El legendario Mikhail Tal es el más fino exponente del jugador de ataque de todos los tiempos. Su estilo arriesgado lo llevó nada menos que al título del mundo. Doblegado por su precaria salud, tuvo un reinado corto, pero quedó como un jugador espectacular después de su muerte en 1992. Su partida dejó al mundo del ajedrez sin una de las más carismáticas figuras, un jugador que excitaba las pasiones ajedrecísticas donde iba.
De la introducción de Lincoln R. Maiztegui Casas: "Este libro es un largo y apasionante relato de la vida de un ajedrecista singular, recorrido a través de un diálogo entre él mismo y el periodista que juega constantemente el papel de confesor. No solamente contiene algunas de las más hermosas partidas de este genio del tablero, sino que brinda un cuadro completo y rico de los ambientes propios del gran ajedrez internacional, incluyendo agudos juicios sobre los sistemas de competición y críticas a la jerarquía del ajedrez soviético que se convierten, por elevación, en un cuestionamiento de la verticalidad de todo el sistema. Por todo esto, su lectura es una constante fuente de sorpresas, interés y placer".
Este libro sigue los pasos del manual de iniciación Escuela de ajedrez, del mismo autor, y está destinado a los jugadores que conocen los fundamentos del juego y quieren progresar, es decir, a jugadores en formación y de nivel medio que participan en torneos y desean mejorar su técnica de juego.
¿Cuál es el secreto del ajedrez?
¿Cuál es la clave que permite llevar la pieza justa a la casilla precisa y en el momento oportuno?
El arte de interpretar y dictaminar las posiciones de forma exacta es el que permite realizar esa jugada.
Este arte de análisis y evaluación se puede aprender. Para ello se requieren los conocimientos técnicos que permitan juzgar la posición que tiene ante el tablero. No basta con interpretarla o leerla correctamente, sino que hace falta saber cómo explotar, por ejemplo, un complejo de peones doblados, cómo tratar una posición del medio juego o cómo determinar el mejor procedimiento de ataque al enroque.
Esta maestría se adquiere con el estudio de los elementos y temas que integran el juego. El propósito de este libro es brindarle, precisamente, esa caja de herramientas para interpretar posiciones y aplicarles el tratamiento adecuado, clave para ganar y tener éxito en el juego.
Antonio Gude es un experto investigador y divulgador de ajedrez. Ha dirigido varias publicaciones técnicas, traducido obras capitales de la literatura ajedrecística y es autor de los libros de ajedrez en español más vendidos.
Debido a su universalidad y al renombre del autor, Mis 60 memorables partidas es considerado por muchos como el mejor libro de ajedrez del siglo. Traducido a diez idiomas, se encuentra entre los clásicos de la literatura ajedrecística. Publicado por Simon and Schuster en 1969, Bobby Fischer analiza en este libro sus partidas más importantes y representativas. Profundiza en las consideraciones estratégicas, tácticas y en los ocasionales errores que surgen bajo la presión de la competición. Fischer también evalúa el pensamiento de sus oponentes".
Miguel Najdorf dijo en una oportunidad que Bobby Fischer "... arrojaba las piezas sobre el tablero y ellas solas caían en las casillas correctas".
Mucho se ha escrito sobre el ajedrez de Bobby Fischer y muchas cosas han ocurrido en el ajedrez en general y en la tecnología en particular desde el periodo 1957-1967, años en los que tuvieron lugar estas 60 memorables partidas, verdaderas joyas del ajedrez. Someter hoy las decisiones de Fischer a potentísimos módulos de análisis, a ordenadores con capacidad de cálculo que en aquella época resultaban de ciencia ficción, y que no se detecten errores, habla de un auténtico fenómeno. Bobby jugaba preciso, limpio, demoledor y correcto. En estas 60 partidas de su primera época, marcada por su ascenso meteórico hacia la cumbre del ajedrez, ya asomaba el genio que cuestionaría la supremacía soviética en los años setenta y que se consumaría con el título de campeón mundial en 1972, al vencer, en el "Encuentro del siglo" al ruso Boris Spassky. Como señala Antonio Gude en el prólogo: "El criterio selectivo del autor sobre estas partidas es importante. No todas las partidas incluidas en este libro son las mejores de la primera parte de su carrera, pero sí las que más le importaron o las que más se grabaron en su memoria (...) Nadie antes que él, (e incluyo a todos los campeones del mundo) comentó con tanto rigor sus partidas, que diseccionó con la destreza de un forense vocacional.
