Article Number
LXCHESP
Author
Strategic Plans: 75 Modern Battles
237 pages, paperback, Elk and Ruby, 1. edition 2019
Russian International Master Maxim Chetverik has written a strategy textbook containing 75 deeply annotated positional games that show players how to devise plans to handle a number of key strategic themes, such as when to open up the game, how to activate the pawn chain, how to carry out positional sacrifices and many others. Unlike most other textbooks, the strategic plans are viewed as battles where the plans of each player clash, and Maxim analyzes why one plan comes out on top.
Also unlike most other textbooks, all example games are drawn from grandmaster play in the 21st century, some played in 2018, and consider the plans right out of the opening stage. This makes the book of particular value to players wishing to better understand the strategies that the openings they play may lead to, bearing in mind the author is an openings expert with ten openings books published. The majority of games are played by elite grandmasters, including Carlsen, Caruana, Anand, Kramnik, Karjakin, Giri, So, Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian, Mamedyarov, Nakamura, Gelfand, Svidler, Ivanchuk, Shirov, Leko, J. Polgar, Topalov, Kamsky, Morozevich, Korchnoi and Spassky.
Chetverik introduces and illustrates the concepts of "macroplan" and "microplan", which provide a simple structural framework for players seeking to devise plans in their own games. The macroplan is the specific way to achieve the required result (usually, a win), for example, the successful exploitation of a queenside pawn majority. The microplan is a way of solving a local problem that involves several moves, such as transferring a knight from a bad square to a good one. Ideally, a macroplan is a chain of sequential and carefully calculated microplans.
This book is largely aimed at strong club players wishing to improve, or their coaches. The recommended Elo range is approximately 1,800 - 2,200, although it may of course be of interest to players a bit lower and a bit higher than this range.
Also unlike most other textbooks, all example games are drawn from grandmaster play in the 21st century, some played in 2018, and consider the plans right out of the opening stage. This makes the book of particular value to players wishing to better understand the strategies that the openings they play may lead to, bearing in mind the author is an openings expert with ten openings books published. The majority of games are played by elite grandmasters, including Carlsen, Caruana, Anand, Kramnik, Karjakin, Giri, So, Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian, Mamedyarov, Nakamura, Gelfand, Svidler, Ivanchuk, Shirov, Leko, J. Polgar, Topalov, Kamsky, Morozevich, Korchnoi and Spassky.
Chetverik introduces and illustrates the concepts of "macroplan" and "microplan", which provide a simple structural framework for players seeking to devise plans in their own games. The macroplan is the specific way to achieve the required result (usually, a win), for example, the successful exploitation of a queenside pawn majority. The microplan is a way of solving a local problem that involves several moves, such as transferring a knight from a bad square to a good one. Ideally, a macroplan is a chain of sequential and carefully calculated microplans.
This book is largely aimed at strong club players wishing to improve, or their coaches. The recommended Elo range is approximately 1,800 - 2,200, although it may of course be of interest to players a bit lower and a bit higher than this range.
EAN | 9785604176924 |
---|---|
Weight | 370 g |
Manufacturer | Elk and Ruby |
Width | 15.6 cm |
Height | 23.2 cm |
Medium | Book |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Author | Maxim Chetverik |
Language | English |
Edition | 1 |
ISBN-13 | 978-5-6041769-2-4 |
Pages | 237 |
Binding | paperback |
006 INTRODUCTION
008 PART I. A one-sided game
009 Chapter 1. Chronicle of a black day
024 Chapter 2. When luck runs out
039 Chapter 3. The pawn is the target
055 Chapter 4. Positional sacrifice
062 Chapter 5. Multi-faceted advantage
062 Openly aiming for a draw
064 Pretending to attack the king
066 When indecision proves fatal
069 Opening up the game too early
071 Pointless sacrifices
073 When prophylaxis triumphs
075 Sabotage in reality and behind the scenes
079 Stubborn avoidance of exchanges
082 I play against pieces
085 Switching play from one flank to the other
089 A MAGICAL INTERLUDE. Watch out, it’s Fabiano!
098 PART II. A two-sided game
099 Chapter 6. Defending like a hero
106 Chapter 7. When equal forces collide
116 Chapter 8. Reaching a draw through spilt blood
125 Chapter 9. One step from saving the day
138 Chapter 10. The battle of macroplans
156 Chapter 11. The priority of piece coordination
170 Chapter 12. Macroplans and microplans
170 Triumph of the macroplan over local threats
175 Triumph on the ”opponent’s“ flank
184 Disaster on the ”opponent’s“ flank
186 Pawns don’t move backwards
190 Failed sabotage of the enemy king
193 Activating the pawn chain
197 The center takes priority
204 Triumph of a central bind
208 Endgame dynamics
210 Thoughtless reshaping of the structure
213 Risk strategy
216 Strategy gives way to tactics
224 Varying defensive plans
227 Ignoring the main threat
230 The art of consolidation
234 A HISTORICAL REFLECTION
235 Players Index
237 Openings Index
008 PART I. A one-sided game
009 Chapter 1. Chronicle of a black day
024 Chapter 2. When luck runs out
039 Chapter 3. The pawn is the target
055 Chapter 4. Positional sacrifice
062 Chapter 5. Multi-faceted advantage
062 Openly aiming for a draw
064 Pretending to attack the king
066 When indecision proves fatal
069 Opening up the game too early
071 Pointless sacrifices
073 When prophylaxis triumphs
075 Sabotage in reality and behind the scenes
079 Stubborn avoidance of exchanges
082 I play against pieces
085 Switching play from one flank to the other
089 A MAGICAL INTERLUDE. Watch out, it’s Fabiano!
098 PART II. A two-sided game
099 Chapter 6. Defending like a hero
106 Chapter 7. When equal forces collide
116 Chapter 8. Reaching a draw through spilt blood
125 Chapter 9. One step from saving the day
138 Chapter 10. The battle of macroplans
156 Chapter 11. The priority of piece coordination
170 Chapter 12. Macroplans and microplans
170 Triumph of the macroplan over local threats
175 Triumph on the ”opponent’s“ flank
184 Disaster on the ”opponent’s“ flank
186 Pawns don’t move backwards
190 Failed sabotage of the enemy king
193 Activating the pawn chain
197 The center takes priority
204 Triumph of a central bind
208 Endgame dynamics
210 Thoughtless reshaping of the structure
213 Risk strategy
216 Strategy gives way to tactics
224 Varying defensive plans
227 Ignoring the main threat
230 The art of consolidation
234 A HISTORICAL REFLECTION
235 Players Index
237 Openings Index
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