Chess Secrets: Giants of Innovation Learn from Steinitz, Lasker, Botvinnik, Korchnoi and Ivanchuk By Craig Pritchett "Innovation" in chess has perhaps most commonly been associated with the discovery of new moves in the opening. Indeed, the common term "opening novelty" has a long history going well back at least to the 19th century. Properly considered, however, innovation is about much more than just coming up with new opening moves. It certainly includes the discovery of new stratagems and tactical motifs as well as the development of whole new game plans. In this much fuller sense, innovation, in its many guises, is at the very heart of success in chess. This book seeks to put … [Read more...]
Kasparov vs Karpov 1986-1987
Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part 3 Kasparov vs Karpov 1986-1987 The day of the final trial arrived. That morning grandmaster Milunka Lazarevic phoned my mother from Switzerland and said: ‘Clara, tell Garry that only two people could win a decisive game to order: Alekhine, who failed to do this, and Fischer, who didn't need to. Tell Garry that he has to do it.’ But my mother didn't tell me this until after the game. Evidently, even she did not really believe in a miracle... On the way to the 24th game I saw an enormous crowd outside the Lope de Vega Theatre. Even on ordinary days the match drew big crowds, but never so many people as on that day. I said sadly to Litvinov: ‘I expect … [Read more...]
Larsen: Move by Move
Larsen: Move by Move By Cyrus Lakdawala Larsen on the Dynamic Element In this, the largest chapter of the book, we look at Larsen's treatment of the initiative. Many of the games herein culminate in violent attacks. The only reason they are in this chapter, rather than earlier one on the Attack, is that Larsen's handling of initiative created the roots from which the attacks grew. Bobotsov,M - Larsen,B Busum, 1969 English Opening [A17] 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.g3 4.Qc2 is more common. There are some slight drawbacks to combining g2-g3 with an early Nc3 here. Question: What are those? Answer: There are several: In the Catalan positions that arise if White … [Read more...]
Lessons with a Grandmaster II
Lessons with a Grandmaster II by Boris Gulko and Dr. Joel R. Sneed Boris: So we meet again to continue our study of the mystical teachings of chess. Joel: Yes! Working with you on the first book had a major impact on my playing. I added several hundred points to my rating. Immediately after completing the book I scored 4 out of 5 with 2 draws and 3 wins at the Marshall Chess Club under-2000 tournament in New York. I tied for first and had a performance rating of 2100! My increased playing strength is a direct reflection of the work we did studying your games, solving exercises, and, in general, listening to you talk about chess. I will never forget the experience of going over your … [Read more...]
Carlsen: Move by Move
Carlsen: Move by Move by Cyrus Lakdawala Each world champion brings forth new wonders of his mind. When we examine the games of a great player, what we really desire is to share in the flow of genius, from his mind to ours. We crave the paradisiacal taste of beauty, which most of us try and produce, and so rarely do in our games. When we arrive in critical situations in our games we come close to being Rembrandts and da Vincis, close to producing a masterpiece, if only we achieve that rapturous final touch of colour, but we just can't seem to get it right. We all have our favourites, and seek to play like replica Morphys, Laskers, Alekhines, Capablancas, Tals, Fischers, Kasparovs or … [Read more...]
Garry Kasparov, Part III 1993-2005
Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov, Part III 1993-2005 by Garry Kasparov Match with Anand World Championship Match Kasparov - Anand (New York, 10 September - 10 October 1995): 10½-7½. Initially it was planned that my match with the winner of the PCA cycle would be held in Germany - such an offer had been made to me during the 1994 Moscow Olympiad by the organisers of the Dortmund tournaments. The venue had already been selected and all the conditions agreed. However, the German Chess Union, who were one of the Federations unhappy with the outcome of the FIDE Congress in Moscow and the conditions of the proposed agreement with the PCA, effectively announced a boycott of the match. Early … [Read more...]
Gambiteer II
Gambiteer II by Nigel Davies Black can hoist the pirate flag against two of White's strongest and most popular openings, the Queen's Gambit and the Ruy Lopez. He argues that neither (1 d4 d5) 2 c4 nor (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6) 3 Bb5 is optimal from a development perspective and that Black can take the initiative with the Albin Counter and Schliemann Gambits respectively. In this volume I will present a repertoire for Black in these two openings which should enable the reader to play them with confidence at any level. Ruy Lopez himself did not consider 3 Bb5 to be a very strong move, and from a development point of view it looks less relevant than, say, 3 Bc4. Is this enough justification … [Read more...]
Opening Repertoire: The Fianchetto System
Opening Repertoire: The Fianchetto System by Damian Lemos Introduction Dealing with dynamic and aggressive defences like the Grünfeld or King’s Indian is not an easy task for White players. Over the years, I’ve tried several variations against both openings, usually choosing lines in which White establishes a strong centre, although Black had lot of resources against those lines too. When I was fourteen years old, I analysed Karpov-Polgar, Las Palmas 1994 (see Chapter 4, Game 25), and was impressed with the former World Champion’s play with White. Then, I realized that the Fianchetto System works well for White for the following reasons: 1. After playing g2-g3 and Bg2, White is … [Read more...]
Petrosian: Move by Move
by Thomas Engqvist Petrosian's Style According to the English player and writer P.H. Clarke, in his preface to Petrosian's Best Games of Chess, the 9th world champion was a pragmatist. Clarke defines the meaning of that abstract word like this: "One who does what is needed to meet the requirements of a position and, on the whole, makes no attempt to impose his own wishes on it." Petrosian didn't agree he was a pragmatic player in his Chess Logic, and we should respect and pay attention to what he wrote about himself. However, his definition of pragmatism was different: "A pragmatic approach in chess occurs when a chess-player for the sake of the result (win, draw) offers an … [Read more...]
Nimzowitsch: Move by Move
by Steve Giddins Introduction Although he was neither world champion, nor even a direct world championship challenger, Aron Nimzowitsch was one of the most important and influential players in chess history. He belongs to that select band of players (the other main one, ironically enough, being his arch-enemy Tarrasch) who have influenced the development of chess style as much (or more) by their writings than by their play. His books The Blockade, My System and Chess Praxis have had an enormous influence on the game, and until the computer became the main source of chess experience for the present generation of players, it was hard to find any strong player who had not read these … [Read more...]