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Customer Reviews (4)

Lo mejor
En el libro acerca de los encuentros de 1984 y 1985, Kasparov en ocasiones peca de brevedad en sus comentarios...es comprensible, puesto que se trato de una maraton, asi que revisar a detalle cada uno de los encuentros nos dejaria con un libro kilometrico, dificilisimo de leer y mucho menos de escribir...pero en esta entrega, quien mejor que Kasparov para dejar al descubierto los analisis de dichas partidas, de aquellos encuentros tan emocionantes...Sin duda, un libro que no debe faltar en la biblioteca de cualquier aficionado al ajedrez.

Great book, evethin about macth training and opening study
Ok i am a Kasparov Fan.
These serie of modern chess is a true value for you.
In this book GK, tells about evething about his preparation for the epic macth after he won the world championship in 1985.

The only issue is that Kasparov overdo, with the analysis of some lines. Maybe this get dizzy some beginer player. But after read twice you taste the value of his analysis.

What can you expect of tis book:
1 tips of Kasparov to deal with the stress.
2 openin lab for those macthes
3.great analysis of the oponent
4. the fact of war outside the chessboard.
5 method of thainig from his coach

There are a lot of facts, in the last round in Seville 1987, he wrote with the all adrenaline of that moment and stamp in those pages in the book.

Advise: This book merge other book fact that you could read in:
-The Test of Time (Russian Chess), (1986, Pergamon Pr)
-World Chess Championship Match: Moscow, 1985 (1986, Everyman Chess)
-Child of Change: An Autobiography (1987, Hutchinson)
-London-Leningrad Championship Games (1987, Everyman Chess)

I read those book, and i find some fact that i could read in the other book. I took one star for that, but if u have not read it go for itand buy it.

Do we need to do the chess math?
As Kasparov himself has stated in his annotations to some games lets take stock of the value of the book. You want to enjoy hours of in-depth analysis by one the greatest professional exponents of the game? then look no further, there is no reason not to purchase the entire series the author has created. Simply put it is worth every cent for the truly aspiring student/player. No quote professional player out there offers better analysis on their products. The game of chess has changed and the true student that wants to immerse themselves deeply needs to understand it takes alot if you play the game for money. Kasparov knows how to make money and he will make you money.

Excellent Book For the 1986-1987 match
If you like the previous Modern Chess books by Kasparov, you will find this book fascinating. As in the previous edition, Garry Kasparov describes his encounter with Anatoly Karpov in great details. I don't think there will ever be any book better about the matches. The last game in the book is probably the climax. Tailing by a point, Kasparov needed to a win in his final game to draw the match and retain his world champion title. To my surprise, Kasparov was actually playing card games with his colleagues the night before the historical game! He mentioned that he believed it was more important to relieve the pressure. On the way to the game, a woman gave him a mascot and it worked. In the game, Kasparov showed why he was considered as the greatest chess player ever, winning when it matters. Playing white, Kasparov sacrificed a pawn and reached a winning endgame where he had a bishop versus Karpov's misplaced knight with a pawn up. Karpov couldn't handle the enormous pressure and blundered by moving his pawns to g6 and h5. Kasparov won the game and retained his title.
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Customer Reviews (5)

A must.
This book is the deep view of the GM Kasparov about his firsts matches with Karpov.

Is beautiful to remember these games 25 years after.

I'm waiting for the next volumes.

Good but not great
This book from my point of view is interesting but far away to be a great book of chess. I mean you will find out the kasparov's true story, at least from his point of view which I consider quite reasonable to believe, but from the side of chess or learning chess by studing games of GM it is not so great as other I have read. Kasparov writes in each game hundreds of variants but forget to explain the reason of those variants (if he does it the explanations aren't too deep) ,what things he or Karpov were thinking to play that or other move and that is the important, at least what I was looking for. This last feature make a book of chess about GM's games a great book or an ordinary one. I watched kasparov analyzing games in My Story video series by Kasparov and it pleased me the way he assessed the games and the position so much that I decided to buy a book of him talking about games played by himself; seeking for something similar but it wasn't at all like I thought. Summarizing, this is not a bad book and you will get something good to improve your chess but there are others better that this one to try for that. From other point of view it is a quite good book even an interesting one to learn the battle history between Kasparov vs Karpov such as the side of the events outside of the board as inside.

