Pawn Sacrifice!: Winning at chess the adventurous way [Paperback]

Timothy Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2008

Pawn sacrifices are incredibly common in chess games, and yet for some unknown reason they have been rather neglected in chess literature... until now.

In this pioneering work, Timothy Taylor uncovers the secrets of pawn sacrifices, highlighting the many reasons for their success and indicating the ideal situations in which pawn sacrifices work. The ability to handle pawn sacrifices is one of the most important skills in chess, and enhancing this skill will undoubtedly improve your understanding and results. This book will show you how to do this.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is obvious from Taylor’s writing that he still has a sense of enthusiasm for chess that is both refreshing as well as inspiring.

Michael Jeffreys reviewing Tim Taylor’s Bird’s Opening for Chessville.com.

From the Back Cover

It was the chess legend Philidor who wrote: ‘The pawns are the soul of chess’, and yet it is these modest infantrymen who are always the first to die for the cause. Pawn sacrifices are incredibly common in chess games, and yet for some unknown reason they have been rather neglected in chess literature... until now.

In this pioneering work, Timothy Taylor carries out an in-depth study of this significant subject. Using an abundance of instructive examples, Taylor uncovers the secrets of pawn sacrifices, highlighting the many reasons for their success, indicating the ideal situations in which pawn sacrifices work, as well as showing positions in which they are not so effective. The ability to handle pawn sacrifices is one of the most important skills in chess, and enhancing this skill will undoubtedly improve your understanding and results. This book will show you how to do this.

 

*An enlightening and entertaining guide to pawn sacrifices

*Covers essential tactical and positional ideas

*Written by a battle-hardened professional player

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Everyman Chess; 1st edition (July 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857445651
• ISBN-13: 978-1857445657
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,788,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is "REAL" Chess!!!, July 4, 2008

By 

Michael Allard (Bowie, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pawn Sacrifice!: Winning at chess the adventurous way (Paperback)

Bravo I.M. Timothy Taylor. This work proves he is both a consumate chess author and teacher. Not only does the book fulfill the basics with full game score examples, index of players and openings, and bibliography, he demonstrates both the courage and creativity to challenge the mind set of those (including world class players) ever so increasingly dependent on the anayltical work of Fritz et al.

Taylor admittedly builds upon the the Rudolf Spielmann's classic, THE ART OF SACRIFICE IN CHESS,in two ways. First, Taylor focuses upon the pawn sacrifice only and second he expands the classification of such sacrifices. The 67 complete games (with full game scores) are thoroughly analysed not only by Taylor but with audacity he allows the comments of Fritz 9 and tells us why the latters's opinion can be deprioritized. Taylor's narrative is not only audacious, insightful, and in many instances very humorous. He is also a master of the psychological for chess play.

With a world (including that of chess) that is increasingly besotted by brain snatching silicon oracles, Taylor shows no fear in demonstrating why one does NOT have to think like chess software. "In every game in this book, at some point one of the players said to himself, 'I'm going to sacrifice this pawn - I don't see when or how I'm getting it back, but I like my position." (page 8)

This book clearly demonstrates what it means to be a "human" chess player and to play with the stones we are born with.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sacrifices for the club player, January 20, 2009

By 

Alonzo H. Ross (Shrewsbury, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pawn Sacrifice!: Winning at chess the adventurous way (Paperback)

We all like our Chess books to be accurate and that is why computer analysis is helpful. But the subject of this book is deciding whether to make a pawn sacrifice or not, and also the various types of pawn sacrifices. For the Club player, we cannot really calculate out 10-15 moves and decide for certain if the sacrifice is sound. This book provides common sense, easy to implement rules to judge the situation. It is well written and easy to understand. The average player can incorporate these rules into his/her game and make a significant improvement in their game.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To any who take pride in the way they play the game., September 5, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pawn Sacrifice!: Winning at chess the adventurous way (Paperback)

The making of a small sacrifice for a larger gain, is a common tactic of chess masters. "Pawn Sacrifice! Winning at Chess the Adventurous Way" is a guide to the game of chess centered around this common, yet effective tactic. Outlining when it's a good idea, when it's foolish, and when it's just reckless, "Pawn Sacrifice!" is a guide to improve the chess game of any who play it. "Pawn Sacrifice!" is highly recommended to any who take pride in the way they play the game.