Focused on the intricacies of middlegame strategies, this book fills a gap in chess literature by concentrating solely on positions arising from specific openings, particularly those involving the King's Indian Defense. It emphasizes the relevance of strategic concepts like pawn structures and attack methods tailored to particular openings, rather than general middlegame tactics. The inclusion of 100 targeted exercises enhances learning, categorizing them into diverse themes such as pressure increase and tactical challenges, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the King's Indian middlegame.
Illustrative training material from master practice
A comprehensive work about the magic world of endgames. For starters, 100 interesting and instructive examples on important endgame topics are thoroughly analyzed and extensively commented. Especially those in which not only many useful rules of thumb are ex- plained and illustrated, but above all their not uncommon exceptions. In the chapter 'Practice makes perfect', 100 exercises give the readers the opportunity to check their previous knowledge and what they have learned in the first part. In the following 100 exciting studies, it was ensured that they do not show any artificial constructs, but positions that could well have come from practical games and whose solutions are clearly comprehensible. You can either tackle the given exercises under tournament-like conditions, or you can use the book as a pure textbook and deal directly with the solutions, because even with this approach you can enrich your existing knowledge with many typical endgame motives. Readers can rest assured that the magic from the realm of endgames will cast its spell over them and that they will enjoy the fascination of the final phase of the game.
Following the success of the first book on the four player types, this follow-up offers specific tasks and exercises alongside general questions to help readers identify their player type—activists, pragmatists, theorists, or reflectors. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses, readers can enhance their individual capabilities and develop a more versatile playing style. While winning often relies on leveraging strengths, addressing weaknesses is equally important. Playstyles significantly impact decision-making, especially in positions with multiple options, and influence the types of positions players should pursue. Interestingly, players can also adapt their style to counter specific opponents, as demonstrated by Kramnik's victory over activist Kasparov in the 2000 World Championship, where Kramnik effectively guided the game to suit his strengths, limiting Kasparov's aggressive play. While the first book focused on distinguishing the four styles, this volume highlights the universality of each player. Completing the tailored tasks reveals the distribution of one’s competencies. As GM Vincent Keymer notes in the foreword, striving to evolve into a universal player who embodies all styles may be an ideal, but it remains a worthy pursuit.
In designing this book, the author aimed to address a specific gap in chess literature. While numerous textbooks cover various openings, few focus on the middlegame strategies that arise from specific openings. The author highlights the lack of resources that delve into typical positions and strategies relevant to particular openings, questioning why a player dedicated to e4 should study concepts like hanging pawns, which are vital for d4 players. This discrepancy extends to players of Indian openings, who may find little value in the strategic nuances of Queen's Gambit systems. Recognizing this void, the author sought to create a resource tailored to players interested in the Sicilian middlegame strategy, specifically the 'Open Sicilian' variant. The book focuses on positions characterized by the 'small center' with pawns on d6 and e6, common in many Sicilian systems. Additionally, it features over 150 exercises categorized by specific themes, such as 'the relegation candidate' and 'the only move,' ensuring a diverse and engaging learning experience. This targeted approach aims to enhance understanding and mastery of the Sicilian middlegame for dedicated players.
