Vorwort:
Ich möchte nicht verhehlen, dass ich, ein bloßer Partiespieler ohne vorherigen Bezug zum Problemschach, mich selbst ursprünglich denkbar einfach den Kompositionen genähert hatte: Ich trat ohne jede Vorschule an die einzelnen Aufgabenstellungen heran und gelangte nach anfänglichem Probieren und Assoziieren immer mehr und schneller über die Erfassung des Aufgabengehaltes zur eigentlichen Lösung. Wie die LeserInnen schnell anhand der Beispiele erkennen können, prägten drei Charakteristika diesen Weg: Funktionalität der einzelnen Spielsteine, gegnerische Drohungen und aus der Ausgangslage ableitbare Mattbilder. Mitunter aber gesellte sich noch ein weiteres prägendes Merkmal dazu: Verwandtschaft mit einer anderen Komposition. Erinnerte mich also der Lösungsweg eines Problems an den Gehalt eines anderen, so habe ich mir erlaubt, die Besprechung der verwandten Aufgabe unmittelbar nachfolgen zu lassen bzw. extra darauf hinzuweisen.
Ich bin überzeugt, dass gerade PartiespielerInnen ungeachtet des Fehlens einer primären Erkenntnisvermittlung wie man sie beispielsweise im Zusammenhang mit dem Studium von Eröffnungsvarianten anstrebt, gleichsam als Reflex der gedanklichen Auseinandersetzung einen Lerneffekt in zweifacher Weise erzielen werden:
Zunächst wird den LeserInnen nach und nach immer mehr die individuelle Bedeutung jedes einzelnen Spielsteines, sein Wirkungskreis, aber überhaupt seine individuelle Einbettung in das Ganze, bewusst. Ein Problem mit wahllos herumstehenden oder gar keine Funktion besitzenden Figuren verliert für gewöhnlich in nicht unerheblichem Ausmaß an Schönheit und Eleganz. Die LeserInnen erfahren also, was eine Spielfigur zu leisten imstande ist und bekommen dadurch auch als PartiespielerInnen ein ganz anderes Gefühl hinsichtlich der von ihrer Armee ausgehenden Kräfte und welches scheinbar verborgene Potential - nicht unerheblich im Falle von Verluststellungen - in diesen schlummert. Mitunter ist es ein einzelner Stein, der gegen eine feindliche Übermacht reüssiert und das Matt in der vorgeschriebenen Zugzahl herbeiführt.
Das ausschließlich gedankliche Herangehen - und ich rate vom Herumprobieren auf dem Brette dringendst ab - schärft wiederum das für die praktische Partie so notwendige Vorstellungsvermögen, ohne das kein Remis oder Sieg erzielt werden kann.
Um möglichst großen Nutzen aus der vorliegenden Arbeit zu ziehen, empfehle ich den weniger geübten LöserInnen, den ersten Teil, also die "Ganz leichten“ Kompositionen, jedenfalls sorgfältig zu studieren, da jeder auch noch so scheinbar offensichtliche Zug, also auch der Mattgebende, erläutert wird, um sich erst danach auf das Terrain des zweiten und dritten Teiles zu begeben.
Einleitung
Auch im Sinne eines Lehrbuches musste ich doch eine gewisse inhaltliche Gliederung vornehmen, denn ebenso wie die bereits geübten LöserInnen sollten die mit der Lösung von Problemen weniger Vertrauten nach praktischer Heranführung an ausgewählte "Ganz leichte" Aufgaben in die Lage versetzt werden, in die Ästhetik "Ganz schöner" und "Ganz schön schwerer" Kompositionen einzutauchen, ohne aber der vorliegenden Arbeit den grundsätzlich angedachten Charakters eines schlichten Lesebuches zu nehmen. Die - so verständigen - LeserInnen mögen sich jedenfalls in ihrer wenigen Freizeit einfach nur ungezwungen an der Schönheit des Gehaltes der jeweiligen Problemstellung laben und dadurch Entspannung finden, um zumindest für kurze Zeit ihren an Zwängen und Systematik geprägten Alltag entrissen zu werden. Aus diesem Grunde habe ich auch ausdrücklich auf ein Schlagwort- bzw. Stichwortverzeichnis verzichtet - die Kompositionen folgen schließlich auch keiner strengen thematischen Anordnung.
Die Reihenfolge der Darstellung orientiert sich innerhalb der drei von ruf & ehn vorgegebenen Kategorien grundsätzlich, von einer Ausnahme abgesehen - siehe Nr. 45 und 46 - am Schwierigkeitsgrad der einzelnen Kompositionen - bei Aufgabe Nr. 1834 der jeweiligen Samstag-Standardausgabe bin ich eingestiegen -, wie ich ihn subjektiv und persönlich empfand, als ich die ausgewählten Probleme selbst löste. Als maßgebliche Kriterien legte ich die Klarheit der sich aufdrängenden Logik des Lösungsbeginns, wie sie sich mir offenbarte, die Vielzahl schwer durchzudenkender Varianten und deren mehr oder weniger offensichtliche Forciertheit zugrunde.
