Bøger udgivet af Thinkers Publishing

This is the second book of the Thinkers¿ Chess Academy series. In the first book we started at a beginner¿s level with checkmates in 1, 2 or 3 moves and the most common tactical motifs. If you have already worked with the first book you will now be much more experienced and ready for some more difficult lessons. We will start with 50 combinations to refresh our memory of the motifs from the first book. Th e chess friends who have not read the first book can treat it as a kind of self-test. If you cannot solve many of the examples it may be better to go back and work through the first book again. It is not a good idea to leave basic knowledge out. It will certainly hinder your progress if you do so. In this book we will not only show you more tactical motifs, but we will also give you an introduction to the basics of chess strategy. You will learn the most important elements of strategy which will help you to find better plans and to understand positions better. At the end of the book a chapter with 50 checkmates of 5+ moves will show you techniques of how to attack or hunt the opponent¿s king and also how to improve your calculation skills and your imagination at the chessboard. Now enough of the prologue, let us go to work and learn lots about chess tactics and strategy! Have a lot of fun while studying chess and enjoy your improvement! Yours, Thomas Luther Grandmaster and FIDE senior trainer

In my first volume of the Anti-Sicilians, we will be examining the Rossolimo variation. The Sveshnikov and Classical Sicilians, where Black begins with 2…Nc6, have consistently been a popular way for Black to acquire counter-attacking chances straight from the opening. These openings are the favorites of many top level Grandmasters; none more so than Magnus Carlsen, who most famously fashioned the Sveshnikov Sicilian against Fabiano Caruana in the 2018 World Championship match. The Rossolimo variation with 3.Bb5 is the clearest indication that we are attempting to frustrate Black’s counterplay. By delaying opening the center, we can simply wait for Black to show us how he intends to continue before we make any big commitments. Most importantly, we have the positional threat of Bxc6, which Black has to be wary of if he himself tries to open the center too quickly. In nearly all variations our principal aim is to achieve rapid development, ensuring optimal conditions for a timely central break. In the main three systems (3…d6, 3…e6 and 3…g6), my multiple suggestions are based on the dual concepts of playing as actively as possible, whilst simultaneously frustrating Black’s ideals. Our repertoire against 3…d6 emphasizes our ability to consistently interfere with Black’s co-ordination. We’ll immediately break open the center with 6.c3 and 7.d4, before attempting to create endless practical difficulties in the mainline with an e5- e6 push. It’s important to pay attention to the continuous theme of both pawn and exchange sacrifices, where piece quality is often prioritized over piece quantity. As usual, the various lines continuously offer ‘safer alternatives’ – which are by no means worse, but instead offer the opportunity to take the game in a different direction. Against 3…e6, I offer two alternatives: either playing critically with 4.0-0 and 5.d4, or frustrating Black’s development with 4.0-0 and 5.Re1. The first option will result in positions similar to Open Sicilians, except that Black has a slightly inferior knight on g6, as opposed to f6. The latter aims for optimal piece placement which will make it difficult for Black to open the centre – whereas we are ideally positioned to break with c2-c3 and d2-d4. 3…g6 is arguably the most critical line against the Rossolimo. As usual, I analysed two distinct options – either capturing on c6 immediately or playing 4.0-0 and 5.c3 with the aim of occupying the centre. In both lines, we’ll often encounter themes revolving around Black’s weakened dark-squares, as well as attempts to suppress Black’s g7-bishop with a strong e5-pawn. You will quickly realize that a combination of our own dynamic piece play, alongside attempting to create endless practical difficulties for our opponent, are at the heart of every variation we discuss.

"There are countless puzzle books available. However, it is very surprising that there is virtually almost none that gives a comprehensive overview with all of the frequent tactical motifs and themes that occur in practice. The ones that I am aware of are either largely incomplete, not systematic, without text, or old, and therefore the analysis contains lots of mistakes. The ambitious goal of this book is to fill this critical gap by addressing all of these issues.Each of the 25 Chapters contains a thorough introduction with the games best showcasing the motif at hand. Next, the puzzle sections specifically aim to reinforce the reader¿s pattern recognition. There are 365 training puzzles in total, and all of them have a 1-5 star value to show the level of difficulty. The solutions are given at the end of every chapter. This book is dedicated to ambitious players who want to improve their game, as well as for coaches to help their students get to the next level.¿ ¿ Peter Prohaszka

