Product Description
A major new title from Gambit Publications Ltd. For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player wont know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit. With this book John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players, and did so in ways that have enabled them to enter the general chess consciousness of club players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as rule-independence can apply to the opening. Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games, while offering both entertainment and challenging material for study.
Customer Reviews:
Not really mastering the openings.......2007-09-12
John Watson seems to have quite a cult following, and to a point I agree he is unique and insightful. One must appreciate an author who gives their opinion and deep research - that is why you pay for the book. However, I believe the title misses the point, and a couple of openings.
A book that covers the Giuoco Piano, Ruy Lopez, Two Knights Defense, Philidor bypasses the Scotch and Petrov. My database gives the Petrov as the second most common response after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, and Scotch as the third most common after 2. ...Nc6. Heck, even the King's Gambit gets seven pages.
This is a good book, with tons of insights into the openings and positions covered, as well as a long overview of the goals of the opening and positional considerations. However, it has several large gaps, and can't be used as an openings reference by itself.
Outstanding book.......2007-07-05
The author explains several opening lines from a strategic point of view, and not only by giving variants. This book is both useful and entertaining.
Great Opening Primer.......2007-07-03
If you're a club player looking for a good starting point to actually understand the ideas behind the e4 openings, this is it. It may not go as deep as the standards like the Batsford/Modern/Nunn's Chess Opening manuals, but it's really not meant to. While there's a place for the more technical manuals listed above, they can be overwhelming to a club player. Watson goes out of makes the openings approachable & understandable, as well as giving some additional ideas you can expand on by yourself.
After you've read this and vol 2 of the series (about d4 openings), you should be able to learn enough to get a feel for openings that fit your style and expand your collection into specific opening guides if you feel you need to.
Highly recommended.
Book Title Tells All.......2007-05-30
Another great work by one of the best chess authors in the business. For selfish reasons I wish he could have tackled more variations and more games, but, hey, I understand the Mr. Watson has other books to write. The book definitely gives a great understanding in words and analysis of modern approaches by some of the most novel thinkers in the game today concerning popular openings. Can't wait for Volume II!
BEST OPENINGS BOOK EVER!.......2007-05-11
I am only an amateur chess player, but this book helped me more than any other that I've ever read. The basic ideas in the first three chapters made it easy to advance to the instructive and well-written chapters that follow. Instead of these books with rows and rows of moves I found one clear explanation after another. Yet the author also gives plenty of solid variations to build a repertoire around. It's the best of both worlds. You'll love this book!
Customer Reviews:
Most Excellent Work!!.......2007-07-20
First, I must confess that I have only read the chapters on the Queen's Gambit Declined and the King's Indian Defense.
Queen's Gambit Declined chapter
He gives detailed descriptions of the major themes of both the classical and exchange variations. I especially liked his discussion of the Tartakower Defense. I found his discussion of move orders to be quite interesting, subtle and useful.
I should mention that the section, "Declining the Gambit; Other Second Moves", provides important information about the Marshall Defense, Baltic Defense, Albin Counter Gambit and Tchigorin Defense. In my view, the entire Queen's Gambit chapter is a "must read" for anyone who plays this opening or for all players who really wants to deepen their chess knowledge.
King's Indian Defense chapter
I have played the Strongpoint Variation (page 208) for many years but was not aware of many of the themes in this line. Watson's clearly describes various strategies that Black has used against 8.Be3, 8.Re1, and 8.d5. Again, a "must read" in my opinion.
To conclude, as always, Watson has a wonderful knack for describing specific strategies of openings and their variations while also providing interesting example games that illustrate these strategies.
Masterful.......2007-07-20
Well, I followed my own advice and got this book, even though I haven't
played 1.d4 in about 20 years. I wasn't disappointed. Just as in
Volume 1, this book is full of good practical knowledge and deep
insights, tying the 1.d4 openings to fundamental principles, and to
important concrete ideas. Through the theme of "cross-pollination,"
we can see the give and take between different opening systems. As
always with Watson, it is also beautifully written and a pleasure to
read. This book helps me to prepare lessons for my students, and who
knows, maybe I'll dust off that Queen's Gambit sometime.
