Customer Reviews

Bent Larsen's Best Games of Chess (Hardinge Simpole Chess Classics)

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

 

 

I had one previously bad experience with this publisher, Hardinge Simpole, but I chalked it up to a one-time thing. I bought this book and Bent's games and annotations get five stars, of course, but a simple reprint (digital or not, it's JUST a reprint - not even in algebraic format!) doesn't merit a $25 price tag, which knocks off three stars.

I doubt I'll ever buy anything from Hardinge Simpole again. If you MUST buy this book, see if you can get the original, older version from a used bookstore or the reprint from one of the many fine sellers here on Amazon. $25 is WAY too much for a nearly 40-year-old book with a new (and a generic, highly unimaginative) cover.

I have always found that works on Chess are most accurate (if not always most readable) when written by the player, eliminating the need for second degree sources and speculation. Despite the fact that he never made it to the title of World Champion, Larsen is possibly one of the most prominent figures of 20th century chess, with a career spanning five decades, falling on either side of his contention for the title in the 1960s.
His book runs straight from the early years in Denmark through to the glory years, and is a suitable commentary on the experiences of one of the most innovative of players. It is a good read in general, and a necessity I think for anyone whose interest lies in 20th century chess.

Bent Larsen is one of the outstanding figures of post-war chess, with top-level tournament victories spanning five decades. His outstanding fighting qualities have made him a great favourite with the chess public and even in the latter stages of his career he remained capable of sweeping victories over world-class opposition. While some other Grandmasters have settled for an easy retirement, Larsen still fires on all cylinders! This classic book is Larsen's greatest contribution to chess literature. It follows his career from his early years in Denmark, through to Grandmaster recognition in 1956 and World Championship contender in the 1960s. At that time he was probably the most imaginative player in the world and was widely regarded as the best hope for a western World Champion. Indeed, in 1970 he held top board against Spassky for the Rest of the World against the USSR, ahead of Bobby Fischer! Although Larsen never quite attained the supreme title, his tournament career remains truly exceptional. Larsen's willingness to fight with either colour is captured by his view that 'all pieces are attacking pieces', an apt motto for the Master of Counter-Attack.

I was quite happy with the format of the book,overall it is a well written book.Bent Larsen was a great chess player and if not for Bobby Fischer he probably would have faced Boris Spassky for the world title.