3 comments about Mastering the King's Indian Defense (A Batsford Chess Book).

1. It's unfortunate that this book is no longer readily available because this is the way the openings should be taught to club players. Rather than give numerous variations or even annotated games, Bellin & Ponzetto give schematic intros to annotated games that illustrate strategic and tactical themes in the major variations of the KID (and not divided up by the variation's name, but by its pawn structure). I personally found this extremely effective and wish similar books were published in all my openings. Books like this are timeless and need to be reprinted often because they focus on ideas, not the latest theory. I do not own the other two books in this series on the Benoni and the Spanish (I play neither), but I have seen them and they, too, are very good. If you see them, buy them.



2. I own the series of Mastering the Openings books - on the King's Indian, the Benoni/Benko Gambit, the Spanish, the French, and the Nimzoindian - and love them. The only one I can criticize is the one on the Nimzo, by Tony Kosten. He doesn't break the structures down the same way the other books do. The others, this one included, teach the openings based on the central pawn structure, which is what guides the middlegame plans. Developing players (under 2000 ELO) will find these books very helpful in understanding these openings.



3. This book is absolutely excellent - it is a shame that it is out of print.

   The book features a rather unique approach to learning the opening - pawn structure. Each chapter focuses on a different characteristic structure arising out of each of the major variations ; saemisch, classical, orthodox, yugoslav, panov, four pawns, averback, etc. etc.

   Each pawn structure is carefully dissected as to where the optimal piece placement is, typical and recurring themes and ideas, and finally any tactical motifs that are regular.

   Each chapter concludes with a couple of Grandmaster level games illustrating the material covered.

   At the end of the book ,there is a statistical survey of each variation, it strategic and tactical complexity, and its tournament results in master level play.

   If you play the KID, or would like to, grab this book wherever you can!!

1 comments about Chess and the Art of Negotiation: Ancient Rules for Modern Combat.

1. The less said about this potboiler, the better. It is clearly a vanity piece designed to showcase an obscure French businessman by linking him with a former world chess champion who is along for the ride.
   It contains no insights into either chess or negotiations.

2 comments about Brain Games World Chess Champ.

1. I purchased this book once before, but it...kinda got away from me...I just got this book just a few days ago, and I could not be more pleased. I have been analyzing these games on my own for almost 3 years now.

   I am a Master, and I used to make a living by (mostly) teaching chess on the Internet.

   This is an excellent book by a publisher, (Everyman Chess); that has already made a reputation of producing top-class chess books.

   So what do you get when you buy this book? A lot - in my opinion. You get a welcome and an introduction by Tony Blair himself. Then there is an interesting chapter on the Brain-Games network...You get a chapter on the trophy, the history of the World Championship. Then you get a chapter on the biographies of the {previous} World Champions, with a game from each one of them. (An unexpected treat, to be sure!) Then you get a complete chart and review of all the games that Kramnik and Kasparov have played prior to this match. (They had a tie score prior to this match.) Then you get a chapter on the match, each game is sufficiently analyzed. You also get a chapter on summary and the future of chess. There are also a few nice photo's in the middle of the book.

   The analysis is excellent, albeit somewhat brief. (People who are familiar with Keene's method and style will know what I am talking about.) Most important game details are covered; although it is virtually impossible to cover every single possibility.
   {I spent about three-and-a-half hours going over five of the games ... while using Fritz 8.0 to look for any errors. I found none.}

   BUY THIS BOOK:
   # 1.) If you want to study the games of a recent World Championship.
   # 2.) You are looking for some serious study material of what happens when two VERY good players meet across the chessboard.
   # 3.) If you want to know how Kasparov, still the World's # 1 player by rating, managed to lose the World Title. (to anyone)
   # 4.) If you are wanting so study the games DEEPLY... and try to improve.

   DON'T BUY THIS BOOK:
   # 1.) If you are looking for an extremely detailed analysis of each game.
   # 2.) If you think you can just play over a few of these games and learn how to play like Kasparov or Kramnik.
   # 3.) You are a beginner and looking to get better.
   (Get Silman's books, and maybe Reinfeld's, "The Complete Chess Player," instead.)

   All in all... a darn good buy for the money I spent.




2. For the nice gross paper, nice graphics and typeface, this book is as good as 3 stars.
   As a member on the Brain Games' Board of the Directors, Keene has the first right to publish the book.
   There are a few versions of this book. I saw one with regular paper from Borders bookstore. It had different sections explaining the match conditions: time, number of games, etc. I recalled each game had a large interesting title. For example: The Berlin Wall, very mysterious and attractive. I almost bought that book, but now glad I didn't because there were many more other instructive books. I got this book with used price at Amazon; it is a fair deal.
   This book has about 120 pages, and 1/3 is used to promote the Brain Games and gives some history of chess championship.
   
   I had a few Keene's books of Kasparov-Karpov matches. And like those, in this book Keene did not provide broad and deep analysis along the games, often 2 or 3 moves deep (only 1 variation!), a few places he generously gave 5 moves deep.
   For example: at the very first game, after 8 moves, six pieces were traded off. Then came 2 quiet moves at move 9. Here Keene gave a diagram and the note. "This move appeared to surprise Kasparov who conceded after the game that he had not expected Black's opening." Wow, very insightful for C-player like me. No variations, no analysis.
   I used to Gamebit books, where half of dozen of variations and 25-30 moves deep analysis are the norm at every break. The rest of the book follows the same pattern.
   
