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 Kings of New York: A Year Among the Geeks, Oddballs, and Genuises Who Make Up America's Top HighSchool Chess Team

Average customer rating:

He Knows Them So Well
Great reviews, mediocre read
A King among writers
Interested in the New York chess scene?
"Their lives have already been made much better"

The Kings of New York: A Year Among the Geeks, Oddballs, and Genuises Who Make Up America's Top HighSchool Chess Team
Michael Weinreb
Manufacturer: Gotham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1592402615
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Book Description

An award-winning sportswriter takes you inside a year with the nation's top high school chess team.

With strict admission standards and a progressive curriculum, Brooklyn's Edward R. Murrow High School has long been one of New York's public-education success stories, serving a diverse neighborhood of immigrants and minorities and ranking among the nation's best high schools. At Murrow, there are no sports teams, and the closest thing to jocks are found on the school's powerhouse chess team, which annually competes for the national championship.

In The Kings of New York sportswriter Michael Weinreb follows the members of the Murrow chess team through an entire season, from cash games in Washington Square Park to city and state tournaments to the SuperNationals in Nashville, where this eclectic bunch competes against private schoolers and suburbanites. Along the way, Weinreb brings to life a number of colorful characters: the Yale-educated calculus teacher (and former semipro hockey player) who guides the savants while struggling to find funding for his team; an aspiring rapper and tournament hustler who plays with cutthroat instinct; the team's lone girl, a shy Ukrainian immigrant; the Puerto Rican teen from the rough neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant who plays an ingenious opening gambit named the Orangutan; and the Lithuanian immigrant and team star whose chess rating is climbing toward grandmaster status.

In the bestselling tradition of such books as Word Freak and Friday Night Lights, The Kings of New York is a riveting look inside the world of competitive chess and an inspiring profile of young genius.

Customer Reviews:

He Knows Them So Well.......2007-09-14

Like many other guys I got into chess via the smash Broadsway musical written by Tim Rice and the two fellows from ABBA.

The musical, for those of us lucky enough to see it several times, glamorized the international world of high stakes chess championships, and posed chess as a way to resolve international Cold War tensions between grand masters of warring nations, spawning such monster hits as "One Night in Bangkok" and "I Know Him So Well." In Harold Prince's innovative direction, the stage became a living chessboard, the rooks, knights and pawns constantly alert and on the move at the drop of a baton. Now along comes Michael Weinreb, a top New York-based sportswriter, who focuses in on the Brooklyn high school that does for chess what FAME did for the performing arts.

The results? Not so glamorous, but compelling. Weinrib examines the ways in which few native-born Americans are drawn to chess, while the newly immigrant and the poor see in the sport a parallel to the nomadism of their existences, shuttled from state to state like bishops being moved two spaces one way, one space to the side. The main boys he profiles come from a wide variety of foreign countries, and once they're here, they do their best to go American, wearing baggy jeans, oversized T-shirts, FUBU underwear and the like. Their teacher, himself a chess expert, is not above employing Murrow's own strategies (Edward R. Murrow, after whom the school is named, was himself not a bad amateur chess player) to allow his boys (and one girl) a liberal amount of freedom regarding their academic commitments that would be unheard of at most schools.

As Weinrib reports, some of them fall apart, and some of them manage to keep their eye on the prize. Not since Frances Parkinson Keyes' 1960 novel THE CHESS PLAYERS, which examined the sorry, doomed life of American grand master Paul Morphy (possibly the greatest chess player who ever lived) (19th century, New Orleans), have we been shown in such detail the uncensored lives of the teens obsessed with the sport--the gateway to the kingdom.

In some way, his book will disappoint those of us who know how to play chess, for it is more about what our lives look like from the outside. But in others, it's a wake up call. I don't consider myself a geek, an oddball, or a genius, but now I know what the world thinks of men like me, men who, inspired by a dream (with music by ABBA), got into something I don't have any control of any more. Those who go to Hurrow in furture generations (like actress Marisa Tomei and director Darren Aronofsky--cited by Weinrib as two prominent graduates of Murrow's equally impressive theater program for kids) will be tempted to join the chess club just to travel the world! With their concentration on musical theater and chess, it's a wonder Murrow has not apparently put on a student production of the famous chess musical! They could star the the beloved chess graduates profiled in this book, Sal, Oscar Santana, Willy, Alex and Ilya. Hey, give it a chance! Weinrib quotes an approving chess source, who says, "The word dynasty does not completely describe Edward R. Murrow High School's pre-eminence in high school chess: complete hegemony is more accurate."