Ich möchte nicht verhehlen, dass ich, ein bloßer Partiespieler ohne vorherigen Bezug zum Problemschach, mich selbst ursprünglich denkbar einfach den Kompositionen genähert hatte: Ich trat ohne jede Vorschule an die einzelnen Aufgabenstellungen heran und gelangte nach anfänglichem Probieren und Assoziieren immer mehr und schneller über die Erfassung des Aufgabengehaltes zur eigentlichen Lösung. Wie die LeserInnen schnell anhand der Beispiele erkennen können, prägten drei Charakteristika diesen Weg: Funktionalität der einzelnen Spielsteine, gegnerische Drohungen und aus der Ausgangslage ableitbare Mattbilder. Mitunter aber gesellte sich noch ein weiteres prägendes Merkmal dazu: Verwandtschaft mit einer anderen Komposition. Erinnerte mich also der Lösungsweg eines Problems an den Gehalt eines anderen, so habe ich mir erlaubt, die Besprechung der verwandten Aufgabe unmittelbar nachfolgen zu lassen bzw. extra darauf hinzuweisen.
Ich bin überzeugt, dass gerade PartiespielerInnen ungeachtet des Fehlens einer primären Erkenntnisvermittlung wie man sie beispielsweise im Zusammenhang mit dem Studium von Eröffnungsvarianten anstrebt, gleichsam als Reflex der gedanklichen Auseinandersetzung einen Lemeffekt in zweifacher Weise erzielen werden:
Zunächst wird den LeserInnen nach und nach immer mehr die individuelle Bedeutung jedes einzelnen Spielsteines, sein Wirkungskreis, aber überhaupt seine individuelle Einbettung in das Ganze, bewusst. Ein Problem mit wahllos herumstehenden oder gar keine Funktion besitzenden Figuren verliert für gewöhnlich - auf die Ausnahme der Nr. 50 sei hier bereits hingewiesen - in nicht unerheblichem Ausmaß an Schönheit und Eleganz. Die LeserInnen erfahren also, was eine Spielfigur zu leisten imstande ist und bekommen dadurch auch als PartiespielerInnen ein ganz anderes Gefühl hinsichtlich der von ihrer Armee ausgehenden Kräfte und welches scheinbar verborgene Potential - nicht unerheblich im Falle von Verluststellungen - in diesen schlummert. Mitunter ist es ein einzelner Stein, der gegen eine feindliche Übermacht reüssiert und das Matt in der vorgeschriebenen Zügezahl herbeiführt.
Das ausschließlich gedankliche Herangehen - und ich rate vom Herumprobieren auf dem Brette dringendst ab - schärft wiederum das für die praktische Partie so notwendige Vorstellungsvermögen, ohne das kein Remis oder Sieg erzielt werden kann.
Um möglichst großen Nutzen aus der vorliegenden Arbeit zu ziehen, empfehle ich den weniger geübten LöserInnen, den ersten Teil, also die "Ganz leichten" Kompositionen, jedenfalls sorgfältig zu studieren, da jeder auch noch so scheinbar offensichtliche Zug, also auch der Mattgebende, erläutert wird, um sich erst danach auf das Terrain des zweiten und dritten Teiles zu begeben.
In diesem Sinne wünsche ich daher allen Entspannung und Kunstgenuss, die, so bin ich überzeugt, mit einer automatischen Spielstärkehebung, und sei sie auch noch so gering, einhergehen, ohne dass ich natürlich dafiir die Haftung zu übernehmen vermag.
Wien, Februar 2016
Der Verfasser
Dr. Andreas Druckenthaner (geb. 1961), im Zivilberuf Richter am Bundesverwaltungsgericht in Wien,ist FIDE-Meister.
Neben der Beteiligung am Gewinn des Mannschaftsstaatsmeistertitels für den Verein ATSV Ranshofen in der Saison 1988/89 und der Erreichung mehrerer vorderer Plätze bei österreichischen Meisterschaften im Schnellschach - jeweils 4. Rang bei den Staatsmeisterschaften 2006 und 2007 - gewann er im Jahre 2013 das 10. Auhof-Open in Wien mit einer Elo-Performance von über 2500 und die Wiener Schnellschach-Landesmeisterschaft mit einer Elo-Performance von 2625. Aktuell ist er Wiener Blitzschachlandesmeister.
Ever since its inception in 2008, the Grandmaster Repertoire series has produced some of the world’s best opening books, but an elite repertoire with 1.e4 has always been missing – until now.
In this, the second volume of the Grandmaster Repertoire – 1.e4 series, Indian superstar Parimarjan Negi tackles the fearsome Sicilian Najdorf, presenting his own world-class repertoire with 6.Bg5. Building on a foundation of tried-and-tested main lines, the author unveils a wealth of new ideas against the Poisoned Pawn and other critical variations, making this an essential addition to the library of every ambitious player.
