Skinny Pawn - Piyon Daut

04/11/2024

03/11/2024

It is not the quality of your best moves that wins you games; it is the quality of your worst moves. The quickest way to improve your chess skills is to raise the bar.

The Spanish grandmaster and coach Jesus de la Villa has proven with his best-seller 100 Endgames You Must Know that he understands exactly what a chess student needs. Building on his experience as a writer and as a coach for juniors, he has carefully selected the 50 Mistakes every player should be aware of – so the mistake can be avoided.

De la Villa loves this quote from the American First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt: ‘Learn from the errors of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.’

For over a decade, De la Villa has closely observed the Spanish junior championships, noting the recurring errors that players make. He has taken notes, classified these errors, and created training tasks based on them. From this wealth of chess exercises, he has selected the most impactful and has added recommendations how to correct the error.

Your performance will improve dramatically because this book offers you:

– 50 important chess lessons

– detailed and lively explanations

– clear summaries and recommendations

– dozens of tests.

Jesus de la Villa (1958) is an International Grandmaster born in Spain. He is a successful author and a well-known chess trainer. He has twice won the Spanish Championship. His book 100 Endgames You Must Know is an international bestseller.

03/11/2024

The seconds tick down relentlessly toward zero just as your game approaches the critical stage. Your higher-rated opponent is putting your game under severe pressure, so extreme accuracy is needed to hang tough and avoid falling into a losing position. What do you do now – should you exchange pieces to relieve the pressure, lash out with a sacrifice, probe for weaknesses in the opponent's camp, or maybe just give up and get a lesson on how to bring the point home?

The answer is… none of these! At such do-or-die moments, says Steve Hrop, the first thing to do is to sit on your hands and take a few deep breaths. In Defending Under Pressure and Managing Your Emotions at the Chessboard, the author uses critical moments from his own tournament games (most of them against players rated above 2200) to describe the difficulties of thinking straight when the enemy is at the gates, and then outlines methods and techniques to clear your head, evaluate the position, and find your way to the best move.

Techniques include how to avoid redundant pieces that critically limit your mobility; when visualization is more important than calculation: and “freeze-framing” positions to eliminate blunders.

Save the draw – or turn a looming defeat into an astonishing victory – with the tips in this practical training manual!

02/11/2024

The Slav is the Black's most popular response to the Queen's Gambit and one of the most played defences by Grandmasters.

This book explains in detail all the themes behind this uncompromising defence.

The authors are two leading Siberian players and their experience of playing against top Russians enables them to prescribe effective remedies to the White's unusual approaches and to explain how the Black can find counterchances against the solid main line.

02/11/2024

Alvis Vitolins (1946-1997) was a seven-time chess champion of Latvia, a player with a ferocious attacking style, and one of the game’s last true openings innovators in the pre-computer age. He was a world-class blitz player and was a regular blitz sparring-partner of his friend, world champion Mikhail Tal. Vitolins often deployed gambits, and his attack-minded novelties in the Ruy Lopez, Sicilian, Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian set trends that were copied at top-level chess, including in world championship and candidates matches. He gained the International Master title in 1980.

Through an analysis of 25 of his most exciting games, this book, first published in Latvia in 2008, tells the reader of Alvis’s chess legacy, which includes many breathtaking Talesque sacrifices. Additional full games and fragments from Vitolins’s career are incorporated in the annotations. Opponents include the authors of this book as well as grandmasters Alexei Shirov, Vladimir Bagirov, Vladimir Tukmakov and other stars of Soviet and post-Soviet chess.
The book contains a new foreword specially written for the English edition by Genna Sosonko, who met Vitolins on several occasions.

About the authors - Zigurds Lanka (born 1960) and Edvins Kengis (born 1959) are Latvian Grandmasters, coaches and multiple chess champions of Latvia (two and eight times, respectively). Janis Klovans (1935-2010) was a Latvian Grandmaster and correspondence chess Grandmaster, nine-time champion of Latvia and three-time world senior champion. Janis Vitomskis (1936-2009) was a Latvian correspondence chess Grandmaster and European correspondence chess champion.

