Please keep in mind that the same stories are also featured in The Essential Sosonko.
The Reliable Past is the eagerly awaited sequel to Russian Silhouettes, Genna Sosonko's marvellous collection of portraits from the golden age of Soviet chess. In this new book, the author again shows himself a perceptive chronicler of a time when chess occupied a unique position in his native country, but he also wanders across its borders with his memories of Dutch World Champion Max Euwe and a touching tribute to the first ever British grandmaster, Tony Miles.
The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of the most important chess openings, both at club level and with top players. In recent years it has undergone a number of significant changes and it’s high time for a thorough look at the current state of affairs.
Top grandmaster Ivan Sokolov is the perfect authority to do so.
The Strategic Nimzo-Indian: A Complete Guide to the Rubinstein Variation is the first of a two-part series. In this ground-breaking and clearly structured first volume, Sokolov investigates all lines after the move 4.e3. Volume 2 will be about 4.a3, the Sämisch Variation.
Inspired by great masters like Mikhail Botvinnik, Ivan Sokolov has played the Rubinstein Variation all his life, and he has even beaten World Champion Garry Kasparov with it.
Although play can become very sharp, the Nimzo-Indian requires a profound positional understanding. Ivan Sokolov does not simply give variations, but provides clear explanations of the structures and plans in the various branches, and presents new ideas and resources for both Black and White.
Each chapter ends with a summary containing key strategic and tactical advice.
Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. He rose to the number 12 spot in the FIDE world rankings. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand.
Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"This book is simply far superior to anything else I have seen written on this opening – my own book included (..) The narrative, the explanatory prose, the analysis, the countless improvements, new ideas and so on, makes this book phenomenally splendid. If you want to understand how to play this opening, then this book is a perfect place to start."
GM Glenn Flear:
"The author is constantly pointing out the positional consequences of the various thematic ideas throughout the lines (..) There are times when his research will almost certainly change the future course of theory (..) Whatever your connection to the Nimzo, make sure that you get hold of a copy. An absolute must."
John Donaldson, Chess Today:
"An outstanding book (..) Sokolov backs up [his] verbal assessments with concrete variations, but the prose is much more valuable for the layman rated below 2400, who will remember the helpful advice long after the analysis has been forgotten."
Joe Petrolito, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"There is a lot of explanatory material to complement the analysis and orientate the reader (..) [Sokolov] is not afraid to challenge previous analysis, even describes some old analysis by Botvinnik as 'wishful thinking'! (..) A dense but readable book on a mainstream opening that can only enhance Sokolov's growing reputation as an author."
Nagesh Havanur, Chess.com:
"I am fascinated. To begin with, this is a repertoire book for d4 players who meet the Nimzo-Indian. But other players reaching d4 d5 positions would also find this useful. There is a serious effort to find an edge for White in every line. The author of course knows that it is not an easy task as the Nimzo-indian is a sound system. Hence, he resists the temptation of finding convenient wins for White."
Gary Lane, Chess Moves Magazine:
"Very readable, with clear, precise comments (..) Sokolov reveals his secrets in the Rubinstein Variation so everyone can be a winner."
Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"A monumental work with lots of explanations, while paying attention to historical games as well as the current state of affairs."
Generally recognized as the world's greatest expert on the c3 Sicilian, Russian grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov has written the definitive book on this fascinating opening. Sveshnikov covers all lines of the c3 (or Alapin) Sicilian and explains the history, the basic ideas and the latest developments from recent grandmaster practice. With hundreds of games, accessibly explained, and many exercises. A special and attractive feature is a listing of 'opening catastrophes' in the c3 Sicilian. A magnificent, up-to-date, clear-headed and well-structured book.
Even in the Sicilian Defense, one of the most popular and well-developed chess openings, it is possible to surprise your opponent at move four! With the Kalashnikov Variation, Black immediately forces the opponent to make a difficult decision. It all starts with a Black pawn, kicking White's knight off the central d4-square. This push will lead the game into turbulent waters where your rapid development, attacking options, sound pawn structure and superior preparation will leave your opponent bewildered.