Parimarjan Negi is a former child prodigy who is the second-youngest player of all time to obtain the Grandmaster title. He was Asian Champion in 2012, and played on Board 1 for the Indian team which won bronze medals at the Tromsø 2014 Olympiad.
"Negi's book is absolutely stunning. My jaw kept dropping at the attacking ideas that Negi exposes in this book. Just as in his previous book on the Caro-Kann & French, there is that beautiful mix of computer analysis, database research (including correspondence games) and superb insight that makes it a real learning experience as well as a super-GM repertory."
GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
"The younger generation tends to depend more on the computer. At the level they are now, why not add another dimension by reading more, I try to say, at least when you have great authors like Parimarjan Negi. His books on the Sicilian are absolutely fabulous."
GM Simen Agdestein, New in Chess
"There seem to be so many new ideas it's an absolute must for high-level players who are willing to get involved in tussles involving 6.Bg5. The fact that the author also takes the time to explain the reasoning and the logic, even in sharp, almost irrational positions, is most helpful."
GM Glenn Flear, New in Chess Yearbook
"These days with stronger and stronger engines one might question the need for opening books, but this would be a mistake. While the strongest engines are analytical monsters they often work better with a strong guide, especially in the unbalanced positions that abound in the 6.Bg5 Najdorf. Negi is an excellent guide.
1.e4 vs. the Sicilian 1 is the perfect book for the ambitious 1.e4 player who is aiming for the maximum."
IM John Donaldson
"A fantastic book. This is the second entry in GM Parimarjan Negi’s 1.e4 series, the first of which (1.e4 vs The French, Caro-Kann and Philidor) deservedly won the 2014 ChessPub.com Book of the Year award. In his new book Negi turns 6.Bg5 into a fearsome weapon against the Najdorf suitable even for his Grandmaster readers. This is a serious book for advanced players, one that will drive the theoretical discussion on the Najdorf for the foreseeable future."
John Hartmann, Chess Life
ISBN: 978-1-906552-39-8
The third volume of the Grandmaster Repertoire – 1.e4 series tackles many challenging Sicilian lines – the Dragons, Rauzer, Sveshnikov and Kalashnikov. Building on a foundation of critical main lines, Negi reveals an arsenal of new ideas, making this an essential addition to the library of every ambitious player.
Parimarjan Negi is a former child prodigy who is the second-youngest player of all time to obtain the Grandmaster title. He was Asian Champion in 2012, and played on Board 1 for the Indian team which won bronze medals at the Tromsø 2014 Olympiad.
Reviews of the previous volumes:
“It’s so good! It shows everything that you need to produce world-class preparation... Negi’s book is absolutely stunning. My jaw kept dropping at the attacking ideas that Negi exposes in this book.”GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
“Every now and then, every once-in-a-FIDE-cycle, a book comes along that seriously impresses me. And recently, I received another of these rare, pleasant shocks. Indian GM Parimarjan Negi’s first book of his 1.e4 repertoire series is a real stand-out, an excellent piece of chess authorship.”GM David Smerdon
"Another instalment of Parimarjan Negi's continuing quest to make all opening books for Black against 1.e4 obsolete.
Negi is actually a godsend for a book reviewer because I can more or less repeat what I said in my previous columns! Once again this is a work of the very highest quality. I'm not a lifelong Open Sicilian player so I sometimes feel a little insecure judging the quality of the analysis. I tend to compare the lines Negi suggests with other books I’ve read recently to see whether he addresses their recommendations. He rarely fails me!"
GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
"The younger generation tends to depend more on the computer. At the level they are now, why not add another dimension by reading more, I try to say, at least when you have great authors like Parimarjan Negi. His books on the Sicilian are absolutely fabulous."
GM Simen Agdestein, New in Chess
"Even after all these years, I still get a kick when I receive a new chess book. But there’s something special about getting a Negi book. Perhaps it’s knowing that the pages are full of exciting and practical novelties, or maybe it’s an expectation that each volume contributes concretely to furthering modern opening theory. Or maybe I just like the writing. Regardless, the third of the series lived up to my hopes once again.
To sum up, this book is once again an outstanding work and worth every penny, if only on a novelty quota alone. When I review a new book, I review HARD, and I go out of my way to look for holes. This makes it difficult for any author to meet my high expectations, but Negi continues to impress me. If I weren’t so lazy, I’d even take up the Open Sicilian myself after reading this one! Another Negi book, another five stars."
GM David Smerdon (full review)
"The Glasgow based firm Quality Chess continues to produce top of the line opening books that one could only dream of a decade ago. Its latest effort is by the Indian Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, his third book in a multi-volume series and arguably his best to date.
The new work, 1.e4 vs. The Sicilian II, covers the Dragons Richter-Rauzer, Kalashnikov, Lowenthal and Sveshnikov in a level of detail that make for interesting reading for top Grandmasters, but in a style that is also accessible for much lower-rated, but ambitious players."
