Book Review of Your Chess Battle Plan by Neil McDonald

“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”

– Dwight D. Eisenhower.

As the title suggests, this is a book about planning in chess. Despite Eisenhower’s statement above, it’s clear that the author, GM Neil McDonald, wants us to make appropriate plans during play and not just make aimless moves and hope for the best. He summarises his approach as follows:

“Perhaps at the moment, you see chess in terms of developing moves, attacking moves, and defensive moves. The purpose of this book is to show you these things and a lot more. Imagine you have all your pieces in play in an equal position where there is nothing to attack and no threat to deal with. What should you do then? You should maneuver and probe, stop the opponent from carrying out the advances he wishes, fortify strong points, try to create or seize control of holes, and so on. Such play is a direct challenge to the opponent it isn’t neutral. It forces him to keep up, to tread a fine line between playing with too much energy or too little. If and when he slips up, you will get the advantage. Then you will have something to build upon.”

Of course, it would be impossible to cover all aspects of chess planning in a single book, and hence McDonald has sensibly focussed on some key aspects as shown in the table of contents above. The all-important issue of pawn moves is a recurring theme throughout the book. McDonald adopts a question-and-answer approach using 77 heavily annotated illustrated games, emphasizing that this is a teaching text and not just a dry theoretical tome. Each game includes several questions for the reader to solve, with the answers being given in the following text. The answers are usually very detailed, and they cover not only the planning aspects of the positions but also any important tactics that can override the long-term planning considerations.

Along the way, McDonald offers lots of sound advice, such as

• Every plan needs the use of pawns at some point.
• Find constructive waiting moves that give the opponent full rein to overreach himself or carry out an incorrect plan.
• Go into ‘full grovel mode’ to save difficult positions by devising a plan that offers maximum resistance.
• If you want to be a strong positional player, you still have to be able to calculate ahead and see tactical nuances.
• Avoid playing the ‘best’ but messy move in favour of a solid, but not so objectively advantageous alternative.

McDonald is an experienced author and FIDE trainer, and his training credentials clearly shine through in the book. The book is easy to read and contains many important concepts that readers can adopt in their games.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations: 

Your Chess Battle Plan: Example 1

Your Chess Battle Plan: Example 2

In summary, the book is an excellent treatise on chess planning. McDonald has chosen appropriate and instructive games to illustrate his themes and recommendations. The book’s strengths are the good questions, the clear and extensive annotations, and a relaxed writing style. The result is a fine textbook on an important chess skill. 

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

For a limited time, get Your Chess Battle Plan with a special 10% discount offer at forwardchess.com.

Review of A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns

“Since all the pieces differ among themselves according to their range and rules of movement, each of them has its favorite ‘profession’”

– Viktor Lvovich, as quoted in this book.

This book is a sequel to 1000 Checkmate Combinations by Viktor Lvovich. The author of the current book, IM Vladimir Barsky, was the special editor of the re-issued version of that book. In the new book, Barksy has used the same basic structure as the original book together with examples of games played in the 21^st century.

The checkmates in this book are arranged in an unusual, but logical, format. As the quote above suggests, Barsky has presented the checkmating patterns using the roles of the pieces as the underlying unifying principles in checkmate patterns. Hence, we see the roles of individual pieces, such as the queen or rook, as well as combinations of pieces, such as the queen and bishop. This contrasts to other classifications that are used in similar books, such as sacrificing material, a weak king position or a king stuck in the centre.

Each chapter starts with a discussion of the relevant checkmating pieces and shows the typical checkmating patterns that arise with these pieces using a series of mini boards. Readers can quickly look at these mini boards and memorise the patterns without having to deal with the clutter of a full board with extraneous pieces. This is an interesting and effective learning approach, because the pieces and the patterns are the basic ingredients of all checkmates. Here, the author agrees with Mikhail Tal, who wrote “Of course, chess creativity is not limited to what is set out here. Each player creates further, according to his talent and imagination. But as for that which can be known, there is no need to reinvent the wheel.” 

The patterns are followed by some instructive examples to illustrate the typical checkmates that arise from the pieces under discussion, and then a set of exercises for the reader to solve. The solutions to the exercises are clear and detailed, and they enhance the learning experience. There are 851 exercises in the book, which will keep readers busy for quite some time. While not all positions end in checkmate, checkmate is the dominant theme in all of them.