Great reviews, mediocre read.......2007-08-31

I read this on a long train ride, if I'd had anything else, I'd have read it.
I was just interested enough to keep reading and just bored enough to wish it would get more interesting.

A King among writers.......2007-08-23

embraces today's youth - now in chess!
so easy to read - thoughtful - hard to put down.
Thank you M. Weinreb

Interested in the New York chess scene?.......2007-08-11

If you are a chess player or someone new to chess, you may be interested in what is going on in the New York chess scene.New York is by far the biggest and most productive chess center in the USA.New York youth chess programs set the standard and produce many junior chess champions.In this book you will be following the journey of one such junior chess team on their road to the championships,this is a very well written book.The critism I have is this- I don't like the author calling chess players geeks and oddballs. Michael Weinreb the author is clearly a novice chess player at best,by his many annoying errors of chess terms and concepts.He sometimes writes about meaningless details which I found annoying, like giving small details about the environments and the details of what his characters are wearing ,hence why I took off one star.I appreciated the fact that this author took at least a year or more following a group of high school chess players around the country and giving us a glimpse into why chess is so popular in New York.I hope this trend spreads throughout the USA and to California, where I am from.Overall this book is helpful in spreading the popularity of chess, the game which I love, to more and more people throughout the USA.For that I am grateful.The book does a great job in expressing the emotions and trials of this group of young players.I will never forget the characters in this book. It was a fascinating read, and I took me only 3 days to finish it.I really enjoyed reading it ,and highly recommend this great book! This would be a great book for a high school teacher to read with thier students.

"Their lives have already been made much better".......2007-08-09

It is not often that I come across a book that has some great characteristics that make it excellent and others that seriously affect my enjoyment of the experience. This is one of those odd cases, because the portrayal of the kids and the gusto with which the author tells their personal stories is commendable. I can even risk going as far as saying that he comes close to the level of the best chess journalist I know, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam. But then when Weinreb starts talking about the games and chess concepts, everything comes tumbling down in a never ending spiral of mistakes and confusion. This gave me an odd feeling, because I started reading and thinking that it was a pretty good read and that it probably deserved between 4 and 5 stars. Then the chess parts started and I downgraded it to 2 to 3. Next I came across another good part, involving the description of coaches and masters, and I thought that it was on the right track again, only to be beaten down once more. Finally, I had to settle for 3.5 stars.

Lets start with the good part. The story focuses on the chess team of Edward R. Murrow High School, which is an institution in Brooklyn that implemented an experimental program giving the students considerably freedom to choose how to approach their education. In this setting, Eliot Weiss decided to start a chess team. This team attracted kids with different personalities, all of which have characteristics that give the author enough material to display his narrative skills. We are presented with the personal stories of the kids, which includes two master level players and a bunch of good club players, as well as some rookies. It is enlightening to see how chess affects their lives, and how their personalities differ from the stereotype most people have about how a chess player behaves and lives. We also get a tour through some of the most important factors that affected chess in the US and its introduction in schools. Finally, the book delivers great information on some of the most relevant coaches and masters in the game, such as Bruce Pandolfini and Bobby Fischer.

If the author, who clearly is not a chess player, had decided to stop there the result would have been excellent. He could have even asked a master for help in presenting the games and some of the chess concepts used in the book. Sadly, this was not the case, and starting with a convoluted explanation of what a pin is, the missteps accumulate and detract from the overall quality of the book. The problem is that the explanations do not help those that are already familiar with the concepts and are not clear enough for a newcomer to understand them. On top of that, we have the mistakes: positions that are wrong, illegal opening moves (on several occasions) and butchering the name of an opening, to name a few. And finally, to make it even worse, there is the narration of some of the games, which is so poor that it is impossible to follow. There are so many references to queen sacrifices that it is hard to believe these are accurate.

