History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Book About the World of Chess...
SImply Outstanding!
A personal and rather shallow book
A Fun, Not Technical, Chess History -- and MORE!!
We're living through a mini golden age for chess literature

The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain
David Shenk
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0385510101
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and madness, and yet is hailed as a remarkably powerful intellectual tool?

Nearly everyone has played chess at some point in their lives. Its rules and pieces have served as a metaphor for society, influencing military strategy, mathematics, artificial intelligence, and literature and the arts. It has been condemned as the devil’s game by popes, rabbis, and imams, and lauded as a guide to proper living by other popes, rabbis, and imams. Marcel Duchamp was so absorbed in the game that he ignored his wife on their honeymoon. Caliph Muhammad al-Amin lost his throne (and his head) trying to checkmate a courtier. Ben Franklin used the game as a cover for secret diplomacy.

In his wide-ranging and ever-fascinating examination of chess, David Shenk gleefully unearths the hidden history of a game that seems so simple yet contains infinity. From its invention somewhere in India around 500 A.D., to its enthusiastic adoption by the Persians and its spread by Islamic warriors, to its remarkable use as a moral guide in the Middle Ages and its political utility in the Enlightenment, to its crucial importance in the birth of cognitive science and its key role in the aesthetic of modernism in twentieth-century art, to its twenty-first-century importance in the development of artificial intelligence and use as a teaching tool in inner-city America, chess has been a remarkably omnipresent factor in the development of civilization.

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Book About the World of Chess... .......2007-10-02

and what an interesting world it is. An insightful look at the history, pyschology, philosophy, and implications for the future of the world's oldest and greatest game.

This book should please chess lovers, as it is a rare thing in the crowded gamut of chess books... a broad survey of the game. Many of us play the game, and we study chess books and chess software, we play computer progams and human opponents, but perhaps we do not stop to look at the game from a distance. This book does that for us. And there is much we can learn, in my opinion.

Mr. Shenk is a talented and capable writer, and he has done his work well. He builds on his personal relationship with the game. While he is not an avid player, his great great great grandfather was a Grandmaster. The book is a fun to read and a page turner, and while it delights, it also instructs. Not so much as how to play the game, but perhaps why.

Chess is the world's 3rd biggest sport. It was supposed to be killed by the computer - and yet paradoxically the computer has greatly enhanced the game. It is one of the oldest games and yet it defies mastery. This book looks at this and more, from wacky Grandmasters to precocious school kids and dedicated patzers. It examines the history of chess in ancient Persia, to Bobby Fischer versus Spassky in Iceland to Big Blue versus Kasparof in New York.

Most chess books place the game of chess under a "microscope" - they analyze one specific aspect of the game, by breaking the game into pieces with diagrams and algebraic notion. This book is so welcome and necessary because it looks at the big picture of chess... from a distance, through the years, chess through a "telescope".

My only critique is that I wish the book had been even longer!
This book will be of interest to all, from chess expert to novice to the non-player who merely wants an entertaining education about the world's greatest game.

SImply Outstanding!.......2007-09-17

What an outstanding read - part documentary, history, biography and mystery novel. David Shenk has stimulated all of my mental faculities by writing was is arguably one of the most compelling chess history book ever written. From Novice to Grand Master, lots of good moves within this read. Thank you for a job well done!

A personal and rather shallow book.......2007-08-19

Readers looking for a decent history of chess won't find it in this book. They will find a highly personal account of the author's chess experiences and rather indulgent reflections on those experiences, and a grab-bag of topics with some historical connection to chess - but treated in a superficial and almost journalistic style.

The last chapter (Chess and the future of human intelligence) is particularly trivial. Shenk observes a group of kids in an American Chess in Schools program. It is pure mawkisness - perhaps I should say silliness. Dialog is recorded verbatim. Portentious claims are made.

What makes the book interesting is that Shenk intersperses a famous chess game (The Immortal Game between Anderssen and Kieseritzky in 1851) among the otherwise forgettable chapters. One rushes through the chapters just to get to the next phase of this gripping chess game. This was an excellent device to inject interest into what could easily have been a dry, technical account.

The book will interest readers with no knowledge of chess, but who are curious about it and just want an entertaining and interesting read with minimum intellectual demands upon them. Readers who want a more scholarly and coherent account of chess should look elsewhere.

A Fun, Not Technical, Chess History -- and MORE!!.......2007-07-08

When I got this book, my wife took one look at the title and laughed. "A history of chess? Have fun with that." A lot of people will think that about this book, and that's a shame. The Immortal Game is far more than a history of chess.

Shenk does cover a lot of the history of chess. He traces the roots of the game to the Middle East, and traces its spread throughout Europe. But he traces the history of chess through how it is used - chess is used as a metaphor throughout history, and what it serves as a metaphor for tells us a lot about each time period.

Muslims enjoyed chess because it was not a game of chance. It emphasized the idea of personal responsibility and free will over strict determinism and fatalism. Medieval Christians embraced this symbolism as well, even as they changed the pieces to suit their own society (the Elephant of the Muslim game became the Bishop in Christian Europe, for example). Shenk tells of a Dominican monk who wrote what many consider the most influential chess book of all time -- Liber de moribus hominum et officiis nobilium as popularium sive super ludo sacchorum -- which translates as The Book of Morals of Men and the Dutie of Nobles and Commoners, or On The Game of Chess.

Shenk sees chess as a metaphor for life, and the responsibilities of each member of society. He goes so far as to justify the movement of each piece by the role its namesake played in society. Even today, chess is used by psychologists studying human thought processes and how intelligence develops. Computer scientists teach their supercomputers chess in an effort to simulate human consciousness and develop truly artificial intelligence. Elementary school children are taught chess to develop creative thinking skills. Each era adopts chess as its own metaphor, and the game continues to flourish.

Interspersed with the history of the game, Shenk offers a play-by-play of "The Immortal Game," a practice game played by Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kiesseritzky in 1851. The game began as something of little consequence, played between two acquaintances as they were waiting for the next game of their match, but quickly became something of note. The game has been studied by chess students ever since - Kiesseritzky even published a report in his own chess magazine immediately after it was over.

The Immortal Game is a history of the game of chess, but it's more than just a history. It's an attempt to answer the question, why chess? What has made this game so popular? Why has it lasted for over a thousand years? It's a study of the use of metaphor throughout history. It's a discussion of what intelligence really is. And it's an encouragement to novice chess players all over the world that there is a reason to study this game.

We're living through a mini golden age for chess literature.......2007-03-22

There have been a number of chess books published recently, most of them in expensive hardback format: Bobby Fischer vs. Russians, Kasparov's My Illustrious Predecessors, even Shahade's uneven Chess Bitch. Now add to those titles The Immortal Game, a great overview of chess by David Shenk. The author became interested in chess rather late, and he'll never be a great player, and he knows it. But that doesn't mean the game can't be fascinating. One of the things to take away from this book is you don't have to be a Grandmaster to get a lot of out chess.

The book follows the history of the game as it also tracks one famous encounter between two chess players in 1851. Dubbed "The Immortal Game," it sums up what is so magical about chess--its unpredictability, its sudden reversals, and the feeling that no matter how much you play it, you will never fathom its depths. That's also the point Shenk drives home in the part of the book not devoted to the game, as he looks at how chess has shaped thinking on everything from math to science to social class to warfare to art to computers to psychology. He talks about great achievements brought about by chess, and the game's darker side, which has led to more than one case of madness, more than one suicide, and a reclusive American genius' raving anti-semite comments. No other game, he argues, has impacted the world as much, and few have lasted as long.

This is a well-written book, and very engaging. It does not have to be read by a person deeply-immersed in, and it's not overly-technical. I have to quibble a little about his insistence that chess geniuses are made and not born. While I don't doubt that thousands of hours puts the Garry Kasparovs and Susan Polgars of the world ahead of the rest of us, he ignores the fact that many other a would-be champ devoted equal effort to the game and failed miserably. He also doesn't seem to get that much of the "research" that has "proven" effort over aptitude is effected and infused by social and PC bias of the time, just as research on the subject half a century ago was similarly biased in the other direction. We seem to hesitate to say there may be a "chess gene" because the game is predominantly male and almost completely excludes certain racial groups. Be honest and ask yourself if we'd approach the sport of basketball with the same convictions.

Overall this is a very good book, however, and I recommend it for both the devoted fan and the casual, as well as curious, person, as a fine entertainment. Hopefully we are seeing a chess-publishing revival in the book world, and renewed interest in the game in the U.S.

Average customer rating:

Essential Book
This is a classic book.
Best Checkmate Book Ever Written: A Classic
A "must have" chess book.
New edition available....

The Art of Checkmate
Georges Renaud , and Victor Kahn
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0486201066

Book Description

Thorough classification of 23 mating situations, including Legal's pseudo-sacrifice, the double check, smothered mate, Greco's mate, the Corridor mate, and many others. Learn from 127 games by Tartakower, Janowski, Rubinstein, Blackburne, others, illustrating positional maneuvers leading to these mates. Review quizzes test progress.

Customer Reviews:

Essential Book.......2007-04-23

The Art of the Checkmate is a book I purchased about 10 years ago and feel this book deserves to be an essential part of any chess players library. The book focuses on checkmates (no surprise) that at some point you will face as a chess player. Don't think that these moves are just a novelty and not played in todays games, many examples in the book show GM's being defeated from these moves. With smothered mates, corridor mates, Boden's mate, pseudo-sacrifice, and double checks, as well as a host of others you will benefit from knowing these moves. The book can be purchased for less than a few days lunch so there's no reason to skip this one. Overall I think this book is required reading by all ratings from novice to GM.

This is a classic book........2006-08-05

i own this book for 15 years now and it is as good as new, very good binding and paper quality. it was my firts book on chess and i think it was good choice .

Its an excellence choice for beginners who whant to improve pattern recognition and mate understanting .

The book was first puplished in 1953 its a classic .it really doesnt matter that its half a century old dont forget that mate patterns dont change and that this book manage to survive the test of time.

An excellence choice !

Best Checkmate Book Ever Written: A Classic.......2006-06-20

"ART OF THE CHECKMATE" simply put is the best book ever written covering all of the important checkmate patterns.
Each different checkmate theme is fully explained followed by examples using games and problems to solve.
Superb clarity, comprehensiveness and plenty of diagrams are highlights that make this book stand out. To complete your knowledge of tactics, a good general book on tactics and a good general book on opening traps will go hand and hand with this book that focuses on checkmates. This way you will have well-rounded coverage of all tactical situations.

A "must have" chess book........2006-05-29

With 26 short chapters covering the various mating motifs, quizzes, and solutions, the book is a very easy read (beginners may find it more challenging but still accessable) and it will impart the essential knowledge of how to conduct the mating attack. After having read this book my play improved considerably, and it also became much more aggressive (which was a welcome change).

The book is well bound (standard Dover quality construction) with clear diagrams and easy to read text. Notation is descriptive, but done in a column style that that makes it easy to follow.

This book also complements Znosko-Borovsky's "The Art of Combinations" well, the second half of which is devoted to thematic attacks on the castled king, and would make a good primer before tackling the more sophisticated "Art of Attack" by Vukovic.