A handy index of openings and index of games allows for easy reference
The second book in the "Modern Chess" series by Garry Kasparov (the world champion of chess between 1985 and 2000 and commonly regarded as the greatest chess player of all time), Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part Two: Kasparov vs. Karpov 1975-1985 Including the 1st and 2nd Matches is an extensive, in-depth analysis of his 1984 and 1985 matches, including an epic contest that lasted six months before being halted "without result" and the 1985 match in which Kasparov became the youngest ever world champion. 76 chess games total are faithfully related in the volume, with helpful black-and-white diagrams; the game narration is interspersed with text concerning a broader perspective on the situation. A handy index of openings and index of games allows for easy reference in this meticulously detailed guide especially recommended for advanced chess players as well as anyone interested in chess history as shaped by the masters.

Chess of the Titans
This book is amazing.

I enjoyed Kasparov's "Great Predessors" series, but didn't read any of them cover-to-cover.I found his "Revolutions in the 70s" to be interesting but not very useful and definitely not entertaining. But this book is a classic that I'll be re-reading in the coming years.
This is the book many of us have been waiting for Kasparov to write for years and years.No one else could have done it like this.

Kasparov gives all the details about his games against Karpov up to -and including- the famous first two World Championship matches.He discusses not only the moves and the ideas, but what was going on behind the scenes. It is a fascinating read and I found it more entertaining than anything Kasparov has written previously.

Warning:Kasparov is famous for his variation-heavy style of annotation that can make you dizzy. He will overwhelm readers with the depth and complexity of his ideas. But if you work through as much as you can (with the help of your computer, of course) you will learn a lot about chess, and about how the greatest player of our time approached the game.This is a collection of the highest level of chess, described by the highest-caliber of player.

But there's more!The book is more than just game annotations; it also has the drama and humanity of the matches included. It is obviously the best match book written by a participant since Tal's amazing "Tal-Botvinnik 1960".

If you want a fascinating chronicle of the what is probably the greatest chess rivalry of all-time, written by probably the greatest player of all-time, then order it. This is titanic chess brought down from Mt.Olympus for us mortals to ponder and enjoy.

Detailed analysis of the abandoned First match-duel along with the Second match with his nemesis Karpov
The book covers the duels Kasparov had with Karpov starting from the pre-matches era, and then the First abandoned match and finally the Second match which crowned the youngest Champion in history. The book is a part of the ongoing series which promises to cover all the battles between Kasparov and Karpov.

The previous chess books in English namely Kasparov v/s Karpov by Mark Taimanov and Yuri Averbakh and The New World Champion by Kasparov exclusively covered the match that crowned Kasparov in detail while chess lovers were left waiting, with bated breath, for some informed analysis of the abandoned match. The wait is now over after two decades and all the First Match games are covered in detail.

Both rivals were engaged in bitter contests on board as well as off board. Kasparov in his The Unlimited Challenge and Karpov in Karpov on Karpov had their difference of opinions about their rivalry. In the Foreword of the reviewed book there is a nice episode about Karpov wanting to visit the imprisoned Kasparov to show solidarity. Kasparov says that this one gesture outweighs all past negative factors. A case of Foe turned Friend.

Generally in the past, there has been a dearth of annotations of World Championship games by the Champion himself or by the Contender. This present book is a rare exception similar to Botvinnik-Smyslov Three World Chess Championship Matches 1954, 1957, 1958 by Mikhail Botvinnik recently released by New in Chess or on a smaller scale Tal Botvinnik 1960 match by Mikhail Tal

