Andrew Soltis Books

The great Mikhail Botvinnik, world champion said: 'The foundation of chess is exchanging/' Knowing when and what to exchange or trade in chess is essential to improve your game, and this is the only book to help you do that. In chess an exchange or trade of chessmen is a series of closely related moves, typically sequential, in which the two players capture each other’s pieces. All chess pieces may be exchanged or captured in an exchange – apart from the king which however can capture an opponent’s piece. Either the player of the white or the black pieces may make the first capture of the other player's piece in an exchange, followed by the other player capturing a piece of the first player, often referred to as a recapture. These maneouvres happen throughout chess, but understanding when and how to do this to your best advantage can improve your game significantly. Written by the hugely popular chess writer, Andrew Soltis, My Kingdom for a Horse tells you whether you should exchange your bishop for a knight, which pair of bishops you should exchange, when you should keep rooks on the board and when should you refuse to trade anything. This unique book will provide the answers on an important and integral part of chess strategy.

An invaluable insight into the mind of today's most important chess genius, Magnus Carlsen. Andrew Soltis takes the reader through 60 of his games, describing the intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies, the tactical justification of moves and the psychological battle in each one.

Andrew Soltis covers the unparalleled career of acclaimed American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer with fresh insights into what made Fischer play - and act - the way he did.

An invaluable insight into the mind of chess prodigy turned Grandmaster, Fabiano Caruana, tracing his stratospheric rise to chess fame. Andrew Soltis takes the reader through 60 of his games, describing the tactical intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies.

Increase your chess knowledge within the year! In this book, Andrew Soltis analyzes 365 key chess games in an easy way for busy people. In this book, 365 of the most instructive short games of chess are analyzed, step by step, by well-respected author Andrew Soltis. Arranged as daily lessons, this book is perfect for chess players who would like to reach the next level of skill but can't devote hours and hours each day to study. Learn to feel confident with each tactic – each game features test-yourself quizzes (with answers at the back of the book) to help cement understanding, as well as chess diagrams for those who learn visually. Challenging tactics are revisited in later games to help you recognize when they occur and how chess masters use them to their full advantage. With this book, Andrew encourages you to learn to think like a chess master within the year. From Castling to Zugzwang, learn something new everyday!

Exploring the under appreciated skill of swindling in chess, Andrew Soltis explains how and when to set strategic traps to exploit an opponent's over- confidence.

Focusing on Mikhail Botvinnik's dual career as a world chess champion and a respected scientist, this book delves into his intricate relationships with Soviet leaders, including Stalin, and highlights his intense rivalries. It also examines his ambitious yet ultimately unsuccessful quest to develop the perfect chess-playing computer program, providing a comprehensive portrait of a pivotal figure in chess history.

Focusing on the intense rivalry and collaboration among four key players, the narrative explores the golden era of USSR chess dominance. It features over 200 annotated games that provide deep insights into their strategies and styles. Additionally, the book unveils personal details about these chess legends, many of which are presented for the first time in English, enriching the understanding of their contributions to the game.

An insightful new book, perfect for newcomers to chess, that divulges practical advice and explains technical terms that chess books often overlook.