Finally!.......2007-07-18
This is the book I've been waiting for. The usual approach to chess openings is to memorize piles and piles of endless variations, and hope to outbook your opponent. But we all realize how futile and unsatifsying that really is. Finally we have a book here that truly explains the ideas behind the moves. It also explains why certain moves are not played. It connects different openings to each other, so that you know what to do when your opponent inevitably veers away from theory. And furthermore, it helps you to handle tricky move-orders, which were always confusing to me before. With this book and his Strategy books, I think I'm starting to understand chess.
Customer Reviews:
Mastering the Spanish.......2007-09-03
A "CLASSIC" One of the very best books on explaning the
Ruy Lopez opening..
Other authors should learn from this style.......2005-03-05
//
I hope this under-appreciated book does Not go out of print.
This book deserves 4-5 stars. I am giving it 5 because it is as innovative as any chess opening book I have ever seen.
The chapter names will give you a feeling for the relatively innovative approach of these two authors:
1. Tension in the Centre
2. The Blocked Centre
3. The Exchange Centre
4. The Mobile Centre
5. The Little Centre
6. The Open Centre
7. The Marshall Centre
8. The Fischer Centre
9. The Schliemann (Jaenisch) Centre
10. The Bird Centre
Table of Variations
If you are interested in the Ruy Lopez gambit or "open" variation (5...Nf6:e4), you will eventually figure out it is covered in the chapter "The Open Centre".
If you are interested in the variation 3...Bf8c5, you will learn it is partly covered in chapter 1, continued in chapter 4, ch 6, and finally ch 9. Hummm, good and bad.
The glaring weakness of this book concerns the inadequate "Table of Variations". It is only a few pages long, skimpy, and it is an eye-sore. For instance, some variations are listed starting with move 6, and reading the table to figure out which moves 1-5 it relates to is like reading a bus schedule.
But even this section shows innovative intent, by rating each chunk of variations in win-loss-draw percentages, strategy numeric ratings and tactical numeric ratings, and relative frequencies. Opening books need MCO-ish tables of moves, sorted the way Eric Schiller sorted opening variations in his physically huge book Standard Chess Openings: a powerful presentation, like what we get from computer databases. If I cannot quickly lookup a variation in the book, its practical value to a weekend warrier like me is significantly reduced. The move tables were not the problem with MCO, it was their utter lack of textual explanation for each line that has caused that style to fall out of favor. But the newer styles have thrown out the good with the bad.
The book has many diagrams. These are smartly chosen, and they are illustrated with arrows that accurately map to the nearby explanatory text: very nice. I have seen somewhat similar books, and they trumpet the style by labeling it the "Read and Play" method. Here authors King & Ponzetto have outperformed the other authors that have tried to utilize this style.
The usage of center pawn structure types to organize the whole book is innovative. However, without the MCO-ish move tables, this book cannot serve low rated players (below USCF 1500). The is great info in this book, and lots of explanations of plans. How can anyone say Reuben Fine's good book about the "ideas behind the openings" really has the ideas when one has been spoiled by this book -- there is no comparison! If Fine's book deserves 4.5/5.0 stars, then this book deserves 11.5/5.0 stars.
The drawback of this book makes mining the great info in this book real hard work. An above average memory will help you too. It seems odd to hear myself say that an extra good memory is important when reading a book that delivers the conceptual ideas of an opening in clear rich explanatory text complete with arrowed diagrams; yet who among us amateurs can seriously hope to remember 248 pages of explanations of 10 different game types? Chess is a hard game.
Perhaps the "mistake" of this book is in devoting this style to such a difficult opening. The Ruy Lopez is more complex than most openings, so this book has more ground to cover than most people have time to study this deeply. I would like to see these two authors write a similar book on say the Petroff / Russian Defense, maybe narrowing their focus down to one 3rd White move per book (e.g. 3. Nf3:e5).
It seems a shame that those mediocre EveryMan opening books sell by the boat load, while the excellence of this book goes unnoticed. EveryMan must be succeeding by keeping the info it presents to a minimum, so as not to overwhelm its customers and make them feel bad -- instead they leave them wanting more info.