IM John Donaldson
ISBN: 978-1-907982-57-6
Im Leben von Eleni ist eigentlich alles in bester Ordnung: Sie führt eine glückliche Ehe mit Panos, dem Besitzer der Autowerkstatt, hat zwei wohl geratene Kinder und liebt ihren Beruf als Zimmermädchen im Hotel Dionysos auf Naxos. Doch dann stößt Eleni eines Morgens bei ihrer Arbeit aus Versehen die Figur einer unbeendeten Schachpartie um. Wohin gehört die kleine Holzfigur? Eleni versteht nichts vom Schach und stellt den Springer verlegen neben das Brett.In den Tagen darauf wird sie den Gedanken an das geheimnisvolle Spiel nicht mehr los, hinter dem sich für sie eine neue, ungeheuer aufregende Welt verbirgt. Aber gehört es sich für ein einfaches Zimmermädchen, das vielleicht älteste und komplizierteste Spiel der Welt zu lernen? Darf sich eine gewöhnliche Frau auf Naxos einen ungewöhnlichen Traum erfüllen.
Bertina Henrichs wurde 1966 in Frankfurt am Main geboren. Sie studierte Literatur- und Filmwissenschaft und lebt seit langem in Paris, wo sie als Schriftstellerin und Filmemacherin arbeitet. Ihr Debüt Die Schachspielerin (2006) wurde mit dem Corine-Buchpreis ausgezeichnet und fürs Kino verfilmt. Bei Hoffmann und Campe erschienen außerdem That’s all right, Mama (2009) und Ein Garten am Meer (2011).
ISBN: 978-3-455-65102-7
Alexander Aljechin, der 4. und 6. Weltmeister der Schachgeschichte, war ein widersprüchlicher Charakter. Er wird als jähzornig und egozentrisch beschrieben, war Alkoholiker und kollaborierte in seinem bewegten Leben opportunistisch sowohl mit den Bolschewiki als auch mit den Nationalsozialisten. Er galt andererseits als ein genialer und überaus ehrgeiziger Mensch. Sein Schach war voller Dynamik, überraschender Einfälle und komplexer Kombinationen, mit denen er seine Gegner nicht selten überforderte. Er gilt als einer der brillantesten Angriffsspieler aller Zeiten und produzierte fantastische Partien in Serie. Aljechin nahm an 87 Turnieren teil, von denen er 62 gewann. Er spielte 1264 Turnier- und Wettkampfpartien, davon gewann er 735 Partien, 127 verlor er und 402 endeten remis. Über viele Jahre (1923-1925, 1933-1937) hielt er den Weltrekord im Blindsimultanspiel.Aljechin verstarb im Jahre 1946 in Portugal. Die Todesursache konnte nie zweifelsfrei geklärt werden, und es existieren hierzu diverse Verschwörungstheorien. Dieser Roman bietet mit fiktionalen Elementen eine mögliche Auflösung.
Ulrich Geilmann wurde 1963 in Essen geboren und wohnt am Niederrhein. Er ist diplomierter Stadtplaner und im öffentlichen Dienst tätig. Geilmann ist Hobbyschachspieler, Vizepräsident des Schachbundesliga e. V. und Mitglied der Emanuel Lasker Gesellschaft. Er war Teamchef einer Schachbundesligamannschaft und berichtet mit einem launigen Erzählstil regelmäßig im Internet über seine Erlebnisse auf Schachturnieren und abseits der Bretter.
ISBN: 978-3-95920-041-7
Wer sich genauer mit den Grundlagen der Verteidigung beschäftigen möchte, trifft sogleich auf ein eigenartiges Problem. Im krassen Gegensatz zu einer Vielzahl von Büchern zum Thema Angriff, gibt es nämlich so gut wie nichts zum Thema Verteidigung.Das ist deshalb eigenartig, weil doch jemand, der eine ausgeglichene Stellung durch gutes Angriffsspiel zum Sieg führt, etwa dieselbe Leistung erbracht hat wie jemand, der eine schlechte Stellung durch gutes Verteidigungsspiel ins Remis rettet. Müsste also jede Rettung nicht wie ein kleiner Sieg angesehen werden? Tatsächlich hat es aber den Anschein, Verteidigung gelte als unmodern oder gar peinlich. Und das, obwohl doch Mikhail Botwinnik ein offenes Geheimnis bezüglich wahrer Spielstärke ausgesprochen hat: „Alle führenden Meister der Schachgeschichte waren vor allem auch immer erstklassige Verteidiger.“In diesem Buch werden zunächst an einer Vielzahl von Beispielen die wesentlichen Prinzipien der Verteidigung ausführlich dargestellt, und zwar neben unmittelbar einleuchtenden wie Störmanöver und Konterangriff – auch weniger naheliegende wie Zukunftskapital Freibauer und Königsflucht. Und dann kann der Leser anhand von 100 Übungen überprüfen, inwiefern er das Gelernte in die Praxis umzusetzen vermag.
