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Magazine Chess Book Reviews : June 2010Return to the Magazine Review Index
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A wonderful detailed account of recent history and personalities, from Euwe to Kasparov, by the cosmopolitan US grandmaster, born of an English mother and a Syrian father. One might say that the book consists of sympathetic pen-portraits of leading players Yasser has met (and beaten most of them). In effect, he has been so close to the chess scene for the last 35 years that he ‘knows where the bodies are buried’. A strong candidate for Book of the Year, and the modest sterling price for an elegant hardback with dust cover also makes it vie for ‘Bargain of the Year’. Review by Bernard Cafferty.
This book starts as an interesting amalgam of two standard formulae – partly chess autobiography and partly a tribute to the champions – to produce something quite original. The fact that Seirawan has played most (though not all) of the big names he writes about makes it especially attractive. Generally he has good and generous things to say of his subjects, but he does settle some old scores – the Linares organiser Luís Rentero and chess journalist Dimitrije Bjelica won’t enjoy what has been written about them. He also comes clean about some of his own peccadilloes, which include cheating (though not at chess). Seirawan writes discursively and entertainingly about his subjects, embracing the games he played with them, social interactions, arguments and chess politics (especially in his long section on Garry Kasparov). It’s gossipy, anecdotal, emotional, humorous, insightful and absolutely riveting. Yasser doesn’t just deal with the past but also looks to the future, giving FIDE some very cogent advice (which one fears they will not take – such is life). Very highly recommended – as Bernard says, this is ‘book of the year’ material. Review by John Saunders.
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This is a labour of love by the author (whose full name is Sir Alan Fersht, FRS, Professor of Organic Chemistry at Cambridge University): it is a short history of Victorian (and post-Victorian) chess sets by a true expert and connoisseur, with countless beautiful colour photos taken by himself. A superb work and a real collector’s piece in itself. JS.
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Like Yasser Seirawan (see above), English grandmaster Danny Gormally has written a book which straddles two genres – this is partly autobiographical and partly a games collection with chapters providing practical advice for players. It is endearingly self-deprecatory, with all the author’s own failings, foibles and chessboard disasters laid bare for the enjoyment and entertainment of the reader. It is also joyously random, with the author interpolating all sorts of asides, anecdotes and opinions in a sort of stream of consciousness. There are serious stories as well as humorous; for example, the author carefully investigates, and finds fault with, the uncorroborated accusation of cheating which Shakhriyar Mamedyarov levelled at a fellow professional a year or so ago. There are also colourful pen portraits of his English grandmaster buddies, Keith Arkell and Simon Williams. Last but not least, there are the annotated games, including some of his own, which are replete with insightful comments and engaging honesty. All in all, this is a very useful and enjoyable read. Review by John Saunders.
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A useful account of international CC from Purdy, Ragozin, O’Kelly, Zagorovsky, Estrin to a Jubilee Tournament 2001/05 won by Mikhail Umansky with the fine score of 7/8. A curious feature of the book is that Part IV, some 26 pages, is in German – Weltmeister Kaleidoskop – with the first item ‘Nein, ich bin nicht Fischer!’ – an interview with Hans Berliner. The work concludes with the crosstables of 21 World CC Championships from Purdy 1950-53 to Joop van Oosterom 2005-2008. Review by Bernard Cafferty.
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The book is divided into chapters explaining the ideas and strategies on various openings. There are sections on the Réti, the Modern (1 e4 g6), queenside fianchetto openings (including the English Defence and Owen’s Defence for Black and 1 b3 for White); gambit openings (Morra, Milner-Barry, Danish, Blackmar-Diemer, etc); f-pawn and reversed systems (Bird’s, Dutch, King’s Indian Attack); symmetrical openings (1 c4 c5, Petroff, etc); irregular openings; and then finally about 20 pages on how to choose openings, which the author has categorised with a view to suitability for a given level of player. As always with the acclaimed US IM, the material is carefully sifted, informative and authoritative. JS.
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The first name on the spine is impressive (though the cynical reviewer cannot help wondering just how much of the work Anatoly K did as compared with the lesser-known Anatoly M). This guide to plan-making provides reference points and plentiful advice on how to formulate one. It is aimed at the club player and is a well-presented and readable work. JS.
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Another hefty miscellany of chess history, including part one of a biography of Chigorin (1850-77), Salo Flohr in 1930, some archive material on Elaine Pritchard (née Saunders) by Tony Gillam, plus much, much more. A must for chess antiquarians. JS.
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The US grandmaster sets about persuading us that ‘learning should be fun’. There are eye-catching chapters titles such as ‘Chess isn’t School’ and ‘The Biggest Study Myth’ (which is that there is not a ‘proper way to think’ as suggested in such popular works as Think Like A Grandmaster). The reviewer’s favourite chapter was the one entitled ‘Overcoming Endgame Phobia’ which contains a lot of good sense. A stimulating read – recommended. JS.
Bobby Fischer for Beginners by Renzo Verwer, New in Chess 127 pages, £13.95.
