Description
How to Crush Your Chess Opponents, see English grandmaster Simon Williams again focuses on attacking chess with an impressive collection of tactical slug-fests. Nearly all of the games feature the kind of kitchen-sink attacks that end with spectators crowded around the board. Surprisingly, however, the book has a lot to say about defensive play as well. After all, a defensive inaccuracy is the seed of every tactical firework. As a cautious player, I found it especially satisfying that after twenty-nine games of merciless attacking chess, a player best known for his defensive prowess gets the last laugh. The book closes with a win by Ulf Andersson, one of the games all-time best defenders. How to Crush Your Chess Opponents subject material makes the book ideal on-the-go chess reading. The games are short and juicy. Many of the games deserve careful study, but the lazier reader will find gratification as well. There are plenty of diagrams to showcase the knock-outs. I especially enjoyed Polgar – Berkes, Gormally – Sutovksy, Ivanchuk – Shirov, Wells – Habu, Cordoba – Andersson, and the classic Short – Timman (this one has been analyzed extensively elsewhere, but whites epic king march should earn the game a place in any book on attacking chess). Beyond these massacres, Williams provides a final section on “Playing to Your Strengths.” He again presents sharp, attacking games, but here the analysis is especially enjoyable. Beyond the lengthy variations, Williams discusses the psychological aspects of the games. Game 27, Plaskett – Murshed, 1997, is my favorite. Playing to ones strengths is a subject I hope Williams writes about in future works.
