The Art of Defense in Chess [Paperback]

Andrew Soltis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Chess | Publication Date: September 12, 1986

Most games are not won -- they are lost. The vast majority of instructional books tell how to improve a position when it is already (or may be) favorable. The Art of Defense in Chess analyzes the practical aspects of not having the advantage:
-- How to obtain counterplay
-- When to contest open lines
-- When to accept sacrifices
-- How to anticipate short- and long-term threats
-- How to restrain your opponent's pieces
-- How to create a defense perimeter
-- How to minimize losses
-- And much more

The Art of Defense in Chess also discusses the proper psychological attitudes for successful defense -- coolness under fire, the Saving Grace, stonewalling, etc. -- as well as the Principle of Exploitable Weakness and the Principle of Economy, as illustrated in more than one hundred positions taken from competitive play.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Most games are not won -- they are lost. The vast majority of instructional books tell how to improve a position when it is already (or may be) favorable. The Art of Defense in Chess analyzes the practical aspects of not having the advantage:
-- How to obtain counterplay
-- When to contest open lines
-- When to accept sacrifices
-- How to anticipate short- and long-term threats
-- How to restrain your opponent's pieces
-- How to create a defense perimeter
-- How to minimize losses
-- And much more

The Art of Defense in Chess also discusses the proper psychological attitudes for successful defense -- coolness under fire, the Saving Grace, stonewalling, etc. -- as well as the Principle of Exploitable Weakness and the Principle of Economy, as illustrated in more than one hundred positions taken from competitive play.

About the Author

Andrew Soltis, International Chess Grandmaster, is chess columnist for the New York Post and the author of several popular books on chess, including Pawn Structure Chess Mistakes. and The Catalog of Chess Mistakes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Random House Puzzles & Games (September 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679141081
• ISBN-13: 978-0679141082
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 0.7 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Staple for Chess Players, February 11, 2004

By 

Cordula R Sturm (Burke, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art of Defense in Chess (McKay Chess Library) (Hardcover)

The Art of Defense in Chess is an excellent book. Along with The Art of Attack, this book will help any serious chessplayer round out his/her style. Most books focus only on attack and the few books that do focus on defense usually turn toward counterattack as the only method. This book helped me to understand the principles of defense, which helps when you're being beaten and when you're beating someone. I can't emphasize enough how important the strategies that are discussed in this book are. You will not always be attacking, I guarantee it. Note that this is written in English notation, ie, KN7 and so on. If you only know algebraic, you'll have to practice this older system, but it will be time well spent since many books that one can find are written in this format. Also note that this book, if read correctly, will take a great deal of time to plow through. Basically, you need to have a board out and thoroughly analyze each and every position in order to get the most out of this book. I highly recommend this to intermediate and above players.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A manual for chess survival., December 12, 2003

By 

David W. Myers "Son of a Buff pilot." (Norcross, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Defense in Chess (McKay Chess Library) (Hardcover)

This book helped push me from a mid ranking player (ca 1500) to an advanced amateur (ca 1800). This book helped me learn how to hold onto a busted position and more so, learn how to shore up weaknesses and survive powerful attacks. It's a terrific learning tool, though not for the casual reader. I constantly used a set when reading this book, to analyze positions.

If openings like the Modern Benoni and the Sicilian appeal to you, then this book will eventually help you play more competitive chess and win more games.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You'll learn from this book how to defend when you need it., March 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Defense in Chess (Paperback)

Most of the books I've read deal only when you're on the attack, but in my games this does not happen very often. After reading this book my game improved as I learned how to defend well when I'm under attack and my attacking play became more precise as I am aware of my opponent's defense.