New edition available...........2005-11-02

This book has been reprinted ...in french with algebraic notation...for the happy few french speaking beginners !(édition Payot)

Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking: From the First Move to the Last

Average customer rating:

A great way to spend the hours
Another book with move by move commentary
Very instructive, clear, and action packed.
Sure, really explains every move
If you loved Chernev:Logical Chess Move by Move, you'll love this

Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking: From the First Move to the Last
Neil McDonald
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0713488948

Book Description

Grand master and prolific chess author Neil McDonald explains every single move made in 30 striking tactical or strategical games played over the last quarter century. Each of these games has been carefully chosen for its consistent logical thread, so that the reader will get prime instruction in the art of conceiving appropriate plans and attacks and carrying them out to their natural conclusion: in short, players will learn to think logically. Watching these games unfold will prove an education and inspiration to readers who can then try to play in the same purposeful way, with a corresponding improvement in their own game.

Customer Reviews:

A great way to spend the hours.......2007-01-15

Personally, I enjoy this book more then the famous "chernev" version. I think there is a great deal of nostalgia with chernev and from reading a review comparing the two in Chernev's favor...I must humbly disagree and put fourth that McDonald takes a more modern view inside of pawn structure, strategic considerations based upon that structure, and tactical variations when they paint a pretty picture for the chess mind. Chernev seemed huge into the Alehkine idea of never budging the pawn shield (in that it provides 'hooks'). In other words, McDonald does not always adhere to strict classical rules, though he points out famous ideas from Reti and Tarrash and Capa etc. when he deems it appropriate. As for me, I play the computer around the 2000 level (couldn't beat it at 1100 this time last year) and I found it to be entertaining and insightful. I finished off the book with a 22 move victor with none other than Mikhail Tal opening with C5 and couldn't help but go through it one more time to memorize the lines to show my friends the beauty of sacrificial play. Contrast this with a game by Adams and you realize this book is not interested in one aspect (say combinations only) but an aggregate picture of the intricacies of great chess play.

I think I'd have to read through this 15 times before I felt i really knew 'the book'. All in all? Fun. It was great fun. (The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is simply because of my belief that a Master would see this as a book of apparent ideas....though i still think they would love reading through the games and maybe even providing additional analysis on their own? Either way, 4 out of 5 is still a strong mark, in my opinion; and now that you know the reason for the 'decrease' it should be all that much easier to go about and purchase this book. I hope this review was helpful - good luck and good purchasing.)

Another book with move by move commentary.......2006-09-25

It seems that numerous authors have gotten into the arena of writting books containing games with move by move commentary. "Chernev" who was the first to start with his "Logical Chess: Move by Move" wrote the classic which started the "movement". Indeed, this is a very good concept and way to use games to give instruction. However, this idea requires an understanding not of just the games themselves, but just as important is the ability to reach the reader by knowing what is needed to be covered. Have these games been tested in actual lessons to see where the student has a lack of knowledge and what kind of questions the student would have?
I feel that "Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking" is strong (four stars) in having solid insight into the mechanics of the games being covered. But the commentary itself is weak (two stars) when it comes to providing actual analysis and answering questions in the mind of the reader. There is a bit too much repetition, comments are sometimes not to the point, and actual analysis of the moves in the games has little real analysis of use. There is a lack of analysis of the openings themselves - and every game has an opening! These are the things better addressed in every respect in "Understanding Chess" - directed at the advance player and "Unbeatable Chess", "More Unbeatable Chess" - two books that progress for different levels and "Logical Chess" - a basic level. On the plus side "Chess" The Art of Logical Thinking" does cover some important ideas and is perhaps a worthwhile book for an intermediate level chess player (not solid explanations for the basic level player, yet would be boring to an advanced player). So overall this book is "so, so", especially when put in the large arena of books covering commentary of every move games.

Very instructive, clear, and action packed........2006-08-14

Even though I have not gone through all the games yet, I already feel that this is the kind of book that you don't want to let go, ever.

A little bit about the book. It is sorted by the openings, not by some theme as in case of Nunn's "Move by move". A lot of very well known openings are covered, but Sicilian and English are predominant. There are comments that anyone can comprehend and minimal number of variations given. Strategical themes and tactics can be found in practically every game. When a main error occurs McDonald lets you know with a '?' and then explains what was wrong with the move and what a player should have done.

In some reviews McDonald was accused of missing the point, that the "planning" area is where the book is not up to the par. I disagree. Many times after a certain move McDonald explains the purpose behind that move. Now that sounds like a plan to me. Maybe not one of those long-term plans, but a plan nevertheless. In fact, some of the moves intended to keep a long-term pressure.

Now, I never read Chernev's "Move by move" and probably never will because I think McDonald's book is a nice alternative with more up to date games and likely moves were checked for accuracy with a computer program. The intended audience is probably someone with a rating range 1200-1600. I do believe, however, that even higher rated players will benefit. I say this because in most of the games a certain move that proved to be a key error was very much "non-grandmaster" like. This means that anyone outside of 1200-1600 range still has room for improvement.

I have couple reservations about the book though. First, I did not like the author's choice for game 14 (Pirc Defense). Seirawan played with black pieces against Kovacevic. White in the 5th move played g4. I have never seen this and frankly don't think that this is the best way to keep the initiative. White is much better after playing f4 (The Austrian Attack). In fact, Black would have difficulties after this move if they don't play accurately. No '?' from McDonald for g4.

Also, I wish that there were more games where Black wins. There are only 9 of them. I think the book would have benefited if the author for each opening selected a game won by white and then by black.

