Your performance at the board does not only depend on your pure chess skills. Being a winner also requires a mindset that is able to cope with lots of stress and setbacks during hours of uninterrupted concentration.
Just like technical chess skills, mental toughness can be trained. There are simple steps you can take that will help you to better realize your potential. Professional mental coach and chess player Werner Schweitzer has been working with chess teams and individual players for many years.
In this book Schweitzer presents practical tips and tools that will help you to improve your mental power during a game. You will learn how to:
– increase your concentration and stamina
– recognize your own strengths and weaknesses
– cope with losses as well as victories
– increase your self-discipline when studying
– handle disturbing thoughts and feelings during a game
– boost your self-confidence
– avoid underestimating (and overestimating!) your opponent
– make better decisions while under pressure
and other mental skills.
These lessons and simple mental workouts will help players of all levels to unlock the full power of their brain and win more games.
Werner Schweitzer graduated as a mental coach at the University of Salzburg, Austria. He knows from experience which mental factors have impact on a chess player’s performance. Schweitzer has been coaching players and teams for many years.
“The focus is on offering simple advice and encouragement in a variety of practical situations. It rang true in reminding me of some typical scenarios and problems that I had encountered in my games. I felt it was a useful refresher ahead of my next competitive outing.” – Grandmaster Matthew Sadler, co-author of ‘Game Changer’
“The Austrian coach has studied mental strength and in this work, which will surely prove popular, addresses such issues as how to increase your concentration, how to handle disturbing thoughts and feelings during a game and how to increase your self-confidence.” – CHESS Magazine
“Mental Toughness in Chess lays out a ‘how to’ guide to improve your performance at chess. The main premise of this chess guide is that chess toughness can be trained. The author delivers the content in a direct and concise way. The book is small in size, flows well, and its contents are actionable. Mental Toughness in Chess is a one of a kind chess book!” – Miguel Ararat, Florida Chess News
“I don’t think it’s a problem to read several tips in relatively quick succession, because the material is nicely coherent. The book seems written for the average chess player who wishes to put a stop to typical mistakes he or she often makes. The author underlines that mental power is something you can train, just like other chess skills, and to be patient while doing that.” – Bram Klapwijk, Schaaksite
“A useful mental toolbox. Chess players are exceptionally nervous, before and during a game. A certain tension is good, it increases our attention and helps us to focus, but too much tension blocks the cooperation of the two halves of our brain. This and much more in covered in this well written mindfulness tool box! Highly recommended! Also for trainings sessions.” – Elburg Chess Reviews
“This little volume covers an important but rather neglected part of the game. We find topics such as knowing yourself, fear, decision making, tension, concentration, luck, fighting spirit and confidence, in other words pretty much everything that might go through a player’s mind – for good or ill – before, during and after a game. The author doesn’t do the work for you, but provides plenty of tips and advice. It is well produced with key paragraphs, clear text and illustrations. The book is a quick read (no moves or diagrams), but not a quick fix. You could easily get through it in one sitting, but the issues raised demand much more time, thought and dedication. You will truly get out of it what you put into it.” – Ian Marks, Chess Scotland
Please keep in mind that the same stories are also featured in The Essential Sosonko.
‘At the time Botvinnik was the personification of chess in the Soviet Union – river: Volga,
poet: Mayakovsky, goalkeeper: Yashin, chess player: Botvinnik. And suddenly – a kid with a name as short as a gunshot: Tal!’
Genna Sosonko’s riveting portrait of Mikhail Tal, the Magician from Riga who to this day mesmerizes chess fans all over the world, bears all the hallmarks of the author’s inimitable writing.
Few – if any – knew ‘Misha’ as well as his good friend and training partner. Here you see the real Tal: nonchalant genius, charming wit, womanizer, cult hero and drug addict. Mikhail Tal is only one of the chess greats that Sosonko brings to life in this collection of his best writings on World Champions.
Two of them lived before his time: his story of Alexander Alekhine is based on fresh research; his intriguing portrait of José Raúl Capablanca followed unforgettable encounters with Capa’s widow Olga.
Genna Sosonko got to know the other champions described here through his extensive travels as a chess pro. Countless hours of private conversation form the basis of his unique portraits of Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik,Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian.
Genna Sosonko was born in Leningrad,where he was a leading chess trainer. Following his emigration from the Soviet Union in 1972 he settled in The Netherlands, later becoming a world class player. After his active career, he discovered a passion for writing that resulted in widely acclaimed books in which he masterfully combines an insider’s nostalgia with the detachment of a critical observer.