ISBN: 978-3-95920-045-5
Beating Minor Openings offers a world-class repertoire for Black against every sensible first move apart from 1.d4 and 1.e4. GM Victor Mikhalevski advocates an ambitious approach for Black, with the aim of occupying the centre and fighting for an advantage, rather than mere equality, wherever possible.
The most critical moves covered are 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. Against the latter, Mikhalevski supplies a range of replies to allow for transpositions to most queen’s pawn openings. In a review of Mikhalevski’s previous book for Quality Chess, IM John Cox commented: “Given the goal the book has set itself, I don’t believe the job could have been done better.”
Victor Mikhalevski is the reigning Israeli Champion and is renowned as a leading theoretician.
ISBN 978-1-907982-46-0
When Boris Avrukh released his 1.d4 repertoire in 2008, it revolutionized chess opening books. As GM Michael Adams said: “The high-quality Grandmaster Repertoire series has taken this format to a completely different level.” Or as GM Glenn Flear put it: “This book represents nothing short of a technological advance in chess opening theory.”
Now Avrukh is back with an expanded, updated and revamped 1.d4 repertoire. Having covered the Catalan in the first instalment, Volume 1B supplies a top-class repertoire for White with the Queen’s Gambit, covering defences such as the Slav, Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Chigorin, Tarrasch and various others. The repertoire will be completed in Volumes 2A and 2B.
Boris Avrukh is a grandmaster from Israel. He is an Olympiad gold medallist, former World Junior Champion and analysis partner of World Championship finalists.
ISBN: 978-1-907982-90-3
Schwerfiguren (Dame, Türme) spielen infolge ihrer hohen Wirkungskraft meist eine dominierende Rolle in der Schachpartie. Die Türme übernehmen diese Rolle überwiegend im Mittelspiel, wenn sie nach der Eröffnung mit einiger Verzögerung ins Spielgeschehen eingreifen können. Die Führung der Türme in dieser Partiephase, wo zudem oft eine knifflige Wahl bezüglich ihrer Aufstellung ansteht, gehört daher zu den essenziellen Themen des Buches. Im Kampf der „Schwergewichte“ wird der Leser mit den vielfältigen typischen Motiven, Methoden und Spielsituationen vertraut gemacht, hierbei stellt das harmonische Zusammenwirken der Schwerfiguren untereinander sowie mit den anderen „leichteren“ Figuren ein übergeordnetes, zentrales Anliegen des Autors dar. Erfolg oder Misserfolg in der Partie sind in der Regel an die richtige (oder falsche) Strategie und Taktik der Schwerfigurenführung geknüpft! Der Autor behandelt diese in der Literatur eher selten berücksichtigte Thematik in strukturierter Weise und veranschaulicht sie anhand zahlreicher Beispiele und Meisterpartien (1. Teil: „Schwerfiguren in Aktion“). Ein nachfolgender zweiter Teil mit 60 Übungsaufgaben (begleitet von spezifischen Fragestellungen) und anschließenden Lösungen sollen den Leser zu eigenen Denksport-Aktivitäten ermutigen. Die nun nach nahezu drei Jahrzehnten vorgelegte Neuauflage wurde von Lothar Nikolaiczuk gründlich überarbeitet.
ISBN: 978-3-95920-049-3
The King’s Indian Defence is one of Black’s most combative responses to 1.d4. A favourite of both Fischer and Kasparov, it remains a popular weapon at all levels of play.
In this, the fifth and final volume of the epic Kotronias on the King’s Indian series, Grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias completes his masterpiece by tackling all major variations after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 which were not covered in the previous volumes. Starting with 3.f3 and working through numerous set-ups including the Smyslov, Sokolov and Seirawan Systems, followed by the Four Pawns Attack and culminating in the mighty Sämisch System, Kotronias has produced perhaps the finest book of his career.
As in previous volumes, the author supplements the hard analysis by sharing his expert knowledge of typical manoeuvres and positional motifs. Once again, a selection of test positions has been provided, enabling the reader to sharpen his tactical skills and improve his middlegame understanding.
Vassilios Kotronias has been Greek Champion ten times. He is feared for his profound opening preparation, and is one of the world’s foremost experts on the King’s Indian Defence.
ISBN: 978-1784830366
Are you a dove or a hawk? Is your natural instinct at the chessboard for caution and strategy or do you crave adventure and confrontation? This question may be more important than you think because being aware of your personal style (and that of your opponent) is essential in your development as a chess player.
As an 8-year-old boy, Cyrus Lakdawala realized to his horror that he was a dove when his chess teacher reprimanded him for playing an unnecessary defensive move instead of banging out a better and more aggressive one that was not so difficult to find. Since then, Lakdawala has devoted an important part of his efforts as a player to trying to resist his natural tendency to over-solidify positions and avoid complications.
