- More accurate and extensive annotations using ChessBase and Stockfish 14.
- Torre’s own annotations to several games have been unearthed and added.
- Added games to give a more rounded view of Torre. Also the six games between players other than Torre that he annotated for the Mexican Championship tournament book.
- Many more diagrams and photographs. Also more thumbnail bios of Torre’s opponents.
- More ancillary material about Torre’s life and career: newspaper articles, pictures, anecdotes, interesting facts, opinions, trivia etc.
- A 1927 interview with Torre, published in the Yucatán magazine Anahuac.
- Excerpts from 64 Variaciones Sobre un Tema de Torre by Germán de la Cruz.
- Columns and articles from newspapers in Torre’s home town of Mérida.
- “A Clash of Opposites,” comparing and contrasting Torre with the notorious Norman Tweed Whitaker.
- The full text of Torre’s 1926 booklet Development of Chess Ability.
- A review of Torre x Torre, a fascinating documentary film.
- A more extensive, more fully informed overall assessment of Torre as a player.
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Here is what has been added to this edition: -
I like the fact that a publisher has now been found to compile his best stories. The biggest names pass by: Kasparov, Karpov, Timman, Carlsen, Polgar, Kortchnoi, Anand, Caruana, Giri, Hou Yifan… This is just a sample, all portrayed at a time when they were in the spotlight in one way or another. The power of a good interviewer is that he prepares well. And that is what Gert does. Moreover, he is also conscientious in the elaboration of his stories. He checks facts and calls or emails the interviewee if something is not clear to him or needs explanation. I hope the reader enjoys reading this book. Jeroen van den Berg -
The French Defense looks to be inexhaustible and there cannot be enough books dedicated to it. This book takes a step in the direction of revitalizing our favorite opening! The authors have decided to set the book in order from the less to the more popular and complex lines.In the case of the most popular moves 3. e5, Nd2 and 3. Nc3, we decided to offer two options for Black – one aims to lead to calm play, taking care first with finding balance and equalizing. Needless to say, we wish to arm the reader in all scenarios that can arise in a game of chess, depending on their intentions, wishes, preparation, motivation level, standings et -
- Black is forced to make an immediate decision on move 3 and wait for the right moment to open the position.
- On top the author created practical difficulties for the Black. Naturally, it is not possible to find an advantage in every variation but Ravi added many detailed explanations to guide plans and aid understanding in the various positions White encounters.
- Ravi’s analysis makes Black’s path to equality extremely narrow.
- Finally, it was important to also consider the less popular second moves (2…g6, 2…a6, and 2…Nf6). In particular, both 3.c3 and 3.c4 against 2…g6 were examined.
- The latter transposes to an Accelerated Dragon, which the author can justify including in an Anti-Sicilian book as he believe it’s correct to enter an ‘Open-Sicilian’ type position if it benefits anyone. This approach has been emphasized across both volumes and it is made especially clear in the chapter against 2…g6.
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Frábær bók um þetta stórskemmtilega mót sem lauk með óvæntum sigri! 750 bls af fróðleik og skemmtun. -
“This book is not a pure (auto)biography, rather a games collection. It consists mainly of interesting high-class games played by me, including many losses. Most of the games are preceded by accompanying texts, which vary from essays to tournament reports. The title of the book might seem presumptuous, but I wanted to show how I see or experience the competitions without denying the chess worlds of others. While the texts are mostly light and subjective, at the same time I tried hard to stick to the facts and provide some food for thought.” ~ David Navara -
My aim with the book was to provide you with a lot of insights into this remarkable variation, The Ark, and to entertain the reader with spectacular, resourceful lines to illustrate the ideas. Thus, I must stress that my book should also be interesting for those who just enjoy chess in general, not just for the fans of this line seeking new ideas! Of course, you don’t need to memorize everything to be able to play the variation successfully. Longer lines merely tend to be examples of how the game might develop, which help to enhance your understanding. -
Efstratios Grivas – The Anti-Sicilian Bible – A Complete Repertoire for Black – 520 pages. We must be trained not only in concrete opening moves but also on the middlegame, endgame, and tactical part of the opening. And this is exactly what this book offers: a complete structural think-tank on the non-open form of the Sicilian Defense. -
The Nimzo-Indian Bible for White – Volume 2
