Practical Chess Advice from World-Class Players and Dedicated Amateurs

In a world awash in educational chess content, knowing how to study the game most effectively can be challenging.

As the Perpetual Chess Podcast host, USCF Master Ben Johnson has spent hundreds of hours talking chess with many of the world’s top players and most accomplished trainers. In the popular Adult Improver Series, he has spoken with dozens of passionate amateurs who have elevated their games significantly while pursuing chess as a hobby.

Kostka łamigłówka szachowa 7,5x7,5

Kostki tworzące wężyk należy złożyć w jedną kostkę.

Lambasting the London

Although the London System was first played almost 200 years ago, it lay dormant until the beginning of the 21st century. Then chessplayers rediscovered it, realizing that the London could be played against most responses by Black, obtaining a good game with little preparation.

From Bobby Fischer to Ding Liren

Chess players can look ahead, formulate a clear plan, and act accordingly. That's why chess is the perfect learning environment for becoming a strategic expert. But how do you train this? It starts with playing many games and analysing them carefully afterwards.

All through his career Jan Timman has been captivated by the mystery and splendour of endgame studies. Even during his most successful and busy years as a world-class player, Timman continued to compose studies and admire those of others. For him, there has never been any doubt that his journeys in this magical world helped him to grow as a player.

Самый юный перворазрядник в СССР, чемпион мира среди юношей, участник турнира претендентов в 19 лет – взлет Бориса Спасского был стремительным. 

Magnus Carlsen’s brilliant endgame play is one of the key reasons for his success. The World Chess Champion can win positions which look drawn to anybody else. And more than any other player, he is able to save bad endings.

The distinction between strategy and tactics is one of the first things any chess player learns about, but have you ever heard about statics and dynamics before? Did you know that nearly every critical decision you take in a game of chess is governed by the rules of the so-called static/dynamic balance? If not, for the sake of your own chess development, you might want learn more about it from this very book!

The most famous team ever participating in a chess pub quiz was MC Hammer. The team members are pretty decent chess players and happened to know their bit of chess trivia and chess history. Do you know or can you guess their names?

This book offers a collection of hundreds of chess trivia and chess-related trivia. You can use it by yourself, solving puzzles. Or you can use the book for multiple thematic pub quizzes at your local chess café or chess club.

Enjoy. The best game ever.

Защита Каро-Канн – один из самых популярных современных дебютов, который прочно входит в репертуар большинства элитных шахматистов. 

A Solid and Straightforward Chess Opening Repertoire for Black

Looking for an easy-to-learn yet super-solid repertoire for Black against everything, which doesn’t require endless memorization of sharp theoretical lines? It’s here – and it was voted the best opening course on Chessable by the users of the most popular chess learning platform.

Podręcznik strategii i taktyki szachowej.

В последнее время лондонская система все чаще применяется на практике, и причины этого очевидны. Белые могут опровергнуть почти любой ответ противника на 1.d4 с помощью надежных и простых в освоении вариантов. В процессе у вас появится выбор между стратегическим подходом и более агрессивной тактической игрой, и при этом вам не придется изучать все тома по дебютной теории! Идеальный вариант для шахматистов, у которых не так много времени на тщательный анализ.

1200 CHESS COMBINATIONS

Решебник международного гроссмейстера и опытного тренера (в числе учеников которого А. Грищук) Максима Блоха содержит свыше 1200 комбинаций из практических партий и специально составленных примеров.

Aluminiowy nieśmiertelnik z motywem szachowym.

Volume 1: Exercises and Training for Club Players (1800 - 2100)

The astounding success of How To Study Chess on Your Own made clear that there are thousands of chess players who want to improve their game. And chess players like to work on their training at least partially by themselves.

Any good chess coach will tell you to study the endgame. Improving your knowledge of the ‘third phase’ in a chess game will bring you many extra half or even full points.

The Dragon Sicilian is the perfect choice for club players searching for chaotic and imbalanced positions. This opening manual shows how Black can turn up the heat against 1.e4, and enjoy dynamic winning chances game after game.

Тренировать тактическое зрение и счет вариантов каждому шахматисту надо ежедневно и всю жизнь. Шахматы, по общему мнению, на 90% состоят из тактики, и, работая над ней, шахматист неизбежно повышает класс своей игры и результаты. К счастью, это увлекательно и доставляет удовольствие. Всё, что для этого нужно - специальная литература, и данная книга создана специально для этого.

Шотландская партия привлекательна для играющего белыми тем, что выбор направления борьбы зависит от него самого, подстраиваться приходится черным. Дебют опирается на солидную позиционную базу: вы можете включить в свой «белый» репертуар сравнительно простые схемы, где достаточно запомнить основные планы сторон и типовые маневры. 

A Dynamic Black Repertoire for Club Players

The Revised and Expanded Edition of a Chess Classic

The Ramesh Chess Course - Część 1

Calculation is key to winning chess games. Converting your chess knowledge into concrete moves requires calculation and precise visualization.