There are also some minor editorial errors, but they don't ruin the book's value and quality.

Added on 9/25 - I finished the book and everything I said about the book above still stands.

Sure, really explains every move.......2006-08-10

I was torn between whether to give this book 2 stars or to be nicer and give 3 stars. At first it seemed 3 would be proper simply because I haven't yet finished it to the last page though I've read most of it, and because most people (judging from the other reviews) seem to be generally pleased with it. But then I decided that there is no reason why the remainder of the book would be any different than what I've seen and the average rating is much higher than the book really deserves.

On the face of it, this book is very attractive indeed. Who wouldn't want a move by move commentation (or is it analysis?) of modern supergrandmaster games by another grandmaster? Unfortunately, when I started studying the book I beacame somewhat disappointed by certain aspects of the commentary which makes the work seem rather rushed or lackluster. While it certainly provides some pleasant reading as chess literature, it falls far short of the mentioned goal of taking readers "of all levels" into the minds of grandmasters as they make each move, thus improving their own skills.

First, the book is filled with statements that are abstract, obvious and redundant all at the same time. Secondly, it contains very little analysis of the moves themselves. I feel that what makes lesser skilled players the way they are is the fact that they often consider and play out plans and moves that might look good but have deep flaws in them. The way to improve is therefore to understand why grandmasters dismiss certain moves and strategies and to be aware of the tactical consequences of some of them. This book hardly does anything in that direction. As a result, it doesn't really give you half the reasons for each move.

Take one example: the game between M. Adams and V. Salov. On move 33 black plays 33...Qh6. Alright, good. But the problem here is that the obvious alternative of 33...Qg6 which even looks better is not addressed by the author. In my opinion, neither move will stop the onslaught that follows but nevertheless h6 looks like such an odd square to put the queen that it demands some explanation. This is just one example of a recurring aspect of the book, particularly in the opening part of the games which is even more annoying because openings need more explanation. Of course I certainly do not expect this to be done for every single move. But at least touch on plausible alternatives and why they may be inferior. Very seldom does the writer do this.

All in all, it's hard to tell what type of audience this book really helps in terms of improvement. For strong players the commentary is so obvious atimes that it's almost comical. At the same time, the language often seems too abstract to be really helpful to weaker players. The positive side, however, is that the book gives players an idea of the kind of things that masters take into consideration when playing, such as weak squares, center holes which are good for knights etc...

Rather than say I regretted buying this book -which, thankfully, wouldn't be entirely true- I'll just say that like most non-fiction books, chess books very much require online preview capabilities for potential buyers. Sadly, this one, for instance, doesn't offer it.

If you loved Chernev:Logical Chess Move by Move, you'll love this.......2006-04-21

The book picks up where Chernev left off by including modern games and giving a more balanced analysis for both winner and loser. The book is just a great read for the beginner/intermediate player. I don't know if he picked games that were so easy to analyze or his analysis is so good but it just seemed to hit the spot with me - a minimum of variations and "better is ...", except for explaining sidestepped traps and mating threats.

The book production is good with a few typos that should be obvious.

I don't know if it teaches you to think and analyze logically ala Silman's books but it was a joy to read and play through the games.

Average customer rating:

Not as good as they say
Chapters by Kotov outstanding!
A Classic Middle Game Book!
Inexpensive but useful for intermediate players
A must read

The Art of the Middle Game
Paul Keres , and Alexander Kotov
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0486261549

Book Description

Superb guide to neglected area of chess. Two formidable grandmasters cover attacking the king, defense, importance of pawn structure, analysis, much more. Authoritative introduction by Harry Golombek. Belongs in the library of every serious chess enthusiast. Indexes of players and middle-game themes.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as they say.......2007-03-16

I ran the games in this book through Fritz and they are ripe with bad moves. There is little explanation given. Most of the information is suppose to be understood already. This isn't a good book for newcomers. I'm not new to chess and I have learned more from other books than from this one. I'm not here to tell you what books to get but there are better ones out there.

Chapters by Kotov outstanding!.......2007-02-24

Another reviewer said that the chapters by Keres are outstanding. I would, rather, emphasize the chapters by Kotov!

The chapters by the legendary Keres are good, yes. But Kotov's Chapter 2, "Strategy and Tactics of Attack on the King," is to me the most valuable chapter in the book: very clear and shows you the methods of play needed for success in these positions, ESPECIALLY in opposite-wing castling scenarios. Many authors will simply say "when the kings are castled on opposite sides, it is a race" or something to that effect. Kotov does a much better job than this!

Kotov's Chapter 4, "Various Pawn Positions in the Centre," is good for orienting advanced beginners/intermediate players on how to play with various types of pawn centers.

Overall, I don't think this is a great, great work in chess literature. It gets a ton of praise because Kotov and Keres wrote it (with a decent chapter by IM Golombek, I might add), but it is not a bad work by any stretch. I would recommend reading it.

A Classic Middle Game Book!.......2006-11-24

Written in descriptive notation (wish they would update it to algebraic, but since this book is written for Intermediate or or Advanced players, this should not be a biggie) 'Art of the Middlegame' will help you formulate a 'plan'. Actually written by several top notch Grandmasters taking on certain chapters, each one teaches what they consider to be important themes (ranging from defending a difficult position to strategy and tactics in attacking the King). Books that will go along well with this are those with complete games containing good middlegames (suggested: "Unbeatable Chess lessons for Juniors", "More Unbeatable Chess" and "Understanding Chess, move by move" - for advanced players).

Conclusion: If you are rated 1500+, want to improve your ability to plan, and don't mind descriptive notation "The Art of the Middle Game" would make an excellent choice.

