I have worked with the best, or perhaps it’s better to say that I have learned from the best; that’s how I can best describe this book, because I spent some time with Svetozar Gligoric in the early 2000s and the Nimzo-Indian was also present. I can’t really say that we went into great detail, but we certainly did discuss various systems. This book in particular is about the Rubinstein 4.e3 systems. Some of the material has been analyzed in my earlier book on the QGD and Nimzo, while some other material is presented in Volume 1 in this short series, which covers the Nimzo with 4.Bd2 and 4.Qc2. From other published books I used Gligoric’s book on the Nimzo-Indian and Ivan Sokolov’s book on the Nimzo with 4.e3. I found both books useful.
I need to give one explanation here and it’s about the Tal Variation because that system is treated also in my Volume 1, where I analyze the 4.Bd2 line. In this Volume 2 I have omitted all positions where White places a bishop on d2 early in the game, while Volume 1 deals exclusively with an early bishop to d2 move by White.
I hope readers will enjoy both of those books.
SHORTLISTED: English Chess Federation Book of the Year 2013 Award!
Winning starts with planning before the game, teaches legendary chess coach Vladimir Tukmakov. In this ground-breaking book he shows how chess preparation has become a systematic process and how today’s top players make their game plans.
The most important aim of modern preparation, both for professionals and for ambitious amateurs, is to get a playable position that you understand better than your opponent.
The role of the computer in preparation has grown tremendously and Tukmakov explains how top grandmasters use their ‘Metal Friend’. He warns that professionals should not put too much trust in chess engines and should analyse more deeply themselves.
Club players, on the other hand, should reduce their time in front of the machine to a minimum. Tukmakov explains what amateurs should do in order to arrive at the board well-armed: study the classics, analyse your own games without a computer, and know yourself.
A special chapter is devoted to must-win situations: when the outcome of a tournament, a match or even a whole life depends on a single game. With lots of brilliant examples, inside information and amusing anecdotes, Modern Chess Preparation is not only highly instructive, but also a joy to read.
“Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent, and having a sober awareness of your own shortcomings, will pay dividends at any level, from beginners up to World Champions.”
A former Ukrainian champion, Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov (born 1946 in Odessa) won many tournaments and came second in three Soviet championships. After his active career he became an esteemed chess coach. He was non-playing captain of the Ukraine team that won gold at the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, 2004.
Martin Rieger, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"Tukmakov has created a unique symbiosis: a training book with stories. Qualifications such as 'brilliant' or 'wonderful' are really far too stale for this work (..) This book will most probably become a classic in chess literature."
IM Jeremy Silman, author of 'How to Reassess Your Chess':
"A fascinating and original (useful!) book about chess prep, but not the kind you've ever been exposed to before (..) Exhilarating reading (..) This chapter [2: 'The Computer Era'] is nothing less than brilliant (..) Overall this book is beautifully written and deeply thought out."
Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"The last chapter, 'Deciding Games', makes for fascinating reading. It is clearly a subject that has not been covered in great detail in any book that I can think of. It discusses how to approach those key games that can be last-round deciders, but even crucial games earlier in the tournament against key opponents."
Jonathan Adams, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"Easy to follow by the avarage club player."
GM Luke McShane:
"I really like this book (..) Tukmakov's discussion of the modern game is highly astute."
Babs Wiilders, Nederlands Dagblad:
"Covers all stages of the game, with both strategic and tactical perspectives (..) Splendid instructional material for every chess player who wants to get ahead."
IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering, ChessVibes:
"There is a lot of thought-provoking stuff in the book."
John D.Warth, Chess Club of Southern Indiana:
"Tukmakov's discussion is a broad one, citing games dating from 1891 up to 2011 (..) Along the way the author peppers his survey with advice, tidbits and common sense, with strong writing and a balanced approach (..) An important book on a much-neglected top ic."
Henk Prins, Reformatorisch Dagblad:
"The book gives important recommendations, also for amateur chess players, about how to use the computer."
Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Federation:
"Tukmanakov's writing style is very interesting, that is why 'Modern Chess Preparation' also entertains."
Elburg Chess Reviews:
"Well known chess coach Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov does not only provide the reader with a wealth of readable games, 91 of them, but above all, offers instructive advice that truly helps you to become a better player."
Harry Schaack, KARL Magazine:
"An original mix of chess history and tips for the modern praxis."
Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"At the end of each chapter the author gives recommendations for amateurs."
Richard Vedder, Schakers.info:
"Vladimir Tukmakov puts you on a trail that should lead to better results."
This book presents an opening repertoire for Black to players who are looking for initiative and counterplay in the Ruy Lopez.
We have analysed the most straightforward possibilities for White
6 Freestyle
Magnus Carlsen wins his 21st World Championship, his first in Freestyle.
8 NIC’s Café
Drones from Ukraine, a spy from the GDR and Marcel Duchamp.
14 Uzbek success at Tata Steel
Friends and rivals Nodirbek Abdusattorov (21) and Javokhir Sindarov (20) seemed to be heading for an all-Uzbek tiebreaker. But in a final and decisive show of grit and class, ‘Abdu’ forged ahead to claim the trophy.
20 Nodirbek Abdusattorov
An interview with the winner: ‘Wijk aan Zee has always been very special to me’.
30 Tata Steel games
Game analysis by the top players: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Anish Giri, Matthias Bluebaum, Jorden van Foreest, Vladimir Fedoseev and Andy Woodward.
41 Celeb 64
Tom Stoppard, British playwright.
56 Matthias Bluebaum
An interview with the 28-year-old German grandmaster who qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
64 Fifth Double Crown for Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen (35) won his sixth rapid World Championship title and his ninth blitz title. How can we explain Carlsen’s domination of the Rapid & Blitz World Championships? The simplest answer may also be the truest: he is frighteningly good at chess.
74 Boris Gelfand’s selection
Boris Gelfand has selected the most interesting games of the last few weeks.
92 Fair & Square
Julian Barnes and John Nunn.
93 The Killer Blow
Puzzles selected by Jacob Aagaard.
96 Hastings
Jon Speelman reflects on chess in the 20th Century. In this issue: A tribute to Hastings
102 James Altucher
Win, Lose or Draw.
104 The Scoresheet
James Thompson-Paul Morphy, 1857.
106 Yes, opening novelties!
Another new column, on opening theory. Is it still possible to play a novelty? Yes, says opening expert Nikolaos Ntirlis. He will present four fresh, practical ideas in each issue.
112 The Model Game
Playing gambits is good advice for improving players. And the Benko is an excellent example for Black.
116 The worst placed piece
This new column by Renier Castellanos focuses on improvement. The author is a coach at the Killer Chess Academy and has a deep understanding of how club players can improve their chess knowledge.
122 Sadler on Books
High praise for a new book about Captain Mackenzie’s chess adventures.
130 Jan Timman
The collapse of the Soviet Union was a heavy blow to the chess infrastructure of the superpower that dominated our game for many decades.
138 Just Checking
Mauricio Flores Rios, bestselling author.
In 2018 DeepMind published the shocking results of their chess-playing artificial intelligence software, AlphaZero. Chess players looked in disbelief and immediately wondered how AI would affect the future of chess. Less than a year later, a whole new wave of chess engines emerged that were based on using neural networks to evaluate positions in a completely new way. This book is about the extraordinary impact that AI has had on modern chess.
The games of top chess players since the end of 2018 have reflected the use of these new engines in home analysis. They have significantly developed opening theory as well as the general understanding of middlegame concepts. By analysing these games with the help of neural network engines, FIDE Master Joshua Doknjas discusses numerous exciting ideas and examines areas of chess that had previously been overlooked. With thorough explanations, questions, and exercises, this book provides fascinating material for masters and less experienced players alike.
Joshua Doknjas is a FIDE Master from Canada who has enjoyed success competing internationally. He has won seven national titles for his age and tied for 1st in the 2019 U18 North American Youth Chess Championship.
