SECRET NOTES
Authors: Bronstein and Voronkov
[Preface by G. Kasparov. Addl. material by Tatyana Boleslavskaya (Bronstein). 38 games, incl. six rapid training games w. Korchnoi never before published.]
Edition Olms (2007)
232 pages
$39.00

Reviewed by Anthony Saidy

In the first half of this book you will wade thru lots of human interest, full of trivia about friends, nature, travels, birthday parties etc., and some sparkling games that this greatest creative player of his time kept producing in maturity -- despite (or he might say, because of) his infectious innovation of rapid chess. Confined to the Soviet Union for 13 years after the grave offense of declining on principle to sign a Party-written letter against the "renegade," his friend Korchnoi, post-Soviet Bronstein experienced an extraordinary feeling of freedom while traveling and living in western Europe, Israel & the U.S. where aficionados embraced him with vast affection.

His visit with me in Los Angeles gets a bare mention, but not the American Open that he helped me to win. In one of the training games with Korchnoi he lays claim to originating a move that ECO attributed to me -- overlooking that Fischer (whose style he disliked!) had played it long before. That Korchnoi overlooked a simple tactic that would have turned the tables, refutes the author's enthusiasm for "up-to-date" rapid play. We mere mortals need those four hours to find good moves. David Bronstein died last year at 82.

Upon reaching the latter half of the book you will sit bolt upright when you learn the extent of KGB meddling in the 1953 Candidates Tournament, where the state aim was to deny Reshevsky victory. When Smyslov emerged in the lead, the other eight Soviet players were ordered to ensure his triumph. Bronstein, before manning the black pieces vs. Reshevsky, was ordered to win, or else! He did, with his beloved King's Indian. KGB operative GM Bondarevsky told Geller to play hard against our hero, who had been led to expect a quick draw. That game ruined his chances.
 
Further, Bronstein elucidates his strong support of Korchnoi against Karpov, whose small-minded approach to the chess battle offended him. They tried to keep it secret from the pro-Karpov commissars like Baturinsky who, upon learning of it, removed Bronstein from his long-time living at Izvestia, which was to include covering the match.

The book is filled with striking quotes from this most original of chess thinkers who had to live most of his life under an oppressive system, and even from Alekhine and others. Had he gained an extra half-point against Botvinnik in their tied 1951 title match, his whole life would have been vastly better. Afterwards you will know you have shared in the mind of a lovable genius.

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