Inexpensive but useful for intermediate players.......2006-03-11

The book is extremely valuable for the chapters of attacking the King by Kotov and the art of analysis by Keres respectively.It helped me a lot to understand the role of pawn strucure in the center of the board as described by Kotov.The interested reader must have a look at Dr Euwe's epic work The Middle game volume one for variuos pawn formations in the center and static features arrived from different openings.The art of middle game is an excellent treatment within its limits and a must for all players of intermediate to advanced level 1600-1800 ELO ratings.

A must read.......2005-08-22

Everyone knows that it's important to have a plan in a chess game, but most of the people play without one. If you don't know how to formulate a plan, this is the book for you. Kotov categorized 5 different positions for center pawns, and gave the ideas how to play for both sides. I think this covers most of the games. There's also a chapter discussing pawn storms on when and how.

Above all, my favorite in this book is "how to defend a difficult position" by Keres. The author quoted a few difficult positions and gave examples on how to present the toughest defense in those positions for the opponents to deal with. Text on this kind of topic is very rare.

The book does use descriptive notation, it takes only a few minutes to learn. I have read chess books in all kind of notations. I don't think it's a big deal.

Average customer rating:

Great book for chess enthusiasts

Art of Attack in Chess

Impressions of a B Player

Chess Attacks, Traps & Tactics all rolled into one!!!

Tough but very informative

Art of Attack in Chess
Vladimir Vukovic
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Pawn Structure Chess

My System (Chess Classics)

The Middlegame - Book I : Static Features (Algebraic Edition)

Ideas Behind the Chess Openings: Algebraic Edition (Chess)

The Middlegame, Book 2: Dynamic & Subjective Features (Algebraic Edition)

Accessories:

Chessmaster 7000

ASIN: 1857444000

Customer Reviews:

Great book for chess enthusiasts.......2007-05-14

I found this book to be very helpful in learning how to navigate the middlegame better. The concepts are very well organized. Beginners may find this book too complex and involved, but for those who seriously want to get better at chess this book is a must have!

Art of Attack in Chess.......2007-01-22

A wonderful in-depth challange as to the art of the 'middle-game'. Written for both beginner and expert. Forces reader to think, no boring lectures here!

Raised my winning percentage already in my club, by 25% with just one read! You won't go wrong with this book!!!

Impressions of a B Player.......2007-01-05

This book was recommended to me by a player who had improved rapidly by reading it. It deals with specific elements of attacks and helps to build familiarity with the patterns that lead to those attacks. My only concern is that the openings emphasized are not the fianchetto openings I play. The patterns covered will apply more often to players who do not play fianchetto openings (though fianchettos are not ignored).

Chess Attacks, Traps & Tactics all rolled into one!!!.......2006-09-12

My favorite books: books that cover "tactics and combinations" (the reason why most people lose or win at the non-master level), "traps" (tactics in the opening while learning your openings are important) and "building and executing attacks".
This is one of the most detailed (I haven't seen a more detailed one) books on building (from the opening on into the middle game in many cases) and the executing your attack! Many important themes are covered - these are the most common ideas - and often much of the time it will show why an attack idea has a flaw in it!

Tough but very informative.......2006-01-12

This is a great read to get a solid grounding in the entire attacking process. This is coming from a 1300 player who took about two and a half years (off and on) to trudge through this one. Even though it might be a lot more helpful to higher-rated players, if you're willing to tackle it, I believe you will benefit. Just having concepts crucial to any attack such as focal-points, mating patterns, and preconditions for an attack explained has broadened my idea of what an attack is and how difficult it is to undertake correctly. The chapter on the classic bishop sacrifice was one of my favorites. Vukovic gives the reader a strong guide as to when the sac works and when it doesn't with clear examples and ideas. This was an idea I had not been aware of and now I'm better prepared not only to defend against it, but also to carry it out. There were many parts of the book that I did not fully grasp, particularly the later chapters (Defending Against the Attack on the Castled King and The Phases of the Attack on the Castled King). Even so it was an introduction to the depth that one needs to go to successfully attack at the highest levels of chess. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves chess, is aggressive over-the-board and is willing to put in some hard work.

The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence

Average customer rating:

captures the essence of handling competition
Insights of a dual-champion in overcoming adversity to prevail
Superb Addition to the Peak Performance Literature
Interesting, Well Written, and Mistitled
An Amazing Book On Applied Human Performance - A Must Read

The Art of Learning: A Journey in the Pursuit of Excellence
Josh Waitzkin
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Motivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0743277457

Book Description

Josh Waitzkin knows what it means to be at the top of his game. A public figure since winning his first National Chess Championship at the age of nine, Waitzkin was catapulted into a media whirlwind as a teenager when his father's book Searching for Bobby Fischer was made into a major motion picture. After dominating the scholastic chess world for ten years, Waitzkin expanded his horizons, taking on the martial art Tai Chi Chuan and ultimately earning the title of World Champion. How was he able to reach the pinnacle of two disciplines that on the surface seem so different? "I've come to realize that what I am best at is not Tai Chi, and it is not chess," he says. "What I am best at is the art of learning."

In his riveting new book, The Art of Learning, Waitzkin tells his remarkable story of personal achievement and shares the principles of learning and performance that have propelled him to the top -- twice.

With a narrative that combines heart-stopping martial arts wars and tense chess face-offs with life lessons that speak to all of us, The Art of Learning takes readers through Waitzkin's unique journey to excellence. He explains in clear detail how a well-thought-out, principled approach to learning is what separates success from failure. Waitzkin believes that achievement, even at the championship level, is a function of a lifestyle that fuels a creative, resilient growth process. Rather than focusing on climactic wins, Waitzkin reveals the inner workings of his everyday method, from systematically triggering intuitive breakthroughs, to honing techniques into states of remarkable potency, to mastering the art of performance psychology.