Edición revisada y actualizada por el maestro internacional, Gabriel Rojo Huerta.
When deciding upon a repertoire to meet 1 d4, those players whose natural inclination is to be aggressive have a difficult decision. There are plenty of outright counter-attacking tries such as the Benko Gambit, the King's Indian Defence and the Modern Benoni. However, such openings are generally considered borderline unsound at the higher levels. On the other hand the safe options such as the Queen's Gambit Declined and Queen's Gambit Accepted make it difficult to create middlegame complications. So, what to do?
Play the Semi-Slav! (1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c6). This line provides a great balance between solidity and dynamism. The opening is undoubtedly sound but also contains plenty of latent aggressive possibilities. The Semi-Slav is also one of those openings that will repay players who enjoy studying the game. The lines are intricate and the player who is better prepared will have a substantial edge.
In this book Nicolas Yap uses the Semi-Slav as the basis for a complete repertoire with Black when facing 1 d4. Many lines based on an early Bf4 have become popular in recent years and strong counters are provided for all of them.
– A thorough, in-depth examination of a complex modern variation.
– A complete repertoire for Black against 1 d4.
– The question and answer method continually tests the reader's understanding.
Available via subscription
British Chess Magazine (March 2025)
The Petrov's Defense (also known as the Russian Defense) is an underrated gem in classical chess, offering solid play and excellent counterattacking opportunities. While it might not enjoy the same spotlight as the Ruy Lopez or Sicilian Defense, it's a highly respected opening for players who seek consistency, strategic depth, and resilience.
The hallmark of Petrov's Defense is its symmetrical pawn structure after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. It emphasizes equalizing early without the chaos of sharper lines, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer calm and strategic maneuvering over immediate tactical fireworks. Black's goal is not just to survive the opening but to gradually turn equality into an advantage through careful piece placement and timely counterplay.
What stands out most about this opening is its reliability at all levels of play--from club players to elite grandmasters. Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik has used it successfully in high-stakes games, demonstrating that it's not just a drawing weapon but also a fighting choice for ambitious players.
The Petrov's Defense can lead to rich middlegame positions, especially in less explored lines, offering plenty of scope for creativity and independent thought.
In summary, the Petrov's Defense is a rock-solid choice for players who value structure, deep understanding, and long-term plans. Whether you're aiming for a quiet positional struggle or waiting to unleash a tactical shot at the right moment, this opening has something for everyone. Give it a try--you might just fall in love with its subtle charm!
Few books have dealt with the topic of exchanges in chess, leaving this important part of chess strategy a mystery to most. In Mastering Chess Exchanges, grandmasters Jacob Aagaard and Renier Castellanos break down the topic into crystal-clear themes, including piece preferences, tension, weaknesses, colour complexes, king safety and endgames, illustrating the concepts with illuminating examples.
Then the reader is given a chance to turn understanding into skill, with 365 instructive exercises, featuring a novel, multiple-choice format designed to focus the reader’s attention on possible exchanges.
Bird's Opening is currently in that 'Goldilocks' zone of the great arbitrages in life. The majority of chess players have dismissed it overlooking its inherent value and this allows for adopters of the Bird to take advantage of this asymmetry. As of this writing, it is played 0.9% of the time in online databases and this drops to 0.2% (!) in the master's database of OTB games. For reference in the OTB database 1.e4 is played 45% of the time. So for every 225 OTB games your opponent plays against 1.e4, he plays against the Bird once. While a case could be made that 1.e4 or 1.d4 are stronger, the objective difference between them and the Bird is infinitesimal. The way I see it, people will continue to ignore the Bird for the foreseeable future. Unless this book sells a million copies, the Bird will never be played remotely close to the frequency it deserves. Because of this it will never be worth your opponent's while to study it, so it will always carry great surprise value.
The book is structured around the Lichess database for players rated between 1200 and 2000 - so if you are in this category the repertoire will synchronize perfectly with the lines your opponents are choosing in your own games. Whenever possible I have sought out lines to surprise your opponent and give them the toughest time figuring things out.