Those that are interested in the story of these oddballs and do not care about the chess portions will have a most pleasant experience with this book. However, if you are looking forward to following the development of the games through the narration, you will find yourself extremely disappointed.

Beating Unusual Chess Openings: Dealing With the English, Reti, King's Indian Attack and Other Annoying Systems (Everyman Chess)

Average customer rating:

Plenty of useful ideas
Against 1.c4

Beating Unusual Chess Openings: Dealing With the English, Reti, King's Indian Attack and Other Annoying Systems (Everyman Chess)
Richard Palliser
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1857444299

Book Description

You may be happy with your main openings – sorted with the Sicilian and content with the King’s Indian – but are you afraid of the unknown? Do you fall to pieces if your opponent plays something strange in the opening? Here’s some good news... Beating Unusual Chess Openings is a godsend to those chess players fed up with struggling against all opening moves other than White’s main two: 1 e4 and 1 d4. From the respectable (English Opening, Réti and King’s Indian Attack) through to the offbeat (Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Bird’s Opening) and the totally bizarre (Orang-utan, Grob); everything Black needs to know about facing unusual openings is covered within these pages. Richard Palliser gets to grips with all of White’s possibilities, examining their strengths and weaknesses and in turn organizing a reliable and practical repertoire for Black. He discusses the key strategies, tactics and move-order tricks for both sides, arming the reader with enough know-how to face this assortment of chess openings with renewed confidence.

*Everything you need to know about facing unusual openings
*Written by an openings expert
*Ideal for improvers, and club and tournament players

Customer Reviews:

Plenty of useful ideas.......2007-06-25

By "unusual" openings, Palliser refers here to any opening other than 1.e4 and 1.d4. That would certainly include the English Opening 1.c4, though I wouldn't really consider it unusual. Also covered are the Grob, Bird, Larsen, Sokolsky, 1.Nc3, and 1.Nf3. To meet the English, the author recommends 1...c5, heading to a Botvinnik formation if permitted. This he ties into his other repertoire recommendations for other move orders. The coverage of 1.Nf3 is special and lengthy, as he goes into particular depth to explore move order subtleties.

In general, he provides two Black responses to each featured opening: something solid, easy to play, with little to memorize; and something edgy, designed to throw White into unfamiliar waters. I really like having this choice, and play many of the lines that fit in with other systems I'm familiar with. As an example, against the Bird he recommends (A) 1...d5, followed by ...Bg4, working toward ...e5, possibly as a gambit; (B) 1...d6!?, also heading for an ...e5 thrust, a powerful and recent "anti-Dutch" idea in reverse. Note that both plans avoid the main line.

As usual Palliser has researched the material thoroughly, and it is obvious he has utilized the latest specialty books and databases. There are original ideas, too. The writing is of literary quality, and it is full of good, practical pointers. I never fail to learn something useful from his books, even if they cover systems that are outside my practice. The analysis is organized by variation and subvariation (and so on) set off in bold face, with fragments or completed games provided within the accompanying text. The back of the book contains an index of variations. Helpfully, it is coded to distinguish featured variations from in-text analysis.

In terms of value, this book would be most attractive to those willing to play the Symmetrical English as Black, as nearly half the book is devoted to it. As for the remainder of the book, nearly all players can find something useful and informative.

Against 1.c4.......2007-06-11

I think that book is very good, especially lines with 1.c4 c5 and black answer on 1.b3. It is the light to go forward through dark english woods.

Mastering the Spanish (Batsford Chess Library)

Average customer rating:

Mastering the Spanish
Other authors should learn from this style

Mastering the Spanish (Batsford Chess Library)
Daniel King , and Pietro Ponzetto
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Co (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805032789

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.

Average customer rating:

Elegantly simple, doesn't miss a beat
finally something that explains the najdorf simply.
Excellent book
How to Understand the Najdorf
Well written & easy to follow.