Through his own example, Waitzkin explains how to embrace defeat and make mistakes work for you. Does your opponent make you angry? Waitzkin describes how to channel emotions into creative fuel. As he explains it, obstacles are not obstacles but challenges to overcome, to spur the growth process by turning weaknesses into strengths. He illustrates the exact routines that he has used in all of his competitions, whether mental or physical, so that you too can achieve your peak performance zone in any competitive or professional circumstance.

In stories ranging from his early years taking on chess hustlers as a seven year old in New York City's Washington Square Park, to dealing with the pressures of having a film made about his life, to International Chess Championships in India, Hungary, and Brazil, to gripping battles against powerhouse fighters in Taiwan in the Push Hands World Championships, The Art of Learning encapsulates an extraordinary competitor's life lessons in a page-turning narrative.

Customer Reviews:

captures the essence of handling competition .......2007-10-01

As a trial attorney the sense of free fall and coping with moment to moment split second decisions and actions is very familiar and this author captures that reality completely and then gives excellent ideas for coping with the life style as you live it. Ultimately he decided to move on with his life but the truth still stands and the reader who needs his insights will be thankful to have shared them. JPM

Insights of a dual-champion in overcoming adversity to prevail.......2007-09-24

I met this kid a few times (now he is a man). I never beat him in chess, despite the fact that I was already an experienced hustler the first time he appeared with his father in Washington Square. He never developed into an arrogant guy, as others did. He always stayed sweet.
He taught me some valuable lessons about overcoming distractions during competition. When he first informed me that he was going for the Tai Chi championship (of the world) I could hardly believe it because I knew him only as a chess player. He brings unique insights due to his experience in two usually discrrete sporting worlds. He says that he does not believe in fighting, since he does not want to perpetuate the strife in the world, and he says that a gladiator side of him emerged at the championships that he didn't know he had in him. He is back in training now. Perhaps it is time that he finds a new realm to conquer, instead of sticking to the familiar. Then, in ten years, he can relate how he is now champion of some yet unknown sport. That would make him sol et unique.

Superb Addition to the Peak Performance Literature.......2007-09-19

What a relief to read a book on peak performance that is not solely about a business or sports leader. For me, those books seem to follow a cookie-cutter approach and in many ways do not speak to our day-to-day living. What is unique about Waitzkin's book is that it leaves you with practical approaches that you can apply to any aspect of your performance. He also convincingly explains how you can be more alive to, aware of and appreciative of everyday, "routine" living. He achieves this by telling the story of his childhood chess prodigy, from his initial interest in the game at Washington Square Park to his eventual rise to national and international championships. Waitzkin genuinely comes across as a supremely gifted chess player without the usual arrogance that is found in some child prodigies. His persona thus allows you to be more open to his suggestions and philosophies.

Waitzkin shares his trial and tribulations not only in the world of competitive chess but also in the accompanying celebrity from his "chessic" successes and from his portrayal in the film, Searching for Bobby Fischer, based on his father's book by the same name. He goes deeply and instructively into his own psychology, sharing with the reader a valuable perspective on how he grew through his chess experiences.

After conquering the world of chess, Waitzkin moved on to the martial arts, especifically Tai Chi. He weaves together his chess experience with his Tai Chi development, which eventually led to his winning the international championship. Throughout the recounting of this journey, he relates the various techniques and mental insights he learned that helped him achieve his goals. He gives these teachings various names - Making Smaller Circles, Slowing Down Time, etc.- and demonstrates how they can be applied to everyday living. My only disappointment was that these major lessons are not summarized anywhere. They are weaved in and reinforced throughout the book, which is good, but a summary table or chapter would have been useful.

Waitzkin is a terrific writer and his storytelling ability keeps the reader fully engaged in the various dramas.

Finally, in some ways, the book is a parenting book, as Waitzkin describes the way his parents related to him during his life of chess, allowing him to be a child, while encouraging him to follow his passion in a field that often turned children into ogres.

Interesting, Well Written, and Mistitled.......2007-09-07

I liked The Art of Learning, was impressed with how well Josh W writes, and learned a few things. He tells a good story and is skilled with pacing and drama. It's hard not to be in awe of the guy's drive and talent, though I was still left with a lingering bad taste of him being a little too taken with himself. Given his huge talent and success from such an early age, who can blame him for some self-absorption, but it still took away a bit from the book.

Also note, the book is mistitled: Me and The Art of Competition would have been more appropriate. I didn't mind this, but just know what you're getting. I found the extreme awareness Josh has to an opponent's "tells" [
Marshall Glickman
Author Beyond the Breath: Extraordinary Mindfulness Through Whole-Body Vipassana Meditation (Tuttle Publishing)

An Amazing Book On Applied Human Performance - A Must Read.......2007-08-29

Of course you know that Josh Waitzkin is a legendary chess champion and child prodigy, but I don't think that is his contribution to the world, this book is.

Let me explain.

Not discounting what Mr. Waitzkin has done in chess and the martial arts, his book breaks down exceptional human performance into actionable steps that virtually anyone who can read the book can take.

This is the the self deconstruction of the mind of a genius reconstructed so you can replicate his results, not an easy task.

Since I read this book, I've purchased and given away 20 copies to clients, friends and family so they can learn these powerful ideas and apply them to their own life. I simply can't remember being inspired as deeply to take the actions outlined in a book as I was by this one.