Wicemistrz Świata 2012 kontynuuje swoją historię, rozpoczętą w bestsellery „Podejmowanie decyzji pozycyjnych w szachach” („Książka roku wg. Angielskiej Federacji Szachowej) oraz „Dynamiczne podejmowanie decyzji w szachach”. Nowa książka omawia, jak podejmować decyzje w zakończeniach i na stanowiskach, w których jedna ze stron ma lepszą strukturę pionka lub przewagę materialną. Studiowanie techniki gry jednego z czołowych arcymistrzów na świecie na złożone elementy szachów, które wielu uważa za niejasne. Koncepcje takie jak „Strefa jednego błędu” z pewnością przyjdą wielu jako objawienie.

"Gelfand bardzo dobrze i bardzo uczciwie wyjaśnia, jakie decyzje był w stanie obliczyć i jakie decyzje musiał podjąć na podstawie ogólnego rozumowania i jak to zrobił. Zaowocowało to książką, którą kocham. Myślę, że szachista o dowolnej sile może znaleźć tu wiele przydatnych rzeczy”

(arcymistrz Matthew Sadler - recenzent nowości w literaturze szachowej w czasopiśmie „New In Chess”).

Wicemistrz Świata 2012 kontynuuje swoją historię, rozpoczętą w bestsellery „Podejmowanie decyzji pozycyjnych w szachach” („Książka roku” wg. Angielskiej Federacji Szachowej) oraz „Dynamiczne podejmowanie decyzji w szachach”. Nowa książka omawia, jak podejmować decyzje w zakończeniach i na stanowiskach, w których jedna ze stron ma lepszą strukturę pionka lub przewagę materialną. Studiowanie techniki gry jednego z czołowych arcymistrzów na świecie na złożone elementy szachów, które wielu uważa za niejasne. Koncepcje takie jak „Strefa jednego błędu” z pewnością przyjdą wielu jako objawienie.

"Gelfand bardzo dobrze i bardzo uczciwie wyjaśnia, jakie decyzje był w stanie obliczyć i jakie decyzje musiał podjąć na podstawie ogólnego rozumowania i jak to zrobił. Zaowocowało to książką, którą kocham. Myślę, że szachista o dowolnej sile może znaleźć tu wiele przydatnych rzeczy”

(arcymistrz Matthew Sadler - recenzent nowości w literaturze szachowej w czasopiśmie „New In Chess”).

Think Like a Super-GM is a unique collaboration combining the chess insights of an elite grandmaster with a scientific investigation into thinking at the chess board.

Niezależnie od tego, czy grasz w Pegasusa w parku, w kawiarni czy na wakacjach, ta torba zapewni dobrą ochronę deski, elementów i akcesoriów, gdziekolwiek jesteś.

Magnus Carlsen’s mastery of the middlegame is astonishing, even by the standards of World Champions. But how did this power develop, and what can the rest of us learn from it? To explain the mysteries requires another elite grandmaster, and Ivan Sokolov is perfectly qualified for this role.

“I have always been interested by less theoretical Sicilians. I have been playing the Classical Sicilian for a long time and right before the covid period, I decided to find a new one. The Sicilian Kan came to me as a very serious option, and I decided to work on it. In the meantime, my friend and editor Daniël Vanheirzeele offered me the chance to author a book about it. This came to me as a complete surprise, as I had no experience with it. In comparison with my work on the Reti and the Dutch (my two previous books), I am a newbie on the subject. But I decided to accept the challenge. I found it extremely interesting, as this gave me a fresh look at the positions. I think I managed to ask myself the questions everyone would have asked. I also work as a second for others and am accustomed to working on openings I do not necessarily play as well as finding the key ideas very quickly. So, after a deep initial work to understand the variations, I was ready to start writing!” - Adrien Demuth

“I have always been interested by less theoretical Sicilians. I have been playing the Classical Sicilian for a long time and right before the covid period, I decided to find a new one. The Sicilian Kan came to me as a very serious option, and I decided to work on it. In the meantime, my friend and editor Daniël Vanheirzeele offered me the chance to author a book about it. This came to me as a complete surprise, as I had no experience with it. In comparison with my work on the Reti and the Dutch (my two previous books), I am a newbie on the subject. But I decided to accept the challenge. I found it extremely interesting, as this gave me a fresh look at the positions. I think I managed to ask myself the questions everyone would have asked. I also work as a second for others and am accustomed to working on openings I do not necessarily play as well as finding the key ideas very quickly. So, after a deep initial work to understand the variations, I was ready to start writing!” - Adrien Demuth

В своей новой книге гроссмейстер Зенон Франко глубоко анализирует 30 поучительных побед Яна Непомнящего и большое число фрагментов, в том числе из турнира претендентов (Екатеринбург 2020-2021). Книга не перегружена вариантами, акцент – на подробных объяснениях в формате «ход за ходом», что создает идеальную платформу для изучения шахмат. В «опорных» точках каждой партии читателю предлагаются тестовые вопросы, что помогает и практическому изучению ключевых приемов шахматной игры, и надежному усвоению обретаемых знаний. Вопросы и ответы вовлекают читателя в процесс обучения и помогают ему отслеживать рост своей шахматной силы.

