Secrets of Positional Chess [Paperback]

Drazen Marovic (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

How can one determine if a piece is weak or strong? Or if a square is weak or strong? These are the principal questions that grandmaster and trainer Drazen Marovic addresses in this important book. By discussing carefully-chosen games and positions, Marovic explains how to recognize good and bad features of positions, and how to make use of one's advantages and exploit the opponent's weaknesses. One repeatedly sees 'weaknesses' that are unexploitable (and therefore are not weaknesses at all), possibilities of surrendering certain squares in order to gain more important ones, and material sacrifices to exploit major weaknesses. Topics include: outposts; strength and weakness on files and diagonals; vulnerabilities on the first and second ranks; static weakness and attack; and characteristics of the pieces.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Drazen Marovic is a grandmaster from Croatia, who has won medals as both player and trainer for various national teams. His pupils include Bojan Kurajica, World Under-20 Champion in 1965, and Al Modiahki of Qatar, the first Arabian grandmaster. Marovic has a wealth of experience as a writer, editor and television commentator on chess. He is currently the trainer of the Croatian national team. This is his third book for Gambit. His two previous books discussed various aspects of pawn play, and have been warmly received by the chess-playing public: see Understanding Pawn Play in Chess and Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Gambit Publications (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1901983730
• ISBN-13: 978-1901983739
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 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: #1,262,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic instruction from an old-school author, March 10, 2005

By 

D Owen (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of Positional Chess (Paperback)

I am a huge fan of the Marovic books under the Gambit imprint, and have found them to contain tremendous instruction on the strategic elements of chess. This book is my equal-favorite, alongside his Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess.
The charm of this book is that the author uses such a wonderful blend of examples. Original classic games are mixed in with both modern examples, and with little-known (but instructive) games from different eras. Marovic is well-known as an experienced trainer. His considered selection of past games where certain positional themes were invented or made famous is a chess education in itself.
The very experienced player who has already studied the classics may find familiar examples. But for the great majority of competitive players, a dose of Marovic will be just what is needed for all-round strategic benefit. Fine quality examples and fine quality writing.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book for Class B players, March 24, 2006

By 

J. Evans "Grand-amateur" (VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets of Positional Chess (Paperback)

I have to admit, I stink at positional chess. This is a great book because it helps explain positional chess ideas to the non-master player. The author gives many useful examples. I have hundreds of books on chess, but if I had to choose only 10, this would be one of them. Want to make a jump in rating points? Want to go from B to A player? This is a book that can really help. Also check out his other books about pawns. Gambit books rule!!!!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good style and clear but incorrect examples, March 4, 2007

By 

Gcc Van Dorth (Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secrets of Positional Chess (Paperback)

The book is written in a good style, not too complex, clearly mentioned goals and rules for the all readers, but there are quite a lot of typos in the book and too many examples are incorrect. Marovic can easily make a 5 star book out of by checking the text and examples by means of a computer program.