Winning With The Najdorf
Daniel King
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0713470372

Book Description

As cutting edge opening theory and one of Black's most exciting defenses, the Najdorf variation is a favorite of counter-attacking players worldwide. An ideal battle manual with complete illustrative games that highlight both sides.

Intermediate

Customer Reviews:

Elegantly simple, doesn't miss a beat.......2006-11-25

David Norwood summed up openings books with this quote: "There are almost certainly more books written on chess than other sport or hobby, and yet so few can be read with anything approaching pleasure. Many opening books are little more than print-offs of ChessBase variations, with the analysis courtesy of Fritz. Any monkey could write them and I suspect that a lot of the time, they do."

Chances are, if you're reading this review you're looking to pick out a book on the Najdorf and are sifting through the scores of books that come up when you type "Najdorf" in the search bar. This book is your best bet, regardless of skill level. It is singular in its ability to describe the Najdorf.

The above Norwood quote is especially true for an opening like the Najdorf, where many think that you're lost if you're not up to date on the very latest theory. True for grandmaster play, but almost universally false for anything below IM-level games. Danny King, however, doesn't get lost in tactics or the countless variations which arise. He simply focuses on the strategy and motifs that are often present in Najdorf games.

For example, the first chapter on 6.Be2 has lived on in my mind ever since I was a puny 1000. King shows a couple crushes by white and asks the reader "where did black go wrong?" Well, white sunk a knight into the d5-square, stopped ...b5, and steadied the e4-pawn. He then shows systematically how to avoid getting stuck with a bad bishop against a strong knight, how to counterattack the weak pawn on e4, and how to get ...b5 in through pressure on the c- and b-files. It's all very simple, and through six instructive games (with their annotations) a reader can learn more than from an entire book cataloguing the 6.Be2 sidelines.

Chapters on the Fischer variation, the Bg5 lines, and the aggressive f4 variation follow similar threads. He always spends at least two pages of text explaining what white wants to do, then breaks down what black has to do to stop this. The instructive games that follow are fantastic, well-annotated, and error-free.

The only issue that could be a problem would be the books date; don't worry, up-to-date theory is not a concern for this opening (gasp!). If you know how to set up your pieces and a few easily-learned structures you're in great shape. Don't believe that you have to know the 14th move deviations in the English attack; it's not true for untitled players.

There are likely skeptics who think that this is an elementary book because it appeals to many levels; not true. The BIG problem with books like the Najdorf books by Federowicz/deFirmian, Sammalvuo, and Nunn is that the reams of variations muddy your understanding. The variations make the book complete, but repeating so many subtle changes wholly obfuscates how to play the opening. After reading "The English Attack" by Tapani Sammalvuo I felt like I'd learned a couple attacking motifs and not a whole lot more. I'd run over all the variations but still wasn't sure what I'd gotten out of the book.

Even for someone who has played the Najdorf for years, coming back to this book always gives me a fresh perspective on the opening and refreshes the little idiosyncracies that this opening encompasses. It would benefit players of all levels, unlike any other Najdorf book I've ever read (plenty). The rest of the reviews of this book are testaments to the high quality and great explanations this book has.

finally something that explains the najdorf simply........2005-06-07

Ive always played the najdorf eversince i was in secondary school 20 yrs ago! cos everyone else was using it! i knew not what the main ideas for black or white were, except play 6....e5 against 6.Be2 or 6.f4 or choose the main line 7...Be7 against 6.Bg5. Of course there were also the Poison pawns and Polugaevskys. But what the hell all these lines were about I hadnt the faintest idea. My only source of reference were those 'worked examples' as found in games by good ol' Fischer - he played them like this, so i do like wise. Of course Fischer knew what he was doing when he formed those ideas and strategies, as these were his expressions or application if you like, of the basic priciples of the opening, whereas my ideas were based on the Fischer ideas hence were prone to errors/blunders when the situation on the board did not allow for such ideas. result - many losses.