Thank you.
Book Description
Insightful manual by noted grandmaster offers detailed insights into the real significance of the opening. 30 games are analyzed between such masters as Petrosian and Korchnoi, Karpov and Kasparov, Gligoric and Kaplan, and more, showing how strategic themes of the opening are carried through all applicable phases of the game. Intermediate-level.
Customer Reviews:
Covers some bad openings.......2007-09-20
I really enjoyed reading this book. It covers most queenside openings and gives great insight as to what to do for that particular opening. If you want to play queenside openings get this book.
There are few problems though. It covers a few openings that are not very strong or unsound. For instance, Benko Gambit, Benoni, which isn't blacks best response to d4, Dutch and Torre Attack. All that I mentioned are playable, but they are not the best openings and you are not going to see them that often. I've played thousands of games online and over the board and I have seen the Dutch twice, Torre Attack about 3 times Benoni only when I played it and I've never had someone play the Benko Gambit against me.
Other thing is opening theory is wishy washy. What was playable in 1991 maybe not be played now. So this book is out dated. I am sure the information in this book is usable no matter what but after time GM's turn to different variations. Which makes the opening even more complicated if you want to keep up with the time. The best thing to do is to find openings and variations to that opening that you are comfortable with and play them no matter what the current feeling is about that opening or the variation of that opening.
PawnMoves
FICS
A Wonderful collection of annotated games by Mednis.......2007-06-25
I just finished working through this book last night. I haven't read through many game collections yet (I have many to go on my list), but this book was pure joy to read. Mednis' annotations and in particular his explanation of each sides plans make this book worth a lot more than Dover charges for it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a game collection that does a good job explaining the moves and plans involved in the games.
Super!!!.......2006-01-31
This is an excellent book. It shows you the battle plans in the main closed systems and gave you a lot of advice about how to play the middlegame and the endgame.
Maybe the most important subject is the move order in the opening so you'll never be playing what your oponent want to play.
Este libro es excelente. No solo te enseña las ideas y planes en cada uno de los principales sistemas cerrados, tambien te da consejos sobre el medio juego y sobre los finales que difícilmente los encontrarás en otros libros.
Además, y quizas lo más importante, es que trata el tema del orden de movidas en la apertura, para que no quedes jugando lo que tu adversario quiere.
Absolute gem on strategic way of taught.......2004-12-29
Mednis wrote a real joy for every chess player who wants to reasure himself about plans in closed positions. If one dont play d4 as white, he would find a lot of material from the black side of board. In some critical moments author devotes virtually the whole page just to explain a future plans. Fantastic for everyone unsure in kind of way to play transition from opening to middlegame. This is for sure one of the most important books ever written about early middlegame plans after 1.d4 (thanks god, its algebraic notation)
Understanding Chess Move by Move for d4 players........2004-04-20
This book is highly instructional. It covers all the major openings that White faces when starting out with d4 with a minimum of one game per opening line and a maximum of three. It covers the strategies and themes of the openings, along with deeply annotated games move by move showing strategies for both the white and black pieces. It does not overwhelm the reader with tons and tons of variatons but explains each concept in sentences with adequate analysis to back it up. This book was written 10-15 years ago, but the strategies and concepts are still applicable today for these openings. It is good as an instructional book to play through high class master games.
Customer Reviews:
Very Valuable If Used With Caution.......2006-04-07
I found this book so compelling that I read it through in practically one sitting. Why, then, three stars instead of more?
Because the *chess* advice is very general, and in fact at times so general as to be suspect ("always capture an enemy piece if it is safe to do so"); and as a *chess* book it is at a rather elementary level, spending a lot of time on the rules and basics of movement.
Comparing chess to martial arts is not new, but here it is done in a more comprehensive, appealing, and gripping manner. In terms of *chess* advice this translates to a handful of general principles, such as "seize the initiative," which the book does not illustrate very well with practical examples or "how-to" advice. This has disappointed many previous reviewers and will likely disappoint many readers.
