Excelling at Technical Chess: Learn to Identify and Exploit Small Advantages [Paperback]

Jacob Aagaard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

In this book Jacob Aagaard studies the valuable skill of chess technique. He arms the reader with several endgame weapons that every strong technical player has in his toolbox. These include important skills such as schematic thinking, domination, preventing counterplay, building fortresses and utilizing zugzwang. These tools are illustrated in deeply analyzed games containing numerous different themes. A serious study of this book will ensure that the reader no longer need fear the word "technique"!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

'And the rest is a matter of technique' is an annoyingly common phrase used in chess literature. The implication from the author is that the task of converting a typically winning position into a full point or converting a drawing position into half-a-point is relatively straightforward. However, as all of us practical players realize, it's not always as simple as this, and many hard-earned points are wasted through 'a lack of technique'.
In this valuable book Jacob Aagaard aims to solve this perennial problem. He arms the reader with several endgame weapons that every strong technical player has in his toolbox. These include important skills such as schematic thinking, domination, preventing counterplay, building fortresses and utilizing zugzwang. These tools are illustrated in deeply analyzed games containing numerous different themes. A serious study of this book will ensure that the reader no longer need fear the word 'technique'!

*Ideal for club and tournament players
*Includes all the principal tools of technique
*Written by an experienced endgames expert

About the Author

Jacob Aagaard is an International Master from Denmark who has earned himself a deserved reputation as an industrious and no-nonsense chess author. His recent books for Everyman include Queen's Indian Defence and Excelling at Positional Chess, while his earlier work, Excelling at Chess, won the prestigious ChessCafe.com Book of the Year Award.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Everyman Chess; 1st edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857443640
• ISBN-13: 978-1857443646
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,191,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the serious student only!, February 22, 2005

By 

Robert (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Excelling at Technical Chess: Learn to Identify and Exploit Small Advantages (Paperback)

Jacob Aagard is possibly the best chess teacher currently being published - better than Dvoretsky for those of us not yet at master level. His explanations are to the point, and his examples are both fresh and lucid. However, you must be a reasonably strong player to get the full benefit of his works (at least 1600 ELO USCF generally, possibly 1800 for this particular book). This text will help give you the technical foundation required to achieve a master's rating. Beyond that, I have found that it has affected other aspects of my game. I have found myself considering endgame issues in the middlegame, giving me more confidence to enter a particular line because I can see how the resulting pawn structure and piece placements work to my advantage. He stresses concrete thinking while using general rules to help guide your thoughts. His books are well written (although the publisher could have done a better job picking out typos), but are not intended for fun. Skip this book unless you are serious about chess!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good concept, could have more material, July 5, 2005

By 

Marcin Kasperski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Excelling at Technical Chess: Learn to Identify and Exploit Small Advantages (Paperback)

I like the idea of this book very much, it has well thought out topic and well organized content. There are not so many books teaching how to play complex multi-pieces endings and this book fills this niche very well.

There could be a bit more examples, many important concepts are illustrated just by one or two games, moreover not all illustrative games match the subject they illustrate perfectly. More short examples (from real games or especially prepared, I do not bother) would make this book better.

Minor but very irritating feature of Aagaard books (present both here and in Excelling at Chess Calculation) is repeatable theme
of criticizing or applauding other chessbook authors. Those notes add no value to the book, interrupt the thread of reasoning and just eat the valuable space.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars practical, simple to the point concepts to have you playing endgames with some sense, December 31, 2007

By 

L. Medina "Learner" (Brasil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Excelling at Technical Chess: Learn to Identify and Exploit Small Advantages (Paperback)

There might be more thorough books on endgames outhere. But i really like this one because practicly in no time i learned and apply simple concepts and guidelines on how to play no-nonsense endgames. I still have to fight it off with higher and stronger players but i definetely enjoy playing endings and have stollen one or two theoritical or practical draws by outplaying or even tiring out many players just doing my best to apply the concepts learned on this book. There was at least a review saying the book lacks more examples , i think that is correct but i still give it 5 stars because i find it a very down to earth and inmensely practical book on the subject.