Choosing the subject wasn't easy at all,since the topic of defense requires a comprehensive analysis from differentangles in order to give the chess player under pressure useful guidelinesduring a game. Of course, the technical part is a matter of findingchallenging, new and interesting positions. I was struggling with describingthe emotions that we have during the game, how they influence ourdecision-making process and what we can do about that. Hence, I tried the bestI could to define the issues the defender encounters during a stressful game.Finally I am confidently sharing with you the lessons that I learned from sportpsychologists and literature, and my experience as a player over 30 years.GM Jan Werle November 2021

Most tactics and training books are good for boosting your calculation ability, but they do not teach you how to calculate. This is the difference I want to make with my own books, by arranging the exercises in different categories so that the thinking process more closely resembles the one we have during a game.Level 1 of my new series consists of learning how to checkmate your opponent. The first three chapters are a rather classical tactics training, then things get harder. In Chapter 4, you have to trap your opponent¿s king; in Chapter 5, you have to win by eliminating the defender in your opponent¿s position; in Chapter 6, by using a decisive double threat and in Chapter 7, with an unexpected winning sacrifice. Chapter 8 consists of a few other problems which required short instructions.You should go through the book chapter by chapter. The complexity of the examples increases throughout the book, and you shouldn¿t skip a category if you consider it too easy. The book covers the full thinking process you should have when trying to mate your opponent, or when the situation of your opponent¿s king may tempt you to look further in a mating direction. As with all training, there is a warm-up, a tough phase, a break, a relaxing phase, then another tough phase, and respecting the pedagogical order of the book will make sure that you derive the maximum benefit from it, and are 100% ready for Level 2.After you have completed all 276 exercises in the book you won¿t let your opponent¿s king escape when it shouldn¿t. Reading it should pay off quickly in terms of results! And this is exactly what I wish you.

Are you struggling with your chess development? While dedicating hours and hours on improving your craft, your rating simply does not want to move upwards? Spending loads of money on chess books and DVDs, but feeling no real improvement at all? No worries ¿ the book that you are holding in your hands might represent a game changer! Years of coaching experience as well as independent research has allowed the author to identify the key skills that will enhance the progress of just about any player rated between 1600 and 2500. Becoming a strong chess thinker is namely not only reserved exclusively for elite players, but actually constitutes the cornerstone of chess training, being no less important than memorizing opening theory, acquiring middlegame knowledge or practicing endgames. By studying this book, you will:- learn how to universally deal with any position you might encounter in your games, even if you happen to see it for the first time in your life, - have the opportunity to solve 90 unique, hand-picked puzzles, extensively annotated and peculiarly organised for the Readers¿ optimal learning effect, - gain access to more than 300 pages of original grandmaster thoughts and advice, leaving you awestruck and hungry for more afterwards!

This book takes you along a most fascinating journey. Starting with chess games from the 19th Century and the foundation of the Belgium Chess Federation in 1920. Frank Hoffmeister sees this as a personal homage to the KBSB but also explains his personal views on the Belgian chess scene and developments.

Endgames with bishops versus knights are one of the most frequently occurring in chess. In his first volume international master and trainer Boroljub Zlatanovic, highlighted in his usual methodological way the concepts that can be mastered with a little effort. The book shows the key elements and different themes. By identifying mistakes made by even the best players, the author indicates the need for correct endgame technique with the light pieces. After practicing his conclusions, you soon will discover you are becoming a far more effective endgame player. This is Boroljub’s second book, after the highly acclaimed ‘Fundamental Chess Strategy in 100 Games’.

This book takes you along a most fascinating journey. Starting with chess games from the 19th Century and the foundation of the Belgium Chess Federation in 1920. Frank Hoffmeister sees this as a personal homage to the KBSB but also explains his personal views on the Belgian chess scene and developments.

Building on his ever creative ideas, Christian Bauer found a way to take a fresh look at the current status of the Alekhine Defense. It's clear that Christian has a definite weak spot for Knights. Surely you will appreciate his best efforts to bamboozle your opponents into self-destruction by using the Alekhine.

The Modernized Grünfeld Defense will be extremely helpful for any chess player looking for a reliable lifetime repertoire against White¿s 1.d4. It will benefit current Grünfeld players as Yaro unveils his analysis and numerous novelties waiting to be played over the board.

In this volume 3, the author presents many games played by legendary players such as Alekhine, Karpov, Kasparov and Fischer, but also many forgotten or unknown examples that will help you to improve your calculation and knowledge of all areas of the game.

