Product Description

Very few chess books are able to make an original contribution about the strategic side of chess, but that is the aim of this remarkable book. The dogmas of chess, which have been established for over a century, are rarely questioned despite the clear evolution in the style of top-class chess. Chess grandmaster Lluis Comas Fabrego takes on the challenging task of separating the truth from the lies in traditional advice on how to play better chess. By taking an irreverent look at the supposed absolute truths of chess, Comas Fabrego judges the validity of established rules and strategic concepts. Accompanied by many practical examples and good advice, readers learn how to reduce the complexity of chess towards the essential features of each position, and so improve their play.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1121742 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 148 pages

Customer Reviews

Critical Thinking in Chess
This refreshing book by an international grandmaster is a delightful exercise in critical thinking. Comas revisits a large number of games and their interpretations by top chess authors, uncovering serious flaws and misleading lessons. I was for example struck by a remarkably bland analysis on the subject of the pair of bishop in Watson's celebrated "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy". In this and many other positions, Comas demonstrates a much deeper understanding of strategy than earlier authors, whose analyses had been superficial at best. The book seems very helpful at developing a more independent approach to chess, which can only lead to a much more solid and creative comprehension of the game. I feel that this is the strongest point of the book, and an original contribution to chess literature. Interestingly, I always felt that grandmasters are far more adept to independent thinking than weaker player (even IMs!), and this book reinforces this impression. My argument is not that GMs, being stronger, are more likely to discover errors, or more willing to venture into unknown territory. Instead, I feel that being extremely critical (of your own play and of what others believe and write) is a necessary condition for truly mastering the game of chess. In this regard, I feel that the present book is complementary to Yermolinsky's "The Road To Chess Improvement", which I also highly recommend.

Besides making a very convincing case for critical thinking in chess, the book has a large number of revealing comments about chess literature (there are plenty of books and authors to avoid!). I also really enjoyed his chapter on little-known Russian chess masters. Comas argues that each of these remarkably strong players possessed a unique understanding of the game that seems lost or at least overshadowed by more popular players, which became World Champions or prolific writers. In conclusion, "True Lies In Chess" is a highly original book that would be a great addition to the library of any serious chess player. Note that this book is definitely not appropriate for beginners and intermediate players, since it assumes some good understanding of chess strategy. In contrast, players in Class B or above should find it fascinating.