - USA September 2020.A new author and a novel subject, but the two-word title is sufficient to give you a good idea as what it's all about. It turns out that the 'Double Fianchetto' examines the relevant scenarios in several openings, but the main area of struggle is generally later on. It's an opening book where theory is kept to a minimum. A decent selection with a great deal of fighting chess, general principles, practical advice and some psychology, can be found, but no real theory at all! The annotations are light but with plenty of instructive text in straightforward English, as if a school teacher is showing a pupil how it works. GM G.Flear NIC YB 136-2020.

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Book SynopsisMost chess games are decided by tactics. Grandmaster Thomas Luther brings a structured approach to capturing the subtleties of any tactical theme. The reader is challenged to regularly solve his exercises and in doing so improve his skills of motif recognition. This book is aimed at chess players of all ages and levels who want to significantly improve their results. This is the first book in the Thinkers’ Chess Academy trilogy.

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Book SynopsisOne, and sometimes more engines, toil without rationing electricity, sometimes checking on their master’s ideas or more oft en showing their own evaluations and recommendations on screen with each conclusion supplemented by an exact numeric equivalent. There is no arguing with such an expert. Is it even necessary? He, as the almighty judge, knows all and can answer any question. All that is needed is patience. During a mutual training session, a young player who is currently one of the top in the world, asked Garry Kasparov: “How did you evaluate positions in the past?” After all standard evaluations like “better” or “worse” are too vague and cannot begin to satisfy a modern professional. Th e very question feels like a giant gap between the approach to solving chess problems then and now. Intuition and improvisation are gradually phased out by exact knowledge and calculation. So far this has only become fully evident in the opening. More than anything else it has become opening preparation which has made the biggest fundamental change to professional chess. So now let us peer behind the curtain!Trade ReviewTukmakov always has pertinent and insightful things to say about chess and chess players and the book provides the views of a top coach on the top players of today, which is always worth reading! GM Matthew Sadler, NIC Magazine 06/2020.

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Book SynopsisThe book you hold is the first work of GM Sethuraman and contains his efforts to find new paths and fresh perspectives on these two variations of these famous Sicilians. We hope you gain from information in this book as well as simply enjoy the games themselves.Trade ReviewI got to know Sethu more closely a few years back when we trained together a few times. I found him to be meticulous in his preparation and especially at home in complex positions. These qualities make him perfect for these two Sicilans and I am sure after reading this book, you (the reader) will be ready to confidently explore these two fascinating Sicilians. Former World Champion Vishy Anand.

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Book SynopsisThis is the second book of the Thinkers’ Chess Academy series. In the first book we started at a beginner’s level with checkmates in 1, 2 or 3 moves and the most common tactical motifs. If you have already worked with the first book you will now be much more experienced and ready for some more difficult lessons. We will start with 50 combinations to refresh our memory of the motifs from the first book. Th e chess friends who have not read the first book can treat it as a kind of self-test. If you cannot solve many of the examples it may be better to go back and work through the first book again. It is not a good idea to leave basic knowledge out. It will certainly hinder your progress if you do so. In this book we will not only show you more tactical motifs, but we will also give you an introduction to the basics of chess strategy. You will learn the most important elements of strategy which will help you to find better plans and to understand positions better. At the end of the book a chapter with 50 checkmates of 5+ moves will show you techniques of how to attack or hunt the opponent’s king and also how to improve your calculation skills and your imagination at the chessboard. Now enough of the prologue, let us go to work and learn lots about chess tactics and strategy! Have a lot of fun while studying chess and enjoy your improvement! Yours, Thomas Luther Grandmaster and FIDE senior trainer

