New May 2005
Books
Garry Kasparov's Greatest Chess Games Vol I (h/c) 2005 (Gambit) - $72.95
Garry Kasparov has dominated the chess world for more than twenty years. His dynamism and preparation have set an example that is followed by most ambitious players. Igor Stohl has selected 74 of Kasparov's best and most instructive games from 1973 to 1993, and annotated them in detail. The emphasis is on explaining the thought behind Kasparov's decisions, and the principles and concepts embodied by his moves. Stohl provides a wealth of fresh insights into these landmark games, together with many new analytical points. This makes the book outstanding study material for all chess enthusiasts.
In 1985 Garry Kasparov became the youngest world chess champion in history by defeating Anatoly Karpov in an epic struggle. Twenty years later he is still world number 1, and is an internationally renowned figure, famous even among the non-chess-playing public following high-profile events such as his matches against IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer, and the Kasparov vs. World game in 1999.
Understanding the Chess Openings (Gambit, 2005) - $52.95
This major new work surveys all chess openings, providing a guide to every critical main line and featuring descriptions of the typical strategies for both sides. These commentaries will be welcomed by all club and tournament players, as they will help them to handle the middlegame positions arising from each opening better, and will equip them to find the best continuation when their opponents deviate from the standard paths. Covers all chess openings, with verbal explanations of the ideas. This is the first book of the modern era to do this.
Mastering the Najdorf (back in stock) - Arizmendi (Gambit) - $49.95
Outrageous Chess Problems (Sterling Publishing) - Hochberg $9.95
It's outrageous and amazing and irresistible: these brainbusting chess problems are the devilish inventions of the world's greatest puzzle creators. Chess mavens won't believe what they'll find, because in these games, the usual rules just don't apply. For example, there's Billiards Chess, where pieces can carom off the board at a right angle and return. In Checkless Chess, check is an illegal move...unless it's checkmate. Refusal Chess allows a player to refuse an opponent's move and demand an alternative. There's even a variation called Collaboration, in which both sides must cooperate to achieve checkmate. And, the coup de grace: the world's hardest chess problem ever posed.
by Andras Andorjan, 192pp. - $34.95
Too many chess players adopt an unnecessarily defensive approach with the Black
pieces when they should be more ambitious and strive immediately for
double-edged positions with winning chances.
Adorjan offers concrete opening variations and illustrative games designed to
achieve this, alongside a philosophy to generate a positive state of mind when
entering a battle. Based on the best-selling Black is OK! this title is the
third volume in a series designed to build on the 1988 cult classic's success.
Continuing Adorjan's crusade, started in the revolutionary 1960s, it encourages
players not only to win more games with Black but also to enjoy themselves in
the process!
Paperback, 248 pages - $51.95
NIC Forum
Readers from all over the world join in discussions of previous surveys. Both (grand)masters
and club players shed their light on new opening developments and search
together for the truth. With contributions by Viktor Kortchnoi, Jose Vilela,
Bogdan Lalic, and many others.
Sosonko's Corner
Editor Genna Sosonko was leafing through his old notebooks when he came across a
venomous novelty he had used in a blitz game against John van der Wiel back in
1987. This provided enough ammunition for an article on the piece sacrifice
Nc3-d5 often seen in the English Opening and of course the Sicilian. The final
example is by Donner, who once more had his facts wrong.
Book Review
The ultimate 'macho' opening repertoire consists of two openings: the
Sicilian Najdorf against 1.e4 and the King's Indian against everything else. In
his previous column the Najdorf came under scrutiny, so it's somehow appropriate
that it's now the turn of the King's Indian to receive special attention.
Glenn Flear reviews three new KID books by English masters who he has known for
longer than he'd care to say: Chris Ward, Joe Gallagher and Andrew Martin.
31 NIC Surveys Yearbook 74
Sicilian Defence: Nameless Variation 5.Bd3, by Fogarasi
Sicilian Defence: English Attack, by Stohl
Sicilian Defence: Sozin Variation, by Tukmakov
Sicilian Defence: Velimirovic Attack, by Van der Weide
Sicilian Defence: Sveshnikov Variation, by Morgado
Sicilian Defence: Sveshnikov Variation, by Scherbakov
Sicilian Defence: Taimanov Variation, by Mortensen
Sicilian Defence: Grand Prix Attack, by Scherbakov
French Defence: Winawer Variation, by Nikitin
Caro-Kann Defence: Pseudo-Panov Attack, by Vilela
Caro-Kann Defence: Fantasy Variation, by Gavrilov
Scandinavian Defence: Main Line 5...Bg4, by Tiviakov
Petroff Defence: Jaenisch Variation, by Tzermiadianos
Ruy Lopez: Chigorin Variation, by Marin
Ruy Lopez: Open Variation, by Van der Tak
Italian Opening: Game Canal Variation, by Jeroen Bosch
King's Gambit: Classical Variation, by Jensen
Slav: Krause Variation, by Karolyi
Slav: Botvinnik Variation, by Olthof
Slav: Semi-Slav Variation, by Ehlvest
Catalan: Bogo-Indian Variation, by Lalic
Nimzo-Indian Defence: Sämisch Variation, by Lukacs/Hazai
Nimzo-Indian Defence: Vienna Variation, by Scherbakov
Nimzo-Indian Defence: Vienna Variation, by Van der Stricht
Grünfeld Indian Defence: Anti-Grünfeld Variation, by Van der Tak
Grünfeld Indian Defence: Exchange Variation, by Fogarasi
King's Indian Defence: Fianchetto Variation, by Greenfeld
Benoni: The Snake, by Anka
Benoni: Classical Variation, by Lukacs/Hazai
Queen's Pawn Opening: Trompowsky Attack, by Gavrilov
Dutch Defence: Leningrad Variation, by Rogozenko
Chess Informant 92 (book only without CD) $55
brings together a thoroughly refined selection of 522 annotated games and 513 game fragments from the events held between October 1st 2004 and January 31st, 2005.
