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bigpeta
25-Apr-12, 01:45

My regular reads

Three books I use and recommend are:-

The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings. by Ruben Fine.
Unlike opening tomes such as MCO this book gives the main points of each opening so that when you'r opponent leaves the book you still know where you should be heading.
My ancient copy is in descriptive notation but it has been updated to algebraic notation.

Rapid Chess Improvement. by Michael de la Maza.
This book is not to every ones taste so I suggest you first read my full review in my student club forum here:-

gameknot.com

The Master Game. (book two) BBC publications.
Back in the 1970s the BBC made a series of chess programmes in which they invited the leading players of the day - Victor Korchnoi, John Nunn, Bent Larsen, Vlastimil Hort, Tony Miles the then teenage wonder Nigel Short and many others - to play a round robin tournament. When the programmes were broadcast there was a voice over from the players describing their thinking. The Book is a direct transcript of the shows.
I find this arrangement better than third party annotations and much better than master games with no annotation.

baronderkilt
25-Apr-12, 03:03

Hi ...

Gavin, is that Titled as:"Tal-Botvinnik 1960" ? And may I ask where I might buy a copy; as it sounds unbelievably-Fantastic for a TAL-aphile like myself. Almost makes me wish I were Home to order it instead of abroad.

If I can get a RUSH delivery before the end of the month, I just might send it to the Hotel here! What a great read that would be.

Do you recall the Publisher?
Regards, Baron

baronderkilt
25-Apr-12, 03:07

WHAT

a GREAT Article too!

shamash
25-Apr-12, 03:31

Tal's matchbook

well, Craig, The Publisher is now known as "Russell Enterprises",
back then as Hanon Russell's RHM Associates when Russell's translation came out in 1977
(of the September 1960 Tal work), entitled
"Tal Botvinnik 1960: match for the World Chess Championship 1960"

& Amazon UK (for instance) has it.

You gotta love where Tal says, in praise of Botvinnik:

<<"The more experienced chessplayers do not bother themselves with calculations,
but plan their play by conforming to the basic, unshakeable principles.">>

sixofspades
25-Apr-12, 04:41

Craig

Looks like Shamash has already answered your question concerning the Tal book. I picked up my copy at a specialty chess shop in Toronto (oh how i love that store). But as Shamash has pointed out, it could be ordered via Amazon. It is a very good book for a variety of reasons (a great read, very instructive, piece of chess history). Tal wrote very well and the more I find out about him the more I admire him. I know he had his demons as we all do but the man loved chess and was willing to share his love for the game....hope you can get the book.

rockall
25-Apr-12, 08:35

Tal Botvinnik 1960 <=> Botvinnik Tal 1961

Botvinnik's book on the return match in 1961 is also very interesting, even to a woodpusher like me. In addition
to the games and notes on the games, it also purports to contain Botvinnik's opening notebooks and other
interesting secondary material.

Publisher: Edition Olms AG 2004
Translated by Ken Neat
ISBN 3-283-00461-7

It is generally available at mail order houses

rockall
25-Apr-12, 13:27

Available at USCF

I see that sellers are all asking a great deal of money for Botvinnik Tal 1961 on Amazon. New copies are
available for $29.95 US at the USCF store.
www.uscfsales.com

ketchuplover
27-Apr-12, 13:22

Speaking of reading...

New In Chess magazine subscription rates are rising on 5-1-12

tactical_abyss
27-Apr-12, 13:49

I've been a life member of the USCF for about 15 years now.Back then it was only a few hundred dollars for a life membership.Glad I did.I've been getting the magazine and other benefits the rest of my life for no cost since my paid up life dues.I always suggest that anyone purchase their books,DVD's CD's and other chess stuff from the USCF whenever possible.Sometimes they are less expensive,other times a bit more.But when you purchase from the USCF online store,you are supporting a wide range of chess benefits in the US and other areas in the world,tournaments and more where most of the profit goes.So it is a good thing.

doctor_knight
30-Apr-12, 00:31

Since no one has mentioned him, I would like to mention CJS Purdy, the first World Champion of Correspondence Chess. I have a number of his books and have loved reading them all. No matter what he writes about, it is all easy for me to read and usually very enlightening. I think the best studying I have done on the endgame has been from his book: C.J.S. Purdy on the Endgame. I also have volumes 2 and 3 of "CJS Purdy's Fine Art of Chess Annotations and Other Thoughts" which have been wonderful reads (haven't finished them yet though ^_^ ). A number of points I have gleaned from reading Purdy have stuck with me through the years even after my frequent and long absences from playing chess.

sixofspades
30-Apr-12, 08:53

bigpeta

In reference to your post concerning those BBC productions. I have watched a few on yutube and enjoyed them very much, however I have a difficult time hearing them due to the low volume (i have ringing in my right ear and my left ear is not good either). The one I saw was Tony Miles and Bent Larsen. I like the moderator, William Harston as well. He wrote a tremendous little book called, BETTER CHESS which contains about 73 mini lessons on the game. Great value at the price. Where could one go to get transcripts of those productions.

bigpeta
30-Apr-12, 15:13

sixofspades

if you search on amazon.com for - bbc master game - they have links to sellers of the book second hand. Mostly at $2
hope this helps.

sixofspades
30-Apr-12, 15:41

bigpeta

Thanks for the info...much appreciated...

sixofspades
23-May-12, 06:38

Interesting Six Part series on Steinitz

The link below is from yutube and features a six part biography on William Steinitz. It is done with narration, slides and very engaging music. I thought it was very well done. I've always been interested in the history of chess and Steinitz is a key figure.

It has been said that the definition of genius is to think in ways you were not taught to think. Both Nimzowitsch and Steinitz fall into this category I think as they altered the landscape of the chess world.

www.youtube.com

shamash
23-May-12, 08:33

some Breyer for Gavin

Gavin, if you want chess genius, insight, and originality,
then you must check out Gyula Breyer.

sixofspades
23-May-12, 09:03

Thanks for the tip Shamash

I have heard of Gyula Breyer. I know that he was a hyper-modern and that he died very young and was thought of as a very creative player. As I am not very imaginative over the chess board myself, perhaps if I investigate some of Gyula's games he can give me a hand over the chasms of time. At any rate it sounds like it could be an interesting foray into the misty histories of this great game, chess.

sixofspades
24-May-12, 09:35

Breyer is beyond my comprehension

I checked this guy out...below is an example of his work...he plays a game of which I am not familiar...

[Event "Budapest HUN"]
[Site "Budapest HUN"]
[Date "1916.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Johannes Esser"]
[Black "Gyula Breyer"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Qd4 h5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qd5 Bb4+
7.Nc3 Qe7 8.Bf4 b6 9.h3 Nh6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.Rxc3
O-O-O 13.e3 Rdg8 14.Bg5 f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Bxh6 Ne5 17.Qd4
Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bxf3 19.Rh2 Rxh6 20.Qf4 Qe4 21.Qxe4 Bxe4 22.Ke2
Rg1 23.c5 Bb7 24.cxb6 axb6 25.Rd3 Ba6 26.Bg2 Rb1 27.Be4 Rxb2+
28.Kf3 f5 29.Bxf5 Rf6 30.Rxd7 Rxf5+ 31.Ke4 Rfxf2 0-1

blake78613
24-May-12, 10:01

I first heard of Breyer while reading Reti's book "New Ideas in Chess" (that was the title on the old Dover edition, I think the title is now translated as "Modern Ideas in Chess). Breyer is noted for saying that with e4 White puts his first foot in the grave (I think the modern translation is that White is in his death throes) although Reti seems to be the only one to hear Breyer say this. After his World Championship match with Lasker, Capablanca stated that he never had a lost position in the match. Breyer published a remarkable piece of analysis that showed that Capablanca did have a lost position in one of the games. BTW Reti's book would be a good edition to a chess library.