• The Nimzo-Indian Defense has been one of the most trusted defenses against 1.d4. • It combines fast development with a solid pawn structure, control over the center and great flexibility. • This book supplies an unique repertoire built upon positional principles, offering active piece play and a fight for the initiative. • This ground-breaking and well-structured book presents a new look at the Nimzo-Indian for White. • Playing this opening requires a thorough positional understanding, the author shows you how to implement his new ideas in the best ways possible. • Milos Pavlovic presents fresh ideas in the various continuations, as well as quite a few novelties and previously unknown resources for both Black and White. -
The Nimzo-Indian Bible for White – Volume 1
The Nimzo-Indian Defense has been one of the most trusted defenses against 1.d4. It combines fast development with a solid pawn structure, control over the center and great flexibility. This book supplies an unique repertoire built upon positional principles, offering active piece play and a fight for the initiative. This ground-breaking and well-structured book presents a new look at the Nimzo-Indian for White. Playing this opening requires a thorough positional understanding, the author shows you how to implement his new ideas in the best ways possible. Milos Pavlovic presents fresh ideas in the various continuations, as well as quite a few novelties and previously unknown resources for both Black and White. -
n addition to the basic Taimanov ideas we had to keep, we followed – in an original manner – our two main concepts: ‘almost never play an early …d6’ (Scheveningen-style) and ‘push …h5 whenever you can’ (Paulsen-style). The latest fashion, which we have to mention, did not even exist when we started to write our book – the 7.Qf3 line. Readers will have the choice between the peaceful 7…Bd6, and 7…d6 where we head for a sharp Sicilian, true to its style. In the famous English attack with Be3 – Qd2 – 0-0-0, in addition to the well-known …Bb4 and …Ne5, our second proposal – of which we can safely state that we are most proud – is called the “Serbian variation” starting with …Bb4 and …0-0. About the specific move order in reaching our Paulsen-Taimanov variation, there are two possibilities. The first possibility is to start with 2… e6 and 4… Nc6, and the second one is revealed by 2…Nc6 with 4…Qc7. We decided on the move order 2…Nc6 and 4…Qc7 firstly because we all learned this way in the Paulsen-Taimanov variation, but also for practical reasons. Firstly, we avoid 5.Nb5, which results in typical Hedgehog set-ups, and these positions are not to everyone’s taste.- Another reason is to keep in reserve the option of playing …e5 at once, or sometimes even …g6 without touching the e-pawn. This book is the result of twenty years of our work and playing the Taimanov combined. We have played over 500 games in this variation and we desired to show all the beauty and richness of “our” variation. We hope that our book will conjure all this and more, and will help our readers into the labyrinths of our Taimanov Bible.
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DragonMasters volume 1 charts the history of the most exiting and dangerous opening known to chess – the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Unlike almost all other books on the Dragon, the focus is not purely on theoretical development. Instead, the author has combined the mist historically important games, the famous players who chose to fight either side (sometimes both sides!) of the opening, and the moist unexpected and interesting stories featuring the Dragon. World Champions, contenders of the crown, code-breakers, revolutionaries in every sense of the world – all feature in this remarkable and entirely unique look into the history of an opening variation. as the ancient may say: Here be Dragons! -
The Slav encompasses a wide but solid body of theory. Black has plenty of options and finding advantages and practical chances was not easy at all. In any case. From amateurs to very strong players, I believe that every chess player will appreciate this book. -
Not every reader is ambitious enough or has enough time to work very hard on his chess. That’s quite understandable and nothing to be ashamed of. You can enjoy chess very well without being a strong tournament player. You could just entertain yourself by playing through interesting combinations. In this case don’t try too hard to solve the Advanced Lessons or Master Class exercises. Have a look to make yourself familiar with the position, than look at the solution and enjoy the surprising combinations. You won’t learn as much as you would by racking your brain to crack the hard nuts. But some knowledge and experience will certainly rub off and increase your understanding of chess. I hope this book will help you to work towards your goals and let have you fun with chess, Thomas Luther, September 2022 -