Now with this book I finally learn something. Now at least i know what i should be playing for and form my ideas based on the basics. To hell with all those Najdorf books which give nothing else but copious amounts of latest variations and sub variations found by modern day analysts & chess theoreticians with the help of their Fritzs and Juniors. So what if the analysis or variations of this book are dated?? Ideas and variations and counter variations change but basics dont change.It has explained the idea of that 'mysterious' (to me) 5...a6, what to do against or how to play the 6.Bc4 line and what i should strive for when im playing 6....e5 against 6.Be2 or 6.f4. etc

The section on 6.Bg5 leaves me a little mixed. I'm pretty pleased with the main line coverage of this section as this is the system which i play exclusively nowadays, but somewhat saddened that the author chose not to include the polugaevsky on grounds that its too risky. Pardon my sentimentality here as i started out with that variation only to give it up as my mind does not have the abilty to calculate all sorts of numerous variations continuosly on the board. As a short digression, in many game examples from other references the black king does end up marooned in the centre after dashing white sacrifices by white on e6, d5, f5, f6 or b5. (So who says that the king's gambit (my favorite) is too loosening??). Black's compensation for this vulnerability are his wide open lines which produce very sharp counter attacking chances and counter sacrifices. Basically black skates on very thin ice thro out the game. The poisoned pawn variation is also too complex & too heavily analysed that the author did not bother to explore it further after a brief introduction. In any case it isnt a favourite of mine as i dislike the queen being somewhat out of play on a6.

All in all a good book despite its datedness. its written in a way that is easy to understand. The 'worked examples' illustrates the authors points well. naturally he uses Fischer's games as Fiscer can be considered somewhat as an 'authority' on the opening. Its just a pity that this book was 1st published 5 yrs after i retired from competitive chess to concentrate on my studies. Only now am I really getting aquainted with the najdorf after close to 20 yrs retirement!! Hope it comes in handy whilst playing in the internet chess clubs!

Excellent book.......2002-07-27

This is probably the best book on the Najdorf. While the theory isn't current, the author explains all the positions very well and gives you a feel for certain strategies. All the games were carefully chosen and illustrate recurring themes that can be helpful to Sicilian players. If you want "hot theory," there are are other books you can get, but they don't explain the positions like this book does. Daniel King makes the Najdorf seem easy to play and the games are fun to play through. Highly recommended.

How to Understand the Najdorf.......2000-06-06

A little background. I have played the Najdorf for years, loved analyzing it, but never felt I really understood it. My tornament score with this opening was around 50%, not good for the time devoted to it. I purchased this book, and proceeded to win the US Amatuer Championship twice, with the Najdorf winning key games. Too often books give reams of analysis or moves, ending with unclear evaluations after 25 moves. This book has tons of verbal comments. The chapter on 6.Be2 is the most important, as the author explains all the ideas and plans and the purpose behind black's 6...e5. In short, you must have this book if you play the najdorf! By the way, a sideline he recommends vs 6 Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qa5 has scored very well for me. He also covers the main lines with 8...Qc7

Well written & easy to follow........1999-07-07

This must be one of the more enjoyable Nadjorf Opening works to read & understand. No labyrinth of variations to get lost in .....

Anyone who reads through this particular work on Nadjorf will have a better appreciation of the opening.

Daniel King has been able to translate his knowledge on this subject to a readable & easily digestible form.

A refreshing Chess book from the English chess continent. Personally this ranks alongside my favourite Simple Chess, written by Michael Stean -an English chessplayer who wrote books that were easy to follow & guaranteed to improve one's understanding of the game.

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Not exactly what it seems

A good opening book

An in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players

Starting Out: King's Indian Attack (Starting Out - Everyman Chess)
John Emms
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Play the King's Indian: A Complete Repertoire for Black in this most Dynamic of Openings

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ASIN: 1857443942

Book Description

The King's Indian Attack was a firm favorite of the legendary Bobby Fischer, and more recently it has been utilized with great success by world-class Grandmasters such as Alexander Morozevich. The renowned chess coach Mark Dvoretsky regards the King's Indian Attack as a perfect weapon on which to base an opening repertoire. Its great advantage over other openings is that it's a thematic system that can be employed against many different lines, while the emphasis is on the understanding of ideas rather than the dry memorization of moves. The King's Indian Attack leads to rich middlegame positions that are full of dynamic possibilities for both sides.

