Russian Chess

by Bruce Pandolfini

Book Overview

Based on six games played by the "Kasparov generation" of Soviet chess players, America's foremost chess coach and game strategist for Netflix's The Queen's Gambit presents a complete course in intermediate chess logic.​

The "Kasparov generation" of Soviet chess players is perhaps the best-trained crop of young players ever to come out of the country, holding the world title for 55 of the last 60 years.

With the clarity...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671619845
• ISBN13: 9780671619848
• Release Date: March 1987
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A hidden gem

This is an excellent, unique work that has seemingly gone unnoticed. Six games annotated by Pandolfini, but in a different way. Every move receives comment, and after every move, he asks a question of the reader. "What's intended with this move" or "What is the threat" or "Does this lose a piece" and so on. It's a 'move by move' format, with an experienced chess teacher forcing you to interact. And it's in algebraic notation and inexpensive to boot. I wish there was more...a lot more...like this in the chess literature.

A little to simple for anyone above B-class, but...

This is a veritable textbook on how to conduct a complete game. It emphasizes the game as a WHOLE, not just opening, middle, and end parts. Six games are given with EACH move given commentary and/or analysis. Questions are given to the reader at key points during each game to stress certain points. GrandMaster and past World Champion anecdotes are also given to help accentuate these points. This book is a joy to read. It may be a little too simple for B-class and above players, but "you can always learn something from anyone"(Robert J. Fischer). Highly recommended for beginners to 1600s.

"Pandolfini's Most Substantive Work"

I've either read or browsed all of Pandofini's books and I feel this is his best work. Using the format of move-by-move analysis of six games by rising Russian masters, he illustrates all of the basic strategic motifs, the "meat and potatoes" of the game for a beginning or intermediate player. At the time I read it as a newbie I did not have any strategy classics such as Nimzovich's "My System"; I learned many of the same concepts from this book and a few others. In addition to it's instructional value, "Russian Chess" is quite entertaining to read. For chess history buffs he includes pertinent quotes from the greats in between moves, revealing both their thoughts and general philosophy of play. The book is quite humorous in places as well. All in all, a very practical addition to any library.