The authors selected for their first volume an exceptional amount of great important tactical themes and puzzles. They have only one message for the devoted chess and club player: focus and exercise

This book would bring something new into your chess library. In computer era focus is usually on openings. Watching broadcasts new generations rather choose games with favorite opening played seeking for some interesting idea or even brilliant novelty. I offer and recommend different concept, based on famous Soviet chess school. Focus should be on understanding strategy concepts, principles and inner logic. Fashionable opening lines will be forgotten (or re-evaluated) sooner or later, but understanding cannot be lost and can be only upgraded. It is sad to see some player well equipped with opening lines, unable to realize big positional advantage in deep endgame. So, our advice is to learn about Strategy and Logic. The book is highly recommended for club players, advanced players and masters, although even higher rated players can find a lot of useful things for themselves. There is no doubt lower rated players will learn a lot about thinking process and making decisions, while some logical principles can be good advice for strong players also.

Albin Planinc was born in the middle of the Second World War, on 18th April 1944, in the little village of Briše, near the small town of Zagorje ob Savi, approximately 30 kilometers from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. He spent his childhood with his mother Ljudmila (unofficially Milka), a simple, uneducated woman who earned money from various unskilled jobs’.This fascinating biography of over eighty-five annotated games and stories are being presented by grandmasters Georg Mohr and Adrian Mikhalchishin. It covers Planinc’ entire life and chess career, including his most fascinating games. This fitting tribute of a forgotten chess genius should be found in anyone’s chess library. Thanks to this colorful book Albin Planinc will continue to inspire us all and will keep his spirit alive.

What is the best way to improve your opening knowledge? Memorizing variations? Not really.In the first volume of Dariusz’ trilogy, the author helps you to understand the instructive patterns that arise from the immensely popular Nimzo-Indian Defense. Packed with plenty new ideas, his methods consider the different ways White has at his disposal. His unique approach shows Black has nothing to fear, on the contrary! Thinkers is convinced you will enjoy the read!

The Najdorf is one of the most respected variations of the Sicilian Defence. Over decades it has remained a sound yet attacking weapon in the hands of the world's finest players including several world champions. Join Robert James Fischer, Kasparov, Anand, Topalov, MVL and legions of club players by playing for a win with Black using the Najdorf. Expert and Grandmaster Milos Pavlovic will be your practical and honest guide in this fifth book for Thinkers Publishing.

This bookin front of you assists all players in their efforts to improve, and alongtheir way, our young chess guns provided fresh insights how to trap and trickyour opponent in the opening and early middlegame. With the many computer-assistedlearning tools available, the player’s capacity to improve is limitless. Thisbook offers the reader an insider’s candid view of how to unbalance the game inthe modern age of chess.

En este nuevo libro, Romain examina el más reciente aspecto de su carrera: ser asistente de un jugador de la élite. Trabajó con Veselin Topalov desde 2010 hasta 2014, período en el que con su ayuda sobresalen la victoria del búlgaro en la serie Grand Prix 2012-2013 y el convertirse en Candidato a la Corona Mundial. Edouard nos cuenta todo sobre esta mágica experiencia. Al repasar los torneos donde asistió al GM Topalov, el autor, no sólo analiza bellas partidas sino que además explica cómo se las agenciaron para crear nuevas ideas e incluso llega a revelar algunas que no se han jugado todavía. También da respuesta a las preguntas que más curiosidad despiertan en la mayoría de los entusiastas del ajedrez: ¿Cómo te conviertes en ayudante de un jugador de la élite?, ¿En qué consiste ese trabajo?, ¿Cómo se aúnan esfuerzos para colaborar?, ¿Cómo se prepara una partida o torneo importante?, ¿Cómo se comporta un genio ajedrecístico en la vida real?Si disfrutas las partidas fascinantes, las ideas inesperadas en la apertura y deseas conocer lo que sucede tras bambalinas, definitivamente, ¡este libro es para ti!

The Chigorin Variation is one of the oldest variations of the Ruy Lopez, 'in- vented' (according to my database) at the Monte Carlo tournament in 1902 by Carl Schlechter in his game versus Siegbert Tarrasch. Doing our research for this book I was surprised to discover that in the early years of the development of the Chigorin Variation, Black often intentionally kept his king in the centre by opting for 8...Na5 9. Bc2 c5 instead of 8...0-0, trying to be flexible and keeping extra options. The drawback was that White was not obliged to spend time on h2-h3, as he was on 9.h3 in a regular move or- der. Nevertheless this unusual more order was tried with Black by Capablanca, Lasker, Botvinnik, Euwe, Rubinstein and Reshevsky, amongst others. How- ever, sometime in the late 1940s, this flexible plan more or less disappeared from Grandmaster practice, so I did not include it in the games in this book.