Chess Informant 92 (CD only) $52
Chess Informant 92 (CD + Book) $65
Back in stock
Teach Yourself Chess in 24 hours (2003, 364 large pages) Polgar $26.95
Chess Stars Bulgaria
Opening for white according to Anand Book 1 (2003) $39.95
Latvian Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5
Philidor's Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
Petroff Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
Alapin Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bb4
Cozio Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7
Fianchetto Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6
Bird's Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4
Old Steinitz Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6
Classical Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5
Jaenisch Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5
Berlin Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Opening for white according to Anand Book 2 (2003) $45.95
All Ruy Lopez lines after 3...a6.
Opening for white according to Anand Book 3 (2004) $45.95
1.e4 c6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Bg7; 4...d5;
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4;
Caro-Kann: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4
Scandinavian
The Queen's Gambit Accepted - $37.95
The Queen's Gambit Accepted, by K. Sakaev and S. Semkov
2nd edition
224 pages, 22 x 14.5 cm., ISBN 954 8782 -33-2
TEXT comments and Figurine Algebraic Notations.
Chess Stars introduces a new opening series: Current theory and Practice Series which is designed to expand the repertoire opening books by Khalifman, focusing on one topical system. The first book, fresh from the print house is The Queen's Gambit Accepted. The next will be The Gruenfeld Defence.
With the combined efforts of Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Ponomariov QGA presently
reached the status of a super reliable opening, suitable for all players up to
the level of world champions. The authors digested all the available material
up to October 10th and separated it into branches offering a move-by-move
presentation of the main ideas according to the latest tournament tendencies. A
highly professional study by Grandmaster Konstantin Sakaev - one of the best
players in the world with current rating of 2657. His trophy list includes 2
junior world titles and 2 gold Olympic medals with the Russian team in 1998 and
2000.
LATEST TRENDS in the SEMI-SLAV: ANTI-MERAN - $39.95
by
Konstantin Sakaev and Semko Semkov,
Printed: January 2005
Pages: 204 pages, soft covered
ISBN: 954 8782 42 1
Statistics shows that nowadays the Anti-Meran system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 is the weapon of choice of White in the Semi-Slav. GM
Sakaev and IM Semkov distribute all topical variations in three parts.
Part one examines in great details the sharpest line
6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4!? bringing about plenty of original analysis and explanation of
the plans.
Part two discusses fianchetto lines with 6.Qc2 b6 or 6.Qc2 Be7 followed by
b7-b6. Part three is devoted to the Karpov system 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 (or 7.Bd3) as
well as 7.b3. Finally there is a short survey of the latest trends in the
popular now early a7-a6.
The presentation of material follows the method of the Queens Gambit Accepted by
the same authors.
Software
Squares Strategy 2 - Bangiev - $39.95
The Bangiev way of thinking is a strategy based on squares. This means that before every move, the piece set-up is checked out against quite specific pre-defined criteria. The Bangiev-method does not develop your memory, but rather your thought processes: learn to understand the logic of the game by means of a few rules! In each phase of the game, you have to ask yourself the same restricted number of questions and then answer them. Once you have grasped the principle, you will be happy to realise how - after some practice - you can always find the best move yourself. You can test your progress by using grandmaster games; this is because grandmasters make use of the correct thought process, without perhaps realising that they are doing so!
The Van Geet Opening 1.Nc3 - Maddox - $39.95
Opening repertoires generally operate by restricting your opponent‘s options. The dirty little secret, of course, is that you‘re limiting your own at the same time. The van Geet operates on the opposite principle – invite your opponent to play in an arena where literally anything goes, where variations matter less than understanding and agility, where experience with specific positions is personally earned and extended each time you choose to start a game with 1 Nc3. This CD represents both a basic van Geet openings manual and an up-to-date theoretical database, designed to serve both average and advanced players.
Clocks
DGT-XL (new improved version). Our new shipment arrived in May 2005.
After the worldwide success of the DGT FIDE model digital clock, we present
the DGT XL.
The advantages include:
+ Option to mix timing systems (e.g start with a normal countdown period followed by a "Fischer" or "Bronstein Delay" period).
+ Increased display size: digits are 18mm in height.
+ Connects to the DGT electronic chessboard and has special internet features like an option to display messages.
+ More display information (timing system, current game period, white/black player indicator, ...).
+ Buzzer can be switched on or off.
+ Easy operation with extra buttons.
+ Extra upcount timing method.
+ Save and retrieve 5 user defined manual settings.
Price reduced to $135 including new Alkaline batteries (available in red or white).
The DGT-XL replaces the old models DGT2000, DGT2000 Plus and DGT Top Match clocks
Garden Sets
Large $1249, spare pieces K, Q, R, N, B are $80 each. Pawns $50 each
Smaller Set $275