Winning Chess Brilliancies

by Yasser Seirawan

This book by International Grand Master Yasser Seirawan provides a move-by-move account of the best chess games of the last 25 years, played by the world's foremost chess competitors. With an authoritative voice that is by turns poetic and analytical, Seirawan serves as host of a fascinating excursion of the most brilliant chess game, providing highlights into and explanations of each and every move.

Seirawan begins each game with a description of the historical atmosphere of the chess world --and sometimes the world at large--at the time the game was played. When he delves into the game itself, he starts with the reasoning behind the opening moves. From there he provides both a play-by-play description of the game and an analytical commentary, all the while examining the moves in terms of place development and possible tactical and strategic opportunities. Along the way, a handful of the players are profiled in biographies.

In Winning Chess Brilliancies readers will get a taste of the most dazzling chess combinations devious strategies, and downright cruel blows as world champions risk it all! This book is truly a celebration of the sport of chess.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Yasser Seirawan is an American chess grandmaster and four-time United States champion. He is a published chess author and commentator. His peak FIDE rating was 2658, which he reached in November, 2011.

Reviews

[JStanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What this book Really is, is an excellent instruction in positional chess, emphasis on resulting tactics and their flawless execution. I know what you're thinking. - "Well DUH!".
My point is really a criticism. This is a book on brilliancies. As good as this book is (awesome!), it could have featured twice as many games, without necessarily printing the Entire games. This is not a book that should (necessarily) have opening analysis on every single game. Just my opinion.

[Noah Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me many happy hours marvelling behind the board at the brilliance exuded by the world's best chess players.

[Ernest Cadorin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents 12 grandmaster games and explains each move in great detail at an appropriate level for me (1600 rating). The explanations are straight-forward and logical. It is very similar in format to Chernev’s book Logical Chess Move by Move.

As the name suggests, this book features games that have brilliant moments, and not necessarily games that have an abundance of common strategic themes. The background information given at the beginning of each game is interesting.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great collection of instructional games. I learned a lot from this book.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great chess book by Seirawan. He writes for his readers to understand his game. This book teaches via my favorite chess teaching method ... move by move through memorable games.

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seirawan's writing and analysis are excellent, but come on now, just 12 games, and 10 of those very well known and widely available in other books? Not a great amount of material to work with here.