Genna Sosonko

This was an interesting one. It was written well, with some fun backstory, but almost the entire book was Sosonko convincing me that Bronstein was not only probably insane, bipolar, clinically depressed, or all three, but that he basically wasn't a very nice guy. Other than continuously beating home the idea that the man was completely obsessed with Botvinnik for the rest of his life, he doesn't do a great job explaining why.

The author has a few other books that are more short pieces on show more players and essays and the like, and I'll likely check them out too, his writing styly may be more suited for that. Still gets three stars though, it is about chess after all. show less

Exceptional collective biography, focusing on prominent figures from Soviet chess. Sosonko's style and verve bring them to life as no other has. Immensely readable, even for those who don't chess.

CHESS OPENING IDEAS - NOVELTIES - BOOK REVIEWS - THEORY - DISCUSSIONS - GAMBITS New In Chess contains the latest news in chess openings. Each issue brings you dozens of new ideas on the cutting edge of modern chess theory. Not only the latest fashions are covered, the offers fresh insights in underrated gambits, rare continuations, and almost forgotten weapons as well. The has grown into an indispensable tool for all chess players - for masters and club players alike. If you don't want to show more miss the latest news in your own favourite lines, if you are looking for inspiration, then the is vital for you, too. It refreshes your opening repertoire, four times a year! Forum Readers from all over the world join in discussions of previous surveys. Both (grand)masters and club players shed their light on new opening developments and search together for the truth. With contributions by Eric Prié, Richard Palliser, Bogdan Lalic, Pavel Skatchkov/Dmitry Frolyanov, Ashot Nadanian and many others. Sosonko's Corner Genna Sosonko's imagination was tickled by Vadim Zviagintsev's bizarre knight move 2.Na3 in the Sicilian. It made Alexander Khalifman laugh, but not for long... The rim knight brought back some sweet memories to our Editor and stirred up some old stories, which does not mean that it has no future! Besides becoming immensely popular on the ICC and in the Moscow Blitz Championship, in a regular game such moves can be a tremendous psychological blow. Book Reviews Not quite mainstream either are the openings treated in Glenn Flear's Review section this time. After all, you don't encounter Christan Bauer's favourite 1...b6 every day. The French GM's monograph on this English Defence (!) gets many points for its thorough and original content, though it leaves something to be desired in the structure department. Next is James Rizzitano's 'Repertoire book' (we get many of those these days) against 1.d4. A robust tome, although doubts remain if Rizzitano can fulfill his promise of 'beating' White's solid first move. Maybe that's just to much to ask... or is it? The unlikely author couple Sverre Johnsen and Vlatko Kovacevic also want to 'Win' with the London System, but our reviewer found their book to be quite balanced and objective. It's ideal for the stronger club player who wants a solid system without studying day and night. Boris Schipkov's CD on the A80-A85 Dutch contains by nature much more material than a book, but also more mistakes. A nice feature is the Training Database with useful exercises. 32 NIC Surveys Yearbook 78 Sicilian Defence: Najdorf Variation 6.Be3 Ng4, by Lukacs/Hazai Sicilian Defence: Najdorf Variation 6.Be3 e6, by Nikitin Sicilian Defence: Grivas Variation 4...Qb6, by Grivas French Defence: Tarrasch Variation 4.ed5 Qd5, by Anka Caro-Kann Defence: Advance Variation 4.c4, by Boersma Caro-Kann Defence: Classical Variation 4...Bf5, by Olthof Petroff Defence: Steinitz Variation 3.d4 Ne4, by Fogarasi Petroff Defence: Jaenisch Variation 6...Be7, by Kuzmin Ruy Lopez: Neo-Steinitz Variation 6...Nge7, by Karolyi Ruy Lopez: Neo-Arkhangelsk Variation 6...Bc5, by Kuzmin Ruy Lopez: Closed Line with 9.d4, by Marin Italian Game: Evans Gambit 4.b4, by Van der Tak Scotch Opening: Mieses Variation 8...Ba6, by Van der Weide Philidor Defence: Antoshin Variation 5...Be7, by Abeln Queen's Gambit Declined: Blackburne Variation 5.Bf4, by Agrest Slav Defence: Krause Variation 6.Ne5, by Greenfeld Slav Defence: Marshall Gambit 4.e4, by Van der Tak Slav Defence: Meran Variation 8.Be2, by Afek Queen's Gambit: Accepted Classical Variation 7.Bb3, by Dautov Nimzo-Indian Defence: Kmoch Variation 4.f3, by Cebalo Nimzo-Indian Defence: Vienna Variation 7.e5, by Lukacs/Hazai Grünfeld Indian Defence: Exchange Variation 7.Nf3, by Avrukh Grünfeld Indian Defence: Makogonov Variation 6.b4, by Panczyk/Ilczuk King's Indian Defence: Classical Variation 7...Na6, by Mikhalevski King's Indian Defence: Four Pawns Attack 5.f4, by Vaisser Benoni Defence: Fianchetto Variation 11.Bf4 Qe7, by Kapengut Benoni Defence: Volga Gambit 3...b5, by Gavrilov Queen's Pawn Opening: Trompowsky Attack 2.Bg5, by Tzermiadianos Queen's Pawn Opening: Prié Attack 2.a3, by Prié Queen's Pawn Opening: Reversed Albin 3.e4, by Greenfeld Dutch Defence: Classical Variation 7...Ne4, by Williams English Opening: Symmetrical Variation 3...b6, by Langeweg
Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 9056911600, show less

This Yearbook is a tribute to the eternal youth and romantic spirit of chess. On the one hand it commemorates the genius of the late David Bronstein and on the other it also shows how his creative legacy thrives on the games of young players like Teimour Radjabov.

The King’s Indian Defence pioneered by Bronstein, Boleslavsky and Geller became a terrific weapon in the hands of Tal, Fischer and Kasparov in the latter half of the 20th Century. Unfortunately, in recent years it has received show more tremendous battering through the bayonet attack championed by Kramnik. Such has been the influence of the line that even Kasparov stopped playing his beloved defence after losing a couple of games to Kramnik.

So it was a pleasant surprise to see Radjabov playing the KID. His total of 3.5-out-of-4 in the Wijk aan Zee tournament last year [2007] was a big boost for the lovers of this sharp opening. As the NIC Magazine reported, predictably, Radjbov was asked if his success with the KID proved that it was still alive. With a deadpan face he replied: The news hadn’t reached me that the opening was ill.”

Havanur show less