Three examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

In summary, this is an excellent textbook on checkmates. Barsky’s enthusiasm for the material is clear, and the book is easy to read while being highly instructive. The result is a great book on an important subject.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

Book Review of Small Steps 2 Success

“The passed pawn is a criminal, which belongs under lock and key.”

– Aron Nimzowitsch in “My System” (Quality Chess edition, 2007)

It’s hard to argue against success. GM Sam Shankland’s first book “Small Steps to Giant Improvement” was a best seller. Moreover, as Shankland writes in the preface of this new book:

“The year-and-a-half between finishing Small Steps to Giant Improvement and writing Small Steps 2 Success was the most eventful of my career. I won the US Championship, the Capablanca Memorial, and the American Continental back to back, and finally smashed through the 2700 barrier after having been stuck in the mid-to-high 2600s for a few years.”

Shankland also considered some of the issues raised about the first book when writing the new book:

“Despite the overwhelmingly positive feedback, I took some constructive criticism to heart and made some minor changes in the second volume. There is a little less text and significantly more (and sometimes harder) exercises. The chapters are a little longer and more detailed, but there are only fourteen of them instead of sixteen. I have largely refrained from reciprocal guidelines when dealing with the same topic from the other side of the board. The book reads a little less like a manual – but overall, the structure remains the same.”

The new book deals with the topic of passed pawns, as can be seen from the table of contents, and it studies their role in the middlegame and endgame. The witty chapter titles allude to the topics covered. For example, “Single and Happy” discusses positions with just one passed pawn. The topics are treated from the point of view of both the attacking and defending sides.  For example, “Single and Happy” deals with exploiting the passed pawn, while the next chapter, “Single on Valentine’s Day”, deals with defending against the passed pawn. Each chapter also includes exercises for the reader to solve, and these are accompanied by detailed solutions.

Shankland writes in an engaging style that clearly helps learning. The examples are well-chosen, and the annotations provide plenty of verbal commentary to complement the variations. He doesn’t go overboard on the analytical variations, and this makes the book accessible for lower-rated players, as well as for stronger players. Each chapter provides guidelines that summarise the key aspects to consider for the given topic. For example, the first guideline in “Single and Happy” is:

“If you want to queen a lone passed pawn, your pieces need to be ready to fight for every square that your opponent can potentially blockade.”

These guidelines are an excellent way to remember the key aspects, and they will help the reader to make correct decisions in their own games when dealing with similar positions.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

In summary, “Small Steps 2 Success” is a worthy sequel to Shankland’s first book, and it deserves to achieve the same success as the first book.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

For a limited time, get Small Steps 2 Success with a special 10% discount offer at forwardchess.com.

“When I was eleven, I just got good.” – Bobby Fischer.

The year 2022 was the 50^th anniversary of the Fischer-Spassky World Championship match, a match that created enormous media interest in chess, with the match being front-page news in many major newspapers around the world. The huge media interest was due to the amazing run of successes by Bobby Fischer prior to the match, and the geo-political background of the Cold War between the USA and USSR. Fischer became the most famous chess player ever after the 1972 match.

The author of the two books, IM Tibor Karolyi, quotes an amusing incident that illustrates Fischer’s fame:

‘In the late nineties Hungarian IM Janos Rigo drove Fischer to Germany via Austria and at the border control the official asked for their passports. Rigo asked the controller whether he knew who was in the back seat of the car, and after a quick glance the man replied: “The world chess champion.”’

Fischer’s convincing win in the 1972 match seemingly heralded a long reign for him as champion, but it was not to be. Fischer turned his back on chess and did not play another tournament game until his 1992 rematch with Spassky. He then stopped playing again, and sadly did not play professionally again for the rest of his life. So, all we have left after 50 years is his legacy of dominant performances leading up to and including the 1972 match, and the somewhat anticlimactic rematch, where it was clear that Fischer, although still very strong, was past his peak. Unfortunately, time doesn’t stand still for anyone, as all the world champions have inevitably discovered.

