| The third edition of John Watson's Play the French (Everyman Publishing - www.everymanchess.com, 2003, paperback, 272 pages, figurine algebraic, $24.95) follows well-received books in 1984 and 1996. The new work is not only substantially larger than its predecessors (an extra 50 pages) but also presents the reader a wider and more varied repertoire. The main line Winawer 3...Bb4, 5...Bxc3+, 7...Qa5 continues to provide the backbone, but IM Watson now recommends 7...0-0 versus 7.Qg4 instead of 7...Qc7 as in previous editions. He explains that he thinks the latter is doing fine, but that the theory around this move has grown so huge that it no longer fits into a repertoire book. There are some other changes in the current volume as well. The first edition liked 4...Qd7 as the Winawer backup line, but this new edition follows the last in sticking with 6...Qc7 as an alternative to the main lines. One very big change has been the inclusion of the rock-solid 4...dxe4 in the Classical variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5) which has also necessitated coverage of 4.e5. Another significant departure is IM Watson's advocacy of 3...Be7 versus 3.Nd2. Like 7...Qc7 in the Winawer, he hasn't lost faith in 3...Nf6 versus the Tarrasch, but feels theory has gone too deep. Looking at the author's thorough and conscientious treatment throughout this book that is saying something! The old anti-Tarrasch treatment 3...c5, 4...Qxd5 returns for a third edition while the chapter on the Advance Variation has been considerably beefed up to reflect its recent popularity. It's possible to play the French and have a repertoire that isn't completely covered in this book (5...Ba5 Winawer and 3...c5, 4...exd5 versus the Tarrasch) but I feel that even these players will still want to get this book for its coverage of the Advance, Closed, Exchange (yes, J.W. analyses this line carefully!) and various sidelines. French players of all levels from club player to professional will benefit from this well researched and well explained guide. John Watson continues his streak of never having written a bad or boring book. Highly Recommended The Times Winning Moves (Everyman Publishing - www.everymanpublishing.com, 2003, paperback, algebraic, 160 pages, $18.95) by Raymond Keene and Byron Jacobs derives its name from the weekly puzzle that GM Keene offers London Times readers each week. This book offers 500 positions to solve with hints before each diagram and solutions in the back. The positions are not grouped by theme which can be either a plus or a minus . If you are trying to work on a tactical theme like the skewer it may be helpful to have many examples to do in a row. On the other hand in a real game no one will tell you to look for a pin - of course they won't even tell you there is something to look for in the position but this is another matter. The examples from this book are not drawn from any particular time period and most of them are likely to be new for the solver. They tend to be one to three movers which is understandable considering the average reader of the Times chess column is probably a mid-level club player. I would say this book works best for players from 1600-2000. Note there is no index of players. It's Your Move: Tough Puzzles (Everyman Publishing - www.everymanpublishing.com, 2003, paperback, 160 pages, figurine algebraic, $18.95) by Chris Ward follows in the format established by the English GM in earlier books in this series. The reader is given 5 tests, each with ten positions to solve. Each position is prefaced by some possible suggestions of what to play and points are awarded according to the solver's level of accuracy. Readers who remember Hort and Jansa's excellent What's the Best Move will have a rough idea of what this book is like. One very important difference is that Ward has directed this book at a lower level than the Czech GMs - I would say 1800-2400. It might be a bit tough going for those at the lower end of this rating spectrum but they will still get a lot out of this book due to the author's detailed solutions. One can't say It's Your Move: Tough Puzzles is your normal sort of puzzle book which most readers would expect to be a series of tactical exercises to solve. In many ways it is much better and more realistic, comparing to game situations you might actually encounter. Often there is more than one plausible move in a position. Indeed one move may be the best, but the positions are rarely totally black and white. Working through exercises like these can't help but improve your ability to calculate and hone you positional and tactical skills. Ward's lively writing style ensures you won't be bored. Recommended Learn Chess Tactics (Gambit Publishing - www.gambitbooks.com, 2004, paperback, 160 pages, figurine algebraic, $19.95) by John Nunn is a book that is sure to go through many editions. Unlike most Gambit books that are geared at those rated 2000 on up, this one is aimed specifically at those who need a through grounding in the fundamentals of chess tactics. This is just what they get. Chapter by chapter, Nunn covers the basic building blocks - fork, discovered attack, skewer, deflection, trapped piece, opening and closing lines, back-rank mate, pawn promotion, in-between moves and defensive tactics. Each chapter features a clear explanation of the theme under discussion, shows practical examples and offers exercises to test the student's knowledge. The book concludes with exercises featuring multiple themes. Learn Chess Tactics is an attractively produced oversized paperback. It features plenty of prose explanation in both the discussion of the subject matter and the solutions to the exercises. I can recommend it without reservation to players from 1200-1800. Gambit publishing has produced some great books on the ending including the monumental Fundamental Chess Endings by German authors Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht. Now fellow countryman Bernd Rosen has written Chess Endgame Training (Gambit Publishing - www.gambitbooks.com, 2003, paperback, figurine algebraic, 176 pages, $19.95) which has quite different aims. Whereas Fundamental Chess Endings aimed to be definitive, Chess Endgame Training, is very selective. Rosen covers important endings and themes but only analyses a few classic examples for each. The worth and originality of this book is tied into the exercises. Think you know how to win the Lucena position (AKA build a bridge) or do you just trot out the straightforward solution given in all the endgame books? Here Rosen tests your real understanding of bridge building with many exercises by changing the position a little each time. Solutions and explanatory prose are given for exercises at the end of each chapter Rosen writes that Chess Endgame Training was written primarily for chess trainers, an indeed there is even a special chapter titled Advice for Teachers, but I see no reason why a motivated reader working alone couldn't get a lot out of this book. |