The Logical Approach to Chess - Softcover

Euwe, Max; Blaine, M; Rumble, J. F. S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 4871874729 ISBN 13: 9784871874724

Publisher: Ishi Press, 2011

Synopsis

This has long been one of the standard books on basic chess strategy. It takes the player from the middle game of chess and shows how to take it to a favorable conclusion. TAKING basic principles of military strategy and applying them to the chess board, the authors of this remarkable book develop a logical, and highly original concept of the game which is both novel and unconventional. Chess is, in fact, war between two opponents who both have men to command, and a field on which to meet. From this simple proposition, and the suggestion that the advantage will be with the commander who is thoroughly acquainted with the terrain, the book analyzes logically and succinctly, each phase of the battle. The text is successfully illustrated with examples from the play of other players who were not masters, and the book can be considered as designed for players of some experience, but who have not attained championship status; with the double aim of providing both an analytical study of the army and the field -the board and the men- and a sure, basic insight with which to comprehend the finesse of the Chess-masters. Dr. Euwe's contribution is a guarantee of sound chess and there is, finally, a chapter on the human element; a factor that may well be vital, which suggests that aggressive spirit, keen psychology, and an intelligent grasp of a changing situation, are weapons of prime consequence at all stages of the game.

About this title

About the Author

Max Euwe was born on May 20, 1901 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He has long been regarded as almost an accidental world champion. This has resulted in a controversy that is still being debated today: Was Euwe really the strongest player in the world when he won the world championship in 1935? Regardless of that issue, Euwe was certainly the most active and prolific writer about the game. He was never a professional player. He had a real job. He was a math professor. After retirement he became a chess official. He was president of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978. This was during the Cold War and Euwe had to make many difficult decisions for the good of chess. It was absolutely, definitely because of Euwe that Bobby Fischer got to sit down at the board to play a match for the World Chess Championship. Fischer had been disqualified many times along the way, the first time being when he refused to play in the US Championship that was a necessary preliminary to the World Chess Championship competition. Thus, Euwe had to walk the thin tightrope between getting Fischer to play while not causing the Spassky and the Soviets to refuse to compete because of favoritism shown to Fischer. Euwe died on November 26, 1981 in his native Amsterdam at age 80.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ishi Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 4871874729
• ISBN 13: 9784871874724
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 228