30/10/2024

This book is devoted to the paradoxical opening 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6. It is called the English Defence (not to be confused with the English Opening 1.c4).

By playing 3.e4 White immediately wants to punish the 'disturber of the peace' for his neglect of opening principles, but in this case Black sets his opponent such a variety of mines and traps, that he can gain an advantage, even omitting the equalising stage!

One just has to recall the supersharp variation with 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 f5!? At the present day the statistics after 3.e4 is appalling for in 7 out of 10 games he suffers defeat! The author, not relying on his own store of words, constantly hides behind the ckassics, citing them right and left. Characters form world literature and even departed personalities strive to take an active part in the analysis of variations.

A highly original work from Im Ilia Odessky, with plenty of (new) analysis and clear explanations. The author confesses being inspired by Tony Miles, whose games he states were very suitable for teaching an opening like the English Defence. Some quotes to illustrate the nature of this book and its "Everything you wanted to ask about A40 but were afraid to ask" "Even if at the end the opponent can claim a tangible plus, one needs to find a lot of "only moves" in order to survive in the tunnel that is full of various traps and mines" "..he was confident with his Black opening "because A40 wins", but had some uncertainty with White" - on his favourite pupil Artur Janturin after he taught him the English Defence.

30/10/2024

The Queen’s Gambit Accepted is one of the oldest known openings in chess. It was first mentioned in chess literature in the late 15th century. Over 500 years later, American Grandmaster Max Dlugy demonstrates in this groundbreaking work that the QGA is still a fighting, uncompromising opening that allows Black to play for a win from the very first move.

But his comprehensive coverage is something players who face the QGA with White will also want to study. Dlugy not only carefully maps out Black’s best strategy, but also gives ample consideration to how White should play. The positions analyzed are a blend of the tactical elements and the key positional considerations such as space, time and pawn structure to be assessed when choosing your lines.

This book will teach you not just the QGA, but chess strategy in general. It will teach you how to play solid yet lively positions and allow you to take something away from Maxim Dlugy’s classical style and lucid explanations. If you want to improve your chess while learning a reliable opening with Black, you are now reading the book you need. – From the Foreword by GM Alex Fishbein

Max Dlugy has great experience with the QGA, having played it successfully for over 40 years. In this book, he presents new analysis in established lines and rehabilitates many variations, turning existing theory on its head. Whether you play White or Black, this creative, cutting-edge treatment of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted will be indispensable.

17/10/2024

How to Play Chess like a Champion is Fred Reinfeld's sequel to his How to be a Winner at Chess and an absolute gem. In it the reader will find an exquisite blending of classic games, stories, insights, and instruction as only Reinfeld can put together. Rarely has an author succeeded so well as here, combining instruction, entertainment, and pure enjoyment.

This new 21st-century edition is presented in modern algebraic notation in a double-column format, with many more diagrams. Throughout, the writing of Reinfeld, the master wordsmith and instructor, has been left intact.

How to Play Chess like a Champion is among the very best introductory chess books ever produced, bar none, capturing the essence of good chess in a most readable, enjoyable, easy-to-grasp format.

17/10/2024

28/09/2024

The King's Indian Defence is one of Black's most dynamic choices and has been an important weapon of World Chess Champion Gary Kasparov throughout his career. Kasparov has introduced innumerable new King's Indian ideas into tournament practice and has triumphed over many of the world's leading players.

23/09/2024

Attacking the Chess King Workbook presents hundreds of attacking patterns from significant master and grandmaster games.

Become a successful attacker and win more games with this book in the Chess Detective® Workbook series. Learn how to identify and create king position weakness, position the pieces for attack, and clear a path to the opponent’s king.

Cover in detail strategies, attacking patterns, and methodologies to hunt the opponent’s king. Avoid pitfalls and learn how to think during the game.

Two hundred problems with a comprehensive answer key at two skill levels: Basset Hound (novice to intermediate) and Chess Detective (intermediate to advanced).

