Customer Reviews

Sorcerer's Apprentice (Cadogan Chess Books)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book consists of four major sections. The first is forty of Bronstein's greatest combinations. These forty games have one diagram of the position before the decisive combination. The rest of the page has Bronstein's comment on the combination. The next section is a collection of fifty of his games. Most have a medium amount of annotation, but a few have extensive annotations. Many of the games have cute annecdotes attached to them. These annecdotes are part of the charm of the book. From one of these annecdotes, one can bring proof to the theory that the Russians 'fixed' certain tounamant results. The next section is sixty games by diagram. Practically speaking, this means that there are about 5 diagrams per game. The last section is called seventy picturesque games. Unfortunately, no clue is given to what David Bronstein considers picturesque. The added bonus to the book is that between each section there is an interesting article about Bronstein. Overall this is a game collection/autobiography that is as good as Tal's, and this one has the advantage that it has a much larger percentage of Bronstein's chess career that Tal's book has.

Read the words, play the games, solve the combinations, go through the book as slowly as you can, savouring everything: this is a banquet!Then, after you read it all and play over all the 222 games, go back to page one and repeat everything. George Orwell said of War and Peace that its only fault was that it had an end and the same is true for this book.Bronstein's views on chess are those of an artist, he is after beauty in chess, not only results. That he has got some VERY GOOD results (World co-Champion, many times Moscow Champion) is a a proof that his views are right. Even the gossip is first rate, believe me! What seems wrong to me is that I have not seen any review of this book up to now and a better player (there must be millions of them) would do this book justice. Try this book, dear reader and your chessplaying will never be the same! Gustavo Rocha da Silva

First, the book itself:it is beautiful (really nice art work), clean (wide and clear letters and a lot of space for personal appoitments) and with a good number of diagrams (which means that is easy to follow the games without a chess board). Second, the contents: amazing, even a weak player like me can follow the games AND understand what is going on. Mr. Bronstein is a superb writer and can transmit his ideas in a very simple way. Third, the overall work: wide cover of openings, very interesting games anilized and the analizis themselves, very personal comments of the author that makes the book even more interesting. Final veredict: the kind of book you can really read on a cold sunday afternoon, next to the fire place, while seeping hot chocolate, and at same time have a LOT of fun. (where can I find more stars to place in the rate stuff??!!)

David Bronstein is an artist. He is well known as one of the most creative and innovative players to ever play for the world championship. I never really understood why until I saw the games in this book. There really are 222 interesting games here. I would not omit a single one. What will be a surprise to many modern players is the variety of openings he used. He once honored his good friend, Paul Keres, by playing a whole tounament using only openings that Keres favored. Bronstein also gives us autobioraphical notes and background to many of the games. If you want to know what chess is about, and not just what the best ninth move is for White in the Yugoslav attack of the Dragon variation, get this book.

Whether you play over the games at a chessboard or simply settle back in an armchair and open this book at random you will find it enormously entertaining and instructive. Bronstein has written a book that leaves the reader not only impressed by his imaginative combinational talents but also touched by his warm personality. He could have titled it "My life as a grandmaster...."

Bronstein doesn't patronize readers. His own comments of his games are invaluable. The combinations, in the form of puzzles will improve your tactics almost immedaitely.

Just let me say that if you love the game this book HAS to be in your library.

A student could pick no better player to study. No one explains like Bronstein!

A great book. Along with Tal's book, this book belongs in the, "Chess-book Hall of Fame." !

Lets cut to the chase, this is a real Sorcerer at work... The book just for the 40 combinations is worth picking up... Still lets not waste time talking about that stuff...

Bronstein loves chess, not studying this line and that line... Not just memorising and trying to think what is this or what is that... He actually Played the game, he would do moves just to see what would happen... He talks about chess in a way where it makes you wanna play... Not all boring technical stuff that most don't understand but pretend to :)... No he talks about it in his own simple way... Calls people Fox or hedgehogs and explains how the Fox will try something even if it might lose... That is what its all about, tossing it on the line... Not just playing all safe and in worry about losing... Gotta roll the dice and just go for broke... Yes he basically says he tossed the games vs. Bot cuz of pressure and this and that... So he does admit to a shady side of chess... Still he makes it very clear he just loves playing the game... He did not seem to care about all the politics and having that on him... I wish that he would of beat him though, I wish he did not give in... Still when your in his situation thats the only way you can understand... I wonder if Tal had pressure to lose in that first match in 1960... Still lets get back to Bronstein, he played very far into his life... He is almost pure Chess I think, Im not a huge fan of his... Still if you read this book, its hard not to like the guy at least to some degree... I do not agree with him telling people to build a little house and castle early... I think many games are lost cuz people castle wrongly or too early... Still Im free not to agree with him all I wish... This book really is enjoyable just to read, even if you don't go over the games... So throw out that Harry Potter and get a book with a real Sorcerer :)...

If You play with Passion for the game, get this book... This book is not for those that play boring and never take chances... So if your a Fox, pick this up, if your a hedgehog, go play with Sonic :)...