In this easy-to-use guide, King's Indian Attack expert John Emms goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of this attack and its numerous lines. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings to help improving players, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.

User-friendly design to help readers absorb ideas
Concentrates on the key principles of the King's Indian Attack
Ideal for improving players

Customer Reviews:

Not exactly what it seems.......2007-06-24

This is primarily about the closed French and closed Siclian defenses, from white's perspective, (about 140 pages). The last 60 pages is about the reversed King's Indian opening. If your primary interest is playing 1. Nf3 as white, this is probably not the book you are looking for.

If you like opening with 1. e4, and want a systematic response when your opponent does not reply with 1. ... e5, then this is a good book for you. You will have a system of play that does not require learning the vast variations of the open French and Sicilian defenses.

Also, you will have in hand the 1. Nf3 opening, in case you want to change things up a bit with a secondary opening as white.

The book is well written and illustrated, the level of detail is suitable for the beginning or intermediate player. It assumes a basic knowledge of the game beyond just knowing how the pieces move.

A good opening book.......2006-08-15

This is a well organized and easy to understand book for players at all levels. Whether you want to play the KIA or want a better line against an opponent, this volume does the job.

An in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players.......2005-11-08

Written by British chess Grandmaster John Emms, Starting Out: King's Indian Attack is an in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players to the King's Indian Attack, a favorite chess strategy of the legendary Bobby Fischer, among others including world-class Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich. Starting Out: King's Indian Attack studies the fundamental principles of this tactic and its numerous lines. A wealth of notes, tips, warnings, suggestions, sample games and diagrams serve to enlighten the average player on the strengths and weaknesses of using or defending against this strategy. Highly recommended for any dedicated chess player seeking to improve his or her game against experienced opponents.

Play the King's Indian: A Complete Repertoire for Black in this most Dynamic of Openings

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Everything i wanted from it!
Well set out, effective variations, excellent explanations.
A Great Book from an author that actually plays the opening he recommends
play the kings indian
All opening books should be this good...

Play the King's Indian: A Complete Repertoire for Black in this most Dynamic of Openings
Joe Gallagher
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1857443241

Book Description

The King's Indian has always been one of the sharpest, most complex, and popular openings that Black can play; it still provides the setting for many encounters at the elite level of Grandmaster chess. In this book, Grandmaster and King's Indian expert Joe Gallagher provides a Black repertoire in the King's Indian Defence against all of White's possible options.

Customer Reviews:

Everything i wanted from it!.......2007-09-24

I really enjoyed this book. I have over a dozen books on the KID but this one tops them all. Joe is informative to such an extent. All chess books should be written like this. Massive amounts of data!!!!!!

Well set out, effective variations, excellent explanations........2007-03-31

Gallagher has written a really good book. The lines he offers are quite good and he explains a lot of what is going on, the book is not all about lists of moves.

A Great Book from an author that actually plays the opening he recommends.......2007-02-10

I simply loved this book. I think the author's enthusiasm and love for the opening comes through loud and clear. A must for the true KING'S INDIAN fanatic.

play the kings indian.......2006-06-08

I am writing this review fresh after slaughtering a cheeky 1.d4 player who attempted the Petrosian system against my WELL INFORMED Kings Indian. Indeed, I can still taste the victory; after sacrificing 2 pawns I gained a devastating initiative on the kingside. Here is a quote from the book (Main Line): "White will attempt to tear Black from limb to limb on the queenside while Black will endeavour to hang, draw, and quarter White on the kingside. Sometimes both sides succeed in their aim and then Black wins. That is the advantage of attacking the King". I just want to add to other reviewers by giving my thoughts on this book as compared to Gallaghers other fantastic book: "Starting Out: the Kings Indian". I was completely new to the Kings Indian prior to buying SOKID and it helped with some of the basic themes but, after buying PTKID shortly thereafter, I will not be going back to that other book. PTKID is just so much richer in ideas etc. So if you really are just starting out in the KID, but are somewhat strapped for cash, I would recommend you to get PTKID first, so long as you are not a beginning chess player. (Again, SOKID is a fantastic book. It explains the typical themes w/ diagrams, etc. very well). Happy hunting!
------- USCF 1420

