Vladimir Tukmakov - Coaching the Chess Stars How does one achieve the unique ‘sound’ and distinct technique that are absolutely necessary to become successful at the highest level? It can only be done via a deep understanding of the chess player’s personality and the unique talent that distinguishes him from other soloists. It is here that the role of a coach is of the utmost importance. First, it is necessary to understand the nature of your student’s chess talent, and second, it is important to identify the player’s character and personality traits. His style ought to be harmonious, so that the essence of the human being matches the characteristics of his chess talent. Since it is the same emotionless computer that is now in charge of the purely chess component, it falls upon the coach to deal with the chess player’s personality, mysterious and unknowable as it might be.  Yes, a lot depends on the number and power of dependable cyber assistants, on the size and quality of various chess databases, on the enthusiasm of the seconds and on the ability to work with modern electronic gadgets, but at the highest level, almost all elite chess players have the same tools at their disposal. Th us, as always, everything is decided — as in the ‘good old days’ — by the player's talent, by his unique ability to create. The coach's task is to help his student develop this unique creative side to the maximum. It has so happened that in recent years I have been able to work closely with great chess talents who were at the same time outstanding personalities. I hope that an inside look at this kind of work will be of interest to both specialists and chess fans. I faced several ethical problems when working on this book.  Many of the chess players who appear in these pages are still young; their whole life, including their sports career, lies ahead. Th at is why I tried to avoid purely personal details and did not reveal any professional secrets. I hope that these players, like me, will be curious to refl ect on their own achievements and mistakes, and to take the reader on the diffi cult journey that allowed them to become prominent chess personalities. 352 Seiten, kartoniert, Verlag Thinkers Publishing

A Feast of Chess in Time of Plaque In the middle of the last century tournament compilations were extremely popular. After every major chess event a compendium would appear in print. Naturally, the Candidates Tournament was no exception. For instance, David Bronstein’s book “Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953” was carefully and thoroughly studied many times in my youth. To this day I can still recite some of its more memorable passages. Gradually various textbooks and publications, but mainly theoretical manuals, completely replaced that particular type of chess literature. Nowadays even the world title match is not always worthy of its own publication. This is probably a direct result of the rapid increase in the number of international tournaments currently contested on the world circuit. The close-knit circle of leading grandmasters has turned into a sort of wandering circus troupe, globetrotting with practically the same act. One competition seamlessly transitions into the next, making it hard for the average chess fan to follow this infinite flow of events. At first the same could have been said of the 2020 Candidates Tournament. However, the balanced flow of the normal chess calendar was unexpectedly interrupted by a frightening occurrence. Seemingly harmless at first, the coronavirus pandemic overtook more and newer countries by the day and gradually became pretty much the main, and only determining factor in life. The Candidates Tournament was threatened as well. Whether it would be held at all was pretty much in doubt until the very last few minutes. Even the grandmasters, who had already gathered in Ekaterinburg, had reason to doubt that they would have a chance to sit at the boards. In the end, having indeed commenced, the tournament planted in me a vague notion of writing a book about it. The title of it was born first. It flowed naturally out of a name of one of Alexander Pushkin’s four Little Tragedies “A Feast in Time of Plague.” Surely, the situation in which the players would need to compete called for some dramatic associations. Certain parties opposed to holding said tournament also used this expression implying a kind of cynicism and impropriety of celebration during such tragic times for humanity. Yet the great poet had something entirely different in mind. That particular work was written in 1830 during the second cholera pandemic and Russia was right in the midst of the suffering. Finding himself in mandatory quarantine Pushkin’s little masterpiece praised the virtue of the human spirit, ready to resist any calamity or misfortune. Your author remembers another cholera outbreak in which he was a direct participant. Chess had its role to play in that story too. News of the cholera pandemic having invaded Odessa reached me in Buenos Aires in 1970. The articles in every paper were terrifying and I was convinced that it was unlikely I would see my hometown, friends and the love of my life who would later become my wife, any time soon. Yet having concluded the tournament successfully I was surprised at the ease with which I returned to Odessa. The city greeted me in a very uncharacteristically collected and somber manner. There were no crowds of wandering tourists and the street sweepers scurried about nonstop. I had never seen such a clean and desolate summer in Odessa before or after. The natives of Odessa, normally carefree and full of life, were not despondent even in those dark times. Not many local restaurants chose to stay open in those days, even while the wine flowed like water. People enthusiastically believed the advice of doctors who claimed wine helps avoid misfortune. Today those days are long gone even if still remembered as a symbol of love of life and optimism. As the tournament which we shall discuss commenced in such an interesting and energetic manner this timid idea of writing a book soon morphed into a very persistent desire. Th erefore, the book which you are holding before you bears witness to my solidarity with my younger colleagues. The talent and bravery demonstrated by the best players in the world in this time of global calamity is a testament of their fortitude and commitment. As usual I was assisted by my old and proven “Iron Friend” whom we otherwise know as the computer engine. Without him none of this could have ever been accomplished with such swiftness. At the same time, my silent assistant was only accountable for the pacing, whereas the bulk of responsibility regarding the quality of execution rests entirely on the shoulders of the author. 156 Seiten, kartoniert, Verlag Thinkers Publishing