One can relive the glorious moment of the brilliant 16th game of the 1985 WCC match where Karpov is in zugzwang from an opening that had occurred regularly for over 50 years in the Sicilian Defense and now named by some as Kasparov's Gambit (the game will find itself in any greatest games list and also clearly demonstrates that the romantic gambit era finds a place in Modern Chess) or Karpov's 'White Symphony' (as christened by Taimanov and Averbakh) wherein Karpov makes 17 moves on White squares and Kasparov deprived of the guardian of White squares namely the White Bishop can just wait and watch or when Kasparov suddenly makes a Queen sacrifice out of the blue in a position which calls for quiet maneuvering on the surface (A newspaper vividly described Kasparov as loosening his tie and capturing the Rook with a bang to add effect) and the first game of the WCC 1985 match where Karpov commits the grave error of making Queen moves in the opening at the cost of development and is punished. The book is replete with such high caliber games which can entertain as well as instruct.
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Customer Reviews (42)

Review for How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves, from the Board to the Boardroom
I am very pleased with the book. It's in an excellent condition, the paper is good, hardcover is great, and I really like it when I hold it in my hands! It was worth waiting 40 days :)

defeats Waitzkin's "Art Of Learning," narrowly
Both "How Life Imitates Chess" and "Art of Learning" are written by men of similar experience about similar topics. Both winners in chess took their experiences to become winners in other arenas. Both now speak and coach corporations and businesses in success strategies.

While Waitzkin's book is more exciting because of the blow-by-blow writing style, and exciting battles in martial arts, I think Kasparov's book has more lasting value because of this one difference: Waitzkin recommends success by finding what you are good at, and putting yourself in more positions where your strengths will shine. Kasparov recommends success by taking honest inventory of what you are not good at, and putting the most effort into your weaknesses for better overall balance. I believe our world needs more of the second approach as I will point out below.

Both books completely ignore the idea of cooperation. In every example, these two experts tell us how to vanquish the enemy. I personally have no enemies. My business does not depend on competition. I win when others win. This idea is not even hinted at in either book. One might jump to the conclusion that chess helps people who are competitive, but leaves a hole where your cooperative skills would be.

Both authors could learn from Benjamin Franklin who played chess frequently. Franklin was a genius in many arenas, many we are still learning as pointed out in "Benjamin Franklin's Numbers" by math teacher Paul Pasles. We may assume that Franklin might have been the world champion at chess if he had felt the urge to competition. But even during the war, he did not view England as an adversary, nor the States as a winner at someone's expense, but often said that American independence would be good for the whole world, England included. Our earth is too small, now, to continue thinking competitively. In Franklin's own words,

"moderate your desire of victory over your adversary, and be pleased with one over yourself. Snatch not eagerly at every advantage offered by his unskilfulness or inattention; but point out to him kindly, that by such a move he places or leaves a piece in danger and unsupported; that by another he will put his king in a perilous situation, etc. By this generous civility ... you may, indeed, happen to lose the game to your opponent; but you will win what is better, his esteem, his respect, and his affection, together with the silent approbation and goodwill of impartial spectators."

A Great Book for Chess Fans
This book is a interesting read if you are a chess fan.There are a few insightful sections in the book, but the best parts are his stories about certain chess matches and events.This book would not be highly interesting to someone who does enjoy chess.Most of the material is in a chess format.Also, the lessons that are given are from chess strategy.I would recommend this to any chess fan, but the non chess player would not like this book.

One Of The Best Books I've Read
One of the greatest chess players of his era, Kasparov is also among the smartest persons alive. The writing is honest and he honestly explains how he approaches life, the mindset he maintained to maintain world chess championship, etc. (In real life most geniuses are eager to share their secrets.)The writing is not difficult to understand, in some parts there is a literary quality to the writing equal or near that of serious literature, brilliant subtle references and unwritten thoughts which the ideal reader will pick up on. Having a elementary knowledge of chess theory is probably neccessary to not be lost at times, but by no means does the reader need to be good enough to play in tournaments. Indeed, I would suspect few books exist that offer better advice on how to approach everyday problems of life than this one. Similar to Kasparov's chess ratings, a book of this type pretty much can't get a-lot better than this.

A great book from a great person
This is a great book to read. Not only it gives excellent lessons about life that are similar to a chess battle stage, it also gives good historical overview of the chess world championship and who won who, etc. One thing that I really like about this book is the cover design, the shadow of Kasparov. I would highly recommend this book.
Ramin Shamshiri, Gainesville. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

Kasparov-Karpov

The final volume on the great clash between the two K's. A lot of deep analysis, as usual, but also a great deal of details on the drama behind the scene.

Great Analysis, but some issues
As the other books, this one is full of depth and very interesting analysis. The ideas and insides about preparation are very revealing, even some revelations about player's mood before or after the games. I have two complains about this great book: one is the constant quotation of someone else's about the moves in some moments of the games, even people who does not matter so much in terms of the heart of the fight between the teo Ks, like Krasenkov for example. The oyher one is that Kasparov gives excuses for bad results or bad moves so often, and even tryes to convince the reader that his positions are almost unbeatable ones, and defeat comes just for mistakes by him and not for Karpov's merits. That aside, I find this book a must-have if a serious player wants high-level analysis and ideas.

Excellent Literature from Garry Kaspaorv
I have all Garry Kasparov's Modern chess books. In this book, you will expect the same quality of standard as his other Modern chess books. Put it this way, if you like the previous editions, you will love this book. This book is not a beginner guide to chess or some intermediate guides for boosting your chess skills. Everything in the book is fairly advanced, more suitable for players with at least ELO 2000. Garry has analysed extensively his games against Anatoly Karpov from 1988 to 2009 using computers. The variations are very difficult to visualse unless you are a grandmaster. This book is more like a reference book, I doubt anybody in the world could fully interprete Garry's analysis. This book will not turn you into a better player, but it will give you very detailed background about the last world chess championship between Karpov and Kasparov.

The book also covers the pressure Kasparov and Karpov had from the new generation players in the 1990s and 2000s. The younger players were motivated and equipped with excellent computer preparation. Karpov, the best chess player in the 1970s and early 1980s, could not battle with the new generation. Although Kasparov's dominance over the chess world eroded, he maintained the world number one status until his retirement in 2004.

Too Much About Politics
Just finished scanning thru this book. UGH! Way too much wasted space about Kasp's break from FIDE, attempts with the PCA, and so on. Shocked at the end to find nothing about their battles in a summary form. There are comments in the book at various places about their chess relationship and styles though. Nonetheless-I thought Kasp. would summ up all these historic battles with Anatoly like he has ended previous chapters about the past greats. I was not happy with this. The K-K Matches have been completly analyzed all ready by others, so I felt he should have written an epilogue instead of coming to a total stop-goodby ending. Perhaps Kasp. is now as tired of writing as he was of playing chess when he retired? ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (7)

Serious Chess....Great book, ..Great Kasparov hit,, for opening lovers
The books says 70's, but have a nice game's selection, from different decades, Kasparov knew the key games to explain the develoment of the opening.

Kasparov doesn't give, infinite variation, (like Kasparov used to) he argued the approach at that time, and how new ideas appear, this book in my personal opinion has better redatation from the Great Predecessor's collection, just for the approach.

Thisbook was publish after Prdecessor's colectiion, but is not a sequel, this book focus to the opening, Predecessor focus on players and owesome games.

How does the book work?
The book have been divided in 24 chapter, each chapter approach to one opening.Kasparov marked the approach of the game and opening theory in particular variations, and how the process continues that overturned traditional impression.

All games as seen through the explication of leading player who were at the forefront of the develoment of chess theory during modern era.

My experience with the book?
I just use this for any advise, improve my insigth and help me a lot to understand opening, (acourding to the approach) and i can memorize lines easily. Just in my opening repertoire.

My recomendation?
Any kasparov's book, is a big deal but this book are oriented for opening lover or to improve a repertoire. This book will help any player but beginer player do not expect better result in games, for early result first must study tactic or positional games.

Great book, nice redation, for any chess player. I enjoy this book a lot and help me a lot to improve my repertoire.

Thanks, i hope this rewien help you a little.

Interesting bu t Flawed
Leaving aside Kasparov's personal greatness at the board, it feels to a certain extent that he is fishing for a subject in this volume.Certainly much of opening theory was revised in the 70s, but the sixties and the eighties also had great revisions of chess theory. I think his point is that the dissemination of information was starting to really pick up speed with the release of Informator, but whether or not that really changed the process of opening research or merely aided it is still an open question.As mentioned above there are some proofing mistakes, but the biggest issue I have with the book is that I'm not sure there really was a revolution in the 70s.Interestingly, if you read the interviews at the end (the most interesting part in my opinion) then you can see that many GMs also think no revolution really occurred in opening theory in the 70s.