All opening books should be this good..........2006-02-05

This book furnishes a repertoire for Black in the King's Indian Defense (KID). There are twelve chapters, the first six devoted to the Classical Variation (including the currently fashionable Bayonet Attack). Then follow the Saemisch, Fianchetto, Four Pawn Attack, systems with early h2-h3, Averbakh, and miscellaneous systems. Each chapter contains an introduction, and the coverage is built around complete, illustrative games. I think this is a good way to treat opening theory, so that the reader gets a sense of the typical middlegames and endgames that arise from the opening.

I have really come to admire Gallagher's writing. His annotations are full of explanatory prose, deep and valuable insights, growing out of his long career as a KID player. There is much original analysis. I also enjoyed his humor and his obvious contempt for wimpy chess. The games and the associated variations are well selected, covering critical lines, mostly from recent high-level competition. I like his repertoire recommendations, which usually offer the most critical and aggressive way to meet a particular line, e.g., 6...c5 gambit against the Saemisch, 6...Na6 against the Averbakh. (However, he does not generally lay out alternative approaches - which some readers may prefer.) The author obviously poured a lot of hard work into this book.

This book is suitable for intermediate and advanced players. A good companion volume would be Gallagher's marvellous "Beating the Anti-King's Indians," which treats the Exchange Variation, Trompowsky, London System, Veresov and other ways White can evade the main lines. Newbies might instead turn to the excellent "Starting Out: The King's Indian" by the same author and publisher.

The book is set in two-column style, with excellent diagrams and pleasant fonts. The back of the book has an index of variations and an index of games. I didn't notice any typos or diagram errors.

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The best chess book ever written!
Six Stars!
the king-chess pieces

The King: Chess Pieces
J. H. Donner
Manufacturer: New in Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9056911716

Book Description

J.H.Donner (1927-1988) was a Dutch Grandmaster and one of the greatest writers about chess of all time. He was a chess reporter and a chess columnist, as well as an annotator of the game.Above all he was a witty and unpredictable commentator of everything and everybody, both inside and outside the chess world.THE KING spans a writing career of more than thirty years during which Donner slowly developed from chess player-writer into writer-chess player. Donner's favourite subjects are: Bobby Fischer, the blunder, chess as a game of luck,why women can't play chess, madness, and poor Lodewijk Prins, his contender for the Dutch National Championship for many years,who, according to Donner, "couldn't tell a bishop from a knight." THE KING is a book full of insults and ironies, but Donner wouldn't be Donner without his self-mockery.

Customer Reviews:

The best chess book ever written!.......2007-08-24

This book stands out of competition. I have read many chess books, but this one is certainly the most entertaining book of all. It is a combination of chess and literature. This compilation of chess articles Donner wrote for several magazines, is full of witty chess anecdotes. Donner writes in his incomparable style, and I am sure that the English translation cannot render the exact content of the Dutch text (I have read in Dutch and it is beautiful Dutch). But since this book in Dutch is worth at least six stars, in English it deserves beyond any doubt five stars.

Six Stars!.......2006-12-29

J.H. Donner was a chess journalist and Grandmaster from the Netherlands. This book assembles some of his best articles from his 30 year writing career. From the standpoint of reporting and history, you will get accounts of the author's contacts with Fischer, Spassky, Botvinnik, Petrosian, Bronstein, and other greats from that generation --that alone would have been worth the price. But in addition, what emerges is not only a portrait of Donner the man (and he was a character!), but also his fascinating commentary on the human condition. His provocative article on why women can't play chess seems at first to be the rantings of some benighted chauvinist pig, then you see that it is really a tongue-in-cheek tribute to women, and by the end you realize it is something else altogether. Donner has a great feel for irony, a gift for constructing delicious insults, and a sideways approach to his subjects that simply confounds expectations. You won't learn any opening theory, or build your tactical skills, but you will laugh and be entertained. Send more stars!

the king-chess pieces .......2006-11-07

This is a fun book to read about chess and some of the stories of the lives of grandmasters. A good read.

