Russians Versus Fischer (Chess books) (Hardcover)

~ Dmitry Plisetsky (Author), Sergey Voronkov (Author) "Bobby Fischer has probably attracted more attention and aroused keener interest than has any other world chess champion..." (more)
Key Phrases: Sports Committee, Sicilian Defence, Buenos Aires (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This magnificent volume contains the extraordinary story of the prolonged battle between Bobby Fischer, the lone American genius who is perhaps the most famous chess player of all time, and the long-standing and all-dominating Soviet chess machine. For the first time readers will be able to view virtually all the secret documents on "the Fischer problem", many of which have never previously been published. These include papers from the archives of the KGB, the Communist Party Central Committee, the USSR Sports Committee, and the Chess Federation. Together with this, there are reports and analysis of Fischer's personality and play, written at the demand of the Soviet authorities by the country's leading Grandmasters, legends such as Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Victor Korchnoi, and Efim Geller.

Also contained in Russians Versus Fischer are annotations and the stories on all of the 158 chess encounters between Fischer and his Soviet adversaries, and a large number of rare photographs and drawings. This book is a significantly enlarged and updated version of the one first published in Russia in 1994.
--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 394 pages
• Publisher: Chess World Ltd.,Russia; First Edition edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 5900767019
• ISBN-13: 978-5900767017
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,549,851 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Analyzing Fischer from the Russian perspective, July 25, 2002

By	Cory N Moran (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This book is a must-have for any fan of Fischer. It provides over 100 annotated games over Fischer's career in which he faced off with the Russians. It spans from his early tournament years to he famous title match.

Mixed in with the games is original commentary from many of the great Russian masters including Tal, Botvannik, Smyslov, Petrosian, Spassky and many more. And this commentary is priceless! I have never seen such of collection of insightful, informative and sometimes hilarious critiquing of Fischer from his adversaries.
The Russians remark on subjects varying from Fischer's strengths and weaknesses to how they loved to play practical jokes on him when they socialized. Very unique perspectives!

But as Fischer grows stronger and becomes more of a threat, the Russians' view of him becomes much more serious. "Secret documents" are revealed in this book depicting the correspondence between the best Russian players of the day in which they combine their thoughts on how they were going to destroy the "Fischer Factor"

This book is great to own because of the collection of games it contains. But it is worth buying just to read through the stories and perspectives from Fischer's truly awesome opponents.

Highly recommend to all fans of the great Bobby Fischer

5 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro, entretenido e informativo., December 4, 2005

By	AhKimPechess (Campeche, MEX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Russians versus Fischer (Everyman Chess) (Hardcover)

El libro posee información muy interesante, pero uno espera (bueno, al menos en mi caso) encontrar más fotos. Por supuesto, es muy interesante hallar opiniones de diversos grandes maestros (frecuentemente los más fuertes de la época) sobre las probabilidades de uno u otro bando, y apreciar como la valoración de la fuerza de Fischer varía de una época a otra.