Super Nezh: Rashid Nezhmetdinov, Chess Assassin

By Alex Pyshkin and Alex Pishkin

A translation from Russian to English of one of the greatest chess grandmasters in the world, in the second half of the 20th century. Nezhmetdinov was more than a giant killer, he produced some games... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0938650912
• ISBN13: 9780938650911
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Thinkers' Press, Inc.
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent!

"Super Nezh" is the games of Rashid Nezhmetdinov intertwined with photos and biography of chess player relatively unknown in the United States. Nezhmetdinov is probably most famous in the West for his defeat of Polugayevsky at Soichi in 1958 (the game can be found in any "100 Greatest Games Ever" anthologies). Moreso that any other player that I have seen, Nezhmetdinov was an attacking player, trying to make it beeline to the opponent's King like a rabid attack dog. It is a testament to Nezhmetdinov's style and competence than he was an early teacher of Mikhail Tal, and defeated many famous Soviet-era GMs over the board. It is unfortunate that Nezhmetdinov was only able to obtain IM status, because after looking at his games it is obvious that he was one of the greatest players of his day; it is sad that the Soviet system hid Nezhmetdinov's light under a bushel. This book cures some of that problem, albeit long after his death. An excellent read.

mind boggling combinations

I'm an average (1500) chess player, but I work hard at it. I've over 100 chess books, and this one is by far the best games book I've ever read. Nezh launches into dazzling but thoroughly visualized (by him) combinations that will inspire you to search for more in your own games, even if you can't see as far ahead as Nezh does. At every crucial stage there's a diagram which alerts you to analyze before you peek. This book is sure to strike terror in your opponents.

Awesome chess; sadly not a first-class production

First English-language book on the legendary R. Nezhmetdinov, famous for his attacking prowess (Polugaevsky-N., Sochi 1958 is on the short list of "greatest games", and N. defeated Tal in 3 shootouts). If the name doesn't immediately ring several bells, you *have* to study these beautiful and mind-boggling games! There's also considerable biographical material, and a few photos. Unfortunately, this book is not well edited, even by chess book standards. Two glaring examples from the very start of the book: 1) Game #2 includes the annotation "17. Bxe6?! The tempting Bishop sacrifice leads to the win, but should have lost the advantage," but no variation is given in which the advantage is lost; 2) The "An Appreciation" chapter contains the odd passage "It is the game Flohr-N., USSR ch 21, Kiev 1954... Flohr was in his prime and preparing to play a match with Alekhine..." [Flohr peaked in the 1930s, and Alekhine died in 1946!] Apparently this is based on a misinterpretation of IM Rashid Ziyatdinov's original text (he contributed this introductory chapter). While Ziyatdinov's English is not fluent, this should call for more editing rather than less... Author Alex Pishkin's untimely death in 1999 may partially excuse the unpolished MS, but the subject deserves better treatment!