Boris Spassky is the most underappreciated World Champion in chess history, remembered as the Soviet who lost to Bobby Fischer in 1972. In this two-volume work, biographer extraordinaire Tibor Karolyi puts the focus on Spassky’s brilliant career and life story. Born in 1937, Spassky barely escaped with his life when evacuating from the Siege of Leningrad as a young boy. This book tells the story of how that boy subsequently learned to play chess and rose through the Soviet ranks to become the strongest player in the world in the late 1960s. International Master Tibor Karolyi is a renowned author and trainer from Hungary. His biographical works for Quality Chess have received glowing praise from readers and reviewers. “It feels a little bit like overdoing things to give 5 stars to a set of three books [about Tal], but if any Best Games collection has ever deserved it, then this one has! Don’t waste any time: get down to the bookshop and enjoy!” GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess   “Karolyi spent several years studying his protagonist. He delivers a fascinating account of Karpov’s skills.” GM Lubomir Kavalek 344 Seiten, gebunden, Verlag Quality Chess

Robert James Fischer is one of the greatest and most celebrated players in chess history. Exactly fifty years since the American won the right to challenge Boris Spassky for the World Championship crown, Tibor Karolyi documents Fischer’s unique journey from precocious youngster to the chess icon who obliterated Taimanov and Larsen before convincingly beating Petrosian on The Road to Reykjavik. The second volume, Fischer – Spassky 1972, is devoted to the Reykjavik match which captivated the entire world. International Master Tibor Karolyi is a former Hungarian Champion who is renowned as both an author and a trainer. His previous biographical works for Quality Chess received glowing praise from chess readers and reviewers. 432 Seiten, gebunden, Verlag Quality Chess

Magnus Carlsen is the greatest chess player of the 21st century. His tactical wizardry, strategic inventiveness, technical expertise and legendary fighting spirit put him head and shoulders above all other players. They also make his games tremendously instructive. To extract the best lessons from this amazing source material, Gambit has commissioned Martyn Kravtsiv, a Ukrainian grandmaster from the same generation as Carlsen (in fact, they were born just a few days apart). He has annotated these 42 games from a thoroughly modern perspective and with an innate understanding of the impact Carlsen’s play has had on modern chess. In each game Kravtsiv picks out a key point – the Magnus Moment – where Carlsen demonstrates the special insight that sets him apart from other players. Perhaps he clarifies a messy situation, confident in his technical ability. Or sacrifices to gain practical chances in a game that has not gone to plan. Throughout, the emphasis is on how Carlsen makes life hard for his opponents in any way he can, whatever the objective assessment of the position on the board. Each game is a themed lesson on an important chess topic. The bulk of the book addresses the fight for advantage and initiative in the middlegame, but there are also chapters focusing on opening ideas, endgame play and human factors. Martyn Kravtsiv is a grandmaster from Lviv, Ukraine. His tournament results include tied first places at Cappelle in 2012 and the 2015 Ukrainian Championship. He represented his country at the 2017 World Team Championship and was a coach for the team that won silver medals at the 2016 Olympiad. 176 Seiten, kartoniert, Verlag Gambit

66 Seiten, kartoniert, Verlag New in Chess

World Chess Champion Max Euwe, who held the title from 1935-1937, is one of the greatest chess players in history. Much has been written about him, and he authored dozens of books himself. But missing was an outstanding collection of games of this 'efficient, man-eating tiger' as the American chess master William Ewart Napier once called Euwe. Max Euwe's Best Games fills this gap. And it couldn't have been written by anyone else than Euwe's successor in Dutch chess – Jan Timman, World Champion finalist and arguably one of the leading chess analysts of our time. This book offers eighty of Max Euwe's games annotated with great clarity, starting in his early twenties when he worked his way to the world top, up until his late seventies when he was still a force to be reckoned with. It is incredible how high Euwe's level of play was for over fifty years – and how attractive his attacking style was. Timman made many discoveries in Euwe's best and most famous games but has also unearthed several lesser-known brilliancies. Some interesting paradoxes are addressed along the line. For example, although he was an amateur almost his entire life, Euwe was better versed in opening theory than most of his top-level opponents. Although he was the underdog, he beat the mighty Alexander Alekhine in an epic World Championship Match in 1935. At 52, he could still beat top players like Geller and Najdorf with fantastic attacking play in the Zürich Candidates Tournament. And when he was over seventy, he was still highly dangerous for the new upcoming Dutch generation. This game collection of an often underrated World Champion, analysed by top grandmaster Jan Timman, is a must-have for anyone interested in World Championship chess. Jan Timman, World Chess Champion finalist, is the author of many bestselling chess books. Timman's Titans won the 2017 ECF Book of the Year Award, and his recent books, The Longest Game, Timman's Triumphs and The Unstoppable American, have all met with wide acclaim. 304 Seiten, gebunden, New in Chess Verlag  

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   131 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 50 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   146 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books

This book contains 256 chess diagrams, each showing a critical position in which a very strong move follows. You can also take part in the interesting chess fights by trying to find the moves in question. The game itself is shown on the page after the diagram.   120 Seiten, Taschenbuch, Verlag Caissa Chess Books