Instead, to get the most from this book, you need to think in terms of changing your philosophy of play, and turn to other books to help you do that. If you are a passive player, as I was for a long time, take the "seize the initiative" principle for what it's worth and then go out and study other books on tactics and the art of attacking. In other words, use this book as a guideline for how you think about your approach to chess, and seek detailed knowledge elsewhere.
Especially useful is the wholistic approach this book espouses. Information on diet, physical conditioning, meditation, pre-game physical exercises (they recommend stretching before play, something I had never before considered) can all be found elsewhere but nowhere in a *chess* book; and though you might initialy be skeptical, it makes a great deal of sense.
Should you buy this book? I think so. It is relatively inexpensive on the used market, and if approached correctly, will teach you many things which apply to chess, even if it won't teach you a lot about chess itself.
Martial art of the mind.......2005-10-12
This is a fascinating book for the beginner in chess, and one that the more proficient in chess may find interesting, too. It not only covers the basics in chess, but also deals with some of the philosophical ideas that one might apply to chess playing. This is a creative synthesis by authors Michael Gelb and Raymond Keene of the teachings of Samurai warriors and the basic layout of chess - an intriguing idea, given the martial nature of chess playing.
Chess can be many things to different people. One legal scholar described chess as an exercise in petty larcency (taking or stealing pieces!); many military strategists have seen chess as a system whereby one sharpens skills for thinking ahead, well past the next move tactically. This would be more in the spirit of what Gelb and Keene are doing here.
As the authors state, 'We are not likely to wield a Samurai sword in a life-or-death situation. Samurai swordsmanship will always remain beyond our personal experience.' So, how does one get this kind of experience, if one wants it? For Gelb and Keene, this can come from chess. 'Chess offers the experience of real victory, without killing, and the parallel experience of real defeat, without having to die.' Thought and skill are key in both Samurai and chess practice.
Gelb and Keene develop the idea of martial arts mindset and the seven Samurai principles to be applied to chess, but this is in many ways designed for the beginning chess player (the more experienced player will be able to gloss over the second section, 'White Belt Chess', which develops basic movements and elementary middle-game and end-game ideas). The authors give a good brief synopsis of the history of the game of chess, from earliest history through to the tempestuous twentieth century, showing the transformation from a slow-moving game inspired by Indian and Islamic cultures to the rapid-fire pace of many master games today.
It is perhaps in the application of the Samurai principles that this book reaches its height. The Seven Samurai principles are really an extended analogy to the game, but one can see immediately, even as a chess novice, how the seven principles might be applied:
1) Take the Initiative: Attack
2) Follow Through: Go for the Knockout
3) Impenetrable Defense: No Openings
4) Timing: Control the Tempo
5) Distance: Control the Position
6) Master Surprise and Deception
7) Yield to Win: The Art of Sacrifice
There are many good insights, and this book is a fun one to read. If one is expecting a systematic tome on how to play better chess, this is not the book. However, if one loves the game of chess and is interested in a new perspective, this book is one that is fitting.
More than just a game.......2005-09-11
I've been dabbling at chess for nearly forty years, and this is the chess book I've been waiting for all my life. To me, chess is more than just a game; it can be a metaphor for life, and its principles apply indirectly to most everything else in life. This book focuses on seven Samurai principles, which are also seven chess principles, which are also seven principles of living life effectively.
If you don't care about life but just want to get good at chess, this may not be the book for you. If you do care about life but insist that chess has nothing to do with it, skip this title. But if you see--or want to see--a strong connection between chess and life, give this wonderful book a good read.
All levels can get something from this book.......2005-08-11
I have read a few of the reviews, and all seem to think this is a beginner book. Actually, there are better beginner books out there that will rapidly improve one's game (if you are among the beginners)- such as Seirawan's Microsoft Press series. The underlying idea of Eastern Philosophy's place in chess is quite revolutionary and has been accepted by Josh Waitzkin (the real "Searching for Bobby Fisher" kid) as taking his game to the next level. If one really uses the lessons from this book I think they will be pleased - I know I was. The system really challenges the player to throw away some tradition rules and gain new insight (especially in the middle game). The book does have its place in an overcrowded genre and is not too heavy for the beginner. I feel the fault of this book is that it does not delve quite deep enough - does not force the reader to apply the principles in practice.