The two books cover Fischer’s entire career. The Road to Reykjavik covers Fischer’s career up to the 1972 match, while Fischer – Spassky 1972 covers the 1972 and 1992 matches. The latter book includes a discussion of the extensive preparations made by many of the Soviet chess elite to help Spassky in the 1972 match.

The author acknowledges and references the previous vast literature on Fischer, notably Kasparov’s and Hübner’s analyses. However, he has made extensive use of the latest super-strong chess engines and endgame tablebases, and this has enabled him to go beyond, and often correct, previous analysis. Indeed, both books include a lot of new discoveries in many of Fischer’s most famous games. While the ‘ultimate truth’ of Fischer’s games may still not be possible, the author’s analysis is closer to this goal than the previous analysis.

The search for the truth means that the analysis is very detailed in parts. Thankfully, the author has provided enough lighter analysis and verbal commentary to balance the detailed computer-generated lines. In addition, it is possible to skip some of the heavier analysis and simply enjoy Fischer’s genius. Both books also include a lot of background material on the games and the two matches against Spassky, and reminiscences of many players who interacted with Fischer during his career. Fischer’s phenomenal memory is a constant theme. The author quotes Forintos:

“I was slightly worried that he would behave awkwardly, but it was nice to analyse with him. Interestingly, in the nineties, I went to the Komjady swimming pool in Budapest and to my surprise I met him. He remembered everything about our game [in Monaco, 1967], clearly more than I did.”

Two examples from the books are given below, with annotations from the books. 

In summary, these two books are quite simply superb. The print editions of the books total around 950 pages, which is a clear indication of their scope and depth. The author has done an amazing amount of research and provides a detailed study of Fischer’s games. The result is a fitting tribute and memorial to the American chess genius.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

“I have never in my life played the French Defense, which is the dullest of all openings.”

– Wilhelm Steinitz.

While former World Champion Steinitz obviously had a very poor opinion of the French Defense, one of his successors, Mikhail Botvinnik, played it successfully for much of his career. Many other elite players have also championed the Defense, and it continues to be played at the top level.

The author of this book, GM Viktor Moskalenko, writes:

“With 1…e7-e6, Black builds a fortress with a closed center, so the main roads to success are those leading to a game where White’s extra tempo is not so important. This defense is also full of strategic as well as tactical resources, and according to many masters, its lines are among the most complicated in chess. There are also several forgotten systems that are still full of possibilities, sharp and exotic lines, original ideas, and much more.”

Moskalenko’s view is more in line with the current reputation of the French. Of course, it is possible for White to counter the French in an insipid way with the Exchange Variation, but even in this variation, Black can avoid playing for a draw by unbalancing the position. Moreover, the French is not the only opening where White can play for a draw, and so this problem is not unique to the French.

This is the author’s fourth book on the French, and it can be considered an updated edition of his book The Even More Flexible French. The format of the current book follows that of the previous book. Regarding the relation of the current book to his previous ones, the author writes:

“This new book, The Fully Fledged French, continues to mix various aspects as did my earlier works The Flexible French and The Even More Flexible French: my broad experience in this opening (this book also contains many of my own games), my vision of its concepts and analysis of creative new ideas that keep coming up. The purpose of these books has always been to offer a combative repertoire to black players. This is the case, especially in this new book, in which I have concentrated more on Black and removed a number of less relevant lines.”

The book covers all the main tries for White, and the author has chosen the more complex variations for Black. These include 3…Nf6 and 3…Be7 against the Tarrasch (3.Nd2) and the Winawer (3…Bb4) against 3.Nc3. Moskalenko also offers some good options to break the symmetry in the Exchange Variation, and sound options against White’s less-common systems, such as the King’s Indian Attack.

Throughout the book, the author provides the main ideas, plans, traps, weapons and relevant statistics for the variations considered. Each chapter includes a summary to remind the reader of the main ideas. The theoretical details are complemented by 72 well-annotated games, including 18 games by the author. There are 56 more annotated games in the book compared to the previous book, a substantial increase. These games enable the reader to get a clear picture of the various plans and ideas once the opening phase is over. It’s also very pleasing when the author plays the opening himself and can provide extra insight into the opening.

