Study Chess with Tal

by Mikhail Tal, Alexander Koblencs

Overview

In 1960, on his very first attempt, 23-year-old Mikhail Tal became the youngest chess champion in history. No one has yet surpassed his extraordinary tactical ability. This exceptional manual, first published in the early 1980s, is based on diaries kept by Tal's coach and includes a fully revised algebraic version of the classic text. It shows how Tal achieved his greatness and gives modern readers a glimpse of the development of a true chess genius.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849941099
Publisher:	Batsford, B.T. Ltd.
Publication date:	09/03/2013
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Mikhail Tal (1936-1992) was one of the greatest chess players of all time and was renowned as a chess writer.

Alexander Koblencs (1916-1993) was coach to the great chess player Mikhail Tal, from when he was 13 until he won the world championship in 1960.

Table of Contents

To the Reader 3

In Lieu of a Foreword 5

The Uncastled King - a Pawn Cocktail 9

War Is About Communication 12

A Surprising Knight Move 17

The Rook in Ambush 20

The Battering Ram 26

Errors in Opening Strategy 31

Invasion Squares 36

The Knight Fork 40

I Need to Use Force, do I? 43

By Hook or by Crook 47

The Trouble-Maker 52

The Highest Ideal 58

The Trojan Horse 66

A Relatively Weak Point 70

Boomerang 73

Threats from Beneath the Surface 81

Misjudging the Character of a Game 86

Transgressing an Opening Principle 95

Castling on Opposite Sides 104

The Elements of an Attacking Game 105

Three Eggs in One Basket 114

First Come, First Served 128

On the Edge of the Precipice 132

A Whole Bishop for an Attacking Tempo! 141

Both Players Castle Short 150

The Bewitched Square f2 151

Correct or Incorrect? - That is the Question 156

Preventing Simplification 162

Explosion on g7 166

The Problem of the Spanish Bishop 176

Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal! 184

Bloody Revenge 191

Pawn Chain Strategy 196

A Thorn in the Flesh 205

On All Fronts 211

An Exploding Centre 217

From Poetry to Prose 224

A Combinative Counterattack 230

Saved in the Nick of Time 231

With Open Visors 237

A Difficult Draw 242

A Positional Struggle 249

Answers to Questions 260

Index of Opponents 269

Index of Openings 270