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Special openings work

King's Indian Defence
Margeir Petursson
Manufacturer: Everyman Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1857441184

Customer Reviews:

Special openings work.......2003-03-10

This is my favorite book on the King's Indian Defence. First, there is a tremedous introduction by Yuri Averbakh himself, where he annotates some seminal games in the variation, and explains how the final move order was achieved. Second, the Averbakh is a great variation (Bg5 on the 6th move, delaying Nf3). Third, you will get to use it a lot, as many black players play the King's Indian. Fourth, the book is brilliantly done, with tons of analysis and commentary, involving all major lines you will see (each chapter, which discusses a line, as a hlepful conclusion at the end). Fifth, at 128 pages, the book is not overwhelming, but it is just the right size. Just a great book, I have been very happy with it.

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Bronstein, the innovator, and the "unlucky" co-champion.
Finally I can respond to d4 with confidence!
Bronstein: On the King's Indian
KID must.Both sides explained at last.

Bronstein On the King's Indian
David Bronstein
Manufacturer: Everyman Chess
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1857442652

Customer Reviews:

Bronstein, the innovator, and the "unlucky" co-champion........2003-11-12

I bought this book for two reasons: Brontein's name and sections 2 and 3. Bronstein is famous for many unique characteristics: let the Champion, Botvinnik, escape with a draw; lost to Spassky by King Gambit in a Soviet Championship; a few year later beat Tal(!) in a KG (again) in a USSR team championship; meditating the first move as white for more than 30 min before making it! He is the first is to use the KID, QID, and Gruenfeld extensively in his games. Like Nimzowitsch, he never is afraid to test his innovation at the chessboard. He plays the KID equally brilliantly in both color. One thing that took a star from the book rating is he's NOT the author; the author uses him as a consultant and uses most games from Bronstein in the book.
Now the second reason. This is the first time, I saw a book, that explains the use of EVERY PIECE at EVERY LOCATION during the opening, section 2. In reality, this is applicabale to most all openings. Just the order is important in each, and timing is the most crucial one. In section 3, the author 36 standard moves for black pieces, then 24 std moves for black pawns. After that, white's turn with 36 std moves for pieces, and 24 moves for black. How simple! Not realy. The correct sequence, and strategy must be experienced with; like playing for K-side, Q-side, or center thrust by experiment and personal style.
Good book! Wish Bronstein wrote some preface or introduction and some of his "best kept secrets in the KID."
Two more points for experimenting with the KID. Fischer and Kasparov use them too!

Finally I can respond to d4 with confidence!.......2003-09-10

This book presents the opening in a clear, concise method that doesn't lose you along the way. The style is unlike many other books having endless variations in size 10 font, bracketted within the brackets. I am a 1400+ rated player and find this book to be of great help.

When reading this book I became absolutely amazed at the masterful, almost artistic way in which Bronstein co-ordinates his pieces. I have since learned he is well known for this.

I Highly recommend this book.

Bronstein: On the King's Indian.......2000-11-18

An excellent introduction to the King's Indian Defence. It explains this difficult opening with great clarity. It assumes no previous knowlege, unlike most opening books that begin the expainations after several moves into the opening. Every move, plan, what all the chessmen do, and there likely moves, are explained from the FIRST MOVE! There are no dense lists of variations and sub-variations to make you eyes bleed and you will feel happy: it's an easy read. There are some test questions about the key elements of the KID. There are about three or four diagrams on each page, so following the explainations is a doddle. There are 64 annotated games and a further 50 games without annotation, so getting the 'feel' of the opening is also a doddle. This book has proved its worth for me. I've had little sucsess with the KID until I read this gem. I'm a weak club player, (70 BCF, circa. 1260 USCF) but now I'm a little stronger... :)

KID must.Both sides explained at last........1999-10-08

An excellent choice for interm and advanced alike.Not directly written by David,but directed by his analysis and games.Chief advisor is none other than G. Kasparov.An entire section on the role of every piece for both sides of the KID complete with examples.Aimed at understanding the ideas behind this opening and not the memorizing of variations.A noteworthy addition to any woodpusher's library. (uscf B-class player)

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