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Book SynopsisTo learn and to play endgames well the chess player must love endgames’ - Lev Psakhis. Different kinds of endgames have specific characteristics and rules. Every serious player must know many typical positions and main principles of all types of endings. That knowledge should help us during the game, but it is not enough to become a good player, not yet. There just too many different endings, some of them with two or more pieces, some are very complex. To be comfortable and play well those complex endings require specific knowledge and specific ways of thinking. We will call it ‘endgame thinking’. I chose to write a book on advanced rook endings as I simply did not wish to write another book that would be like the many already available. I have done my best to present analysis and articles I have written over the past 10-15 years. Th is work has been presented in my daily coaching sessions, seminars, workshops, etc. The material has helped a lot of trainees to develop into quite strong players gaining international titles and championships. Now, it is your turn to taste and enjoy it!Trade ReviewThis is a superb book packed full of instructive examples which I cannot praise enough. The book has clearly been extensively researched with Efstratios Grivas showcasing his credentials as a world class trainer. The book starts off with four well thought out introductory sections: 1. The Endgame which briefly discusses the historical literature and computer evolution of the endgames. In this section, the author introduces his useful boxed SOS Tips which remind the reader of the salient points of a particular lesson or section. 2. The Golden Rules of the Endgame which every player should know. I like the way that Grivas acknowledges other authors’ contributions to the evolution of our endgame understanding and this is clearly shown here and in Chapter 4 Extra Passed Pawn.3. Rook Endgame Principles which lists the five main rules of rook endgames which is particularly useful for less experienced players. 4.Evaluation – Plan – Execution which discusses the role of planning followed by an excellent seven-point SOS tip box. Buy the book to learn more! FM Richard Webb, British Chess News, July 2020.Now add to this outpouring Your Jungle Guide to Rook Endings (Thinkers Publishing 2020, www.thinkerspublishing.com, 398 pages, $35) by Greek grandmaster Efstratios Grivas. This book, which covers a lot of ground, could be mostly closely compared to Understanding Rook Endgames by Karsten Muller and Yakov Konoval. It seeks to not only teach fundamental endings but also how to play more complicated positions. This includes rook endings in which both sides have three pawns on the kingside and the superior side has a passed pawn on the other flank with the defender’s rook behind this pawn. This type of ending, sometimes with a pawn more or less for each side on the kingside, come up often in practice and is quite important. Grivas certainly thinks so as Chapter 4 of his book which is over 100 pages long, is devoted to just this subject. Much of endgame theory is static but there have been some recent major discoveries in this particular ending which professional level players should be aware of. Your Jungle Guide to Rook Endings draws heavily on recent games and those from the author’s practice for examples. There is more explanatory prose to be found here than in most endgame books and Grivas also offers a series of helpful tips throughout that help to orient the reader and make the material easier to digest. Your Jungle Guide to Rook Endings is not the first book on rook and pawn endgame many players will need, but it may well be the last. It is primarily aimed at players over 2200 (or ambitious ones from 2000 on up). IM John Donaldson 03.2021 USA

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Book SynopsisThe Sveshnikov is undeniably one of the most dynamic and aggressive Sicilians available these days. Most recently, it was made popular again by World Champion Magnus Carlsen in his match against Fabiano Caruana at the end of 2018. The main lines lead to complex positions, and a deep knowledge and understanding of the opening is a real necessity for any player who wishes to enter this battlefield. Our author, Robert Ris, focuses on all the current developments, highlighting the most important and instructive games from recent years, using his own over-the board experiences. Ris is well known for his theoretical knowledge and overall opening expertise. And we are quite convinced that he provides Sicilian players with an up-to date arsenal for playing the Sveshnikov.

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Book SynopsisThe book before you is a product of what happens when two chess players start a relationship (which started over six years ago) and enter a dialogue about how to get ready for the next tournament. The content of this book is a training program for players who plan to play an over-the-board tournament a few weeks from the time they start training with this book. This book, unlike other similar books in the field of improvement, does not have a central theme. In other words, we are not focused solely on openings, middlegames or endgames. Moreover, the book does not only concentrate on specific themes (calculation, positional decisions, or other strategic aspects), though many of these concepts are addressed throughout the book. Instead, this book offers a holistic view on how to approach every single position in it, regardless of the phase of the game or the nature of the position. We try to teach players how to identify types of decisions in various positions, while pointing at the trade-off between a hardcore calculation and a heuristics judgment.Trade ReviewIf, however, you’re really serious about improving your chess and you’re prepared to follow the instructions, working hard on each position, then this could be just the book for you. The positions are well chosen to cover a wide range of themes, and the solutions are fully explained. You might think some of the explanations might have been clearer, and the English, although it doesn’t really matter, might have been more idiomatic. You might also notice that, in positions where margins are very thin, different engines will choose different moves and give different assessments. You might wish for some recognition of human factors such as ‘playability’ rather than just computer analysis. But strong and ambitious players who have the time and motivation to put in the required effort will undoubtedly benefit a lot. Where I’d disagree with Moradiabadi and Foisor is that I’d consider it most suitable for players of at least 2000 strength. I think the 1700-1999 folk would probably learn more from either simpler or more specifically targeted positions. As a final word, I should add that, as always with Thinkers Publishing, the production values are excellent. Richard James, British Chess News, 21st January 2021.Put, simplistically, this is a puzzle book but when reading it you soon realize it is much more than that. Each part starts with a detective story presented in the words of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson which, though offbeat for a chess book, does make for entertaining and instructive reading. Moreover, these intros are quite mind boggling and require serious imagination if our two heroes are to unravel the unfolding mysteries. In total there are 312 of these puzzles which are carefully and thoroughly annotated with lots of analysis, explanatory prose, and diagrams to make the reading more digestible. I too have written several puzzles book, but I still found myself admiring the complexity of the examples chosen here and thinking about the effort that has gone into dissecting them. An excellent book for ambitious players and their coaches. FM Carsten Hansen, American Chess Magazine 20/2021

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Book SynopsisThere is no doubt that the Nimzovich Defense is one of Black’s most inspiring openings after 1.e4. Black strives to unbalance the position by creating new problems for White from move two, giving himself every opportunity to fight for the initiative from the outset. It is no surprise that 1…Nc6 appeals ambitious players who relish a complicated battle. In this book, GM Christian Bauer explains how to use this powerful weapon drawing from his own successful experiences. He is not shy to show you the fundamental ideas, the traps, the pitfalls and naturally the move order subtleties which play such an important role in our modern game of chess. We are convinced this book will give you plenty of confidence and make your opponent think more than twice.

