Lessons from the masters of the game . Review on Chess - The Complete Self-Tutor - Edward Lasker

I have reviewed a few works of fiction earlier. I have been carrying the works of Wodehouse whenever I travel. It never fails to grip and is by far the best read that I have come across. But there have been times when I have had to hone up my other skills such as my pursuit of a chess rating for which I delve deep into a few chess books written by Chess experts. In one such tournament, I picked up a non-descript book which said 'Tutor' and priced at INR 125. As I started using the book, I found to my amazement that the work was extremely well reasearched and that the approach was unique. Let me elaborate.

The book - Chess : The Complete Self Tutor - is authored by Edward Lasker. Edward Lasker (not to be confused with the great Emmanuel Lasker) was a leading Chess player. His famour game in the Dutch defence where he sets the Black king in motion and emphatically checkmates his opponent at the edge of the board is one of his finest contributions to the game. Edward Lasker has a deep and fine understanding of the finer points of the game. He has played Chess at the highest level and has met the toughest of opponents. His experience shows in the way he handles the narration. His language is simple, his analysis is deep, his understanding of the position is amazing and the final output is very conducive for the novice who wants to improve his skills or for the advanced player who seeks fresh ideas.

Whats so special about this book : This book in itself is special. For a change the tutor method of teaching is applied to Chess. In this book you come across a position wherein the author explains the concepts behind the position, the logical sequence that resulted in the position. Once you are done with the basics, the author poses a question that has 2-3 options from which you choose an answer. Every answer directs you to another part of the book wherein the author describes the solution in detail. A correct answer allows you to move forward and a wrong answer brings you back to the same question from where the path will lead elsewhere. This criss crossing of chapters and concepts will ensure that the player is put through all aspects of the game. As with any other book, the author has dealt a lot with the middle and end game techniques. Though there is not much emphasis on all openings the author does highlight a few openings which are popular in GM level play.

How does one use this book : The beginning of the book deals with the power of the pieces, the arrangement of the chess men, the moves, fundamental concepts such as en passant, castling, check, discovered check etc. As the book progresses the concepts become clearer and the reader is introduced to a variety of positions that is certain to set him thinking. I would suggest the following methodology :

For beginners : Please refer to 'Your First Move' by Alexei Sokolsky, the book describes the game beautifully. When you are done with that book, you may pick up this tutor and go through the powers of the pieces carefully. The initial positions are the ones that are commonly encountered. For beginners it would pay to invest more time on the middle and end games rather than on openings. Once you get comfortable with these positions you can pick up Chess Strategy by Eduard Gufeld and then progress to advanced books.

For club level and intermediate level players : It would pay to play out the games between grandmasters and then look at the various analysis. Of particular interest is the game between Bronstein and Fischer -a beautiful game in which Bronstein artistry prevails over the young Fischer's daredevilry.

For the advanced player, the book is likely to put forth a few fresh and new ideas as well.

The book is as relevant today as it was, when it was written. The book caters to the needs of all the genres of players. A worthwhile read. There are very few anecdotes in the narrative. The 'Opera Game' between Morphy and Count Isouard also finds a mention and a lengthy analysis (no chess book will be complete without the Opera Game). The author does well to point out the slips that the young Fischer makes against Bronstein. The author also showcases Smyslov's and Korchnoi's exploits.

The book covers all the aspects of the game and the underpromotion theme in exercise 50 is a beautiful combination. The themes of pins, forks, fianchetto, underpromotion are brought out beautifully. The author lays enough emphasis on all the three stages of the game.

Definitely a must have for a chess lover.

P.S : This post will make sense for the chess lovers. For others - do explore the world of chess for that is a cornucopia of endless possibilities. Discover Chess and discover a new world.I know that reviewing a chess book will seem out of place. But nevertheless this is one book that needs to be reviwed and I , having benefited a lot from this book, have decided to pen down my views.