An Interesting Book.......2003-01-16
Truly an interesting book to a person how does both Martial Arts and chess (As a side note a have been studying both now for a number of years). The theme was interesting because one of my Teachers actually talks like a chess person when going about how to get in an attack in sparring although he does not play chess, so I have seen this connection before.
As a straight chess book it would be on a beginner to an intermediate level. If you take into consideration the philosophies of the book though it becomes more profound. I have read most of the books they use as exerpts and found it to really help blend these two worlds together.
It has been said that If you read The Book of Five Rings once you will get something out of it. Twice, you will get something different again. Etc. These books (The Art of War, The Book of Five Rings) are also business books and found in this section if you go to Indigo. So not only is this book talking about chess, it discusses Martial Arts, Business and Life as a Whole (ie. "The Way").
If you can look at this book in this light then it becomes much more than "just a chess book", it becomes something of a reminder of how to live life.
Perhaps I lost a couple people there but it boils down to is there are some people who all they do is chess, this book could be an introduction to a new way of looking at things, and new philosophies. So Enjoy!
Customer Reviews:
Best book available on the KID for players up to 2000 USCF.......2001-04-03
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!!
Learn openings by structure, not moves........2000-02-22
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.
An excellent overview of the KID for club players.......1998-08-24
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.
Customer Reviews:
This book changed my chess tournament life. Period........2006-03-07
This review is very long, but it comes from someone with 1,500+ games' experience with the French Defense (live and on the internet). If not for this book, my chess career may have been over before it ever really got started.
Let me begin by telling you a bit about my chess career before I started playing the French to provide a context. I don't think this is a digression; possibly, you will find parallels in it to your own chess development, see why playing the French may (or may not) be a good choice for you, and how this book can literally change your chess tournament life--the way it did for me.
I learned how to play chess at 8, but did not study chess until I was 11 or play in a tournament until I was 12 1/2 in March 1996. So, I felt I had to play "catch up" with other kids in tournaments who had been playing for years. Now these kids mostly played 1...e5 or 1...c5 in response to 1.e4. These two replies were how I began defending against 1.e4, because I thought that this is the way I was "supposed to" play.
I played the resulting King Pawn and Sicilian positions very badly and pretty much got creamed. I was new to chess, and these defenses are what newcomers (kids, and adults as well) are taught to begin with. They naturally had more experience than I did.
I realized quickly that I would a)have to intensely study KPs or Sicilians to have any hope, or b)change to something different. You're probably expecting me to now say I changed to the French...
But I changed to the Pirc! (1...d6 after 1.e4), and found that I did not understand the positions at all (in all honestly, I don't understand them very well NOW, and now I am USCF 1800+). Kids (and adults, as I played in tournaments at the Manhattan Chess Club), had fairly well-defined approaches to dealing with this kind of stuff. After losing a game as a 1000 player in a tournament one day, I decided it was time to change. I played the 2...Nf6 Scandinavian for a time (which wasn't so bad for me, results-wise) before making a breakthrough.
It was at this point (at the end of 1997) that I saw MASTERING THE FRENCH WITH THE READ AND PLAY METHOD in a Barnes and Noble. It was unlike any opening book I had ever seen...and it looked like I would be able to understand it! The book was divided by pawn structures, and each chapter had much introductory material explaining the typical plans for each side! I got the book and read it. And I began playing the French in tournaments.
I am not going to tell you that playing the French Defense gained me tons or rating points or anything like that. I will simply say that when playing I ACTUALLY HAD A CLUE! Just as importantly, my opponents often had (and still have to this day) an often superficial understanding of what THEY should be doing as White. The play in 1.e4 e5 openings is mostly straightforward; this is also true in the Sicilian, if a little less so. With the French, there is usually no glaring target to aim at, and this is where White players get flustered: they understand some basics, but seem to have no concept of the nuances that French players do. In exchange for some activity, you get PLENTY of chances to outright outplay your opponents. If you're a strong Grandmaster life may not be so easy, but even then, it's a tough nut to crack...