This book is about the Nimzo-Indian Classical line 4.Qc2 (also known as the Capablanca Variation) and the 4.Bd2-line, for which basically I could not find an established name.
As far as I know, the 4.Bd2 line has never been covered in such a comprehensive way in any book before. In the text I suggest that this line should have the combined name of Tartakower-Duchamp line because Saviellly Tartakower played it often, while to my surprise Marcel Duchamp (who was also a famous French artist) played it too in the 1930s and indeed in a very good positional fashion against strong players. Some of those games are in the book.
Now this line enjoys greater popularity than ever before. About the Classical line with 4.Qc2 there is nothing much to add, except for the fact that it has become hugely popular, but unfortunately from my point of view it involves too much engine-style chess.
I was once dismissive of the attempts by amateur players to improve. To me it seemed too obvious - you either had it or you didn’t. Talent was ultimately all that mattered. All my writing on chess was really for myself. If amateur players couldn’t follow, tough.
I don’t think that this dismissive attitude towards amateurs by professional chess players is particularly unusual. There is plenty of talk about ‘fish’, and in professional circles a general level of contempt is always on display. Perhaps we too easily forget that we were once ‘fish’ and ‘patzers’ ourselves, and are probably still viewed as such by even higher-rated players. It is only recently that I have started to think more along the lines of how amateur players approach chess, and the typical mistakes they make.
Classic mistakes by amateur players include:
These and other mistakes I will try to explain in the book. Of course it should be noted that professional players also make these kinds of mistakes. I certainly do, all the time, so there is plenty of overlap and understanding of where these mistakes come from.
Chess Secrets is a series of books which uncover the mysteries of the most important aspects of chess, such as strategy, attack, defence, opening play, endgames, off-board preparation and mental attitude. In each book the author chooses and deeply studies a number of great players who have excelled in such aspects of the game, greatly influenced their peers and inspired all of us.
In Heroes of Classical Chess, Craig Pritchett selects five great players whose style exemplifies classically direct, clear, energetic, tough, ambitious yet fundamentally correct chess playing attributes. Pritchett studies the major contributions they have made, compares their differing styles and discusses the critical influences they have had on the development of chess, on their peers and on all our games.
Read this book and enhance your own skills. Understand how to play in a classical style and win more games.
Contents:
Leitao – American Continental Championship (Tournament Review)
Moradiabadi & Arsovic– Fide Grand Prix Belgrade and Berlin (Tournament Review)
Gormally – Danny’s Chess Diary – 4NCL (Tournament Review)
Prusikin – Nimzowitsch Legacy (Instructive Lesson)
Foisor – The Pillsbury Attack (Instructive Lesson)
Davies – The 3...Qd6 Scandinavian – part 2 (Theoretical Survey)
Perunovic – The Alapin Sicilian (Theoretical Survey)
Szabo – The Scotch Game C45 (Theoretical Survey)
Petrov – World Championship Game Changers – part 4
Rogers – The Balaton Tournament 1983 (Roger’s Reminiscences)
Griffin – The most entertaining draw at the USSR Championships (From Informant Archives)
Traditional sections: games, combinations, endings, Tournament reviews, the best game from the preceding volume and the most important theoretical novelty from the preceding volume.
The periodical that pros use with pleasure is at the same time a must have publication for all serious chess students!
Each exercise invites you to step into the shoes of the masters:
– Can you find the hidden combination that turned the tide?
– Will you spot the knockout blow that secured a brilliant victory?
– Can you defend as resourcefully as the Armenian greats when under pressure?
This collection is designed for players of all levels who want to sharpen their tactical vision and gain insights from the rich legacy of Armenian chess. With positions ranging from instructive classics to breathtaking brilliancies, the book offers a training ground where calculation, creativity, and intuition meet.
Whether you are a club player looking to improve, a coach seeking fresh material, or a chess enthusiast who loves the beauty of tactics, this book is your gateway into the magic of Armenian chess.
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