The Middle Game in Chess

by Eugène Znosko-Borovsky

Superior introduction to most demanding part of chess. Basic concepts of middle game play are systematically and logically presented. Every significant idea is illustrated by well-chosen excerpts from master play, including games by Alekhine, Capablanca, Lasker, Reshevsky, Botvinnik, Marshall, Pillsbury, and other prominent players. 80 illustrations.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1980

Reviews

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update March 20, 2022:

I read this book back in 2018 by finding all of the games in databases and then entering notes into Chessbase. I recently noticed that in My Chess Career there is a reference to other books in which the games from "Career" are also referenced and annotated. One of those books was this one, and I went back to look at the notes I took in 2018 to the game Capablanca-Marshall, 1909 6th match game (Game 8 in "Career"), and Diagram 36 in "The Middle Game". In my first pass through EZB's book, I didn't remove all the previous comments and just add the notes from the book. This seems to have been a mistake since the games I have are so cluttered with other annotations that I didn't enter, that I had a hard time remembering the lessons from this book. I still think I learned a lot, but taking notes in the midst of clutter didn't seem to make the lasting impression I had hoped. After 3+ years my recall seems weak. Maybe you have to study more intently than just taking notes, or you have to take the notes that will make an impression. Maybe it's time for spaced repetition on key chess books I chose to read in the past - thanks Goodreads for making it easy to go back and see what I thought was important over the years on this subject.

[Alec · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless book on the Middle Game written in 1938 that never goes stale I studied this book when I was a very young player and I've kept my original Dover copy for over 30 years recently bought a newer one while I had the chance because when it goes out of print I may never get another!

All key Middle Games concepts that are taught in modern Middle Game books like Reassess your Chess are covered but Zonosko Borovosky gets the job done in 220 pages once you master and learn how to apply the principles he teaches in your games your set for life no need to go out and buy hefty tomes.

Cons: The book is very stingy with examples if it's ever carefully revised it could be updated to algebraic with more and corrections but this should be done sparingly the body of the book as a whole should be left alone like Laskers Manual and Basic Chess Endings if it's changed too much the book becomes unrecognizable and more harm than good is done.

[Cody Oldham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great positions and thoughts on the game. I love reviewing older analysis of positions and comparing it to what the engines think today. It is quite interesting how the positions are usually very dynamic and the moves made are very high quality, while the thoughts about the game are vastly different than what people consider today.

[Ali Shuttleworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently a book that has been having a revival due to someone famous mentioning it (Botez sisters?) Very good broad-brush coverage of the middle-game in terms of strategy. The only place I have seen a methodology for evaluating in numbers developmental advantage (expressed in moves on the board). I'm sure there is lots more that I will find on another reading, especially since I didn't play out all the example games. Glad I read it. Will read it again.