sixofspades
24-May-12, 10:05

Actually I meant to reference this game

Gyula Breyer played by his own rules. Talk about 'rule independence'

[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1917.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Gyula Breyer"]
[Black "Johannes Esser"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "93"]

1. d4 {Notes by Richard Reti} d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 {Breyer, in
closed games, likes his bishops to keep behind his chain of
pawns. Therefore he avoids early exchanges and can prepare
undisturbed for the attack. It is surprising in his games how,
when the decisive break through occurs, the pieces which had
appeared shut in, suddenly become alive.} Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bd3
Bd6 6. f4 {! This is obviously better than Nf3. A player in
the habit of playing according to routine would not however
have had such ideas.} O-O 7. Nf3 dxc4 {Black intends after 8
Bxc4 with ...b5 and ...b4 and ...Ba6 to bring out his queen's
bishop, which usually is locked up in this opening.} 8. Bb1 {!
A surprise! Black's B at c1 remains blocked in. White plans an
attack against the Black king's position. In this plan it is
essential that he does not play Bc2 but Bb1.} b5 9. e4 Be7
10. Ng5 h6 {After ...g6 follows 11 h4, h5.} 11. h4 {Threatens
now with 12 e5 Nd5 13 Qc2 g6 14 h5 to overturn the castled
position. Compare the note to 8 Bb1.} g6 {The only move that
parries the threat. Simultaneously Black threatens to take the
knight at g5.} 12. e5 hxg5 13. hxg5 {If 13 exf6 Bxf6 14 hxg5
Bxd4 and Black would have the advantage.} Nd5 {White has
sacrificed a piece. How ought he to continue the attack? After
14 Qg4 Black defends himself sufficiently by ...Kg7 and
...Rh8.} 14. Kf1 {A problem move which soon shows itself
directed against the defensive possibility of ...Kg7.} Nxc3
{As to 14...Bb4 see the note at the end of the game.} 15. bxc3
Bb7 16. Qg4 Kg7 17. Rh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Bxg6 fxg6
20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. g6 Rf7 23. gxf7+ Kxf7 24. Qh5+
Kg7 25. f5 {Now in a few moves the apparently blocked queen's
wing comes into action.} exf5 26. Bh6+ {After 26...Kh7 27 Bf4+
Kg7 28 Qh6+ Kg8! 29 Qg6+ Kh8 30 Ke2 Bh4 31 Rh1 together with
Bg5 wins. For the better understanding of Breyer's combination
we will consider the following which would arise if Black on
the fourteenth move had played ...Bb4 in order to leave the
square e7 free from the queen. Through that White would have
had time for 15 Nxd5 cxd5 16 Be3 and if Kg7 then 17 Rh7+ Kxh7
18 Qh5+ Kg7 19 Qh6+ Kg8 20 Bxg6 fxg6 21 Qxg6+ Kh8 22 Ke2 and
wins.} Kh7 27. Bg5+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Qe6+ Kf8
31. Qxf5+ Kg7 32. Bh6+ Kxh6 33. Ke2 Bc8 34. Rh1+ Bh4 35. e6
Qe7 36. Qf4+ Kg7 37. Rxh4 Qxe6+ 38. Kd2 Na6 39. Rh5 Qf6
40. Rh7+ Kxh7 41. Qxf6 Bg4 42. Qh4+ Kg7 43. Qxg4+ Kf6 44. Qf3+
Ke7 45. Qxc6 Rg8 46. Qxa6 Rxg2+ 47. Kc1 1-0

blake78613
24-May-12, 10:13

www.chesshistory.com

shamash
24-May-12, 10:14

Deleted by shamash on 24-May-12, 10:38.

sixofspades
24-May-12, 10:31

A little more chess history about Breyer and Esser

www.chesscafe.com

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