Garry Kasparov:
‘Sosonko brings genuine delight even to the most demanding readers, from professionals to amateurs or even non-players who are simply interested in chess history as a part of general human culture.’
Daniel King:
'Sosonko's portrait of Tal is no hagiography and is all the better for that. Beautifully written, heartfelt and moving.'
Jeremy Silman:
"If you love chess history, or history in general, or if you simply want to know more about some of your chess heroes, this book is a must buy. Beautifully written and rich with amazing content, I give Sosonko’s 'The World Champions I Knew' my highest recommendation."
Dominic Lawson, Standpoint Magazine:
"Sosonko's remiscences of [Mikhail Tal,] the self-destructive, alcoholic, womanising 'half angel - half devil' form the pulsing heart of his latest memoir."
Gary Lane, Chess Moves Magazine:
"A wonderful insight to the lives of the World Champions."
Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"An important addition to what we know about the the lives of the world champions. This is chess literature at its very best."
John D. Warth, Chess Club of Southern Indiana:
"Sosonko writes with uncommon grace. His free-form stories speak from the heart, and frame each subject within the context of the times. There is wisdom in his open and honest assessments, and each world champion's story has been told with unusual warmth, insight, and compassion."
Discover the hidden secrets of chess in its knight endgames! While many focus on openings and middle-game tactics, true mastery lies in understanding the nuances of endgames. Whether you’re a beginner, coach, or seasoned player, perfecting your endgame technique is paramount. Why? Because it’s in the endings that the most profound chess secrets are revealed.
Knight Endgames Workbook comprises 300 knight endgame exercises curated by GM Branko Tadić. These tests are categorized based on the number of pawns, mirroring the structure of the book “KNIGHT ENDGAMES – GRANDMASTER ENDGAMES COLLECTION” by GM Vlatko Kovačević.
Chess Grandmaster Anish Giri sketches his rise to the chess elite and presents 20 fondly remembered games in his trademark instructive, witty and delightfully unimpressed by reputations. Included is his win against Magnus Carlsen in Wijk aan Zee, the 'Wimbledon' of Chess, in 2011. The Dutch grandmaster is not only an exceptional player, but also a talented writer with a profound knowledge of the game, a great sense of humour and contagious enthusiasm.
Giri was born to a Russian mother and a Nepalese father and has lived in Russia, Japan and the Netherlands. He is Contributing Editor to New In Chess magazine.
David MacEnulty dared to dream big. In the 1990’s, despite the many skeptics and the scarcity of resources, he became a pioneer of chess in the public schools of the Bronx. The obstacles were formidable—poverty, crime, racism, and ignorance. Yet, with unwavering dedication, MacEnulty and his students defied all expectations.
In Sunrise in the Bronx, MacEnulty describes his transformative journey from fumbling substitute teacher to legendary chess coach. While gradually building a team of administrators, parents, and benefactors, he guides his students through not only the rules of chess but also the invaluable lessons of resilience and determination. Along the way, he establishes the importance of principles, planning, and practice, stressing the need to believe in one’s own potential. He demonstrates how each move, each match, can be seen a metaphor for life itself. MacEnulty teaches—and sometimes learns from the students themselves—that success is not just about winning games and tournaments, but about a personal journey of self-discovery and growth.
Over the years, MacEnulty’s chess teams win countless local, regional, and national championships, all while earning the respect of peers and mentors alike. These accomplishments capture not only the attention of their school and chess communities, but that of the nation as well. They soon find themselves invited to dinner at the White House, where they are celebrated as symbols of hope and inspiration for all. Even in the wake of such achievement, however, the true measure of success for MacEnulty and his students lies not with the honors, titles, and trophies they win, but in the lives they touch and the futures they forge together.
A testament to the transformative power of true dedication, Sunrise in the Bronx celebrates the strength of the human spirit and the enduring impact of integrity, teamwork, and effort in the face of adversity. Throughout this remarkable journey, David MacEnulty and his students remind us that, with dedication and faith, every sunrise brings the promise of a brighter future.
David MacEnulty began teaching chess at the elementary school, PS. 70X in the South Bronx. He is an award-winning teacher with over thirty years of experience teaching children and adults. His chess teams have won numerous New York City, New York State, and National Chess Championships. He was named Chess Educator of the Year by the University of Texas at Dallas, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the US Chess Federation, and has written chess books such as How to beat your kids at Chess.