Grandmaster Daniel King knows what it takes to play the Sicilian with success, and his articulate explanations and practical approach to playing and learning will help you score your own Sicilian victories. This course is a repertoire for Black, focusing on the most important lines. In addition, there is a selection of well-annotated master games demonstrating key strategic concepts in practical settings. Once you hear about the Bad Bishop Bounce, Liberation Station, and The Trojan Horse, you will be eager to introduce them into your own games. The book also explains how to punish the sidelines you are most likely to face in club and online play, often allowing you to reach a superior position straight out of the opening! This complete repertoire includes answers to all possible alternatives for White after the moves 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5.
Daniel King is an English chess grandmaster, coach, journalist and broadcaster. He has authored dozens of chess books and courses on topics ranging from opening preparation to the historical biography Sultan Khan. With his frequent posts on his PowerPlay YouTube channel, he reaches a broad audience.
Jan Sybren Zagema (Schaaksite.nl)
“King provides a very accessible introduction to the Sicilian and a practical and dynamic repertoire for Black. The precise wording and themes ensure that the various variations stick much better than with most other opening books.”
When the Icelandic Chess Federation made a bid to host the 1972 world title match between Soviet icon Boris Spassky and American challenger Bobby Fischer, many Icelanders were rightly shaking their heads in disbelief. How could their small island country in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a population of less than 300 thousand people stage such a prestigious event in the first place?
Undeterred and naively optimistic the young President of the Icelandic Chess Federation, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, set to work and to everyone’s astonishment theirs was the winning bid. But that was only the beginning of one of the most amazing stories in chess history...
Bobby Fischer’s demands and whims constantly jeopardised the match. First the American chose not to board his plane in New York, and then he came late for the first game. That game he lost after a silly blunder and the second game he lost because he didn’t turn up in a fight about noisy cameras. But next he won the third game, that was played in a back room, and the rest... is history.
Fifty years on, Gudmundur Thorarinsson has written a tell-all book about ‘The Match of the Century’, crammed with behind-the-scenes stories and improbable twists and turns. Reading his gripping account of probably the most iconic sports contest during the Cold War, you will understand why he prefers to call it ‘The Match of All Time’.
And why reliving this most unlikely adventure he comes to the conclusion: ‘It was not possible to organise this match, nor was it possible to rescue it... but still it was done!’
Gudmundur Thorarinsson is a chess organizer and businessman from Iceland. In 1972, as the chairman of the Icelandic Chess Federation he organized the ‘Match of All Time’, the World Championship Match between the Russian incumbent champion Boris Spassky and the American challenger Bobby Fischer.
The Dutch Grandmaster Paul van der Sterren was a professional chess player for over twenty years. At the peak of his career, he qualified for the Candidate Matches for the World Championship – and was only four victories away from the World Title. In Mindful Chess, you will get his long and short answer to whether meditation or mindfulness will help your chess.
As a boy, Van der Sterren became fascinated by chess and became a gladiator at the chess board. To quote Theodore Roosevelt, he met with both victory and defeat, much joy and suffering. When, later in life, he discovered vipassana meditation, he met again with joy and suffering – and approached these issues with the same total devotion as he had brought to chess—thousands and thousands of hours on the cushion and studying Buddhist literature.
The reader will follow the two journeys through chess and meditation. And find answers to questions such as: What is chess? What is meditation? Who am I? What is I? Or will the answer elude you, is too much inexplainable and unknowable?
Paul van der Sterren (1956) was a professional chess player for over twenty years. At the peak of his career, the Dutch grandmaster qualified for the Candidate Matches for the World Championship – and was only four victories away from the World Title. He is the bestselling author of Fundamental Chess Openings (Gambit Publishers). In 2023 New In Chess published his book In Black and White - a chess autobiography.
GM Matthew Sadler (New In Chess magazine)
“I surprised myself by really enjoying this book, which I think is a tribute to the quality of Van der Sterren’s writing which manages to make difficult (impossible!) subjects seem (almost) accessible and to the fresh perspective that you get on key moments from his chess career.”
IM Gary Lane (Australian Chess)
“This intriguing pocket book is a quick read for those who wish to try meditation.”
Fernando Offermann (Berliner Schachverband)
“Mindful Chess is not a book that you read casually. It demands attention and thought - and gives all the more in return. A small but remarkable work for anyone who wants to deal with the psychological side of chess.”