The theory of little circles alone is one of the most powerful ideas to come out of performance thinking yet. Learning how to discover and manipulate patterns is a wildly profitable skill when applied to business or to life.

Grab this book, you'll read it and then you'll go back to it many times.

Apply this book and you'll propel yourself to the top of your career, business and life.

Truly Transformational!

Dave Lakhani
Author
Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want
Power of An Hour: Business and Life Mastery in One Hour A Week

Cultures, Chess & Art: Volume 2: The Americas

Average customer rating:

Cultures, Chess & Art: Volume 2: The Americas
Ned Munger
Manufacturer: Mundial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0964404672

The Art of Planning in Chess: Move by Move

Average customer rating:

you won't regret buying it
A splendid game collection for beginning to intermediate players
Good selection of games and solid analysis for advanced players
A very nice easy to understand collection of games

The Art of Planning in Chess: Move by Move
Neil McDonald
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 071349025X

Book Description

The difference between a Grandmaster and an ordinary chess player isn’t just sheer brainpower. It’s the creative ability to develop a far-reaching plan. In this indispensable follow-up to his incredibly successful Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking, International Grandmaster Neil McDonald takes a penetrating look at more than 40 of the most outstanding games of the last 25 years, offering detailed, in-depth analysis of the strategic concepts behind each move. By showing how the players develop their plans many moves ahead, he gives the reader a unique opportunity to virtually get inside the Grandmasters’ heads as they play.

Customer Reviews:

you won't regret buying it.......2007-01-02

i love this book. most chess books of this type, meaning the "heavy on verbal explanation, minimum of variations" aren't so interesting for people over 1600, but this one is. mcdonald uses modern games (up to 2006!) and isn't afraid to talk about more sophisticated positional ideas. not heavy duty study material, but extremely readable and useful stuff. also unusually nice font, cover, paper, typesetting.
my favorite quote: "Now all four units are grouped together in a mutually defending diamond shape."

A splendid game collection for beginning to intermediate players.......2006-12-10

This collection of 34 annotated master games takes the "move by move" approach, pioneered by Irving Chernev in "Logical Chess", and also featured in McDonald's earlier work titled "Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking." (The present book is not a sequel, and can be read independently.) All of the games save one were contested in the present millenium. They are categorized into six chapters according to their overall strategic plan. Every move after the opening is given some commentary, usually in plain prose, but sprinkled with analysis. Games are typically preceded with a long introduction, generally a half to two pages, developing the chapter theme further, presenting a similar preparatory game, or pursuing the human interest factor.

The game selections were nicely judged, in terms of their illustrating the chapter theme, and also for being accessible to the target audience of beginning to intermediate players. In particular they are amenable to the move-by-move treatment - this is not easy to do. The Introduction of the book is a tiny bit unfocused, but thereafter the writing is simply excellent. The annotations contain just the right amount of analytical detail, but they also reveal the psychological element, anticipate the reader's questions, and contain a little bit of color. There is plenty of helpful, practical advice for all players. The result is both instructive and entertaining. Advanced players also need not hesitate: this is spectator chess at its best. The depth of analysis is similar to that in the Chernev book cited above, perhaps one notch below that of Giddins "50 Essential Chess Lessons", and yet another notch below Nunn's incomparable "Understanding Chess: Move By Move."

The layout is in two-column format with a very pleasing font. Game moves are set off in bold face and in two tabulated columns. The diagrams are clear, and helpfully contain rank and file labels for the benefit of those learning algebraic notation. The back of the book provides an opening index and player index. I have only very minor quibbles: there were several annoying typos; Batsford heaped in 9 pages of advertising at the end; there was only one game starting 1.e4 e5.

I recommend this book highly.

Good selection of games and solid analysis for advanced players.......2006-09-18

McDonald has put together a nice selection of well analyzed games for players who are well past having learned the basics of chess. I would certainly put this book on par with "Understanding Chess" by Nunn as far as the level of player it aims toward, and above the levels of players "Logical Chess" and "Unbeatable Chess Lessons" are intended for. If you are looking for a nice game collection book at you are in the 1500 - 2000 elo rating range, then "The art of planning in chess" is a good choice!

A very nice easy to understand collection of games.......2006-09-09

This book like the authors last 'CHess: The Art of Logical Thinking' is structured around a recent game. Like his last effort McDonald provides us with no nonsense annotations that explore the various topics that makeup middlegame plans such as play along the ranks & files, play on diagonals, center breaks, etc. Each topic has its own chapter with several games to drive home the point. This may sound like nothing new but the strength of this book lays in the selection of games and the authors ability to communicate the various plans and the moves contained therein to provide a crystal clear picture of what is going on and most importantly why it is going on! This work is a must for the intermediate player as well as a good solid review work for more advanced players! A nice effort by McDonald!

On the Attack: The Art of Attacking Chess According to the Modern Masters

Average customer rating:

New, Interesting, Good Style
Great for amateur players
Superficial Analysis

On the Attack: The Art of Attacking Chess According to the Modern Masters
Jan Timman
Manufacturer: New in Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 9056911872

Book Description

The Art of Attacking Chess According to the Modern Masters The modern style of attacking chess explained to amateur chess players by a world famous grandmaster. This book explains how to build up an advantage in the game and how to convert that advantage into an aggressive strategy and into great attacking moves. It teaches the best way to exploit weaknesses in the opponent's position. Timman has selected the most instructive attacking games of great players like Kasparov, Topalov, Karpov, Shirov, and Judit Polgar in order to explain to amateur chess players the basic ideas of modern attacks and their successful execution. On the Attack will in crease your imagination and your confidence, and will lead to more wins be cause you know when, where and how to at tack in chess.