El Tratado General de Ajedrez es un clásico de la enseñanza del juego ciencia. Se trata de una obra que nos permite descubrir de forma amena y sencilla la esencia del juego, desde las enseñanzas básicas hasta la estrategia superior. Está íntegramente transcrito al sistema algebraico de notación, los nombres de las aperturas y de las líneas han sido actualizados y se han solventado algunos errores tácticos detectados en la obra original con notas al pie.
ESTRATEGIA SUPERIOR
La confluencia de distintos factores decide el resultado de la partida de ajedrez, y precisamente de eso trata la alta estrategia. Cómo se transforman las amenzas, cómo se deciden las luchas entre alfil y caballo, o entre alfiles de distinto color, o todo lo relativo al control de las columnas abiertas, entre otros temas, conforman la caja de herramientas con las que hay que acometer las decisiones finales. Con la precisión y sencillez que caracteriza al autor, se exponen aquí los materiales necesarios para la comprensión y el disfrute del juego.
Roberto Grau (1900-1944) fue un estudioso del ajedrez, actividad a la que consagró gran parte de su vida, como periodista, jugador y maestro. Obtuvo el título de Campeón Argentino en 6 oportunidades, y participó en 6 olimpiadas, logrando excelentes resultados. Dirigió las publicaciones Ajedrez Americano y Ajedrez Argentino. Su columna Frente al Tablero, en el periódico La Nación, cautivó a los aficionados de su época. Además de su obra cumbre, el Tratado General de Ajedrez, escribió La Historia de Ajedrez, Códigos del Ajedrez, Aperturas y Finales, Estrategias del Ajedrez y Cartilla de Ajedrez.
CONFORMACIONES DE PEONES
La conformación de los peones es un tema fundamental en ajedrez. Una adecuada ubicación de éstos en el tablero permitirá a las piezas actuar con armonía. Por esto, la comprensión de las distintas estructuras proporciona valiosas herramientas para entender con mayor profundidad el juego. Entre otros temas, el autor destaca la solidez de los peones unidos, o la fuerza o debilidad de los peones pasados. Explica a su vez el modo en que los peones doblados compensan su debilidad cuando comen hacia el centro y da pautas para desenvolverse en posiciones con peones aislados o colgantes.
RUDIMENTOS
En este tomo se dan las reglas y fundamentos básicos del juego: desde la colocación de las piezas sobre el tablero hasta nociones sobre la pérdida o ganancia de material. Esta parte de la obra recorre terrenos previos a la estrategia y pone a disposición del lector herramientas sencillas sobre el esquema del pensamiento ajedrecístico. Hay más de 100 partidas instructivas de ataque y 150 ejercicios para resolver con soluciones. Su lectura es indispensable para la compresión del resto de los tomos.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a set of rules that always directed us towards the best move in any chess position? That is precisely what Grandmaster Julen Arizmendi has been searching for during his long and successful coaching career, and this is where he shares his verdict: it cannot be done, but we should still be trying!
Practical Chess Strategy will teach you to break down any position into its underlying elements and apply core concepts that will guide you towards the best move and plan. GM Arizmendi deals with cases where our intuition fails us, teaches us how to assess imbalances, refutes common misconceptions about strategy, and provides exercises to test and reinforce the reader’s newfound understanding.
This book completes a glowing tribute to the sparkling chess career and life story of Boris Spassky, by biographer extraordinaire Tibor Karolyi. We continue the story where Boris Spassky’s Best Games 1 left off, with Spassky poised to claim the title of World Champion in 1969.
Even after his famous defeat to Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik 1972, Boris Spassky remained among the strongest players in the world, and his masterpieces continued to delight chess lovers for decades to come. Boris Spassky’s Best Games 2 completes a fitting tribute to a brilliant chess player, who sadly passed away at the age of 88 while this book was being edited.
This book is a logical follow up of Semkov’s previous work on the Nimzo-Indian Defence. It covers the Exchange Variation 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 against the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Practical results of 63% in White’s favour and the endorcement of Carlsen, Gukes, Caruana, Aronian, Sarana and many others of the elite confirm the prominent status of this system.Lately second players tend to deviate from the traditional main lines and resort to 3...a6, 3...h6, 3...Be7, 5...Bb4 and other exotic set-ups, so the author analyses them in separate chapters.
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