Smyslov's 125 Selected Games (Paperback)

~ Vasily V. Smyslov (Author), Kenneth P. Neat (Author, Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Cadogan Chess (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857440285
• ISBN-13: 978-1857440287
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,822,236 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smyslov outdoes himself., April 1, 2002

By	A.J. Goldsby I "A.J.G." (Pensacola, FL (U.S.A.)) - See all my reviews

I have this book. I am a Life-Master at the game. I teach chess for a living.

Smyslov is one of the greatest players who ever lived. His craft as an annotator sets himself in a class maybe all by himself. (How many other writers have held the World Championship?)

Simply put this is one of the best books in my library. I have over 2000 chess books, (not counting pamphlets) and this is easily in the Top 100, maybe even the Top 10.

Want to improve your game? Want to study tactics? Positional chess? Endings? It is all in here, 125 of the best annotated games you will ever see. While Smyslov lacks the ability to touch the lowest rating classes like Chernev, anyone who studies these games carefully could not help but improve. Smyslov here probably spent much more time writing this book than you will ever spend reading it ... and it shows.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Collection of harmonious games by all-time great, May 31, 2002

By	Dr. J. Sarfati (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

According to his great rival Botvinnik, Smyslov was the world's best player from 1953 to 1957, although he held the title for only the last of those years. He also kept up great strength when most players have retired. This collection shows why. Smyslov outplayed a string of strong players with masterpiece games. His endgame skill was unsurpassed, and he also had an extremely sharp eye for combinations that took even the best opponents completely by surprise.

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In search of harmony., March 1, 2000

By	Christian Sánchez (Argentina) - See all my reviews

His love of music explains the title of Smyslov's autobiography, V poiskakh harmonii (1979) - "in search of harmony". An enlarged and modified English version is 125 Selected Games (1983).