Simply, clearly, and with keen appreciation of the amateur's usual limitations, International Grandmaster Znosko-Borovsky explains the importance of rapid development of the pieces, occupation of the center, the relation of the opening to the general plan of the player, and the significance of control of the center.Each major opening is then detailed and analyzed with the emphasis on explanation that is easy to follow. Special attention is paid to traps — both the mistakes often made by amateurs, and the classic traps, such as Greco's and Tarrasch's. "Chess is a game of understanding and not of memory," says Znosko-Borovsky, and he promotes the reader's understanding of the openings by discussing purpose and plan frequently, as against memorization of moves. Those acquainted with Znosko-Borovsky's other books, How Not to Play Chess and The Art of Chess Combination will rediscover in this book Znosko-Borovsky's unique clarity, ease of style, and profundity. "In the teaching of chess he may claim to have no superior." — Philip W. Sergeant.

    

    Such combinations do not come into being by themselves, however; they appear only as the result of proper chess strategy. It is therefore surprising that so few books deal with this highly important subject, and understandable that Pachman's modern classic has been so enthusiastically received by chessplayers at all levels.Ludĕk Pachman, a Czech grandmaster, has long had an international reputation as a chess theorist, but until now his work has not been available in English. This present volume, which condenses his great Modern Schachstrategie, presents his ideas and theories in a form that the English-speaking world can assimilate easily. Beginning with basic concepts and the rules of the minor and major pieces, it covers the use of the Queen, the active King, exchanges, various kinds of Pawns, the center and its use, superiority on the wings, minority attack, strategical points and weak squares, methods of attack and defense, and similar topics. Pachman elaborates the various kinds of strategy that can be employed, and shows how each leads to tactical opportunities. It has been said that his section on the Rook alone make his book indispensable to the serious chess player, since the Rook is so important in both middle and endgames.Pachman presents his method in the form of a thorough, systematic, analytical text, which draws upon scores of great games for exemplification. Both classical and very recent masters are included, although stress is on the moderns: Capablanca, Alekhine, Dr. Lasker, Rubinstein, Nimzovich, Botvinnik, Reshevsky, Bronstein, Smyslov, and Spasski.