23/09/2024

Many club and tournament players are excellent tacticians, but get lost when it comes to the endgame. These strategies are a must for those who want knowledge about the endgame to use with confidence--and deadly effect.

23/09/2024

Chess players are known to be obsessed by openings. However, world champions have recommended that up-and-coming players should actually begin by studying the endgame first.

This is because only by studying simplified positions can one fully develop an understanding of how chess pieces work - both in isolation and with each other. It is also the endgame where the true depth and subtlety of chess is revealed.

In this instructive and entertaining book, renowned endgame expert Steve Giddins selects 50 of the finest examples of endgame play in the history of chess. Giddins examines each example in great detail and uses them to demonstrate the essential principles of high-quality endgame play.

This book is full of essential guidelines and tips which all players should follow if they want to become a successful endgame player. – 50 examples of brilliant endgame play; – Examines key endgame strategies; – Ideal for players of all levels.

23/09/2024

This remarkable book is a tribute to a man who is probably the greatest chess coach of all time. Mark Dvoretsky was a fascinating, intelligent, honest, decent, hard-working and good-natured man who dedicated his life to chess and its players.

When Dvoretsky started coaching after a fairly successful career as a player, he became a kind of doctor who could quickly spot what his students needed help with. He made them better chess players but also better people. In this book, not only his most famous students Artur Yusupov and Sergey Dolmatov explain what made Dvoretsky so special, but also former World Champions such as Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Veselin Topalov and Magnus Carlsen, and many others.

In addition to a wealth of delightful and often touching stories, Chess Coach contains 39 of Dvoretsky's games, which show what a strong player he was. They have been analysed by Dvoretsky himself and by many of his former students. Several interviews and articles complete this colourful compilation. One of Dvoretsky's own most famous books was called For Friends and Colleagues – as Garry Kasparov writes in his extensive foreword, this book is a worthy reply 'From Friends and Colleagues'.

21/09/2024

Victor Bologan is not only a strong and creative chess grandmaster, he has also made a career in Moldovan and world chess politics. His strong will and incredible versatility have enabled him to lead a colourful and interesting life. ‘Believe in yourself’ is his motto and it has taken him to places many of us will never see.

A sparkling description of the many roads Bologan has travelled lies before you. In this autobiography you will read about the adventures of an enterprising youngster in turbulent Moldova, his collaborations with renowned chess coaches such as Vyacheslav Chebanenko, Zigurds Lanka and Mark Dvoretsky, and his alliances with top players such as Alexander Morozevich, Ruslan Ponomariov, Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov. The book also offers a candid insight into Bologan's activities as Executive Director of the World Chess Federation FIDE and his career in Moldovan national politics.

Central to this book, of course, is Bologan's chess career. His most impressive tournament victory was in Dortmund in 2003, where he beat both Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. But he also won the incredibly strong Aeroflot Open in Moscow in 1995 and twice came first in a personal favourite, the annual Poikovsky tournament. Bologan has extensively annotated 88 of his best and most attractive games.

A truly inspiring life story of a man who is so much more than a strong chess player!

21/09/2024

In many ways, the Najdorf Sicilian is the ideal defense against 1.e4 – aggressive and leading to creative and exciting play, allowing Black to play for a win and yet unquestionably sound.

Despite the Najdorf’s great popularity and reputation as a theoretical labyrinth, Bryan Smith believes it is possible to play it “by the light of nature,” with experience providing a guide. The play is concrete and sharp, but original positions can be obtained fairly early.

The twenty-nine annotated games in this book were carefully selected for their instructional value, their theoretical relevance, and – most of all – their esthetic appeal. Designed both for players of the Najdorf and for those facing it, The Najdorf in Black and White is a collection of creative and unique battles that you can use to learn the ins and outs of this opening.

21/09/2024

In Coaching Kasparov, Year by Year and Move by Move Garry Kasparov’s long-term coach, second and mentor Alexander Nikitin tells the story of how he trained Kasparov from a brilliant, but raw junior into becoming and then remaining the world champion.

𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟑-𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐯 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟖.. The author goes to great lengths to describe his educational approach during the early period to raise Kasparov’s theoretical knowledge and practical performance, covering both play and psychological training.

𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟐-𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟎, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐯 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐯, 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐯𝐬𝐤𝐲.

Alexander Nikitin, born 1935 in Moscow, coached Garry Kasparov from 1973 until 1990. He was Kasparov's chief second in his candidates and world championship matches from 1983-1987. In 1992 Nikitin seconded Boris Spassky during the latter's return match against Bobby Fischer, and later in the 1990s he coached the young Etienne Bacrot.

21/09/2024

Positional Sacrifice in Modern Chess - Dejan & Nikola Nestorovic

CONTENTS

THE POSITIONAL PAWN SACRIFICE

THE POSITIONAL EXCHANGE SACRIFICE

THE POSITIONAL PIECE SACRIFICE

THE POSITIONAL ROOK SACRIFICE

THE POSITIONAL QUEEN SACRIFICE
A Word from the Authors

The sequel, or the second part of the “Secrets of Positional Sacrifice” manual is titled “Positional Sacrifice in Modern Chess”. We assume that readers will conclude that the subject of our analysis are recently played games, especially the games played over the last few years. The book is intended for chess players who aspire to raise the level of positional play in this particular field of expertise, as well as coaches working on chess education. Like the previous book “Secrets of Positional Sacrifice”, the book in our hands is divided into chapters according to the material that is the subject of the sacrifice: the positional sacrifice of a pawn, exchange, piece, rook, and queen. Finally, the last chapter deals with “hot games” and contains six games played during November and December 2021.

We believe that the book is as interesting and instructive as its prequel. However, the examples are a tad more complicated, primarily because of the positional rook sacrifice section. In actual fact, the examples on this kind were very difficult to find in practice, and processing them in the right way was a particular challenge for us. The first section, the positional pawn sacrifice, should encourage the reader to execute one of the most complicated positional sacrifices in practice as often as possible. On the other hand, the sacrifice of exchange is the most common and easiest to apply and can very successfully serve as a means of relieving the fear of possible sacrifice of material. Asymmetric positions, i.e., positions with an unusual distribution of material, are mostly featured in the positional piece and queen sacrifice positions. In the last chapter entitled “Hot Games,” we present the analysis on the topics of various fascinating examples, from the latest games of today’s great players. We tried to choose the examples that were easy to follow, so they are embellished with diagrams and explained verbally as well. We paid more attention to the analysis of the positional sacrifice from the moment of its ex*****on to the end of the game. Hence, the introductory part of each example may be somewhat shorter in relation to the first book.

Finally, the invaluable exercises at the end of the book should be mentioned. The tasks cover four topics to make them as interesting and easy to solve as possible. The exercises are based on the correct assessment of asymmetric positions and, of course, on concrete calculations. In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that the book highlights the beauty of human ideas and their practical application. In some cases, the authors give preference to the human idea over the assessment of the computer. When a player cannot calculate complicated lines accurately, he should look for an alternative solution of the similar quality. One of the possible answers is the positional sacrifice that leads to asymmetric material and thus the change of the character of the fight.

GM Nikola Nestorović IM Dejan Nestorović

312 pages, 2023.

19/09/2024

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐍𝐢𝐦𝐳𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬!

𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞. 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐢𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐦𝐳𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬.

However, there were some inherent flaws. For starters, it was quite “dense.” The reader had to plow through many subjective digressions and other literary detours before getting to the core concepts. Now American Grandmaster Alex Fishbein has adapted this classic for the modern chessplayer.

While remaining true to the original text – and with the same goals as his outstanding work with the FastTrack Edition of Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual – Fishbein has produced an eminently readable, modernized version of My System. The result is a book that not only retains the unique imagery of the original text, but a book that is also easy to understand by both club players and masters.

As the author stated in his preface: Nimzovich’s ideas have stood the test of time and, if anything, are more relevant today. In his famous foreword to the 1974 Russian edition, Mikhail Tal wrote: “This old book, sustaining many editions in different forms and different languages, is imbued with an elixir of eternal chess youth.” My aim was to retain that elixir in this new translation.

Alex brings you the best of Nimzovich’s My System, erasing all misconceptions. As a newcomer to the game, you will feel blessed to learn pure, unmistakable strategies, while if you are an old chap like me, you will appreciate the fresh clarity, helping you re-evaluate your personal chess philosophy… Nimzovich is good for your chess, and a more coherent Nimzovich even better. – From the Foreword by GM Vassilios Kotronias

19/09/2024

𝟏.𝐝𝟒 𝐍𝐟𝟔 𝟐.𝐜𝟒 𝐞𝟔 𝟑.𝐍𝐟𝟑 𝐁𝐛𝟒+. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧-𝐁𝐨𝐠𝐨 𝐡𝐲𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐠𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟏.𝐝𝟒 𝐍𝐟𝟔 𝟐.𝐜𝟒 𝐞𝟔 𝟑.𝐠𝟑 𝐁𝐛𝟒+.

Maxim is a big expert in this opening, having played it in 76 official games as of the publication date, and one of his full games as well as several fragments from his play are included in this volume.
While this solid opening remains part of the repertoire of top-level players, it is also interesting for club players to study and adopt.

Its strategic ideas are easier to absorb than those of the Queen’s Indian Defense, and black will not be required to learn as much theory as in the QID. Sharp variations are rare, and tactics play very much a subordinate role to strategy.

The key focus is pawn structures, with most pawns remaining on the board in generally closed positions. Yet black retains the ability to vary the pawn and piece setup to suit his taste.
114 deeply annotated games are grouped into 20 chapters with Maxim’s carefully considered recommendations.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐧, 𝐊𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐯, 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐊𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐢𝐤, 𝐒𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐯, 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐢, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐚, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐆𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐯, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐍𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐚, 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫, 𝐈𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐤, 𝐘𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐯, 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐢, 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐇𝐨𝐮 𝐘𝐢𝐟𝐚𝐧, 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Many of the games are drawn from the very recent past and are not covered in previous books on the Bogo-Indian. Indeed, a large number of games from 2018-2019 are included, hence this work, which is full of Maxim’s original analysis, covers the latest theory as of the publication date.This book is essential reading for both black and white in the Bogo-Indian Defense.

18/09/2024

The Pirc Defence and the Modern Defence are two naturally entwined chess openings that are flexible and rich in strategic and tactical ideas. They feature in the repertoire of great players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Vasyl Ivanchuk.

Viktor Moskalenko is a renowned propagator of dynamic chess and has championed the Pirc-Modern for many years. In The Perfect Pirc-Modern, he explains the ideas and plans that matter, the various pawn structures and how to handle them, and he gives a wealth of new resources for both Black and White.

In this updated edition of Moskalenko’s 2013 book, 33 of the 42 games are new, with fresh ideas on every page. Moskalenko expertly guides you through this ground-breaking opening book with the enthusiasm, ease and humour that characterize his style.

18/09/2024

This book presents a multi-faceted approach to the Reti – 1.Nf3 d5, followed by c2-c4. The core of the proposed repertoire is the topical system 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 and 2.e3 c5 3.c4 d4 4.b4.

Play often transposes to the English Opening with White having sidestepped 1.c4 e5. For those who do not like the Reversed Blumenfeld and seek clear strategic play, the author adds three chapters on the Nimzo-Larsen System 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 c5 3.b3. With this move order White prevents ...d4 altogether.

The book also covers 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4, which opens the door towards the main lines of the QGD and the Slav. It does allow the challenging 3...f6 4.e3 e5 or 3...Bg4, but is the only option if White prefers schemes without e2-e3, as 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4 and 2...c6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3. The choice on move 2 and 3 should be based on reader’s preferred way of meeting the Slav, the Queen’s Gambit Declined and the QGA.

Semko Semkov is a chess journalist and theoretician, with two GM norms. His most famous books are The Modern English, The Most Flexible Sicilian, The Taimanov-Sheveningen Hybrid, Understanding the QGA.

16/09/2024

𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐖!