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Chess Strategy in Action
VOTED 2003 BOOK OF THE YEAR BY READERS OF CHESSCAFE
John Watson fleshes out the theory presented to enormous acclaim in Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy and extends it into new areas. He illustrates the modern practice of chess with many examples from imaginative players such as Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Ivanchuk and tempestuous innovators such as Shirov and Morozevich. In Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy , Watson broke new ground by describing the developments in chess strategy since the time of Nimzowitsch. He explained how modern players are more willing than their predecessors to favour dynamic considerations over static ones, and how they have increasingly transcended the limiting 'rules' which influenced play in earlier times. The dominant results of Garry Kasparov and the rise of a new generation of supergrandmasters testify to the effectiveness of this dynamic and open-minded philosophy which has enriched modern chess. Those who enjoyed Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy will welcome the clarification of important concepts. Chess Strategy in Action can also be read on its own as an outstanding collection of modern games with thoughtful and enlightening annotations.
John Watson fleshes out the theory presented to enormous acclaim in Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy and extends it into new areas. He illustrates the modern practice of chess with many examples from imaginative players such as Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Ivanchuk and tempestuous innovators such as Shirov and Morozevich. In Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy , Watson broke new ground by describing the developments in chess strategy since the time of Nimzowitsch. He explained how modern players are more willing than their predecessors to favour dynamic considerations over static ones, and how they have increasingly transcended the limiting 'rules' which influenced play in earlier times. The dominant results of Garry Kasparov and the rise of a new generation of supergrandmasters testify to the effectiveness of this dynamic and open-minded philosophy which has enriched modern chess. Those who enjoyed Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy will welcome the clarification of important concepts. Chess Strategy in Action can also be read on its own as an outstanding collection of modern games with thoughtful and enlightening annotations.
- GenresChessNonfiction
287 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
John L. Watson
30 books10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Leonard Watson is an International chess Master and author.
John Leonard Watson is an International chess Master and author.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 27, 2022
It is never easy to write a follow up to a masterpiece (Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy), but one could admit that Watson did not disappoint with this book.
Still, I wish that he didn't end the book with Nimzowitsch's game. By missing to mention 11... Qd7 12 Nc2 f5! 13 h3 O-O, or 11... h5!? 12 g5 d5!, one gets a wrong impression of the whole game; the book would be perfectly fine without it.
However, to end this review on the positive note, Watson has included four games played by the always creative GM Alexander Morozevich, and although in all of the games he played on the black-side - White was still nullified! This gives food for thought.
Still, I wish that he didn't end the book with Nimzowitsch's game. By missing to mention 11... Qd7 12 Nc2 f5! 13 h3 O-O, or 11... h5!? 12 g5 d5!, one gets a wrong impression of the whole game; the book would be perfectly fine without it.
However, to end this review on the positive note, Watson has included four games played by the always creative GM Alexander Morozevich, and although in all of the games he played on the black-side - White was still nullified! This gives food for thought.
Displaying 1 of 1 review