Andy Ansel’s Book Reviews

My first review considers a little ignored gem that everyone should buy. It is Learn Chess From the Greats by Peter Tamburro Jr, published by Dover in 2000. The list price is the bargain value of $7.95. Mr. Tamburro publishes a USCF weekly newspaper column. What comes through clear is the author’s love of the game and his ability to write for a wide and diverse audience. These selections were not culled from database work but from looking through many obscure sources to find games and positions that entertain, instruct and overall promote the game of chess. The book is divided into seven chapters, consisting of: For Students and Coaches, How to Attack, You must Learn Endgames, The Artists of Chess, Exciting Miniatures!, Games by the Greats, and For the Fun of It!

Each column is a page long and most can be followed without a board so it is a great book to carry around at all times. I also recommend playing through many of the games with a board to further enjoy their beauty. The columns are not all games, some are positional fragments as well as endgame studies. The notes are brief but maintain full value÷I have long argued that most people hardly play through deep notes such as Nunn and Huebner produce. Below is one of my favorite games from page 122. Relax and enjoy. This book is not only a tremendous value, but a treat to read and play through. This book gets my highest recommendation. *****

Here is a nice game for that book:

Liskov — Byelin USSR, 1955

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 Nbd7 8.0ö0ö0 Qa5 9.h4 Be7 10.Kb1 Nc5 11.g4 0ö0 12.Qe2 Na4 13.Nxa4 Qxa4 14.f3 Bd7 15.Be3 Bb5 16.Qf2 Bxf1 17.Rdxf1 Nd7 18.g5 Rfc8 19.h5 Nf8 20.f4 Qc4 21.Qg2 Rc7 22.f5 e5 23.Nb3 Rac8 24.Rf2 d5 25.exd5 Rd7 26.f6 Bd8 27.fxg7 Kxg7 28.g6 f6 29.h6+ Kg8 30.g7 Ng6 31.Qxg6 Rxd5 32.Qe8# 1–0