I have been playing the French as my main defense (both in tournaments and in casual play, the latter of which I find myself doing more and more on the internet than playing in tournaments Over The Board) since the day I purchased MASTERING THE FRENCH nine years ago. I would add that (in my experience) this opening, more than any other, frustrates opponents to no end. I agree 1000% with the reviewer who said that people either love the French or they hate it. This is absolutely true! Bobby Fischer's poor results with White against the defense are well-documented (the reclusive World Champion later switched to a "side line," attacking the French with the King's Indian Attack--but even here methods of Defense have been refined and there are some underrated lines you can play).
In closing, I feel that the French is ideal for a person who wishes to maintain more control of the game and not wage a wide-open battle, even if this means ceding some initiative. Generally you will win games over the longer haul (but, believe me, you can score some quick KOs with it if your opponents make bad positional errors--and they do A LOT). A lot of people think the French is passive, and that they can do anything they want against it, but that line of thinking is their undoing. If you enjoy giving your "mad hacking" opponents the sense that they are banging their heads against a brick wall, there is no better defense to 1.e4!
This book should be read before any other book you may read on the French. It seems this book is now out of print; I don't care what lengths you need to go to in order to get this book: get it! Don't overly book this opening; instead, understand the ideas and let your opponents' mistakes--er, your own brilliance--do the rest. If you excel at Counterattacking, the French Defense is nothing short of lethal.
Good luck!
Why can't opening books be written like this one?.......2003-05-06
The French defense is on of those openings that you either love with passion or hate it. One of the problems for the black side is figuring out why are certain moves made and what are the plans for black in the different variations. That's all fair but why not categorize the opening by the resulting pawn structures? After all, the pawn squeleton determines how to proceed and how to place most optimaly your pieces.
This is precisely what GM N. McDonald does: He categorizes the resulting pawn structures and proceeds to explain the typical themes that apply in each configuration of pawn structures. His aim to arm you with practical knowledge is superbly accomplished.
However, you have got to have some previous knowledge of the French defense to get the most out of this book. This is unavoidable in my opinion and your repertoire in the French has to be fine tuned before tackling GM McDonald's book [ That is, you must know what to do against a Tarrasch variation, how to handle the advance variation, etc. ]
GM McDonald is very candid in explaining what his aim is and clears up that his book is not about variations of the French defense but general plans for black (and white by default...) That is the reason why I gave him 5 stars. After all, cramping the book with variations and subvariations defeats the purpose of GM McDonald's book and if that is what you are looking for, IM Watson's book "Play the French" is a much better choice [ I use both books for my preparation ]
Not THAT Good..........2001-12-08
Everytime I go to the various websites and I read reviews online and on print of "Mastering the French" I read a good review. People say how wonderful it is and how great it is, but common: it uses the illustrative game method of teaching and it goes a little too far with it. If you're starting off playing the French by reading this book, OK its good, but if you have a little experience with it or chess, forget it. The problem is too much exemplary games. I don't completely agree with International Master John Watson, but generally the illustrative method is severely limited. Basically the author presents a game that is meant to illustrate typical themes and in the notes gives a little analysis. I think this book needs a little more analysis. For starters the chapter on the exchange variation is lacking in depth. Its lacking because he never gets around to explaining why Kasparov played the variation the way he did. Exclamation after exclamation mark appears in the game, but it looks to me that white is losing. The whole point of the book is to explain something like that. After all, the pawn structure parts are basically for inexperienced players, so why not explain the game? He also leaves out how to crucially "imbalance" the position to possibly favor black. Watson's book deals with this(its a little harder to win in the boring exchange) .
Ditto for the Wade Advance which he describes as basically bad for black after about four or five moves without explaining the positional features. Its like there's no analysis because its a beginner book, but no explanation of the position either. Seirawan's experimentation in the classical boils down to results (he beat two grandmasters and drew a third) but there's no explanation as to why the first two couldn't handle a6 before 0-0 in the Classical French. I found myself asking lots of questions.