In conclusion, Moskalenko has written an entertaining and useful book on the French Defense. He has provided many interesting ideas for Black in the main variations and shown how Black can use the opening as a fighting defense against 1.e4.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

“Pawns not only create the sketch for the whole painting, they are also the soil, the foundation, of any position.”

– Former World Champion, Anatoly Karpov.

In his book, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy (1998), IM John Watson wrote:

“The theory of pawn structures … has probably advanced more than any other area of the game over the last sixty years.”

Pawn structures are usually discussed to varying degrees in books on chess strategy. In addition, some previous books have also been written solely on this topic. Of these books, Pawn Power in Chess by Hans Kmoch (1959) is one of the earliest and perhaps most influential. Of course, the book was written around 60 years ago, and it’s not surprising that it’s out of date in some areas. In addition, it’s also hampered by some obscure terminology. Hence, a modern book on pawn structures would be welcomed by chess players, and that is the book that GM Flores Rios has attempted to write.

The author describes his aims for the book as follows.

“Chess Structures – A Grandmaster Guide emphasizes clarity, precision, and completeness over generality. I do not intend to teach rules applicable to every position. Such rules typically do not exist… My aim is to provide an easy-to-understand strategic guide to the most frequently occurring classes of positions in chess. I hope readers will find this helpful, as it greatly reduces ambiguity; it is clear when rules will be valid and when they will not.”

The book discusses 28 of the most common pawn structures using 140 games or game fragments.  As the author notes, his choices of structures don’t include all the possible pawn structures, but his choices are based on three overarching principles:

• Strategic structures rather than tactical structures
• Frequently occurring structures
• Fixed pawn structures rather than flexible structures

In particular, the book mostly emphasizes strategy over tactics, although of course, tactical issues are often in the background in the included games.

The pawn structures are discussed in 22 chapters and are grouped into five families of similar structures. This grouping allows readers to focus on pawn structures that arise in their preferred openings as a starting point. Flores Rios writes:

“I understand many readers have limited time and do not wish to read an entire book if they are only likely to encounter a few of the pawn structures I discuss. For this reason, chapters are largely self-contained, while similar chapters will be found close to one another and arranged in a logical sequence. 

I took great care in ordering chapters so that all required knowledge would be available when needed. Many pawn structures can transpose to another. If structure B is likely to transpose to structure A, then I mention structure A at an earlier stage in the book. When the reader studies structure B, he will be able to understand whether transposing to structure A is favorable or not. This makes the learning process run smoothly and comprehensively.”

The book also includes two final chapters with 50 exercises and their detailed solutions.

Each chapter on a particular pawn structure starts with a summary of its features and the typical plans available for White and Black, and how effective they are likely to be. These plans are linked to the games in the chapter.  Each game starts with a set of learning objectives and concludes with some final remarks to summarise the key moments in the game. This approach makes it much easier for the reader to absorb the material. The annotations to the games include plenty of prose to balance the detailed variations. 

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

In conclusion, this is an exceptional book on a fundamental topic in chess. As Karpov notes in the quote above, mastering the theory of pawn structures is an essential skill for chess improvement at all levels of chess. Flores Rios has written a lucid book that help readers to acquire this skill, and without doubt it will remain one of the standard texts in this area.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

“Boris Spassky was my first chess idol.”

– Former World Champion, Garry Kasparov.

Former World Champion Boris Spassky is arguably now best known for losing the 1972 World Championship match against Bobby Fischer. If that’s the case, it’s a disservice to Spassky, who was an extremely strong player in his prime. He managed to win two successive Candidates Series in 1965 and 1968, and wrested the World Championship from Tigran Petrosian in 1969, after losing to him in the 1966 World Championship match.  He is also considered to be the first world champion with a universal style.

The contrast between Fischer and Spassky is stark. Fischer lived and breathed chess, whereas Spassky, by his own admission, was somewhat lazy:

“My natural flaw is laziness. I have had to fight laziness quite often, and usually, she defeats me. It is difficult to fight idleness, it is difficult to resist the word ‘maybe’.”

He accurately assessed his strengths and was very realistic about his career. He was quoted in a 1966 interview as follows.

“I hope I shall be stronger in three- or four-years’ time than now, but after that, I shall decline, and another strong player will take my place.”

This is a remarkable self-assessment that proved eerily accurate! 