Genna Sosonko is widely acclaimed as the most prominent chronicler of a unique era in chess history. In the Soviet Union chess was developed into an ideological weapon that was actively promoted by the country’s leadership during the Cold War. Starting with Mikhail Botvinnik, their best chess players grew into symbols of socialist excellence. Sosonko writes from a privileged dual perspective, combining an insider’s nostalgia with the detachment of a critical observer. He grew up with legendary champions such as Mikhail Tal and Viktor Korchnoi and spent countless hours with most of the other greats and lesser chess mortals he portrays.
In the late 1980s he began to write about the champions he knew and their remarkable lives in New In Chess Magazine. First, he wrote primarily about Soviet players and personalities, and later, he also began to portray other chess celebrities with whom he had crossed paths. They all vividly come to life as the reader is transported to their time and world. Once you’ve read Sosonko, you will feel you know Capablanca, Max Euwe and Tony Miles. And you will never forget Sergey Nikolaev.
This monumental book is a collection of the portraits and profiles Genna Sosonko wrote for New in Chess magazine. The stories have been published in his books: Russian Silhouettes, The Reliable Past, Smart Chip From St. Petersburg and The World Champion I Knew. They are supplemented with further writings on legends such as David Bronstein, Garry Kasparov and Boris Spassky. They paint an enthralling and unforgettable picture of a largely vanished age and, indirectly, a portrait of one of the greatest writers on the world of chess.
Genna Sosonko (1943) 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. He won numerous tournaments, including Wijk aan Zee in 1977 (with Geller) and 1981 (with Timman) and an individual gold medal at the Olympiad in Haifa 1976. After his active career, Sosonko discovered a passion for writing.
'Each new story of Genna Sosonko is the preservation of grains of our chess life' -- from the foreword by Garry Kasparov
“This is surely a great addition to anyone who wants to top up their chess history knowledge, and you can dip in and out of fascinating anecdotes about the stars of a bygone era. A joy for anyone who appreciates the inside story on some of the greatest chess masters in the world.”
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
‘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."
"A wonderful insight to the lives of the World Champions."
"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."
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.
WINNER of the ChessCafe 2008 Book of the Year Award
SHORTLISTED for The Guardian 2008 Chess Book of the Year Award
Why is it that the human brain so often refuses to consider winning chess tactics?
Every chess fan marvels at the wonderful combinations with which famous masters win their games. How do they find those fantastic moves? Do they have special vision? And why do computers outwit us tactically?
Forcing Chess Moves proposes a revolutionary method for finding winning moves. Charles Hertan has made an astonishing discovery: the failure to consider key moves is often due to human bias. Your brain tends to disregard many winning moves because they are counter-intuitive or look unnatural.
It’s a fact of life: computers outdo us humans when it comes to tactical vision and brute force calculation. So why not learn from them? Charles Hertan’s radically different approach is: use COMPUTER EYES and always look for the most forcing move first.
By studying forcing sequences according to Hertan’s method you will:
– Develop analytical precision
– Improve your tactical vision
– Overcome human bias and staleness
– Enjoy the calculation of difficult positions
– Win more games by recognizing moves that matter.
This New and Extended Fourth Edition of Hertan’s award-winning modern classic includes 50 extra pages with new and instructive combinations. There is a foreword by three-time US chess champion Joel Benjamin, and a special foreword to this new edition by Swedish Grandmaster Pontus Carlsson.
Steve Goldberg, ChessCafe:
"When the clock is ticking away, and you have too many viable candidate moves to choose from, remember Hertan's advice."
Former US Champion Joel Benjamin:
"By organizing and explaining the nature of great chess moves Hertan has brought us all closer to being able to find them."
Marsh Towers Chess Reviews:
"Hertan develops the reader’s skills methodically, thus enabling each tactical lesson to be learned and absorbed properly."
Erik Bouwmans, Schaaknieuws:
"Entertaining and instructive. You simply cannot stop looking."
Erik Rausch, Rochade Europa:
An intensive training course for advanced players to improve their tactical vision and calculation. You will increase your tactical striking powers a lot."
Cor Jansen, Provinciaalse Zeeuwse Courant":
"Thrilling, instructive and witty. Right on target."
Harold Dondis, The Boston Globe:
"The categories in this book are quite unusual. This work is an ample and accurate collection of startling problems bulging with combinative surprises."
Elisabeth Vicary, US Chess Federation Online:
"I love this book."
Cookie settings
We use cookies to deliver and improve our services, analyze site usage, and if you agree, to customize or personalize your experience and market our services to you. You can read our Cookie Policy hier.