A Must have for French Fanatics.......2000-04-19
What's a French Fanatic you say? How about someone that owns "Winning with the French", "Tactics in the French", "French Defense 2: New and Forgotten Ideas", "The French Tarrasch", "The French Advance", "French Defense, Classical System", a Monograph on the French Winawer, and last my not least, "MASTERING THE FRENCH WITH THE READ AND PLAY METHOD", the book that puts all the nuts and bolts together. How is one to master a defense if they don't understand the strengths and weaknesses that both players have in the resulting pawn structures and placement of the pieces, and understand the whole concept of what Black's trying to do? All French players should get this book (and the other 7 I mentioned too, but this one, and maybe Uhlmann's "Winning with the French", should definitely come first!!!).
Too bad they don't write books like this anymore..........2000-02-28
This book makes the French Defense very simple to learn. It is not very deep in analysis, but it does give the reader ideas on how to play certain variations. It's much easier - and better use of time - to remember ideas rather than play variations by rote. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a solid defense to 1.e4. Remember, the analysis is not deep, but I believe it is the BEST book to get started on if you decide to play the French.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but ..........2001-06-13
I have mixed feelings about this translation. The Russian original has twice the number of pages. Here, the translator gives references to the missing games and examples, that just coincidentally are to be found in other books by the same publisher. This is infuriating.
The Russian original is a masterpiece. Volume 2 is organised differently from Volume 1 in that the chapters are organised along thematic lines such as dark squares, light squares and so on. While some of the examples are well-known, the unified conceptual understanding the authors impart is invaluable. One's level of understanding rises to a new level. The book is a must buy for aspiring masters.
Excellent,helped me from class B into middle class A.......1999-03-21
Teaches you how to take a middle game position and carry it into the endgame. It give you the entire game,and shows you how to go from each phase of the game into the next phase.
Customer Reviews:
Incomplete.......2006-11-04
When I say this book isn't complete, I don't mean that it doesn't cover all the variations. Although that's true, I'm talking about something different.
It is difficult to determine who the book is written for. It certainly wasn't written for a beginner, as it assumes a lot of knowledge and tactical ability. I certainly wasn't written for Expert/Master level, because it only brushes the surface of current Sicilian opening theory.
That leaves only the amateur level player, like myself. However, I am finding that the chapters, which each cover a particular variation, are acting as mere introductions to the openings, requiring more study from other books and opening digests to be able to comfortably play them. In my case, it is not that the book is too simple, but that it assumes to much of my opponents. In every opening, the book covers the main lines for up to 10-20 moves. At the amateur level, your opponents will rarely know the main line, which sometimes means you have to deviate from it yourself. I am therefore finding myself in a game, trying to play the Schevenigen when my opponent plays a non-book move on move 3 and continues to make non book moves after that. Although that usually means that he/she has made a strategic mistake, I have no idea how to proceed. The book makes no effort to cover these alternate lines.
Good content despite omissions.......2003-07-06
This book covers certain important aspects of the Sicilian well, namely the Dragon, Kan, and Scheveningen. It also includes a "one size fits all" system against the Closed Sicilian. However, certain aspects of the book are left wanting:
1) It does not provide a great deal of content on the Najdorf, which is one of the most important variations in the Sicilian. It just includes a few games and says "don't attempt without preparation."
2) While it provides a lot of information on the Scheveningen, it does not cover enough on the Keres Attack, which is a very deadly White weapon in this particular variation (in fact, because of it, many transpose into the Schev via the Najdorf by playing ...a6 first).
3) While its one-for-all system against the Closed Sicilian (which the author defines as anything other than 2. Nf3 and 3. d4) is adequate, it does not mention 2. ...d5 3. exd5 Nf6! against the Grand Prix attack, which is a very viable option for Black.
4) It repeats itself a lot in the "mastery" boxes.
5) It does not even mention the Accelerated Dragon.
Despite these pitfalls, the book is well worth reading, especially for those wanting to play the Dragon.
Mastering the Sicilian.......2003-02-14
If you want a book the shows the major plans and themes in various c5 opens, then this is the book for you. If you already know the plans & themes you wont be pleased as this imformation. It is gearded toward the player who can play but aspires to have an intimate knowledge of the system being used. Plans for white and blk are given, the bias is toward black repectively. I fell in the "wanting to know more" category. This was a winner for me.
