Lessons in Chess Strategy (Chess Strategy Lessons)

A Gambit Classic Reissue: Tips and guidance from a successful chess trainerFollowing on from his book Chess Recipes from the Grandmaster's Kitchen, Valeri Beim serves up a further series of lessons on important general chess topics.His expert advice will help you to handle a whole range of typical situations with greater confidence and understanding. Topics include:Geometry of the chessboardIsolated queen's pawnCentral passed pawnSpace advantageZugzwangBishop-pairSymmetrical pawn-structuresStatic and dynamic featuresBeim focuses on both typical methods of play and thinking procedures, such as using the concept of 'resulting moves' to help find zugzwang possibilities. The book contains a wealth of examples of how the greatest players in chess history have addressed these vital themes in practice.There are a total of 124 exercises to test the reader's understanding. Full and detailed solutions are given.Valeri Beim is a grandmaster who lives in Austria. He has won numerous tournaments and plays in the Austrian and German leagues. For many years he was the head trainer at the chess school in Odessa (Ukraine), and he was also the trainer of the Israeli Olympiad team. This is his third chess book."I was especially impressed with Mr. Beim's selection of positions to discuss. They very clearly illustrate the corresponding themes, and will repay close study. GM Beim is an experienced trainer, and also, he is obviously an excellent teacher. I look forward to reading his other books." - Bill Kelleher, ChessCafe"Verdict: a serious examination of some complex positional topics, treated seriously yet with enthusiastic appreciation of the play of his chosen models." - Phil Adams, 3Cs website"What makes this book especially valuable are the 124 exercises given to test the reader's understanding. These exercises come with full and detailed solutions." - IM John Donaldson (USA Team Captain), on Silman's website"This is a beautiful chess book - full of interesting, instructive examples of strategic chess-play and containing over a hundred exercises, with very detailed solutions at the end of the book. " - Norman Stephenson, Cleveland Chess"After reading these books [this and How to Play Dynamic Chess] I have but one question - who is Valeri Beim and why has he been hiding so long? These are absolutely two of the finest treatises on chess strategy ever written. Having said that, I suppose I could end the review here, but I feel constrained to explain why this is so. A good, truly good book on strategy must do a couple of things. First and foremost, it must explain ideas in a clear way that we haven't seen before. Second, the examples used must be clear, concise and memorable. Third, we look for that something 'extra', call it the wow factor. Beim delivers on all counts. ... Some classic, oft seen examples, but Beim always brings his own twist to the table that presents them in a new light. Lessons is an extremely well written book, exploring concepts and ideas the reader probably hasn't seen before and does so in an extraordinarily accessible way. It is hard to imagine a player who wouldn't benefit from it." - Don Aldrich, Chess Today Read more