Chess for Hawks is the fascinating and often hilarious story of Lakdawala’s struggle to release his inner hawk. It is also a highly instructional guide that will make you think about questions you may not have thought about before:
Does deliberately breaking a rule come easy to you?
How good are you at ignoring a threat?
And at refusing a draw offer?
Why do you miss opportunities to win a won game?
Are you able to distinguish between patience and apathy?
Do you hate to trade queens?
Do you find it difficult to weaken your structure in exchange for initiative or attack?
Do you like games with opposing wing castling?
Do you know when to trade in initiative for material?
Crossing the point of strategic no-return, does that ring a bell?
Does your chess playing style fit the rest of your personality?
Cyrus Lakdawala does something no other chess writer has done before: he makes you reflect deeply about your style of play and its consequences.
After reading Chess for Hawks you will be a stronger player because you have mastered an essential but neglected skill: you will know how to obey the position’s requirements instead of your natural inclination.
Cyrus Lakdawala is an International Master, a former National Open and American Open Champion, and a six-time State Champion. He has been teaching chess for four decades, and coaches some of the top junior players in the US. Lakdawala is a prolific and widely read author. This is his first book with New In Chess.
ISBN: 978-9056917197
Excerpts from the intro:"Sooner or later every chess player faces the problem of building his or her opening repertoire. This is particularly difficult when you play with White, since you need to be well prepared against all of Black’s possible responses. However, most players, including the author, have no inclination to devote all their time to studying opening variations. Therefore, we have decided not to cover 1.e2-e4.
As our main opening weapon for White we have chosen the closed openings arising after 1.d2-d4, in which an understanding of chess and a knowledge of the typical resources in the middle game and the endgame are often much more important than a detailed knowledge of a large number of variations. We have analysed the most straightforward possibilities for White, generally based on the development of the knight to c3 and the fastest possible occupation of the centre with pawns.Unfortunately it is impossible to cover all the possible theory after 1.d2-d4 for White within a single book, so the author plans to publish two further volumes.
The first book is devoted to the move 1...d7-d5 for Black. I believe that the most challenging defences for White to face are the Queen's Gambit Accepted (Part 2), the Queen's Gambit Declined (Part 4) and the Slav Defence (Part 5). A few less popular options for Black are covered in Parts 1 and 3. In the second book we shall deal with the openings in which Black fianchettoes his dark-squared bishop. These are first and foremost the Gruenfeld and the King's Indian Defence. In book three we shall analyse in detail the Nimzo-Indian Defence and a few other defences not covered in our first two books. This series has been written for players of all levels. The author hopes that it will be useful for grandmasters as well as for amateur players."
Alexei Kornev is an international grandmaster and coach. In 2001 he took the silver in the Russian Cup Final. He is also the winner of a number of international tournaments. Highest Elo so far – 2582. For many years, he has been senior coach of the junior chess school in the city of Vladimir. His students are often among the winners of the Russian junior championships for boys and girls.
ISBN: 978-9548782937
Alexei Kornev is an international grandmaster and coach. In 2001 he took the silver in the Russian Cup Final. He is also the winner of a number of international tournaments. Highest ELO so far - 2582.
For many years he has been senior coach of the junior chess school in the city of Vladimir. His students are often among the winners of the Russian junior championships for boys and girls.
Alexei Kornev is an international grandmaster and coach. In 2001 he took the silver in the Russian Cup Final. He is also the winner of a number of international tournaments. Highest ELO so far - 2582.
For many years he has been senior coach of the junior chess school in the city of Vladimir. His students are often among the winners of the Russian junior championships for boys and girls.
This book presents a full repertoire against open Sicilians with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6. It advocates the modern set-up with Bc1-e3 and Qd1-f3 against the Taimanov, an innovative treatment of the Keres Attack, 5.c4 against the Kan. The authors develop many new plans for White, relying on their chess instincts and original analysis. GM Vassilios Kotronias is ten-time champion of Greece and a famous theoretician. His peak rating so far was 2628 in 2008.Semko Semkov played for Bulgaria in one Olympiad. He is a chess journalist and theoretician. He has authored The Most Flexible Sicilian, Kill K.I.D., Attacking the English/Reti, and other books.
ISBN: 978-619-7188-12-7
In the last five years we have been observing a noticeable trend of the chess elite to evade the warn off central pawns moves 1.e4 and 2.d4 in favour of 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. Naturally, lower ranked players eagerly followed in the leader's footsteps - indeed not only Carlsen and Kramnik tired of struggling against the Berlin wall or exhausting themselves in futile attempts to refute the Gruenfeld. This book offers to meet the new challenges to Black by building an English Hedgehog formation. The authors not only recommend a contemporary move order after the ditch has been set, but they also explain how to reach this goal since White's first moves. The book is all the more convincing as it is based on the successful practical experience of one of the authors.
ISBN: 978-6197188134
Dreev offers a new look at the old system 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Bb5 Nge7 which is one of the most challenging ways to combat the Spanish.