Attack - play the sicilian.......2002-10-30
A masterly work on the best system vs 1.e4 - the sicilian. Learn this opening not through variations and weird sicilians like the Sveshnikov but thematically using "bread and butter systems" These systems would be: the classical, the Dragon sttructure, Najadorf, Schevenigen and Kan. I like attacking chess but have always been intrigued by the more positional sicilians like the schevenigen. Here Kopec reveals how to play this system without knowing every detail of theory successfully. Maybe after reading this book I too may play the schevenigen, by trasposing via the najadorf!! Anyway, this is a great book which teaches you esstenial sicilian themes and where to place your pieces and use your pawns. May this take care of all your sicilian needs.
Pure Sicilian strategy and great games........2001-10-28
As a Sicilian player this book was very helpfull. It will not cover a lot of lines but it will explain the strategy concepts of the different variations like the Scheveningen, the Najdorf, the Dragon, the Paulsen, the Closed Sistems, the Grand Prix attack etc. If you are alreday an experiencied sicilian player this book will help you very much to improve and understand the posotions arising during the games. On the other hand the games are vey good: Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Fischer, Kopec, Taimanov, etc. All of them are real struggles and you will have a lot of fun. Enjoy.
Book Description
A unique and comprehensive approach that covers every aspect of the game, this manual offers players a goldmine of insights and tips. It focuses on the major topics relevant to every game: combinations, analysis, formulation of a plan, opening a play, and endgame technique. 294 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Not bad, just not as instructive as it seems.......2003-06-19
I had been planning to purchase this book for months and finally borrowed a copy from a friend.
Well, I'm glad I didn't buy it. The book is not bad. It is certainly appropriate for the audience named in the intro (1450-1750 USCF). The problem is that it's all either too easy or too hard to learn from.
What I mean is that the lessons are either rudimentary reviews or terse introductions. Though the book is not formatted this way, it's really a series of very brief problems. If you have seen the problem before, it's a review. If you haven't, there is not enough information for you to get it from the book, so you'll have to work at it on your own. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not what I'd call instructive.
There is a lot of information squeezed into 133 pages. The book is certainly not a waste of money. I think it's most appropriate to someone who was quite proficient several years ago, maybe even a tournament player, and recently returned to the game. If that describes you, this book might remind you of a lot of what you used to know.
For me, however, the book is a disappointment. The fonts, the lay-outs, the diagrams, the binding, the organization--it all feels as if it should be very enjoyable. But for each section I've attempted, I've glided past the problems with which I am already familiar and quickly become mired in details that are over my head.
Similarly, while the book is filled with a great deal of wisdom, very little of it is convincingly demonstrated for the skeptical.
The main benefits to me were in the 36 combinations exercises (few of which I was able to solve without turning to the solutions) and the 26 endgame problems (which were admittedly somewhat instructive).
I recommend Better Chess for Average Players instead of this book. Or if you're not yet ready for club-level play, try something much simpler, like Ron Curry's Win at Chess. And consider the Mammoth Book of Chess.
Great Introduction to chess fundamentals!.......2002-07-31
This book provides an "all-in-one" chess course aimed at students in the 1300 - 1750 rating range. It covers tactics, opening principles, strategic ideas (i.e. outposts, minority attack, weak squares, doubled pawns, isolated pawns, etc. etc), endgames, and practical playing tips (i.e. training, managing the clock, nerves, etc.).
All in all this is a pretty decent book. None of the 21 lessons goes into heavy detail, but rather provides a quick overview on each topic. The motivated student would probably then want to seek out other more advanced texts to further expand on the topics.
Best chess book I've ever read!.......1999-05-07
From the first page you get the distinct impression that these guys who wrote this book know what they are talking about. I've never read a book that so profoundly affected my game on all fronts! Opening, middlegame, endgame have all been improved by my reading this book. The bibliography is filled with useful books that you can read to take you even further into the realms of chessdom. Guys if you want to improve your rating then this is THE book! I kid you not.
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Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 2
Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
Chess Strategy in Action
Understanding Chess Tactics
