THE ART OF PLANNING IN CHESS (MOVE BY MOVE)
Author: Neil McDonald
Batsford Chess (2006)
247 pages
$20.95

Reviewed by John Donaldson

The English GM Neil McDonald is turning into a modern Irving Chernev. Older readers will remember classics like LOGICAL CHESS MOVE BY MOVE and THE MOST INSTRUCTIVE GAMES OF CHESS EVER PLAYED where Chernev annotated a series of classic games with instructive comments after every single move. Now with CHESS: THE ART OF LOGICAL THINKING and his new title, THE ART OF PLANNING IN CHESS: MOVE BY MOVE, McDonald has made himself the contemporary favorite of many aspiring players who like this learning format. McDonald offers plenty of insightful commentary and more concrete variations than Chernev, but not so much as to lose the reader.
 
THE ART OF PLANNING IN CHESS: MOVE BY MOVE offers thirty-six instructive and well-annotated games with an emphasis on finding the right plan. The games are played some of the world's best, including Kasparov, Kramnik and Crafty. Yes, I am afraid that one of the Silicon Oracles made the cut and I don't think it will be the last time.
 
McDonald has written a book that should find two audiences. Those looking to improve who follow the sage counsel that playing over well-annotated games is a guaranteed method to get better will be pleased with THE ART OF PLANNING IN CHESS: MOVE BY MOVE. So will lovers of fine chess that like nothing better than to play over good games with proper notes.
 
Recommended

Click if you would like to buy (or get more information about) THE ART OF PLANNING

Other move-by-move books:

CHESS: THE ART OF LOGICAL THINKING (McDonald) - $20.95

GRANDMASTER CHESS MOVE BY MOVE (Nunn) - $23.95

LOGICAL CHESS MOVE BY MOVE (Chernev) - $24.95