The Best I Saw in Chess: Games, Stories and Instruction from an Alabama Prodigy Who Became U.S. Champion

by Stuart Rachels

At the U.S. Championship in 1989, Stuart Rachels seemed bound for the cellar. Ranked last and holding no IM norms, the 20-year-old amateur from Alabama was expected to get waxed by the American top GMs of the day that included Seirawan, Gulko, Dzindzichashvili, deFirmian, Benjamin and Browne.Instead, Rachels pulled off a gigantic upset and became the youngest U.S. Champion since Bobby Fischer. Three years later he retired from competitive chess, but he never stopped following the game.In this wide-ranging, elegantly written, and highly personal memoir, Stuart Rachels passes on his knowledge of chess. Included are his duels against legends such as Kasparov, Anand, Spassky, Ivanchuk, Gelfand and Miles, but the heart of the book is the explanation of chess ideas interwoven with his captivating stories. There are chapters on tactics, endings, blunders, middlegames, cheating incidents, and even on how to combat that rotten opening, the Réti. Rachels offers a complete and entertaining course in chess strategy. At the back are listed 110 principles of play—bits of wisdom that arise naturally in the book’s 24 chapters. Every chess player will find it difficult to put this sparkling book down. As a bonus, it will make you a better player.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

895 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2020

Reviews

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's difficult to write a games collection, autobiography, personal memoir and keep it all entertaining andinstructive. Rachels manages that while still retiring from serious chess in his early 20's.

The material is deeply analysed with explanations and variations calculated. The author checks his analysis with updated engine analysis showing us deep accuracy as well as human thought processes. Just comparing this is a valuable lesson.

But what makes this book so special is that it's written from the heart. Rachels isn't pretentious. Anecdotes about his interactions with famous chess players of his era are charming, though he pulls no punches when criticising bad moves or bad behaviour.

The style of writing is essentially analytical, though there are plenty of witticisms and personal touches.

"Make Luft, not war!"

As games collections go, this is one of the best I've read

[Mark Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best chess autobiographies that I’ve read. Lots of fun stories, and with great annotations - good analysis with plenty of explanation, not just moves.