According to former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik in the Forward to this book, Spassky is “a man of a broad soul, absolutely not petty”. Commenting on the 1972 match, when Spassky could have claimed victory after Fischer forfeited the second game, Kramnik wrote:

“I guess he admired Fischer’s genius and that must have prevented him from winning the match. He understood that Fischer was unique. And not to let him play a match (or you can read it like this: not to let him become a world champion) would have been a crime against chess. Boris is one of those people for whom these things are not empty words. I’m sure he wouldn’t have forgiven himself if he hadn’t given Fischer a chance.”

Spassky himself wrote:

“According to the rules, I could demand to be declared the winner. However, if I won without a game, I would forever lose respect for myself and constantly feel like I was not a true World Champion, and precisely because I did not play Fischer.”

Unfortunately, apart from books on the two matches against Fischer in 1972 and 1992, comparatively little has been written about Spassky’s career compared to some of the other world champions, although he is profiled in Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors series. In addition, it’s regrettable that Spassky has not written a book about his career, and it’s probably unlikely that he ever will, given that he is now 86 years old (as of September 2023). Hence, Spassky’s Best Games by GM Alexey Bezgodov and Dmitry Aleynikov is a welcome addition to the literature on Spassky.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part is a biography, and this part also includes some relevant games that show Spassky’s development as a player. This part discusses the highs and lows of his chess career, especially in his early years when he struggled to make it to the Candidates Tournament, and it seemed that his enormous talent would not be sufficient to take him to the top in chess. His struggles with his chess coaches and the difficulties in his personal life also were factors in this difficult period. The authors also provide good background to the second major period of his struggles after losing to Fischer in 1972, and his eventual move to France in 1976, and finally the unclear circumstances behind his return to Russia in 2012. Some historical photos also complement this part. 

Overall, this part presents a very humane portrait of Spassky that goes well beyond a pure listing of his chess achievements. 

The second part is a selection of 61 annotated games that are organized in chronological order. The annotations are very clear and appropriate for a wide range of players. While the book includes corrections of previous analyses based on the results from strong chess engines, the annotations are primarily used to understand the key features and critical moments of the games. More emphasis is placed on the analysis of the middlegame and endgame rather than the opening theory. This is a sensible method of analysis, and it is also consistent with Spassky’s approach to chess. Each game ends with a lesson section to summarise what can be learned from the game. This makes the book a good teaching text as well as a fascinating biography.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

Spassky’s Best Games: Example 1

Spassky’s Best Games: Example 2

In conclusion, this is a great addition to the literature on Boris Spassky. The book can be read as a pure biography and as a teaching text based on Spassky’s games. The result is an accessible book that can be recommended to all players, and it is a fine tribute to the 10^th World Champion.

Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!

“[The London System] is not a frequent guest in games at the highest level…yet anyone not aspiring to world championship level may rest assured that 3.Bf4 [after 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6] is a perfectly useful move.”

– GM Paul van der Sterren in his book FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings, 2009.

Times have changed since van der Sterren wrote the above quote. In the past, the London System used to be considered a safe but somewhat dull opening, with GM Gata Kamsky being the most regular and strongest exponent of the opening. Nowadays, it is a frequent guest at the top levels of chess, with Magnus Carlsen being amongst its supporters. The other thing that has changed recently is the adoption of the move order 1.d4 and 2.Bf4 rather than 1.d4, 2.Nf3 and 3.Bf4. As van der Sterren also noted, the opening is also very popular at the amateur level, as it is an example of an easy-to-learn systems opening.

The author of the book, The London System in 12 Practical Lessons, FM Oscar de Prado, was a co-author of a previous book on the London System, The Agile London System, 2016, and there are frequent references to the previous book in the current book. He describes the relationship between the two books as follows.

“In this book we are going to look at the London System from a more practical viewpoint, focusing on the needs of amateur players, in contrast to my previous book The Agile London System, which was a much more theoretical work and tried to cover all possible options. To be clear, the present book is neither a theoretical manual on the London System nor simply an update to the previous book, although the latest novelties and the currently critical lines are analysed. This is essentially a new book, focusing on the specific themes that arise in this opening and with an explanation of the most important plans and ideas.