ISBN: 978-6197188011
The Benoni Defence can be divided into two main structures, which are very different in concept: the Modern Benoni, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 and the Czech (or Old) Benoni 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 which is much less dynamic. This book deals with both systems. Black can reach the main line of the Modern Benoni in either of two ways: 2...c5 3.d5 e6, or 2...e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 еxd5. Dreev shows the best move orders which allow White to reach the same main tabia with e4,Bd3,h3. Dreev: "In this book I have analysed all Black’s possible responses that deserve attention and in a great many variations I have suggested promising possibilities for White which are new to theory."
Alexey Dreev is one of world's best experts on the Benoni. His previous books, published by Chess Stars, are My One Hundred Best Games, The Moscow & Anti-Moscow Variations and The Meran & Anti-Meran Variations. Dreev was twice World junior champion (under 16) in 1983 and 1984, silver medalist under 20 in 1984, European champion under 20 in 1988. With the Russian team, he was three times Olympic gold medalist and once he got the silver, he also won two times the World team championship – in 1997 and 2005. European champion for 2012 in rapid chess.
ISBN: 978-954-8782-92-0
By playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3, White kills three birds with one shot. First of all, this is a natural way of seizing space. The second merit of 3.f3 is that it throws the Grünfeld fans out of their main repertoire. The third point is that it allows White to delay the development of his queen’s knight. While in most systems its natural stand is on c3, against ...c5 plans it may go to d2 or a3, leaving c3 free for the other knight. Of course, Black can also choose the King’s Indian. Then the Sämisch is probably the most straightforward and natural answer. White’s result in this particular branch (without 3.Nc3) is above 60%! Higher than any other system against the K.I.D.
GM Dmitry Svetushkin is one of the best Moldovan players. His current rating is 2608. He learned chess at 5, at 12 he was already winning national championships for kids. Svetushkin played in 6 Olympiads and at the last one scored "+6" - an all-time record for his team. He works a lot with V.Bologan and coaches young talents.
ISBN: 978-954-8782-94-4
The advanced variation of the Caro-Kann Defence is a very good alternative to the classical variation 1.e4 с6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 (or 3.Nc3) dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 (4...Nd7). The theory after 3.e5 has developed extensively nowadays too; nevertheless, the positions of the advanced variation are considerably less studied than those in the classical lines, in which there is much less practical fight and much more a comparison of thorough theoretical erudition.“My long-term experience in playing the Caro-Kann Defence with Black has shown to me that his problems in this variation are not easy to solve at all. The variation we analyse in this book often leads to non-standard situations on the board, so I would recommend it to players who are inclined to enter complicated and unusual positions and who hope to seize the initiative and to maintain it skilfully.” – writes Dreev.
ISBN: 978-6197188042
Dreev analyses many different ways for White to fight for the opening advantage in two modern schemes, in the Slav Defence and in the Queen's Gambit Declined. His choice in the Slav Defence is the exchange variation, which is becoming more and more popular among the average level chess players, as well as at top level. It looked like Black could equalise, but lately White often managed to create problems for Black. By playing 3.cxd5, after the moves 1 d4 d5 2.c4 c6, White tries to obtain an advantage, but also avoids the main lines of the Slav Defence, which may arise following 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4. He also avoids some other very solid systems for Black like the Meran Variation or the Moscow Variation. The fight in the exchange variation is mostly in a positional key, without much risk, with the idea to obtain a minimal edge. The other part of the book covers a variation of the Queen's Gambit with the move 5.Bf4. This modern line is a serious rival to the classical Queen's Gambit with the move 5.Bg5, in which White must consider at least the Makogonov – Bondarevsky system, which is quite reliable for Black. Dreev also deals in details with the very fashionable variation 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4, in which, if Black does not try to develop his bishop to the f5-square, White obtains an advantageous version of the Carlsbad variation.
ISBN: 978-6197188080
The Berlin Defence has been a highly popular opening in top level chess ever since Vladimir Kramnik famously used it in the 2000 World Championship match to wrest the title from Garry Kasparov.
Club players often hesitate to include ‘the Berlin’ in their repertoire because they see the typical Berlin Wall endgame as complex and daunting. International Master Luis Bernal has unraveled the Berlin and made it accessible for amateur players. His practical guide is fully up to date, explains typical formations and strategies, and presents new ideas and resources in the old Berlin Wall structures. But today, the Berlin is much more than just the Wall. Bernal systematically leads you through the labyrinth of the various modern Anti-Berlins with their constant flow of new ideas. He also presents a number of tricky sidelines that could catch your opponent off guard.
This no-nonsense, state-of-the-art guide finally brings this important chess opening within reach of club players. With clear explanations, concise conclusions and didactic exercises.
Luis Javier Bernal (1971) is an International Master from Spain, an experienced chess trainer and a well-known journalist.
CHESS Magazine (UK): "These days White often dodges the main line, not least with 4.d3, and here Bernal’s coverage is especially up to date, while also including at times some slightly offbeat counters."