A smash by Kasparov
Iwas born andgrew up in the city where kasparov had been born and lived, in Baku. My father used to know him well and his long time fellow and driver, Kolya, used to be a frequent guest at our place...
I have been told so many stories about kasparov, read so many books by him, tried to imitated his style of playing...
That book is another one typical for Garry. Impulsive, strong, featured, inspiring... Full of theory and game analysis it will be a treasure for amateur and professional chess players.
Read it or you will lose a chance to face another truth by kasparov. You will either enjoy it or will have some food for thought.

good book for the serious chess player
This book will probably be of most value to serious or aspiring chess players. Kasparov provides an interesting account of advances in chess theory in the 1970s, with a section in which he asked for the opinions of other leading grandmasters whose comments are also enlightening. A book that probably anyone seriously interested in chess and its history will find of interest and value.

Good book, great subject, poor chess proofreading
While I enjoy the material covered in this book as much as I have Kasparovs "My Great Predecessor" series', and the GM interviews at the end are delightful, there's numerous errors in the games throughout the book.For instance the Caro-Kann section lists games as starting out as a French (1.e4 e6), and while it's technically possible to transpose into the CK from the French these don't.The errors occur just often enough to be frustrating.

However it's still a great look back through time at the players and theory that shaped the modern game. ... Read more

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Discover all the various pieces - the king, the queen, the knights, the bishops and the pawns. Find out how the pieces move, the values of the chessmen, how to attack and how to defend, how to capture, how to employ special moves such as castling, how to write the moves down and, crucially, how to give check and deliver checkmate. Learn the numerous tricks and traps that you can set your unwary opponents and, just as importantly, how to avoid falling into them yourself. Make a journey through this book and, with the help of the world's best player,readers will be ready for your first chess battle.

*Covers all the crucial rules, aims and aspects of the game
*Full color illustrations throughout
*Innovative design
*Written by a legend of the chess world
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Customer Reviews (7)

excellent resource
This book was bought as a gift for a child who says that it is a great book.I would recommend it based on it's ease of reading and understanding and great illustrations

Excellent first book for a child
This book is perfect as a child's first book of chess. The colorful layout and bullet points plus more in-depth discussion really draw a reader in. Kasparov explains the concepts well. My 11 year old daughter has barely put the book down since receiving it.

Good intoductory book on chess
Very well laid out and clear, but my eight year old and five year old need it explained to them as we go along and only get some of it.

Exemplary
For a beginning player, the graphics are well done.Geared to a younger audience, the rules are explained so as to enhance retention.The examples in the back are well known to experienced players, but help the novice to more easily get up to speed.

Normally, someone of Kasparov's calibre is too far removed from the beginning level to explain things easily.This isn't the case here.I put this in our middle school library to help budding players get started.I've recommended it to others and will do so again for aspiring chess players.

excelent starter
I found this book great and easy for learning the moves, and also the idea behind the game. Strategy is a little beyond this book but, good learning tool, "you gotta crawl before you walk!" ... Read more

Product Description

These remarkable chess sets span civilizations, chronicling the game and its design beginning with the earliest known pieces and coming up to the surprising present. Considering chess through the perspectives of art and history, the engaging text touches upon the influences of local cultures and available materials, as well as the battles, rulers, and political factions that often inspired thematic sets. In addition to classic sets produced by Wedgwood, Meissen, and Murano, Chess Masterpieces includes the first ever comparison of two sets created by Fabergé (only one of which was previously known to exist), and extensive examples of 20th- and 21st-century sets crafted by artists such as Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí, and Damien Hirst.

Customer Reviews (3)

Good reference - Excellent Format
An openings book is always a gamble because the moment you buy it, it is already out-dated.So why even bother buying this old book?Because it contains knowledge that remains current!However, as with ANY other openings book: Use a database to check your analyses and, why not?, a chess engine.As a reference book this is just as good as NCO or MCO but it is not intended to be an all inclussive treatise (at most it will show you what's played in this or that opening...)

