The London Chess Centre

Click here for more books published this year.
	The Amateurs Mind Jeremy Silman $19.95/£15.99 This second edition of the highly popular book takes the student on a journey through his own mind and returns him to the chess board with a wealth of new found knowledge and the promise of a significant gain in strength.
	4...Qh4 in the Scotch Game Gutman Batsford $26.99/£17.99 The Scotch Game - 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4, leading to a rapid opening of lines and lively piece play, offers White every opportunity to gain an enduring initiative and attack. Black's most challenging reply is the counterattack on White's e4 pawn by 4...Qh4, the subject of this book. Author, Latvian grandmaster Lev Gutman, has thoroughly researched and reassessed all available material on the opening, and added an enormous amount of original analysis which will be of great value to competitive players.
	The Symmetrical English Carsten Hansen, Gambit, $22.95/£15.99. Following his recent book on 1 c4 e5, young Danish FIDE master Carsten Hansen now provides detailed coverage of all variations arising from 1 c4 c5, including the Rubinstein variation, the Hedgehog and the Anti-Benoni. Each chapter is prefaced with a quick summary indicating the current status of the main variations. Hansen gives lots of original analysis, and his evaluations often differ from general theoretical opinion. Strategies for both sides are also explained very well. The book also has an excellent index which is very important considering the plethora of possible transpositions. An absolute must for English aficionados.
	The Opening for Black According to Karpov Alexander Khalifman Chess Stars $21.95/£14.99 1999 FIDE World Champion Alexander Khalifman is the author of this, the second book in the series examining the principles behind the selection and employment of an opening repertoire as practised by a renowned master. In this case it is 'Black According to Anatoly Karpov'. The book covers what the 12th world champion plays as Black, namely the Caro Kann, Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, Catalan, English, Trompowski, Reti and King's Indian Attack.
	Ultimate Dragon (Volume 1) Gufeld and Stetsko, BT Batsford Publications $24.99/£16.99 In the first of two volumes on the Sicilian Dragon, the two authors present detailed coverage of the Rauzer variation to date. This is characterized by an early advance f2-f3, after which the white pawn supports both the centre and a kingside pawn storm by g4 and h4. Whether playing the White or Black side, no competitive player - at club or tournament level - can afford to be without this book.
	Ultimate Dragon (Volume 2) Gufeld and Stetsko, BT Batsford Publications $22.50/£14.99 In this second part of their detailed work on the Dragon Sicilian, the authors present coverage, to date, of all lines other than the Rauzer, which is dealt with in Volume One. These lines range from an unhurried 'Classical' development of pieces to the early pawn rush f4 and e5 seen in the 'Levenfish Variation'. Whether playing the White or Black side, no competitive player - at club or tournament level - can afford to be without this book.
	Dutch Stonewall Jacob Aagaard, Everyman Books $19.95/£14.99 The Stonewall is an ideal choice for those players who are keen to avoid the reams of theory that surround more popular openings. By playing the Stonewall, Black stakes an immediate claim in the centre and lays the foundations for a potentially dangerous kingside attack. The route to success with the Stonewall is very much based on an understanding of themes and ideas and these are clearly elucidated by experienced author Jacob Aagaard.
	Linares! Linares! Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, New In Chess $14.95/£9.99 Linares! Linares! is the engrossing evocation of the games, intrigues and conflicts that have made the supertorneo aunique tradition. Meet the players and the aficionados.Find out the answers to some interesting questions: Why does Vassily Ivanchuk have trouble praying when he is thinking of God. Was gata Kamsky's orange juice really poisoned? Was it a coincidence that General Juan Perea's son got married in Mexico on the same day when Manolete was killed in the Linares bullring?
	Guide To Modern Benoni John Watson, Gambit Publications $22.95/£15.99 The Modern Benoni is one of Black's most swashbuckling openings, used to devastating effect by players like Fischer, Tal and Kasparov. In this book, John Watson particularly focuses on various subtle move-orders by which Black can try to avoid White's most dangerous systems and direct the game into more palatable channels. King's Indian players will also find this book invaluable, since Watson covers many lines that can arise from King's Indian move-orders.
	Mastering The Sicilian Kopec, BT Batsford Publications $20.95/£13.99 In this instructive book, IM Kopec explains the Sicilian from Black's point of view in terms of pawn structures, tactical themes and plans, rather than dense analysis of specific lines of play. By going through the mastery lessons, step by step, the reader will gain true understanding of the ideas behind the main variations of the Sicilian and the confidence to progress thereafter to a study of more advanced theory.
	The Seven Deadly Chess Sins Johnathan Rowson, Gambit Publications $24.95/£16.99 Everyone loses chess games occasionally, but all too often we lose a game due to moves that, deep down, we knew were flawed. Why do we commit these chess-board sins? Are they the result of general misconceptions about chess and how it should be played? And how can we recognize the warning signs better? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, Johnathan Rowson investigates, in his inimitable style, the main reasons why chess-players sometimes go horribly astray, focusing on the underlying psychological factors.
	Understanding Chess: Move By Move John Nunn, Gambit Publications $19.95/£14.99 Thirty carefully selected games to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and to illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that anyone can understand. Jargon is avoided as far as possible. The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games, and detailed analysis is only given where it is necessary. Each game contains many lessons, but to guide the reader through the most important ideas in each phase of the game, the thirty games are grouped thematically into those highlighting opening, middlegame and endgame themes.
	Grand Strategy Jan van Reek supported by Spassky $20.95/£13.99 50 great games by Boris Spassky are annotated with a view to instructing the reader on matters of offence and defence. Spassky's games provide rich material for understanding methods of of attack in the centre and on the flank as well as prophylactic themes such as encirclement, restraint, consolidation and counterattack. Also included are some photos of Spassky with Fischer, Kasparov and even Che Guevara!
	CHESSDON Don Schultz, Chessdon £20.95/$19.99 Starting in a small town chess club, thev story rapidly moves to Iceland and purported KGB attempts to influence the Spassky/Fischer World Championship match. A defection in Thessolonika, an attempt at ping-pong style diplomacy in Dubai, KGB blackmailing of a FIDE official in Moscow and a terror stricken KGB colonel in Merano are constant reminders of how corrupt governments attempt to use sports for political gain.
	Chess Braintwisters Hochberg, Sterling Books $6.95/£3.99 Square off against the best chess minds past and present in this off-the-wall collection of 111 wacky, witty - and sometimes weird - puzzles. You'll need to put aside assumptions and be on your guard at all times to solve these ingenious conundrums that are based on such variants as : Billiards chess, Circe chess, Cylinder chess and Double-move chess. There are diagrams galore, detailed solutions, and even a crash course if you're new to problem solving and chess variants.
	Playing Computer Chess Lawrence & Alburt, Sterling Books $12.95/£8.99 Improve your chess skills and outwit your chess computer! Inside this step-by step introduction to guiding principles of computer chess play are the same secrets built into the toughest programs in the world. Master tricks, strategies, and tactics that exploit the computer's flaws- and teach you how to beat people too! With these specifics, you'll become adept at bewildering opponents with ruses like "rule of square" and increase your ability to plan and carry through a goal.
	Everyone's Second Chess Book Dan Heisman, $22.50/£14.99 When you have learned how the pieces move and other basic rules, what then? This is a problem only too frequently encountered by beginners and yet rarely handled in chess literature— books by Bruce Pandolfini being a notable exception. The present book, written by an experienced chess teacher, also comes to the rescue with plenty of examples to help novices get to know their way around the chessboard, thereby preparing them for the road to advancement in chess.
	76th Hastings Congress Bulletin 2001 $13.50/£8.00 Featuring every game from the Premier Tournament and nearly 200 games from the Challengers, Harry Baines, Christams, New Year and Weekend Tournaments. A diagram with every game. Annotations by GM Chris Ward, IM Matthew Turner amongst others. Full results and crosstables for every tournament. Photographs of competitors.
	How To Play The Middlegame In Chess John Littlewood, BT Batsford Publications $22.50/£14.99 An updated and reset version of the 1970s original. John Littlewood explains the elements of strategy and tactics, the powers and peculiarities of the pieces and pawns, the role of the king, and planning—illustrating these with a large number of practical positions, hints and tests. There is even a 20 page chapter on problem themes—what satisfaction you will get when you produce these in your games! A joy to read and without any doubt a modern classic.
	The Queen's Gambit & Catalan for Black Lasha Jajgava, Gambit Books $22.50/£14.99 The Georgian grandmaster and author offers an opening repertoire starting with 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Be7, provoking White into playing an early Nf3 which takes the sting out of certain Exchange Variation lines where the knight travels via e2 to g3 or f4. This mostly leads by transposition into regular QGD lines—all of which are covered in the book. This book is for those who want to build solid foundations in the opening. And we all know how effective this proved to be in the Kasparov-Kramnik match!
	Modern Benoni Andrew Kinsman, Everyman Publishing $22.50/£14.99 A new look at 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 first popularised by Mikhail Tal in the 1950s after some sparkling attacking wins against established players.Andrew Kinsman analyses 64 action-packed Benoni games, spanning the 70s, 80s and 90s, and including within his annotations the latest theory up to the year 2000. There is a general introduction which discusses Benoni pawn structures and variation by variation overviews for each of the ten chapters. A very nice book which updates previous Benoni works by Norwood (Cadogan 1994) and Psakhis (Batsford 1996).
	The Turk, Chess Automaton Gerald M Levitt, McFarland Publishing $59.95/£39.99 A very detailed account of the 18th century chess-playing Turk—an automaton that could take on all-comers at chess—and win! In reality, inside this chess machine was a strong player who was able to move the pieces, nod the Turk’s head, roll his eyes and work the mechanism that enabled him to announce the word Echec! As the book shows there is a sizeable body of literature on the Turk including a host of games—50 of which are given here. Also other non-Turk games are given by the Turk’s directors, William Lewis and Monsieur Boncourt. Photographs, graphics, cuttings, facsimile letters etc. all help add to the life and times of the automaton Turk. Clearly a most important addition to chess literature which will be a must for followers of our game’s rich history.
	Chess On The Web (New ed) Sarah Hurst, BT Batsfrod Publications $14.95/£9.99 A year 2000 review of chess websites around the world. Similar in structure to its highly successful 1999 predecessor, this second edition of Chess on the Web has improved layout and graphics. Over 130 popular, useful or just plain wacky chess websites are given objective reviews, being divided under Megasites, News, Clubs and Events, Where to Play, History, Archives and Databases, Analysis, Products and Services, and Miscellaneous, according to their content. Each chapter also contains a Webmaster Hall of Fame interview: the authors talk to Mig Greengard (Kasparov Chess), Mark Crowther (TWIC), Dave Regis (Exeter Chess), Danny Sleater (Internet Chess Club), Hanon Russell (The Chess Cafe), Mark Orr (The Irish Chess Archive), Chris White (Chess Publishing), John Saunders (BCM), John Knudsen (The Correspondence Chess Place). Whether for reference or enjoyment Chess on the Web is an ideal buy. It will quickly sell out—just like the first edition!
	Chess: Knowledge, Training and Mastery Zlotnik, $22.50/£14.99 The noted Russian chess writer delves into the way chessplayers think and handle their knowledge of basic chess strategies. Particular attention is paid to how chess mistakes are made—which can be due to insufficient attention, lack of chess knowledge, errors in calculation, lack of positional feeling, or lack of imagination and originality. Challenging exercises are included. The English translation is rather quaint hungry for chess mastery!but after some initial puzzlement this original chess instructor should be sufficiently intelligible to any reader.
Click here for more books published this year.