Are you ready to shock your opponent on move 3?
The Reti Opening is a dynamic opening invented by Richard Reti more than a century ago. It has since been featured in the repertoires of countless grandmasters and world champions, including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Garry Kasparov, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, and many others.
The Navara Gambit takes dynamic chess into a bizarro world on move 3: 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 g5!
It looks ridiculous, but that doesn't make it so. It is the brainchild of Czech grandmaster David Navara and was first introduced in 2011. Since then, it has been played in the games of many grandmasters and international masters, in regular tournament games, and in many of the most important online events over the last decade.
The book presents a full repertoire for Black against the Reti Opening proper (1.Nf3 d5 2.c4), thus including not only the lines where White plays 3.b4 but also 3.g3, 3.e3, and 3.d3, but also much less frequently seen lines such as 3.e4, 3.a3, and even 3.c5.
It is time to have fun against the Reti and 1.Nf3!
CHESS INFORMANT’S 162nd ADVENTURE - Manoeuvre!!
Contents:
1. World Championship Match Ding – Gukesh, analysis by GM Ivan Ivanisevic
2. European Individual Chess Championship, analysis by GM Milos Perunovic
3. The Budapest Gambit, theoretical survey by GM Vasilios Kotronias
4. The King’s Gambit, 5.h3 Variation by GM K. Szabo
5. The Wandering King, instructive lecture by GM Michael Prusikin
6. Thankless Tasks, studies by GM Steffen Nielsen
7. Roger’s Reminiscences, Kasparov’s first trip to the Westby GM Ian Rogers
8. A story of a Chess Prodigy – Roman Shogdzhiev
Traditional sections:
* Correspondence Chess
* The best game and most important theoretical novelty from the previous Volume
* Endgames
*Combinations
*200 games according to ECO Codes.
The periodical that pros use with pleasure is at the same time a must have publication for all serious chess students!
Award-winning historian Sergey Voronkov has written a four-volume psychological biography of Alexander Alekhine, presenting the former world chess champion in a much more complicated, conflicted and tragic light than you have ever seen him before! This first volume traces his early development through to his departure from Soviet Russia in 1921, while also attempting to untangle the knot of his complex relationships with all his five wives.
Unpublished or long forgotten memoirs, as well as original newspaper and magazine articles from around the world, are drawn together in forensic research to paint the most extensive picture of Alekhine ever created. Key events in his life are reconsidered, including his release from internment in Germany during World War 1, his escape from execution in Odessa, his service under the Bolsheviks as a detective, his trip to the Urals as a Comintern translator, as well as just how he emigrated.
His character development is considered beginning with a detailed examination of his childhood, based on memoirs of his classmates. Voronkov then considers Alekhine’s transition from shy boy to dandy (and even the role played in that by his erstwhile friend José Capablanca), as well as how our protagonist gained the mental toughness of a world champion, and his chess philosophy. Some details make you admire him, others make you pity him, still others cast him in an unfavorable light...
Chess-wise, Voronkov presents over 50 games and fragments with original commentary by Alekhine and his opponents, most of which has not been published in books before. These include eleven completely unknown Alekhine games as well as ten game scores of other players with light commentary by Alekhine from the first Soviet Championship in 1920, found in Alexander Kotov’s archive.
In many cases, Alekhine’s earliest annotations are compared with his later ones to the same games, often leading to surprising conclusions. In particular, Voronkov highlights brilliant variations shown in Alekhine’s analysis that were supposedly found during play but which were actually discovered by the champion only years later when he republished his games. This led to Alekhine radically changing his assessments of positions in his writings as the years passed. We also see how Kotov had a habit of taking Alekhine’s commentary and presenting it as his own.
This book is illustrated by over 170 photos and other visuals, many published for the first time.
When Learn from the Legends was published in 2005, the book became an instant classic and Mihail Marin became known as one of the world’s finest chess authors. In Learn from the Legends 2, the Romanian GM shines the spotlight on five more all-time-great players: Leonid Stein, Lev Polugaevsky, David Bronstein, Paul Keres and Lajos Portisch.
Much like the first book, the ambitious student can learn a great deal from studying the legends of yesteryear, aided by the author’s expert insights, while more casual readers will enjoy the biographical and best-games compilation of five wonderful chess players.
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