How to Defend in Chess

A Gambit Classic Reissue: Learn from the World Champions

"this is one of the best books to come out of Gambit Publishing House and should be in all chess players' libraries." - Michael Stevenson, New Zealand Chess

Many books discuss how to attack in chess, but resourceful defensive play is also a vital ingredient in competitive success. This is an area largely neglected in the literature of the game.

This book fills the gap admirably. Following a survey of general defensive methods in chess, Dr Colin Crouch investigates the techniques of World Champions Emanuel Lasker and Tigran Petrosian, both highly effective defenders. Lasker would place myriad practical obstacles in the opponent’s way, and was a master of the counterattack. Petrosian developed Nimzowitsch’s theories of prophylaxis to a new level. His opponents would find that somehow their attacking chances had been nullified long before they could become reality.

International Master Dr Colin Crouch was a highly experienced chess-player from England who wrote well-regarded books about openings, endgames and middlegame theory. His game annotations appeared in several major chess magazines, including Inside Chess and Chess Monthly.

"the whole book is a timely reminder that chess is more than just attacking brilliancies. Defence, too, is an integral part of the game, and knowing when and how to defend can turn defeats into draws and, occasionally, into unexpected victories." - Alan Sutton, En Passant

"Petrosian was a World Champion at prophylaxis - making a move to prevent a threat that hardly already exists ... Lasker was not only brilliant at defending, but was constantly on the lookout to counter-attack" - Bab Wilders, Nederlands Dagblad

"when we want to learn an opening, we look at good players of that opening, and when it comes to attack, we study great attacking players. It figures that the same is true for defence ... Crouch does an outstanding job! ... you will get to see a glimpse of the minds of two of the greatest defenders of all time, and how they still managed to cause problems for their opponents under the most difficult circumstances. I offer my congratulations to its author, and whole-heartedly recommend it!" - John Lee Shaw, chessgateway

"This is a welcome reissue ... It is an excellent book and very good value for money" - John Saunders, British Chess Magazine