The Singular Skills of the World’s Strongest Chess Player Uncovered and Explained

What is it that makes Magnus Carlsen the strongest chess player in the world? Why do Carlsen’s opponents, the best players around, fail to see his moves coming? Moves that, when you replay his games, look natural and self-evident?

Emmanuel Neiman has been studying Carlsen’s games and style of play for many years. His findings will surprise, delight and educate every player, regardless of their level. He explains a key element in the World Champion’s play: instead of the ‘absolute’ best move he often plays the move that is likely to give him the better chances.

Your chess engine can do so much more than just calculate variations!

Every chess player, from club level up, can improve their game by using engines. That is the message of Matthew Sadler’s thought-provoking new book, based on many years of experience with the world’s best chess software. You may not be able to replicate their dazzling-deep calculations, but there is so much more your engine can do for you than just checking variations!

Study chess without wasting your time and energy

Every chess player wants to improve, but many, if not most, lack the tools or the discipline to study in an effective way. With so much material on offer, the eternal question is: ‘How can I study chess without wasting my time and energy?’

Davorin Kuljasevic provides the full and ultimate answer, as he presents a structured study approach that has long-term improvement value. He explains how to study and what to study, offers specific advice for the various stages of the game and points out how to integrate all elements in an actionable study plan.

-How do you optimize your learning process?

- How do you develop good study habits and get rid of useless ones?

- What study resources are appropriate for players of different levels?

Many self-improvement guides are essentially little more than a collection of exercises. Davorin Kuljasevic reflects on learning techniques and priorities in a fundamental way. And although this is not an exercise book, it is full of instructive examples looked at from unusual angles.

To provide a solid self-study framework, Kuljasevic categorizes lots of important aspects of chess study in a guide that is rich in illustrative tables, figures and bullet points. Anyone, from casual player to chess professional, will take away a multitude of original learning methods and valuable practical improvement ideas.

Davorin Kuljasevic is an International Grandmaster born in Croatia. He graduated from Texas Tech University and is an experienced coach. His bestselling book Beyond Material: Ignore the Face Value of Your Pieces was a finalist for the Boleslavsky-Averbakh Award, the best book prize of FIDE, the International Chess Federation.

Перед вами книга, выдержавшая испытание временем. Издавна говорят, что шахматы на 90% состоят из тактики, и известный советский шахматный тренер Николай Шумилин предложил книгу для развития комбинационного I зрения и способностей к расчёту вариантов - один из наиболее качественных в отечественной литературе сборников шахматных позиций для решения в уме.

Глубоко продуманная структура книги, тщательный подбор материала, постепенное и плавное усложнение позиций от простых к сложным позволяет использовать книгу в качестве пособия как начинающим шахматистам, так и опытным игрокам, а также шахматным тренерам.

Идейно книга состоит из трех основных частей:

- приёмы тактических операций;

- примеры реализации стратегических особенностей позиции;

- сложные позиции с сочетанием различных элементов.

Новое издание прошло тщательную компьютерную проверку, и в него были внесены необходимые исправления. Также книга дополнена примерами из современной практики.

When it appeared in 2003, the first edition of Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. The enlarged and revised fifth edition is better than ever!

"The easiest, quickest and most effective way to improve your overall game is to increase your tactical vision. Many good positions are lost because a key moment is passed by and a player misses the opportunity to win by a beautiful combination. This book is designed simply to help you improve your play by seeing tactics better."

Zestaw 10 podręczników szkolnych trzeciej części serii "SZACHY DLA DZIECI"

Евгений Гик – знаменитый шахматный литератор и мастер, написавший около 180 книг. В данной работе представлены 266 прокомментированных лучших партий всех чемпионов мира, включая действующего – Магнуса Карлсена. Читатель найдет здесь также удивительные истории про шахматных королей, а также редкие фотографии. Изучая лучшие партии сильнейших гроссмейстеров в истории шахмат, вы бесспорно сможете повысить свой уровень игры, улучшить понимание дебюта, миттельшпиля и эндшпиля.

Для широкого круга любителей и знатоков шахмат.

With the seemingly bulletproof Berlin Wall and Marshall Attack continuing to thwart White’s best efforts to find an advantage in the Ruy Lopez, many top players have incorporated the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) along with the related Bishop’s Opening (2.Bc4) into their repertoires. In this two-volume work, GM Martyn Kravtsiv shares his insights on this Italian Renaissance from White’s perspective.

Before reaching the Italian, White must be ready to deal with the Petroff Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6). In the first part of this, the first volume, Kravtsiv advocates the well-regarded 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 variation, offering an array of weapons to cause problems for Black, including a large number of untested yet dangerous ideas.

The next topic is the Bishop’s Opening, which can be used as an optional Anti-Petroff move order as well as a weapon in its own right. 2.Bc4 may or may not transpose to the main Italian lines, and it is useful to be able to play both move orders in order to choose the most effective sequence against each opponent. By combining this book with its companion volume, you too can be a part of The Italian Renaissance .

Martyn Kravtsiv is a Ukrainian Grandmaster with a peak rating of 2685, with expert knowledge and experience of 1.e4.