In volume 2 Dutch International Master Herman Grooten provides the full coverage of the Queen's Gambit Structures. As usual his instructive material is impressive, explaining in detail all possible plans for White and Black, making this book indispensable if you want to understand these typical structures or play this opening.

Do you relish the prospect of setting your opponent awkward problems from the early start of the game? If so, you should just continue reading, for in the Bg5 Najdorf, it’s every man for himself, and only the best informed and most creative resourceful player survive. The Bg5 variation gives White very dangerous attacking ideas, and Blacks really needs to know a precise defense to come out of this variation alive. This book provides weapons that are ideal choices for those who revel in forcing opponents into chaotic and uncomfortable positions.Lukasz Jarmula, a player and writer of international caliber, will be your truthful guide!

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Averbakh variation against the King's IndianDefense (KID). Who would not want to have a variation against the KID thatkeeps White's position completely under control, that is positional in natureand that stays away from dark and murky waters or messy tactical situations?Many players like to play a variation against the KID that bears the hallmark ofstrong grandmasters and has stood the test of time. This book examines suchvariation with a repertoire for White and an in-depth analysis of all ofBlack's responses.The Averbakh variation represents a shift in White's approach to the fight againstthe KID. Rather than focusing solely on the queenside while accepting a certaindanger of being checkmated on the other side of the board, as it happens in theKID in many lines, White uses a strategy of positional control, in which heuses the KID in a calm, positional way. Initially, the character of the battleis indeed relatively calm and positional, but not too calm to land innear-equal positions immediately. White's development schedules followstrategic logic. In the following parts of the game, White generally retainshis first mover advantage, in positions where he retains control.Repertoire books on the KID start from Black's point of view, overestimating Black'schances and downplaying White's options and plans. In my opinion, that requiresan analytical response from White's point of view. In this book, I will showthat, using recent theoretical developments and my own novelties and analyses,White has a serious chance to come out of the opening with a long-term plus.

In his well-known entertaining style, the author takes us through the fascinating history of the World Champions of Chess. A striking and beautiful book full of anecdotes, stories and thrilling games played by the titans of our royal game. It is a book you can read time and again and will surely find a treasured place on your bookshelf!

The Caro-Kann Defence, long renowned for being a solid and reliable defence against 1.e4, is undergoing a renaissance at the moment. In addition to being a mainstay in the repertoires of a recent World Champion (Viswanathan Anand) and a 2018 World Championship candidate (Ding Liren), it is being flooded with new and creative ideas from a range of other top players, notably Anand's Indian Olympiad teammates Vidit and Adhiban. The pawn structures in this opening leave considerable room for individual interpretation.This book is written for the Black side, though new ideas for White are suggested and old ones occasionally improved. It contains not only the author's personal take on how to deal with all major White tries after 1.e4 c6, but also a range of alternatives for Black- to cater for different types of Caro-Kann player. This repertoire builds on the existing state of theory, taking it in novel, exciting and decidedly modern directions, while not forgetting about the opening's sound strategic underpinnings.

In the first volume of "Crucial Chess Skills for the Club Player", attention is given to the three key elements of practical play. These three aspects aren't closely related to each other, but together form the key to improvement for any ambitious chess player. In the first 3 chapters Ris explores the most essential positions for rook endgames, offering practical advice along the way. He also offers ways to sharpen tactical vision in chapters four to six. In particular, he seeks to cultivate an ability to sense opportunities to strike. The final part, chapters seven to nine, he examines positional play in such a way that the student's overall understanding of the game is deepened. The result is that Robert offers a course to help students master all facets of the game! Volume two is expected end of 2018.

Adrian and Oleg compiled, resulting from all different kind of middlegames, an impressive amount of most instructive endgames. The ideal material for any chess player or trainer in search of the need endgame finesses and skills.

Do you relish the prospect of setting youropponent awkward problems from the early start of the game? If so, you shouldjust continue reading, for in the Mar Del Plata and King's Indian, it’s every man for himself,and only the best informed and most creative resourceful player survive. This variationgives both colors very dangerous attacking ideas, and you really needs to knowa precise defense to come out of this variation alive. This book providesweapons that are ideal choices for those who revel in forcing opponents intochaotic and uncomfortable positions.