Customer Reviews

Art of Chess Analysis

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't agree with the other reviewers. The analysis is certainly not 'passionate'; a more apposite description would be 'dispassionate'. Nor is it long on variations and short on explanations. Rather, the other way around. For 'long on variations' see the books by Speelman or Hubner. Timman seeks to get to the heart of the position. Enough analysis is given to explain the position. The analysis of variations is judiciously mixed with verbal assessments and explanations. The people who would profit most from the book would probably be of at least expert strength. Timman doesn't belabor the obvious or give unnecessary or irrelevant lines.

The second edition is a significant improvement. Criticisms given by Nunn and Dvoretsky have been taken into account,and some of their analysis has been incorporated, with due acknowledgement.

For players not quite able to cope with Timman, another good book is Nunn and Griffiths' 'Secrets of Grandmaster Play', which is more detailed, less terse, and written in a more pedagogic spirit.

Timman analyzes the greatest games of the late 70's and early 80's with a depth and breadth rarely seen in any chess book. These are titanic struggles -- famous games like Bronstein - Ljubojevic, Petropolis 1973; Fischer - Petrosian, 1st match game 1971; and Korchnoi - Karpov, 21st match game 1978. The latter game runs no less than thirteen pages with numerous lengthy analyses of positions that "might have been" had one or another crucial continuation been chosen. Timman has attempted to find the absolute truth of each of these games and one suspects that he has come mighty close. I think that how much one gets out of this book will be directly in proportion to one's playing strength. Definitely recommended for players of class "A" strength and above. A classic.

I do not own the current, reprinted version of this book, but my thumb-worn original RHM copy has taught me a lot about chess. Timman has selected absolute top-quality Grandmaster games from the 1970's and analyzed them deeply. Originally, these analyses were intended for himself -- an exercise in annotation for an aspiring International Master who wanted to play like the players of these games. As a result, this book is long on variations and short on prose explaining them. This book would be of minimal use to average players but would be an excellent lesson in annotation for "A" players and above. Highly recommended.

Not many words. With this book, they are unneccessary.

Maybe, "The Greatest Chess Book Ever Written?"

No, I am NOT kidding.

My first copy of this book came out probably 20 years ago. Its just as good (better) today as it was then. I think even Garry Kasparov (and any other player in the World's Top Ten); would learn something from this book if they cared to apply themselves. Its like a diamond, every time you look at it you see a new and beautiful facet to enjoy with awe and wonder. Only a handful of books will ever come close to what this book achieved.

Note of Warning: The very beginner/lower-rated player will find this book much too tough a read.

Definitely a book of analysis, but do not look for any "Art". If you are thinking this book will teach you "how" to analyze chess positions, think again. This is a book for strong players.

The analysis of the games selected is very deep, and some valuable observations are shared with the reader. If you study the selected games and commentary, you will undoubtedly gain some valuable information, perhaps even some insight, but you are unlikely to learn anything new about "how" analysis should be performed.

If you are a mid-range player looking for some "how to" suggestions on evaluating positions, consider instead "Better Chess for Average Players" by Tim Harding, especially the chapter on "choosing a move", or even "Secrets of Practical Chess" by John Nunn, although the latter approaches the subject more broadly and a little less concretely.

Grandmaster Timman is passionate about chess, and through his writing, attempts to share his love of the game. This book will especially appeal to those players of intermediate strength and above, who are fascinated by the depth and infinite variety of the game. The book is a quest for truth on the 64 squares. It does not aim to be didactic, although it might well improve ones game. Its value would seem to be primarily as a source of inspiration and as a glimpse into chess as it's played at the highest level. And indeed, it is a most remarkable glimpse into a realm which few of us would be able to partake so fully, or with such relish, without a guide of Timman's caliber and integrity.

There are few chess players capable of analysis of this depth and accuracy. Only four come immediately to mind: Taimanov, Polugayevsky, Kasparov, and Timman. Books at this level and of this quality are therefore few in number, and for those who appreciate them, they are treasures.

This is not an easy book to digest, but one need not be a prize winner nor a prodigy to understand and appreciate the book. Rather, the author presupposes a reader that has more than a passing familiarity with chess strategy and tactics, and that has more than a little experience over the board. The book's rewards--and they are rich rewards indeed--should then be commenserate with the effort invested.

Regarding the title, one would do well to keep in mind that book titles are very often assigned by marketing departments little concerned with conveying precise information. As Scott Adams humorously points up, by way of his brilliant comic strip, "Dilbert", the term "marketing" would seem to be a euphemism for the word "fraud". But to be fair, it is hard to come up with new titles for chess books, without encroaching on other books with similar titles. After all, many thousands of chess books have been published, with titles that fairly exhaust the possibilities. "Art of Chess Analysis" is at least a stab at a unique identifier. Furthermore, by offering up his exemplary analyses, Timman might rightfully be regarded an artist, and his skill at analysis, his art (definition below). If so, then this is an art book whose title seems appropriate.

*art \'ärt\ n. 1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation <the art of making friends> ...
4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced --Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.

I like this book so much that after reading it's been updated with commentary by other GMs I'm almost tempted to buy the 2nd edition and give my copy away. This is not a beginners book as I'm sure others have noted and it does have very dense analysis as the 24 games in the book take up 216 pp! The first edition came out in 1980 and the fact that this book is still in print 30 years later is certainly a good recommendation for it.

This is Jan Timman's greatest work. It contains the most thorough and passionate analysis of games not played by the author that I have ever seen. This book is due to become an all time great on the level with My Best Games of Chess by Alekhine and The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal.