Winning With The Philidor [Paperback]

Tony Kosten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2003

This is a guide to learning, playing and winning with Philidor's Defence, named after the chess player Andre Philidor. The book provides an analysis of this unusual and dynamic chess opening, a favourite of uncompromising players such as Aron Nimzowitsch and Bent Larsen. For club and tournament players it offers an exciting fighting alternative to the lengthy theoretical paths of the Ruy Lopez and Sicilian. Fully-annotated complete games are used to illustrate the key ideas. The author is one of England's leading players and became a Grandmaster in 1990.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Batsford (June 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713469455
• ISBN-13: 978-0713469455
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,026,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a good defence, December 13, 1999

By 

Uwe Hesse (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winning With the Philidor (Batsford Chess Library) (Paperback)

I'm playing the Philidor for a couple of years with the advices of Mr. Kosten in his remarkable book. I NEVER get out of the opening with a disadvantage! Philidor is in my opinion one of the most underestimated defences and it is very well covered in this book. Even against very strong opponents (GMs and IMs ) i got good positions out of the opening. I have a rating about 2100 and limited time to study. The Philidor is the perfect weapon for me, and it might be for you.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Reference Book available on a Neglected Opening, January 12, 2004

By 

M. H. Smith "chessmansmith" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winning With The Philidor (Paperback)

This book is well thought out. It contains a number of well annotated games in virtually every sub-variation of the Philidor defense.

I played the philidor defense in tournament conditions over a period of about two years at the 1700-1800 USCF level. I found that players of the white pieces were not well equipped to handle the positions over-the-board with clocks ticking.

Frequently I was able to equalize (or even much better) fairly early in game.

I agree with the comments of the other reviewers in this regard.

The philidor may appeal to both stodgy, positional wood-pushers, and very agressive players as well. For example the philidor counter-gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5!?) is razor sharp and requires very accurate play (for both sides).

For the type of player that thinks Nimzovich was brilliant (a.k.a blockade, restrain, etc. etc.) the Hanham variation would appeal the most. (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6, etc.).

This is a good book on a very underrated opening. It could be used as a way to develop an very effective (and relatively low maintenance repertoire against 1. e4).

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The defender's solution to 1 e4, October 3, 1999

By 

Robert H. Nunnally Jr. "gurdonark" (Allen, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winning With the Philidor (Batsford Chess Library) (Paperback)

Many of us for years played the Philidor with the aid of few analytical materials beyond Bent Larsen's charming "Why Not the Philidor" and some discussion of the Hanham variation in the general openings books. Tony Kosten's Philidor book filled some important gaps, and certainly should not have fallen out of print. This is worth tracking down through the out of print service, for those who enjoy defending and closing positions down and don't enjoy learning Sicilian and Ruy variations. With this opening and a King's Gambit system, one essentially is ready for 1. e4. This opening is no longer as neglected as it once was, but still poses a fun weapon for ICC and swiss players, as most of our amateur opponents know only the few "easy kill" variations, and are not able to navigate the opening against the most basic variations set out in this book. Mr. Kosten's style is easy and clear--this book's a keeper.