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Book SynopsisIn his seventh book for Thinkers Publishing, Milos Pavlovic examines the Stonewall set-up in detail. Drawing upon his years of playing experiences and opening study, Milos highlights the key aspects and covers the most recent developments in this most solid line of the Dutch Defense. This book will provide you a great new arsenal of weapons when playing with the black pieces.Trade ReviewAs with every Thinkers Publishing publication high quality paper is used and the printing is clear. Each diagram is clear is clear and the instructional text is typeset in two column format, which, we find, enables the reader to maintain their place easily. This book is ideal perhaps for someone who plays the Classical Dutch (or even the Leningrad Dutch) who wishes to add the Stonewall to their repertoire . The treatment of the main lines in the Bd6 and Be7 Stonewalls is detailed and up-to-date as of 2020. Playing the Stonewall Dutch will add to your understanding of positional chess and strategy and, of course, Black has won many games with this weapon a King side attack especially with the g pawn! We like this book and so will you. John Upham, British Chess News, May 2020.

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Book SynopsisThis book takes you along a most fascinating journey. Starting with chess games from the 19th Century and the foundation of the Belgium Chess Federation in 1920. Frank Hoffmeister sees this as a personal homage to the KBSB but also explains his personal views on the Belgian chess scene and developments.

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Book SynopsisThe official story of the 2020 Candidates Tournament began on November the 11th, 2019 with the signing of a contract between FIDE and the Russian Chess Federation detailing the hosting duties of said tournament in Ekaterinburg from the 15th of March to the 5th of April, 2020. At that point no one could have even imagined how difficult the road to that tournament would be nor how unexpected the outcome. Yet the significance of the actual numbers in this dramatic epic is hard to overestimate which is why the author will attempt to play the role of chronicler and try to describe as accurately as possible the key moments of this historic event. Vladimir Tukmakov was our close observer, author and wrote a historically important book on the first part of the Candidates 2020.

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Book SynopsisWhen should we exchange a piece in the endgame and when should we keep it? Why is it so important? How to make a right choice? Different types of endings and guidance on how to make the correct decision were the subject of my book The Correct Exchange in the Endgame. Two editions were very well accepted by chess players of different levels. I am especially happy that many chess coaches and teachers found it useful for their training programs. The book was announced as a silver winner of the Boleslavsky Award 2016 by the FIDE Trainer’s Commission. Many readers and coaches expressed a wish to see more instructive exercises, so together with Thinkers Publishing we decided to make an exercise book. It can be widely used by chess teachers in schools, coaches in chess clubs and all chess players. Trying to solve 120 instructive exercises and then going through the correct solutions, you will certainly improve your decision-making ability and analyzing skills, as well as enrich your knowledge and understanding of the final stage of the chess game.Trade ReviewAll in all, this is a very good endgame puzzle book to work through. Players of all standards will learn a lot from attempting to solve the positions followed by studying the solutions which are well structured and easy to follow. FM Richard Webb, British Chess News, Chineham, Hampshire, 26th April 2021 To Exchange or Not? The Ultimate Workbook (Thinkers Publishing 2020, www.thinkerspublishing.com, 191 pages, $29) is the follow-up to Eduardas Rozentalis’ well-received 2018 book The Correct Exchange in the Endgame?. In his first book the Lithuanian grandmaster dealt with the important issue of when to simplify or not to simplify in the endgame, a topic previously not well-covered in chess literature. In his sequel Rozentalis has provided 120 exercises to solve which all come with detailed solutions. The exercises are grouped into three categories, with the difficult exercises in the advanced chapter quite challenging indeed. There are a number of positions where Black has doubled c-pawns reflecting the fact that Rozentalis is a life-long specialist on the White side of the Exchange Ruy Lopez. Those looking for active training to test and improve their abilities in this fundamental endgame skill will find this book quite helpful. To Exchange or Not? is primarily aimed at players over 2200 (or ambitious ones from 2000 on up). These books are printed on good paper and feature a clear and easy to read layout. Short extracts of both books can be found on the publisher’s website. IM John Donaldson, 03.2021, USA.

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