The Battle of Chess Ideas

The Battle of Chess Ideas

Regular price
$95.00
Sale price
$95.00
Regular price
Sold out
Unit price
per 

Author: Saidy, Anthony (1937- ) signed

Year: 1972

Publisher: Chess Digest

Place: Dallas

Description:

160 pages with illustrations. Octavo (8 3/4" x 5 1/2") Issued in green cloth with gilt lettering to spine. [signed] 1st edition.

The Battle of Chess Ideas does for contemporary chess what Reti did almost half a century ago with his celebrated Modern Ideas in Chess and Masters of the Chessboard. Anthony Saidy first discusses the meaning and fascination of chess and sketches its modern development-including a shrewd assessment of the so-called Soviet School of Chess. In the main part of the book, the author critically examines ten greats living players and their best games and shows how they illustrate important ideas in chess. In 'Botvinnik: the March of Science' and 'Larsen: The Vitality of Romance', he reveals the two poles of chess thought: the technical and the creative. These opposite tendencies operate within each of the great players and contend in the world of chess. Reshevsky exemplifies the spirit of survival, contrasting with Keres the attacker; Bronstein is the master of invention, Smyslov of balance; Tal is brilliant in psychology, while Petrosian is the arch 'preventionist'; and finally in Boris Spassky and in the American Bobby Fischer one sees two superb creative players. Here are the great chess players and ideas, presented by a writer who has done across-the-board battle with most of them; and here are the most exciting and vital games of modern chess. Saidy's views will be controversial, but they are those of one who knows and loves chess, not from the sidelines but from the thick of the fray. Considered only as a collection of best games, this is the cream. But in its explanation of chess though, the Battle of Chess Ideas bids to become a classic. Anthony Saidy, an International Master, has long been among the leading players in the USA. A member of the US Olympiad Team in 1964, he was 1960 Canadian Open Champion and 1967 American Open Champion.

Condition:

Spine heal bumped, spine ends and points rubbed. A better than very good copy in a near fine dust jacket.