Jan Timman has for twenty years been one of the top players of the world. He contested many Candidates Matches for the world title. He wrote several highly acclaimed books, among which Chess the Adventurous Way, Power Play with Pieces, and Curaçao 1962.

Customer Reviews:

New, Interesting, Good Style.......2006-12-30

Why I am qualified to review this book: I used to be ranked #25 on the top 100 list for my age. I won third in the N. CA jr. High champs, 3rd at a LA Masters. I have had the honor of working with FM Banawa, from the Philippines, who is now rated 2307 according to January FIDE rating supplement. I have also work with other strong players, with ratings over 2400 USCF. So, I am no stranger to books, especially attacking books, the other book that I thought was really really good was Attack with Tal.

Most Attacking books are showing examples of the position and what happens (in reference to Larry Christiansen's Rocking the Ramparts and Storming the Barricades). This book Rocks the Ramparts and Storms the Barricades even better then LarryC did (in reference to Larry Christiansen's 2 books, one for Gambit Publishers, the other for Batsford Publishers)! A very impressive book. Jan Timman starts annalyzing from move 1, and tells us up front what happens. He looks over the games of GMs Anatoly Karpov (Boa Constrictor), Jan Timman (Iniatiative), Garry Kasparov (Demolitions), Nigel Short (Elegance), Ivan Sokolov (Target Practice), Vasily Ivanchuk (Origional and Depth), Viswanathan Anand (Efficiency), Alexey Shirov (Creative) Vessilin Topalov (Wild Adventures), Judit Polgar (Agression), and Andrey Volokitin (dogged determination). He then goes over a brief summary of the players, then shows us some of their games, why he gave them their names.

Anatoly Karpov - because he sacrifices an exchange to keep the enemy king in the center, and then just attacks them, and transposes into a won endgame, which is a very efficient and effective style.
Jan Timman - Because Jan Timman seems to grab the Initiative in the middle game, and then launch a interesting and also beautiful attack.
Garry Kasparov - Well as we all know, GM Kasparov is brilliant. He just destroys everyone. He is very strong, and is by far the best player in the world. Kasparov just attacks!
Nigel Short - Short is very strong at attacking chess. He has a nice elegant flow to his chess, and that is why Timman labeled him "Attractive Ellegance". All of the games that he played here are very nice, and extremely good quality.
Ivan Sokolov - Sokolov is a strong GM, who is well known for his positional understanding. Sometimes, he wakes up and decides that it is a day where he will go after his opponent's king. When that happens, he almost never misses his target, and Timman proves it through examples.
Vasily Ivanchuk - Vasily "chuky" Ivanchuk has been a top GM for years, and was thought to be the next work champion in the early 1990s. He is very strong positional player, yet he is also vrey strong in attacking chess. He is just plain 100% Original in his ideas.
Vishy Anand - We all know Anand is one of the best players in the world, if not the best. He is always very efficient, with a deep positional understanding, yet he also knows how to attack, and is very good at attacking chess.
Alexey Shirov - The 2006 Tal, Alexey Shirov is a brilliant GM, and has been a member of the world elite for years. His creativity propelled him there. He has had some nice wins over all of the top GMs in the world, and is known for his razor sharpk, creative style.
Vesselin Topalov - He is always well prepared, and his opening preparation is based on that he can get a good position where he has a chance to launch an attack on the enemy king. He takes lots of risks, and is also ex-world champion because he lost 5-6 in classical and 2.5 - 1.5 in rapid chess to Vladimir Kramnik.
Judit Polgar - She has been known for years to be a very strong attacking player. Timman shows us this through examples again.
Andrey Volokitin - Volokitin is a very strong players, who was once ranked #25 in the world. In GM Timman's opinion, his play and style reminds him of Vlemovich when he was younger (Vlemovich is the guy who invented the Bc4 Qe2 0-0-0 system against the classical Sicilian) a player with a head of crazy ideas.

Next, he showed through 33 more examples common tactical themes in chess, a "quiet move", which is really just a knock out move, that limits the enemy king's mobility, and its just game over. He gives numerous other examples of other common themes. It was very interesting.

Timman proved to me that this is a good book, and I will be buying another Jan Timman book. He is very good writer, and player. He shows us how to build an attack step by step. I recommend this book to all, strong attackers and not so strong attackers, Patzers (club players) to GMs, this book can improve your chess a tremendous amount! I, as a very strong attacker, really enjoyed the book, and learned a lot. It is to mention that I didn't even need a board to go over the games, there were enough diagrams, for me, so that I could take a little checkpoint every now and then, and know exactly what was going on.
Jan Timman, an ex-member of the world elite, and still a very strong player, he is the man! He is one of the most qualified people in this world to be writing a book about attacking chess. He is very good with the Initiative, and very good when needed to attack.

Great for amateur players.......2006-12-20

A very instructive book because it makes clear there are different ways of obtaining the initiative in a game, by pointing at the differences in style of various top players. Timman almost always concentrates at the essence of a position, without bothering you with pages of variations and subvariations. Maybe it takes the confidence of a top player like Timman to leave out most of the stuff computers come up with.

Superficial Analysis.......2006-12-09

The book is comprised of 33 games: three games from each of eleven masters (Karpov, Short, Kasparov, Topalov, Polgar, Sokolov, Anand, Timman, and I forget the others). Serious players will have seen the games before in publications such as NIC Magazine and Chess Informant. In some cases, they're so well known they've already appeared in several books. Timman's light analysis and comments don't shed any new light on the games. This book is closer in style to his earlier book, "Curacao 1962," rather than his more serious "The Art of Chess Analysis" or "Power Chess with Pieces."

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books