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Winning With the King's Gambit (Batsford Chess Library) Paperback – March 1, 1993
by
Joe Gallagher
(Author)
| Joe Gallagher (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
List price = $20.95 New - straight from the publisher, out of the actual printer's case. Paperback 23 hr shipping or quicker!! Safely packaged with delivery tracking, with confirming email to the buyer. Thank you for looking - Edward Labate, National Chess Master!
- Print length194 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHenry Holt & Co
- Publication dateMarch 1, 1993
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
- ISBN-100805026312
- ISBN-13978-0805026313
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Product details
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Co; 1st American ed edition (March 1, 1993)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 194 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0805026312
- ISBN-13 : 978-0805026313
- Item Weight : 4 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,238,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,833 in Chess (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
12 global ratings
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2018
Verified Purchase
Opening doesn't seem like it will work, but it somehow does.
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016
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I really like Joe Gallagher's writing.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2013
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very good book to read! I am brand new to the kings gambit, my current rating is 1806 and it explains in depth and gives many games. shipping was very fast and there is hardly any marks on it. very satisfied :)
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Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2017
Decades back, I spent way too much time with this book as a novice trying to develop the KG as my main e4-e5 opening. Gallagher basically ignores Lasker's purported refutation of the KG, set forth in Lasker's Manual, written over half a century before this book came out. Notably, Kasparov/Keene's two pages in their BCO addressed Laker's line nicely. Gallagher's book single-handedly turned me off opening repertoire books, although I must say that repertoire books have vastly improved since this came out.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2012
Gallagher provides recommend lines for White and does not cover lines that he believes are less sound for White. There is good analysis of the illustrative games and plenty of variations are covered. This book only covers the King's Knight Gambit so I cannot compare the King's Gambit accepted lines with the only other KG book I own, Johannson's superb contribution to the King's Bishop Gambit theory, the 2005 The Fascinating King's Gambit.
I can compare Gallagher with Johannson 2005 on the KG declined. Johannson provides a far more extensive coverage of declined variations, nine chapters to Gallagher's four. Concerning the Falakbeer Counter Gambit, which is the most important of the declined variations (and was once considered the refutation of the King's Gambit before 4.d3! was accepted as the Main Line) I find Gallagher's coverage excellent and easy to follow and his recommendations are solid and easy to play. Johannson 2005 adds some novel lines that he recommends which are quite different to the ones Ghallager considers. Take the 4...Qxd5 variation for example. After 1.e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Qxd4, the Main Line is 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 Bd2. Ghallager instead recommends 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nd2! preventing 6...Bb4. Johansson does not consider Ghallager's recommendation in his book (although he is definitely is aware of it because he cites Gallagher in his bibliography), instead he recommends 5.Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 BxNc3 7. BxBc3 Ne7 8.dxe4!. After playing both lines in correspondence games I am not convinced that Johannson's recommendation is better, I found it harder to play whereas 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Nd2! was very straight forward, but Johansson's line does sound better on paper, as he writes, "White's Bishops [Black only has the light square Bishop left whereas in Ghallager's recommendation Black retains the Bishop pair] and better development should give him an edge if he refrains from snatching the g pawn". Maybe Johansson's recommendation plays better for stronger players than me.
You may ask why I am comparing a 1992 book with a 2005 book. The reason is that I feel that Gallagher is not necessarily outdated. Some of the lines that Gallagher recommends from 1992 made it into tournament praxis, they may be a bit out dated now by GM standards, I cannot say because I am still waiting for the publication of Shaw's much anticipated 2012 contribution and I am trying to get my hands on a second hand copy of Johansson's highly regarded 1998 The King's Gambit for the Creative Aggressor. From what I have seen of reviews, Johansson 1998 provides some fresh new ideas compared with Gallagher. Nevertheless, for club players who are looking for solid and readily playable lines for tournament play, correspondence or Blitz, I am sure that Gallagher's recommendations will stand up.
I can compare Gallagher with Johannson 2005 on the KG declined. Johannson provides a far more extensive coverage of declined variations, nine chapters to Gallagher's four. Concerning the Falakbeer Counter Gambit, which is the most important of the declined variations (and was once considered the refutation of the King's Gambit before 4.d3! was accepted as the Main Line) I find Gallagher's coverage excellent and easy to follow and his recommendations are solid and easy to play. Johannson 2005 adds some novel lines that he recommends which are quite different to the ones Ghallager considers. Take the 4...Qxd5 variation for example. After 1.e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 4. d3 Qxd4, the Main Line is 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 Bd2. Ghallager instead recommends 5. Qe2 Nf6 6. Nd2! preventing 6...Bb4. Johansson does not consider Ghallager's recommendation in his book (although he is definitely is aware of it because he cites Gallagher in his bibliography), instead he recommends 5.Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 BxNc3 7. BxBc3 Ne7 8.dxe4!. After playing both lines in correspondence games I am not convinced that Johannson's recommendation is better, I found it harder to play whereas 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Nd2! was very straight forward, but Johansson's line does sound better on paper, as he writes, "White's Bishops [Black only has the light square Bishop left whereas in Ghallager's recommendation Black retains the Bishop pair] and better development should give him an edge if he refrains from snatching the g pawn". Maybe Johansson's recommendation plays better for stronger players than me.