The distinction between strategy and tactics is one of the first things any chess player learns about, but have you ever heard about statics and dynamics before? Did you know that nearly every critical decision you take in a game of chess is governed by the rules of the so-called static/dynamic balance? If not, for the sake of your own chess development, you might want learn more about it from this very book! In ‘Supreme Chess Understanding: Statics & Dynamics’, GM Moranda meticulously explains rules governing the physics of the game, focusing in particular on the interplay between static and dynamic factors. In today’s dog-eat-dog chess world it is namely not enough to know the general principles, but rather to grasp when, how and why can these be bent… or even broken. Thanks to the knowledge gained by studying this work, navigating through the maze of positional transformations is going to become a piece of cake! The 65 carefully selected exercises are going to make your chess senses tingle with learning excitement. Apart from that, you shall also benefit from the massive amount of practical advice and psychological tips provided by the author. Finally, the book’s quiz format will make the study process not only fruitful, but above all fun! -
Find your role model. This book contains games from every single female World Champion, as well as young up and comers, top seasoned professionals, streamers, and even a section at Beth Harmon from the recent famed Queen’s Gambit hit show. This book is not just for girls and women, however. Any chess player can learn from these games and discover female chess history, both from the famous players in the past right up to the present day. -
I am convinced that to cultivate the memory of the past and to study the classics is always useful and worthwhile, not least because it enables us to understand and face with greater awareness the facts and the problems of the present time. Much has already been written about the giants who have preceded us, and in particular, the Cuban, José Raúl Capablanca, and the Russo-Frenchman, Alexander Alekhine, but a new approach can surely offer different and interesting perspectives. In The Duel, Alessandro Bossi and Claudio Brovelli go deep into the lives of these two legendary World Champions, who have left their mark in an unforgettable manner on their epoch (the first forty years of the 20th century) and who remain – in part, due to their very different personalities and relationship with the game – inimitable examples for all the chess-playing generations to come. The choice to present in parallel the two biographies (in my opinion quite rightly so), shows clearly and effectively similarities and differences, not only in the style of play, but also in the approaches to life of the two protagonists. With very precise historical descriptions and presenting the events in chronological order, the authors accompany us on a journey alongside the lives of these two legends of chess. In this fashion the personalities emerge, in many ways antithetical but equally fascinating: Capablanca, friendly and charming in society, precocious, genial and nearly invincible on the chessboard, and Alekhine, who combined a wonderful talent with a capacity for work, a competitive attitude and an energy which was truly enviable. Alekhine was rational and focused in pursuing his objective to supersede his rival. The Cuban champion represented for the younger Russian player a reference and a model – firstly, to be studied from a critical and highly penetrating perspective and then to be surpassed and beaten. The fact that, after wrestling the world title from him in the year 1927, Alekhine had always refused Capablanca . The Duel, the chance of revenge will always remain a cause of regret for chess fans, but it also demonstrates that the new World Champion was fully aware of having performed a feat that was perhaps not repeatable. The many masterpieces that both of them created on the chess board, which constitute for the public their most important legacy, enrich this volume and underline key moments of their respective careers. The games are analyzed well by the authors, who enlighten the reader as to how the diverse conceptualization and the different styles of the “duelists” (the more strategic and positional of Capablanca’s versus the more aggressive and combinative of Alekhine’s) are instructive and entertaining even nowadays, for all those who love chess and who wish to improve their understanding of it. The value of this volume lies also in the parts where Bossi and Brovelli, with painstaking accuracy, have quoted both direct impressions of the two protagonists (interviews, articles, letters and quotations from their works) and evaluations (in the comments and memories of their contemporaries). In such a way, a contest of wider significance is described, which helps in understanding the characters, the period and the specific contexts. Among the witnesses emerges, in particular, Esteban Canal, the great champion of Peruvian origin who spent much of his time in Italy. He had the privilege of fighting with both Capablanca and Alekhine and becoming acquainted, if not a friend, with them. One of the authors, Alessandro Bossi, was lucky enough to come to know Canal personally and to hear directly from him of the many episodes and anecdotes described in this book. Enjoy your reading! GM Michele Godena, March 2022 -
Á útsölu!
