Steinitz: Move by Move

by Craig Pritchett

Wilhelm Steinitz was the first undisputed World Chess Champion, and a true legend of the game. Steinitz played chess in precisely the same highly innovative, risk-taking, hard-hitting, yet thoroughly concrete way as any modern great. Allied to his near-nerveless will-to-win and attacking flair, his exceptional ability to evaluate positions, develop masterful plans and manoeuvre for advantage created numerous games of long-lasting, insightful brilliance. In this book, Craig Pritchett leads you through an unforgettable learning experience that builds on the extraordinary life and games of one of the greatest players in chess history, many of whose most profound discoveries remain at the very heart of the game in the 21st century. Move by Move provides an ideal platform to study chess. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to improve your chess skills and knowledge.

Genres: Chess

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2015

Reviews

[Alberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The games are well annotated and instructive. I was impressed that 14 of the 35 games were new to me (I had previously analyzed 89 Steinitz wins.) Pritchett makes good use of the Q&A format.

On the minus side, I was disappointed that the book contains a rather large number of analytical, grammatical and factual mistakes. For example, it incorrectly states the scores and relative standings of Dubois and Steinitz at the London 1862 tournament, mislabels game 19 in the book as the 19th match game (it was actually game 12), refers to the second match with Chigorin as 1891/2 (it took place entirely in January/February 1892), once misstates the score of the first match with Lasker (which was +10 -5 =4, as correctly stated elsewhere in the book), says that Steinitz lost to the first 5 players at Nuremberg 1896 (he beat 2nd place Maroczy), and refers to a 2014 Anand-Carlsen game that was actually 2013.

[Ken Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steinitz: Move by Move is a masterpiece on the life and games of Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official World Champion and the father of modern chess. We follow him from cradle to death, his life story presented in and between the thirty-five games in this book. The man virtually reinvented chess. A book well worth reading if you want to learn more about the modern history of the game.

[Nickvisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first real introduction to Steinitz as a player, and I thought this book did a great job showing Steinitz's growth and (r)evolution as a Romantic player who really catalyzed the transformation of chess theory and play from the swashbuckling escapades of live-or-die sacrificial kingside attacks into a sporting and scientific (some would say "pawn-grubbing") accumulation of small advantages constituting the basis of a sound attack.

You can see this in the games from early Steinitz, where he plays in a somewhat murky style, with many sacrifices and some impatience. But when Steinitz defeats everyone alive who could challenge him, he goes like a bear into a cave for a a decade-long hibernation. When he is coaxed back into competitive chess, the difference is readily apparent.

This book shows Steinitz at his best, and also at his most provocative. "A pawn is worth a little trouble" -- once you see Steinitz, you'll see how much trouble "a little trouble" is, but you can't say it isn't inspiring to watch him use his king as its own defender -- this man refused to baby his king. See the multiple games in the "Steinitz Gambit" to see what I mean.

Also interesting is the selection of games that shows a certain prescience in Steinitz's theory, where some his play looks downright hypermodern (in the style of his fiercest critics who would begin to show up in the 1910s and 1920s). From a historical standpoint I find this fascinating, but the game itself is also very instructive.

I found the analysis very helpful, with lots of good prose and "stop-and-think" moments as per the usual Move by Move book ethos. Pritchett strikes a nice balance without getting too exhaustive. Each of the games has a nice little introduction giving you a bit of historical context. Since the games are presented in chronological order, you kind of get a feel for Steinitz's development as a player, especially as he becomes the first official world champion.

Overall, I think this is a great collection of games. If you're, say, 1500 USCF or up, or an avid reader and enthusiast, this is right up your alley.

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ok, but not perfect. There are omissions of famous games played by the first World Champion, and the indices could be a bit more user friendly.

I've reviewed this in a little more detailon my blog: http://gorkachc.blogspot.com.au/2015/...