   This book is good as the game and match record. To be an instructional book, John Nunn or Igor Stohl needs to get involved. And one more thing: often in gambit book, there is a short introduction beginning each game and a summary following it. Here Keene gave the game result right in the introduction that spoiled the whole game experience.
   
   That is all about the book. Now for the game quality. After winning this match, Kramnik didn't produce many significant records. I tried to reason that Kasparov didn't play at the top of his form in this match. Also I guessed the shorter game-time and fewer number of games contributed to this match result. Not to take any credit from Kramnik, but he apparently out-prepared Kasparov this time.
   
   Thanks to numerous diagrams in this book I could learn a few things from the match.
   Openings: there are no analyses and variations, so no lessons here.
   Middle-games: back to game 1, after 6 pieces being traded in the first 8 moves, 17 moves later the material on the board was still unchanged but the players agreed to a draw! White had the pawn majority on the K-side, and Black, the Q-side. At C-level, we often pushed for the attack where we're stronger, however the GMs know when and where to push for their advantage. Some lessons to be learn here. Same thing we could study and understand why games 5, 7(!), 9, 12, 13 are decidedly draws at the middle-games. Class expert or lower would play them to the last pawns always.
   Endgames: games 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11 and 14 are good lessons for understanding how to play and evaluate endgames. Kramnik won bishops of opposite color with 1 extra pawn in game 2. In game 3, Kasparov could not win with B and extra P vs. N. In game 4, Kasparov held to a draw with a piece and P deficit! Kasparov's strong outpost N and active Q neutralized Kramnik's B and extra P, in game 6. Game 8, Kramnik sacrificed 2 P's to obtain drawish Bs of opposite ending. Game 11 is an interesting material balance, 2 Bs vs. R + P. By game 11, Kasparov had already been behind by 2 games. By game 14, chance for Karparov to erase 2- point deficit was very dimmed. Somehow he wound up a P up in a Q + R + Ps ending. However, Kramnik forced trading Q's at move 37, and at move 40 reduced it to Ps on one side of the board (theoretical draw.) They pushed for another 17 moves and signed the peace treaty.
   By well prepared, Kramnik won game 10 in 25 moves, Kasparov's second shortest loss after Deep Blue.
   The match ended before the final 16th game (w/o play), because Kramnik comfortably steered the game to a drawish path with two points lead in game 15.
   
   Thanks to the quality games of two world best players, this official book of the match could gain 3-star rating.

3 comments about Chess Openings--Your Choice! (Maxwell Macmillan Chess Series).

1. Intended for less-experienced players, this book covers about 24 major openings and their major variations. This is a great book for anyone with limited time and experience but who doesn't want an encyclopedia or some Grandmaster deciding for him what his opening "repertoire" should be. When I was under 1700 I loved this book because I could get a general understanding of several main openings and get a taste of what seemed interesting. If you're a relatively lower-rated player, you'd probably be better off investing most of your time on tactics, and leaving those 20 move variations to the masters. This is a good way to start towards mastery (from a 2087 player). Why isn't this book 20% off?



2. Its a great book and by the way Stewart's a very nice guy, got him to autograph it for me at a tourney a couple of years back. Did not play him but will, one of these days. It's a good modern over view, similar in style to Reuben Fine's "Ideas behind the openings book". Its excellent as your first opening book, gives a great overview in a compact size. I would recommend for anyone under 1600. However what spoilt it was one of the IMs mentioning that Stewart was not that strong a player which is a fact, he'd just below 2200. That's 600 points above a 1600 player so do not be too concerned. What redeemed the book for me was his clear lay out and style. As the years have gone by I have returned and looked at the variations, they have all proved solid. Some of his pet lines are there (He tells you that!). There are words of wisdom spread out through the book, including choice of repertoire, further reading and an over view of pawn positions. My guess is that Stewart was an IM once upon a time. My only wish was that this had been my first opening book I think my opening knowledge would have progressed faster and further. In my opinion this is the closest natural successor to Fine's classic. And Stewart if you one day need a hand to revise this one email me! Oh by the way I am now close to IM level!



3. First published in 1985. For many years Stewart Reuben has been one of the mainstays of British chess - having held practically every position of importance in the British Chess Federation as well as being involved in the organisation of virtually every competition of note in the UK including the 1986 Kasparov - Karpov World Championship.
   
   In this book designed for the club player, Stewart uses his long experience to impart advice on how to play the opening stage of a chess game. The book avoids the over subtle complexity which so often afflicts modern openings theoretical treatises and concentrates on good solid advice for the aspiring player

No comments about Practicl Chess End.

No comments about Walter Penn Shipley: Philadelphia's Friend of Chess.

No comments about Modern chess lessons: A coach makes you improve.

No comments about World Championship: The Return Match Botvinnik vs. Smyslov 1958.

1 comments about Two-Move Chess Problems: Being 257 Orthodox Twoers by 108 U.S. Problemists.

1. This book is by far more up to date than the two books of Kenneth Howard on the same subject. It has the merit of describing the work of composers from the later aprt of the 20th century and the modern 2-move chess composition in USA. The book is organized by composing themes. This provides the reader an easy access to the sometimes obscure concepts of 2-move thematic composition. If you are serious about composing, this book will be both a reference and a learning tool.

No comments about The Ryder Gambit Accepted.