I still go back to this book to check variations or learn about obscure things I face from time to time.All in all BCO's still serves me well.

What I like the most is its impecable format.Any variation you wish to find can be found efficiently and the evaluations at the end of the lines are fair.

Is it worth buying the book? Yes, if you don't mind it being outadated... See, some lines that are no longer fashionable are not included in the so up-to-date manuals and what if those are your bread and butter?This happens with BCO's in my case...And, since I check it with databases I don't see a problem with BCO.

Good For Starting Out
Published in 1989. Authored by Garry Kasparov and Raymond Keene. Certainly not the most up to date material on the wide variety of openings it covers, but it does explain each opening rather well. Over 400 pages with a goodIndex at the back. I have referenced this book dozens of times and have found itvery helpful. Contains several variations for all the main openings.

BCO2 is out of date
The game references in BCO2 are from the late 1980's. In an age whenopening theory seems to change weekly, one cannot afford to rely on oldnews to prepare for an opening repertoire. Keep your old BCOs -- theycontain interesting ideas that will be deleted from future editions, but ifyou must buy it, don't pay too much for it. ... Read more

Product Description
A illustrated introduction to the fundamental principles of chess, which explains the important concepts of the game, with details of ninety exercises to test key chess skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Never give up
You are learning all the time from Kasparov, even though he talks about the very simple things...

Great Book - gets right to the point!
This is a good book for the beginner to intermediate player.A lot of material is covered in a very straight forward manner.The chapters on lone king and end game strategies is worth the price of the book. ... Read more

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An Intriguing Look into the Mind of One of the Greatest of All Time
The value of reading chess principles directly from the mind of one of the best players of all time (perhaps the best ever) can not be overstated.Kasparov presents the full scope of his views on chess study, ideas, techniques, attacks, tactics, strategy, and many more elements.

The chapters are short but direct and encompass specific examples of each of the principles Kasparov is discussing.Kasparov is not presenting ideas on end game play, combinations, or depth on openings; rather he is displaying what lines of thought a talented chess player should engage in among all facets of the game. The book will not make you a master player alone, but it certainly provides the elements of foundation to eventually reach that point.

Knowing how Kasparov approaches chess will enable any chess player willing to follow his mindset to better handle complex positions. I recommend this book to any chess player looking to increase their rating and improve their thought process from opening to end game.
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"...undoubtedly the best single volume openings encyclopedia currently available." --Chess Magazine

Includes 140 diagrams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enough (& MORE) for the Tournament PLAYER
Any Chess Player wants to get a strong background and improve his/her openings repertoire should buy this book. Anyhow its a nice companion for the tournament player. Recommended ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Big Disappointment
With Kasparov's name on the title page I was looking forward to analysis on par with his other Pergamon/Cadogan books on matches 2 (New World Chess Champion) and 3 (London/Leningrad Championship Games).I was sadly disappointed.The analysis in here is very weak, on the level of what Keene usually provides in his hack jobs.I recommend the book by Karpov's team (ISBN 0812919238) instead. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good.
'Batsford Chess Openings' written by Ramond Keene and Garry Kasparov is a solid reference book if one wants knowledge on every kind of opening imaginable.It is useless to memorize those openings though.When one plays chess, one should always play the most natural moves.That way they will develop their thinking skills and confidence.

bastford chess openings volume 1
i have not had time to review the book because of school but every kasparov book has lots of information on chess because he is the former world championif he defeats kramnik next january he will be world champion once again as for the seller the book arrived at my door in 4 days 1 day before scheduled arrival so im pleased the book was in used condition but i was told that before hand so no complaints

BCO2 is getting long in the tooth
BCO2 was published in 1989 and the latest references are from the late1980's. Opening theory has come a long way since then which makes this bookof limited usefulness in 1998. Unfortunately, BCO3 and MCO14 are not evenrumored yet, leaving an up-to-date single-source reference unavailable totournament players. If you must have a copy of this book, try not to paytoo much for it.

Great book for none-die-hard chess fans
Well, I guess this was great by the time, but MCO-13 is better ... Read more