• Compensation is a chess concept that we only fully understand when we enter the world of serious chess. • The relative value of pieces is perhaps the most difficult chess concept of all to explain. • It is one that every player must feel and believe in and can only be accepted with the help of our own practice, and when we feel it come together as though a part of us. • Why so much talk about such or similar sacrifices? Quite simply because we are afraid! We have been taught, and practice shows and proves the clear fact, that the closer we get to the last part of the game, the ending, the more pronounced a material advantage becomes. • If in the middlegame we can still hope for sudden turns, for the influence of other pieces, this is negligible in the endgame. • Maybe less so with tactical sacrifices, where we immediately see what the sacrificer gets in return. • How can we not accept the rook that the opponent offers us, when there is nothing concrete to see? One or two weaknesses perhaps, but they can be eliminated, and the material advantage and a secure victory in the endgame remains. -
• The Barry Attack is a little rebellious but most dynamic opening • It’s one of the fastest ways to outplay your opponent in the opening. • The ‘’super repertoire’’ that always keeps Black under pressure in all variations. • Any reasonable opening set-up can work wonders for White or Black if they know it well. • Anyone who takes the trouble to play through each model example, move by move, note by note, will be rewarded. • Your strategic play will deepen and your tactics will improve along with your assessment skills, and you’ll end up with a great repertoire! -
Nýr titill! Harðspjaldabók Half a century ago I left a country whose red color dominated a large portion of the world map. One way or another, the fate of almost every single person described in this book is forever linked with that now non-existent empire. Many of them ended up beyond its borders too. Cultures and traditions, and certainly not least of all a Soviet mentality, couldn’t have just left them without a trace. Having been transplanted into a different environment, they had to play the role of themselves, apart from certain corrections with regard to the tastes and customs of a new society. Nevertheless, every one of them, both those who left the Soviet Union and those who stayed behind, were forever linked by one common united phenomenon: they all belonged to the Soviet school of chess. -
There are two parts to this book. The first 17 chapters elaborate on the most important motifs in practical chess. The remaining 8 chapters showcase the art of attack and defense. Certain motifs feel like they belong together and the order of the chapters in which they are discussed reflects that. All 25 chapters of this book begin with an introduction which is always designed to clearly illustrate the motif or theme at hand. Most but not all of the games here are classics. All the introductions are followed by training puzzles in order to reinforce pattern recognition and learning for what has been discussed beforehand. -
Why do I recommend my book to you, dear reader? First of all, the lines are all analyzed very deeply. You do not have to turn on the engine and wait for the computer to produce a ready-made solution. Believe me, in analyzing this book, I used the most modern equipment, and thus the reader saves a lot of time. In our information age, time is very precious, and by buying my book you will gain at least time. I have spent a huge amount of my own time analyzing the various lines, but also commenting on the options especially for you, my friends. -
Crucial Exercises To Sharpen Your Understanding This is the third book of the Thinkers’ Chess Academy series. I thought long and hard about the best way to structure this Workbook. My idea was to make a book with additional exercises for readers of my earlier books Thinker’s Chess Academy Volumes 1 & 2 (TCA1 and TCA2 for short) while working with these books, plus material for really interested and ambitious readers to maintain and broaden the skills they have already learned. -
- The clarity, simplicity, and pure instructiveness of this book is striking.
- The analysis is first rate, the commentary cogent, and the production excellent.
- The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games.
- The key is to always stay ahead of your opponent and know how to control the chaos on the chess board. Armin Juhasz explains all this in detail without losing sight of practical decision making.
- With the right strategies, anyone can become a champion and level up their game to become unstoppable. This book is for the ambitious and keen player!
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“The endgame is the moment of truth. It is the phase of the game where we will try to reap the seeds of our effort regardless of whether that is the full point of victory or the half point of the draw. The significance of errors increases in the endgame as the opportunities for correcting them are few.” ~ Efstratios Grivas -
The Staunton Gambit is a very rewarding opening. White’s piece development follows the classical principles of gambit play. White is ahead in development and obtains a fine initiative. Even without the theoretical knowledge of certain variations, White should be able to find his way. Best of all, White determines the direction of the game already on move two, without the risk of having to play the maneuvering games we know from the Leningrad Dutch, the Stonewall Dutch or the Classical Dutch. -
- The spirit of Indian Defenses is based on flexibility and harmony.
- Most of the lines are positional, not tactical in character.
- While playing Black, you have to accept that occasionally you will not equalize, or get surprised or out-prepared.
- Learning the material from this book should sharply limit the extent of such instances, thus improving your overall results.
- Finally, we have an important piece of advice: remember about color strategy!
- The Bogo-Indian is mainly based on dark-squared control, while the Nimzo-Indian does so on the light squares. In case you forget what to do, this may prove a very useful guideline when choosing a move.
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What you are holding in your hands is the natural follow up of Volume 1 where some “lesser” openings aft er 1.d4 d5 2.c4 were examined, as well as a couple of less popular variations of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. This second Volume comprises all of the established main lines of the QGA aft er our recommended 3.e4 with the intention of giving you a full picture of this topical opening while helping you build a repertoire based on aggressive ideas. Objectively speaking, it is very hard for White to find an advantage in the event of the absolute main lines 3…Nf6 and 3…e5, but we believe we have done our duty. We scrutinized multiple interesting variations with the help of engines while applying our human understanding to select those lines that would be the most unpleasant for Black. Additionally, we tried to provide you with as many alternatives as possible so as not to become “victims” of a narrow repertoire.
