Customer Reviews

Garry Kasparov's Greatest Chess Games, Vol. 2

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If you're the type of hardcore chessplayer who isnt satisfied by the average 'best games' anthologies, thinking the analysis either too skimpy or full of too much calculation and not enough words - pick up these two vols of perhaps the greatest player of all time. Stohl annotates these games the way I wish most anthologies were annotated. Lots of calculation, but lots of words explaining the ideas as well. The book (hardback) is nice and big, well put together and easy to work with. The games are of course breathtaking and I hope one day Stohl works on the games of my favorite player, Karpov. I have over 20 anthologies of great players, but these two vols are by far the most impressive analytical work. They are absolutely perfect for "Kotov Sessions". The author may be criticized for being a bit cold and removed, but I'm looking for hardcore top level chess and I am 100% satisfied with this work. Beyond Impressive.

This book is a little loaded on the front end...meaning it seems to overanalyze the opening (meet the modern era!), but it certainly doesn't neglect the rest of the game either. Games are annotated heavily (sometimes after just about every move) so that the games are often around 7 pages long! Lots of chess meat, right? Of course, great, but it is so exhausting, after about the first 10 moves I have spent almost 2 hours on just half the opening (I am the type of person that has to go through every annotation and analyze every line till the end or I just feel dirty :). By then I am ready to go to sleep and tackle the rest of the game the next day, which invariable I never do...

That said the annotations are very accurate, very informative, and I am sure took a very large amount of time to complete. And although I prefer the Andrew Soltis style (ala "Bobby Fischer Rediscovered" and "Why Lasker Matters") of giving games with just enough annotation to give you a good idea of what the player had in mind and why other moves are bad or better-- mainly because this method allows me to solve some of the problems myself and think for myself more--but I cannot really knock Stohl's more in-depth approach as it allows me to look at stuff I wouldn't have thought of. Only thing is the Soltis style is much more pleasurable a read and allows you to view the game as a whole without the feeling you need to take a break after the completion of each phase of the game (opening, middlegame, endgame).

The only real complaint I have about the games chosen is he includes a few blitz and rapid games. As a wise man once noted, "he who analyzes blitz games is stupid." No matter how well the player played relative to time, they can't be included in a player's Greatest Games Ever book.

But in the end, I would recommend this book if you like a challenge or just like Kasparov's style of play.

Having gone over only the first few games in this book (and not owning Volume one) I can definately say these games are highly entertaining. Whether you can learn much from such high-level chess is debatable but certainly there are excellent notations and it is evident why Kasparov was world champ. Not just great chess, but dynamic, exciting chess. Playing over some of the games just leaves you in awe. It's expensive, but if you get it as a gift as I did, it's like a treasure. Some of you may do better to seek out cheaper versions of his games. If you play chess, you can not ignore Kasparov and certainly the author has put a great deal of effort into this contribution.

Without doubt, Garry Kasparov should be considered the greatest palyers of all times. Not only his ELO rating 2851, the quality of games are all speaking for themselves. Yes, Fischer in the period 1970 -1972, I think his strength was on par with him.( in fact the two giants's style of play are very similar!!) But only 3 years!! Kasparov dominated the chess world for 20 years. He accepted all the challeges from the old masters, like Karpove and Korchnoi, he defeated his comtemparies like Hubner, etc,
and even the younger stars, except Kramnik, cannot give him much trouble. I think the other player can stand with him was Lasker. Who before World War, dominted the chess world for 27 years and also never afraid any challanges to him!!
The two volumes are must for all players, no matter what level your are!!