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The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time
A top English grandmaster explains the 200 most astonishing and instructive moves in the history of chess
"This entertaining collection will certainly help to broaden the reader's 'tactical vocabulary'" - GM Jon Speelman, The Independent
Very occasionally, a chess move is played that astonishes the whole world. It may be a move of astounding complexity, unearthly beauty, deep paradox ... or all three. The move is discussed and analysed around the world as chess-players attempt to fathom both why the move works, and how on earth anyone thought of it in the first place.
In this book, John Emms has selected, from hundreds of candidates, the 200 most amazing chess moves of all time. In each case, the reader is given the chance to try to find the move for himself - making this one of the most challenging chess puzzle books ever published. He provides full solutions, focusing on what can be learned from each Amazing Move, and what made it so hard to see.
These moves are not, on the whole, completely beyond the comprehension of ordinary players. A standard reaction to these Amazing Moves is "Of course! Why didn't I see that?" By studying this book, you will both improve your chess, and increase your chance of becoming the proud player of an Amazing Move, rather than being the dumbfounded victim.
John Emms is one of England's strongest grandmasters, and an experienced trainer. He is also a skilful and versatile he has several opening monographs and general guides to his credit, and authored the hugely popular work, The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book .
"I like this book very much. Emms's commentaries are always interesting and complete ... And the positions are excellent" - GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
"'The deep and mysterious' along with Emms's 'top twenty' will simply amaze and hopefully also inspire readers to look for that amazing move in their own games. As the games in this work show, although the top grandmasters do produce many of those amazing moves, so too can a club player, whilst finding just one of these incredible moves should provide readers with much confidence. This work can be seen as simply a very challenging puzzle book, but it is indeed far more than that and I am confident that readers, assisted by Emms's excellent explanations, will thoroughly enjoy and be inspired by each of these two hundred amazing moves" - IM Richard Palliser, BCF Chess Moves
"This entertaining collection will certainly help to broaden the reader's 'tactical vocabulary'" - GM Jon Speelman, The Independent
Very occasionally, a chess move is played that astonishes the whole world. It may be a move of astounding complexity, unearthly beauty, deep paradox ... or all three. The move is discussed and analysed around the world as chess-players attempt to fathom both why the move works, and how on earth anyone thought of it in the first place.
In this book, John Emms has selected, from hundreds of candidates, the 200 most amazing chess moves of all time. In each case, the reader is given the chance to try to find the move for himself - making this one of the most challenging chess puzzle books ever published. He provides full solutions, focusing on what can be learned from each Amazing Move, and what made it so hard to see.
These moves are not, on the whole, completely beyond the comprehension of ordinary players. A standard reaction to these Amazing Moves is "Of course! Why didn't I see that?" By studying this book, you will both improve your chess, and increase your chance of becoming the proud player of an Amazing Move, rather than being the dumbfounded victim.
John Emms is one of England's strongest grandmasters, and an experienced trainer. He is also a skilful and versatile he has several opening monographs and general guides to his credit, and authored the hugely popular work, The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book .
"I like this book very much. Emms's commentaries are always interesting and complete ... And the positions are excellent" - GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess
"'The deep and mysterious' along with Emms's 'top twenty' will simply amaze and hopefully also inspire readers to look for that amazing move in their own games. As the games in this work show, although the top grandmasters do produce many of those amazing moves, so too can a club player, whilst finding just one of these incredible moves should provide readers with much confidence. This work can be seen as simply a very challenging puzzle book, but it is indeed far more than that and I am confident that readers, assisted by Emms's excellent explanations, will thoroughly enjoy and be inspired by each of these two hundred amazing moves" - IM Richard Palliser, BCF Chess Moves
- GenresChess
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 30, 2017
"Choosing your favorite is all very subjective", says John Emms in the Introduction of this book, but when the selection has been done by such a prominent chess writer, there is no need to be overly critical.
The only objection I have is about the decision to quote the opening moves of the almost all games. True, such an idea cannot hurt when the puzzle-position is reached after just 4 moves (as in Puzzle 98). However, I don't see the point of including, for example, all 42 moves (Puzzle 42), or 63 moves (as in Puzzle 149). The book should be only concentrated on the really amazing moves, shouldn't it?
Anyway, I'm glad - very glad - to have this book on the shelf.
The only objection I have is about the decision to quote the opening moves of the almost all games. True, such an idea cannot hurt when the puzzle-position is reached after just 4 moves (as in Puzzle 98). However, I don't see the point of including, for example, all 42 moves (Puzzle 42), or 63 moves (as in Puzzle 149). The book should be only concentrated on the really amazing moves, shouldn't it?
Anyway, I'm glad - very glad - to have this book on the shelf.
Displaying 1 of 1 review