You may ask why I am comparing a 1992 book with a 2005 book. The reason is that I feel that Gallagher is not necessarily outdated. Some of the lines that Gallagher recommends from 1992 made it into tournament praxis, they may be a bit out dated now by GM standards, I cannot say because I am still waiting for the publication of Shaw's much anticipated 2012 contribution and I am trying to get my hands on a second hand copy of Johansson's highly regarded 1998 The King's Gambit for the Creative Aggressor. From what I have seen of reviews, Johansson 1998 provides some fresh new ideas compared with Gallagher. Nevertheless, for club players who are looking for solid and readily playable lines for tournament play, correspondence or Blitz, I am sure that Gallagher's recommendations will stand up.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2000
This book is an excellent guide to many of the variations of the king's gambit. One of the attractive features of this book is that the author actually plays the opening in GM level events and displays a real passion for the opening.
The selection of illustrative games cover a wide period including a few early games up to the most modern lines.
I found myself "chomping at the bit" to go out and unleash the KG on someone after reading this book. I have had pretty good results and a great deal of enjoyment.
The only reason that I gave this book 4 stars is that it starts with 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 - the king's knight gambit. So if you like the bishop's variation on move 3 look somewhere else.
The book also covers the declined variation and other offbeat tries such as falkbeer, schallop, nimzovich, etc.
All in all a very good book. If you find a used copy, grab it!
The selection of illustrative games cover a wide period including a few early games up to the most modern lines.
I found myself "chomping at the bit" to go out and unleash the KG on someone after reading this book. I have had pretty good results and a great deal of enjoyment.
The only reason that I gave this book 4 stars is that it starts with 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 - the king's knight gambit. So if you like the bishop's variation on move 3 look somewhere else.
The book also covers the declined variation and other offbeat tries such as falkbeer, schallop, nimzovich, etc.
All in all a very good book. If you find a used copy, grab it!
21 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2006
This book is now 13 years old, and the theory for King's Gambit has obviously advanced. Many of the novelties and new ideas proposed by Gallagher made their way into the modern game. Some were discarded after a few years, but some redefined entire varations.
This is, to date, the most exciting book about the King's Gambit that I've read. It really does make you want to play! Unfortunately, when up against opponents who maintain good opening knowledge, some of the lines won't be very helpful. Still Gallagher does a good job explaining the concepts - e.g. benefits and drawbacks of trading an e4 pawn for the f4 pawn, how white's queenside majority can be an asset come endgame, etc - which makes the book excellent for those who want to dig deeper.
I wish he'd write a new book, but unfortunately very few are brave enough to challenge him with 1...e5 and it seems he hasn't had many opportunities to break new ground. One of the drawbacks of the original (and so far only) edition was the complete exclusion of 3. Bc4 which has become increasingly important in modern, high-level chess (Short, Adams, Ivanchuk, Polgars, etc).
In short, if you want the latest and greatest this probably isn't the book for you. Get McDonald's book (some newer challenges from black) along with Nunn's Chess Openings (the section on King's Gambit was done by Gallagher and contains some responses to McDonald's research). If you want to come to an appreciation and understanding of the opening, there isn't anything better...yet.
This is, to date, the most exciting book about the King's Gambit that I've read. It really does make you want to play! Unfortunately, when up against opponents who maintain good opening knowledge, some of the lines won't be very helpful. Still Gallagher does a good job explaining the concepts - e.g. benefits and drawbacks of trading an e4 pawn for the f4 pawn, how white's queenside majority can be an asset come endgame, etc - which makes the book excellent for those who want to dig deeper.
I wish he'd write a new book, but unfortunately very few are brave enough to challenge him with 1...e5 and it seems he hasn't had many opportunities to break new ground. One of the drawbacks of the original (and so far only) edition was the complete exclusion of 3. Bc4 which has become increasingly important in modern, high-level chess (Short, Adams, Ivanchuk, Polgars, etc).
In short, if you want the latest and greatest this probably isn't the book for you. Get McDonald's book (some newer challenges from black) along with Nunn's Chess Openings (the section on King's Gambit was done by Gallagher and contains some responses to McDonald's research). If you want to come to an appreciation and understanding of the opening, there isn't anything better...yet.
11 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2007
I have employed the KG in my repertoire for years and have scored 22 3 3 against mainly experts and masters. Black players are not expecting the KG, and as a consequence are not up to date on theory. Even though the book is now dated the KG is not often seen at the higher tournament levels. Because of this fact the books many variations will go untested for some time. If you want to score and score well play the KG. This book is a must for the e4 players library.
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Top reviews from other countries
flor
5.0 out of 5 stars
An old favourite
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2020Verified Purchase
An old favourite providing a comfortable, playable King's Gambit repertoire. Some recommendations, no doubt, over-turned by John Shaw's recent magnum opus, nevertheless this book remains relevant and provides a readable and secure introduction to playing the KG from White's perspective. Noteworthy is that the author trustd and played all his own recommendations at grandmaster level.
Mark McWilliams
5.0 out of 5 stars
A valuable insight into the complexities of the kings gambit
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2020Verified Purchase
An easy to use book which guides you through the complexities of the Kings Gambit. Each chapter covers a different variation examining the theory and including a useful collection of games. This book has persuaded me that the kings gambit is still a viable opening system today.
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