The aim is to help the amateur player to understand the London System and play it correctly and easily.”

As mentioned above, the author recommends the move order 1.d4 and 2.Bf4. His reasons for this are as follows.

“This is the precise order that we recommend, developing the bishop to f4 instead of playing 2.Nf3. Bringing the bishop out first has several advantages, mainly in connection with Black’s ideas of playing …c7-c5 and …Qb6. In many variations that Black can choose it makes no difference, but in the lines where Black mounts quick pressure against b2 with the moves …c7-c5, …Nc6, …Qb6 it’s preferable to postpone Nf3 in favor of developing the queenside.” 

Accordingly, the recommended move orders in the 1.d4 d5 main lines with and without an early …Qb6 are as follows.

The London System in 12 Practical Lessons Table of Contents

As indicated by the book’s title and as shown in the picture above, the structure of the book is based on twelve lessons and 45 illustrative games. Hence, the format of the book is somewhat different from a normal opening book that is built around a tree of variations approach. While an opening repertoire for White is contained in these lessons, a major emphasis of the book is on understanding the key themes of the London System. This is also highlighted by the last lesson, which contains 50 exercises for readers to solve together with detailed solutions. All the exercises are from games previously discussed in the book, and thus they also serve as a refresher course on the book’s content.

Each lesson starts with a general introduction to orient readers and concludes with a summary of the lesson’s contents. This makes it easier for readers to absorb the material. The annotations are clear and concise, and they explain the various move order issues and strategies very well. One pleasing aspect of the book is that the author is balanced in his views on the London System, and he readily notes variations where Black equalizes or is even better in some cases.

The book covers not only the 1.d4 d5 version of the London System but also move orders where Black tries to transpose to other defenses, such as the King’s Indian, Queen’s Indian, Grünfeld, Dutch, and Slav Defences by starting with moves such as 1…Nf6 or 1…f5. This makes the book a one-stop repertoire for White based on 1.d4.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

In conclusion, this is a good book on the topical London System. The author has managed to provide a clear guide to the opening in just over 250 pages, and without overwhelming readers with too much detail. Providing readers are prepared to update the book with new developments as they arise, the book can serve as a solid lifetime repertoire for White.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

“Long variation, wrong variation”

– Bent Larsen, as quoted by the author in this book.

Despite its title, this is not your average tactics book with lots of exercises where you must find the winning move. Instead, “Advanced Chess Tactics, 2nd edition” is essentially a collection of annotated games, and these games are grouped around various themes as shown in the table of contents below.

The games emphasize attacking tactical themes, and this explains the book’s title. The two major themes covered are attacking in specific openings and attacking in positions with particular pawn structures. The second edition includes an additional chapter on the French Defense, which is of course a favourite opening of the author, GM Lev Psakhis, and he has written several books on this opening.

The book is aimed at players with an Elo rating of 2000 – 2600, although the author says that lower-rated players can also benefit from the book. In terms of practical advice, one of the author’s recommendations is as follows:

“Don’t go out of your way to calculate long variations. A capacity for precise calculation to a depth of 2 – 4 moves is usually quite enough.”

This is consistent with Larsen’s view quoted above. However, many of the variations in the book are quite lengthy, and the accurate calculation of such variations in a game would be well beyond the capabilities of amateur club players. Despite this, the annotations are accessible to these players as study material, since they could skip the lengthy variations on a first pass through a game, and then revisit the variations in subsequent passes. 

Psakhis also emphasizes the role of intuition during a game and says after a particular piece of lengthy analysis:

“These variations are beautiful and difficult. Working them out completely at the board is not of course possible, but with the help of intuition we can at least head along the right track.”

Each chapter starts off with questions for the reader to solve or at least think about, and these questions refer to the games in the chapter. The questions are generally tactical, but not usually of the “find the winning move” variety. For example, one of the questions simply asks, “How to react?” in the given position. The solutions to the questions are found in appropriate games in the chapter. Fifty-six additional exercises are included at the end of the book, and again many of the solutions are quite lengthy.

