Danish Grandmaster Lars Bo Hansen’s fourth book for Gambit, IMPROVE YOUR CHESS BY LEARNING FROM THE CHAMPIONS, starts with the following quote from Vladimir Kramnik:
“If you want to reach the heights, you should study the entire history of chess. I can’t give any clear logical explanation for it, but I think it is absolutely essential to soak up the whole of chess history.”
A quick glance at the table of contents shows that Hansen’s book is built around the idea of learning from the past.
Bibliography 6
Introduction: Why Study Chess History? 8
The Seven Phases of Chess History 9
1 The Romantic Era 11
Philidor – The Misunderstood Genius 11
The Truly Romantic Age 15
Morphy – Master of the Open Position 17
Romanticism in Modern Chess 22
2 The Scientific Era 28
Steinitz’s Theories 28
The Concept of Advantage 28
Pawn-Structure 29
Control of Key Squares and Files 37
Control of the Center 40
Space and Superior Mobility 41
The Two Bishops 44
Steinitz versus Lasker 46
Capablanca: Transformation of Advantages 50
Alekhine: The Transitionary Figure 57
Botvinnik: Bringing Science into Chess Preparation 67
3 The Hypermodern Era 70
Blockade 71
Prophylaxis 76
Overprotection 81
The Outpost 84
Open Files 86
The Pawn-Chain and Passed Pawns 89
Exchanging 94
The Isolated d-Pawn 95
Petrosian: Nimzowitsch’s Star Student 99
4 New Dynamism 104
Keres: The Eternal Number Two 110
Tal: Unbridled Dynamism 116
Learning from New Dynamism 122
5 The Age of Universality 125
6 Creative Concreteness 141
7 Chess in the Future – The Era of Transformation 167
Transforming Yourself to the Opponent and Situation 168
The Need for a Broad Opening Repertoire 172
Strategically Complex Openings 173
Pragmatism Regarding Color 176
Courage, Resourcefulness and Inventiveness 181
Energy and Stamina 183
Index of Games 189
Index of Openings 191
Hansen intersperses classic examples of old with more contemporary model games, many from his own practice, to illustrate key points. He provides through annotations, primarily with prose rather than concrete variations.
The author does a fine job tracing the development of chess but this reviewer is of the opinion that the most fascinating part of IMPROVE YOUR CHESS BY LEARNING FROM THE CHAMPIONS is the last, where Hansen forecasts where top-level chess is heading with ever stronger computer programs having an increasingly strong influence. Among his predictions in a nutshell:
- Psychology will play an increasing role.
- Players will need increasingly broad opening repertoires.
- Players will become increasingly “colorblind” with the difference between playing White and Black decreasing.
- Since the use of databases and analysis engines will level the playing field in the opening, stronger players will need to play longer and longer games to show their superiority. Long time pressure will require excellent stamina and top players are likely to become even younger. Strategically complex openings that keep the tension will become more popular.
IMPROVE YOUR CHESS BY LEARNING FROM THE CHAMPIONS is a thought provoking book that will appeal to a strong audience from 1800-2400.
