The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich: A World Class Player on the Opening He Made Popular [Paperback]

Alexander Morozevich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2007

Alexander Morozevich, one of the strongest and most popular chess players in the world, has almost single-handedly transformed this half-forgotten opening with a shady reputation into a ready-to-use weapon for chess players who like a dynamic game with active piece play. In this highly personal book Morozevich reveals the ideas behind his pet lines and presents instructive material from more than 50 previously unpublished games against top grandmasters. He not only makes a popular chess opening more accessible, but also helps you to develop a dynamic playing style.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fantastic book, full of spirit, fascinating (and often original) analyses, incredible games, and honest appraisals by one of the world’s best players." -- IM Jeremy Silman

"Not only a good opening book, and a beautiful collection of games, but it also gives deeper insight into the more general question of how top players study openings." -- ChessVibes.com

"Unlike some opening manuals, Morozevich makes no outlandish claims for his pet variation." -- David R.Sands, The Washington Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: New In Chess,Csi (January 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9056912003
• ISBN-13: 978-9056912000
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,599,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morozevich & Barsky have created a masterpiece!, August 27, 2007

By 

D. Avery (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich: A World Class Player on the Opening He Made Popular (Paperback)

This book provides the reader with enough information to play the Chigorin Defense against almost anyone. So, what is the Chigorin Defense, and why should you consider playing it? It's an old line of the Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6!?/?!) that was considered bad for many years. Morozevich rejuvenated it and became one of the best players in the world in part because of his success with this opening. He's beaten Karpov, Kramnik and many other players as Black in this opening.

My main question when I saw this book was how much was actually written by Morozevich. Morozevich wrote relatively little new material, but his games and annotations form the backbone of the book. Both Morozevich and Barsky (an International Master who also plays the Chigorin) are honest about the playability of the lines. They point out where White is doing well, and how Black can counter White's plans.

The games are amazing! I have been teaching chess for about 14 years and this book taught me how little I know about dynamic chess at its highest levels. Even if you are a strong master, you will probably gain something from this book. International Master Christoph Wisznewski, the author of the excellent book "Play 1...Nc6" said in a forum that he wished he had been able to see this book before his came out.

Morozevich states "[i]f Black has a feeling for this opening,... and knows how to jump with his knights and create dynamic tension, he can certainly play the Chigorin Defense. Even against me, if I should play 1.d4 with white."

This is an opening book that will help young players and old masters to improve their game. It will also have a very, very long shelf-life!

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable and well thought out..., January 23, 2012

By 

Broadmeadow (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich: A World Class Player on the Opening He Made Popular (Paperback)

The book is easy to read and full of funny, colloquial English phrases. Too often these books read like the stilted translations they are. Not this one.

Moro has played this opening extensively so he isn't just an arm chair theoretician gushing and enthusing about games from a database. Interestingly he is now hanging up the opening and moving on to others, not because he thinks the opening is bad, just because he requires change to his repertoire. As such he is willing to share pretty everything so far as I can tell.

Whether you play black or are a white QP player, you should read this book. White must because it is difficult to impossible to avoid the opening if black wants to go there.

6 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Long algebraic notation!, January 13, 2008

By 

JavaMate (Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chigorin Defence According to Morozevich: A World Class Player on the Opening He Made Popular (Paperback)

So far I've bought two books from the "New In Chess" publisher - the other one being 'On The Attack', but I just can't read (or recommend) them because every chess move in these books is in the dreaded long notation. Is it me, or does anyone else find it impossible to think (visualize) in long notation?

Here's what "Wikipedia' has to say about it:

[Some computer programs (and people) use a variant of algebraic chess notation, termed long algebraic notation or fully expanded algebraic notation. In fully expanded algebraic notation, moves include both the starting and ending squares separated by a hyphen: for example, "e2-e4" or "Nb1-c3". Captures are indicated with "x" instead of a hyphen: "Rd3xd7". This notation takes more space and thus is not as commonly used. However it has the advantage of clarity, particularly for less skilled players or players learning the game.

Some books using primarily short algebraic notation use the long notation instead of the disambiguation forms. Long algebraic notation was no longer recognized by FIDE as of 1981.]

I wish Amazon.com would add 'chess notation' in their "Product Details" list. This way customers wouldn't end up with books written in Long Algebraic, Figurine Algebraic or even Descriptive Notation...