Psakhis writes in an engaging style, and the excellent verbal commentary complements the detailed variations. In addition, he is not afraid to point out his mistakes where appropriate. He also offers some background to the games, including information on the players. In his own games, he notes what he saw and analyzed during the games and how he felt at various stages of the games. The book also includes some photos from the author’s collection. These personal touches greatly enhance the book and make reading it a more pleasant experience.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

Advanced Chess Tactics: Example 1

Advanced Chess Tactics: Example 2

In summary, this is a very different tactics book. While it is mostly aimed at strong players, lower-rated players can also benefit from it. The author’s enthusiasm for the material shines through, and his vast playing and coaching experience has helped him to write an excellent book that will repay detailed study.

Have any thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments!

“Of the many chess masters I have met, Bent is the most original.”

– Former World Champion, Anatoly Karpov.

The great Danish champion Bent Larsen always had a reputation for being a fighter who played for a win against any player. This brought him many spectacular victories but also some famous defeats, such as his miniature loss against Spassky in The Match of the Century in 1970, and his sensational 6-0 loss against Fischer in their semi-final of the Candidates Tournament in 1971. Despite this latter loss, he bounced back and continued to be a world-class player for many years, with some further strong tournament victories to his name.

Karpov’s quote above is an apt description of Larsen. He had an original approach to chess and managed to ignore fashion and go his own way. This was often so in the opening phase where he introduced some notable systems, such as eschewing the Open Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4) as White, where he described as 3.d4 as a “cheap trick” and advocated 2.f4 instead, and playing 1.b3 as White, an opening now often called Larsen’s Opening.

In Learn from Bent Larsen, author Mihail Marin summarizes Larsen’s style as follows.

“Larsen was a brilliant attacker and tactician, embarking on concrete play at the first given opportunity … Larsen himself wrote that he was not an exclusively tactical player, one openly aiming for complications even at the risk of landing into a worse position … Polugaevsky writes – contrary to the opinion of most commentators – that Larsen’s main strength is his strategic play … Botvinnik adds a third dimension to the portrait: “Larsen can create things which did not exist in chess before.” Indeed, many of Larsen’s plans, tactics and attacks were unexpected and original.”

Larsen’s book of his games, Larsen’s Selected Games of Chess, was published in English way back in 1970 and was based on the 1969 Danish edition. Although he continued to annotate his games in various places, notably Chess Informant, it’s regrettable that he never updated his book or published a sequel. However, an expanded version of his book was published in 2014 by New In Chess as Bent Larsen’s Best Games, and this book contains the games in Larsen’s book and a selection of his later games.

Learn from Bent Larsen, by GM Mihail Marin, uses Larsen’s games as a vehicle for chess improvement. While the book obviously includes many of Larsen’s best games, Marin’s main aim is to show readers how they can learn from Larsen’s games and apply his ideas in their own games. For example, Larsen was an early pioneer of pushing the a- and h-pawns, and the move h4 by White is now a common theme in openings such as the King’s Indian, Grünfeld, and Modern/Pirc Defences.

The main part of the book is structured around various themes in Larsen’s games, including his optimistic approach to chess, his use of hypermodern ideas, his use of the rook pawns, and his endgame play. There is a biographical chapter that covers his career with further illustrative games. Finally, there is a test chapter with 12 positions for readers to solve, with extensive solutions. Two appendices summarise Larsen’s life and best results. Many historical photos are included throughout the book. 

It is perhaps not surprising that there is considerable overlap in the games in this book with Larsen’s own book and his later annotations. However, Marin has made a considerable effort to update Larsen’s analysis and that of other commentators, notably Garry Kasparov, with the results from modern super-strong engines. Of course, the engines have provided new insights and enabled Marin to correct many errors in previous analyses. These corrections enhance the games, rather than detract from analysis that was mostly done without strong chess engines. Larsen would have been the first to admit that errors in analysis are inevitable. He famously wrote: “Long analysis, wrong analysis.” As expected from Marin’s previous books, there is a good balance of prose and variations in the analysis, and this allows readers to absorb the material more easily.

Two examples from the book are given below, with annotations from the book. 

Learn from Bent Larsen: Example 1

Learn from Bent Larsen: Example 2

In conclusion, this is an excellent book that combines a study of Larsen’s creative work with analysis that provides a lot of material for chess improvement. It is an enjoyable read and it is suitable for a wide range of players.

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