Heins Daubler, Der Neue Tag Newspaper: "The claim of ‘unraveling’ the Berlin is completely justified (..) An extremely instructive and clear-cut work."
Glenn Flear, author of 'Starting Out: the Open Games':“The book is classy. Luis Bernal investigates the latest theoretical developments, but hasn't skimped on explanation. He covers with equal verve both sidelines and cutting-edge variations with enough detail to get the message across, but without over-stuffing the notes (..) A rich tapestry of ideas, drama, and humour (..) It's an excellent example of an author giving the reader essential information, rather than propaganda.”
Gyula Breyer (1893-1921) was a highly successful and imaginative chess player. He won the championship of his native country Hungary as a teenager and achieved remarkable results against the leading players of his day.
But first and foremost, Breyer was a revolutionary in his chess thinking. He promoted the idea of dynamic chess and formulated many of the Hypermodern concepts, long before others started their investigations. Yet, after his death, he was omitted from most of the chess history books and today is only known for the Breyer variation, an ever popular defence against the Ruy Lopez.
However, Jimmy Adams has now unlocked Breyer’s legacy from the archives and made it accessible to the chess world at large. This monumental book presents 240 of his games, annotated by Breyer himself and many others. It also features a large number of articles, columns and fragments from newspapers, magazines and books, sparkling with chess and literary wit. The majority appear in English for the first time – and indeed in any language other than Hungarian.
By piecing together this material in chronological order, Jimmy Adams has constructed a mesmerizing biography covering Gyula Breyer’s intense, unconventional and ultimately tragic life. Included as well is a collection of his chess problems, some of which are truly amazing.
GM Raymond Keene:"In terms of importance this book ranks at the top with Kasparov's various mega series, Nimzowitsch's ‘My System’ and Alekhine's books of his best games. Games, notes, discreet modern corrections, scholarly research, history, theory and perhaps most impressive of all, Breyer's Philosophy of the art, science and sport of chess!"
CHESS Magazine (UK):"The Hypermoderns owed much to Breyer, as becomes clear in this fine, detailed biography."
PRAISE FOR MIKHAIL CHIGORIN: THE CREATIVE GENIUS, BY JIMMY ADAMS:
“A stupendous new book, one of those rare events that represent milestones in chess publishing history.”Grandmaster Raymond Keene, The Times
“It is hard to see how this book could be improved.”Sean Marsh, CHESS Magazine (UK)
ISBN: 9789056917210
Award-winning author Charles Hertan knows what kids really need to know (and want to know) about getting their pawns and pieces ready for action.
Traditional chess opening books concentrate on the variations in different openings. Charles Hertan believes that for beginners and advanced beginners memorizing lines is not only boring but also a waste of time.
Hertan’s approach is different.
He helps kids to develop a solid understanding of the fundamental opening principles. What are the properties of each chess piece, and how can they be mobilized effectively to work together and get a strong position on the board?
In his trademark humorous and kidfriendly way, Hertan teaches what you should actually be trying to achieve at the start of a game. Kids will love learning how to avoid The Five Most Common Opening Mistakes.
This is a fun, easy-to-use, down-to-earth and accessible chess opening primer.
Charles Hertan is a FIDE Master from Massachusetts who has been teaching kids for more than thirty years. He won the ChessCafe Book of the Year Award and authored the best-selling Power Chess for Kids books.
Sean March, CHESS Magazine (UK):"I like the way in which Hertan breaks down the section on development to focus on each individual piece (..) The explanatory notes are perfectly accessible to juniors and novices (..) A very accessible book for juniors to take thier first steps into opening theory."
Max Euwe Centre, Amsterdam:"In his newest book Hertan discusses good opening play. He starts with basic principles such as development and activitiy. Hertan also gives advice on how to play certain openings and tips on errors he sees children make. An entertaining book."
IM Dirk Schuch, Rochade Europa Magazine:"Very good for trainers or parents with a chess background."
GM Paul Motwani:"Excellent. Ideal for young players who already have basic knowledge of the rules of the Royal Game, including how the chess pieces and pawns move, and are now looking to improve to the next level and beyond."
John Hartmann, Chess Life Magazine (US):"Hertan's basic strategy --investigating what each piece 'likes' to unpack good piece play-- is solid and his ideas-based approach of the opening is good for beginners."
Kees de Groot, Reformatorisch Dagblad:"Hertan's clear explanations are never infantile. That's why this book will also appeal to adults."
Praise for 'Power Chess for Kids' by Charles Hertan:
Edward Scimia, chess.aboutcom:"The kids I work with got a kick out of it.”
Martin Rieger, Rochade Europa Magazine:“When my youngest son saw the book, he immediately got excited. The drawings and the childfriendly lay-out had a magic impact on him.”
Dr Alexey W. Root, former US Women’s Champion, author of ‘Children and Chess’:“The organization of the book is stellar, the layout is cheerful (with cartoon-style characters) and the material is important for chess improvement.”
ISBN: 9789056915971
18,95 €*
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