Synopsis
Written by a formidable chess pressional and containing hundreds of illustrated game plays, this Mammoth guide will bring even the novice to good club level or better. A comprehensive handbook on all aspects of chess at a mammoth value. Illustrated with more than 1,000 diagrams.

The author, Graham Burgess (GKBurgess@compuserve.com) , November 2, 1997
BCF Award Winner 1997
The Mammoth Book of Chess has won the 1997 British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award.

John Henderson writer for the Scotsman, and well established Chess journalist wrote:-

"

IT'S not very often that I say what I'm about to say about a chess book, but this is the exception: if you buy just one chess book this year then make it "The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games" by Graham Burgess, John Nunn & John Emms (Robinson, 9.99).

From the same winning Robinson team (plus GM John Emms) that produced last year's BCF Book of the Year, they've hit the jackpot again with a more than worthy follow up, and once again at excellent value for money.

The authors have selected the crhme de la crhme of annotated anthology of 100 of the greatest games from 1834 to the present day, selected on the basis of quality of play by both contestants, instructive value and historical significance, all in a bumper packed 560 pages.

All the big hitters in the game are here in what reads like the Who's Who of chess. Was the Riga Magician Mikhail Tal, who has more games in this book than any other player, really the most brilliant of all time as suggested by Anand in the foreword to the book? Or were Botvinnik-Capablance, AVRO 1938 and Karpov-Kasparov, World Championship (16) 1985 really the greatest games in chess history? Judge for yourself - but these games cannot but fail to give pleasure, insight, instruction and entertainment on the chess board of the highest quality.

The first game in the book comes from one of the epic encounters between Frenchman Louise de Labourdonnais and his Irish rival Alexander McDonnell back in the summer of 1834 at the London Westminster Chess Club. They fought a series of six matches with a total of 85 (perhaps 88?) games, with de Labourdonnais emerging the victor with a score of +44 -28 = 13 (historians are still squabbling over the number of games and the exact final score)

The most vivid memory of that great match is the final position of today's game where McDonnell was forced to resign facing three enemy pawns on his second rank.


A McDonnell - L de Labourdonnais
London, 1834
Sicilian Lowenthal

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 5 Nxc6 bxc6 6 Bc4 Nf6 7 Bg5 Be7 8 Qe2
d5 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 Bb3 0-0 11 0-0 a5 12 exd5 cxd5 13 Rd1 d4 14 c4 Qb6 15 Bc2
Bb7 16 Nd2 Rae8 17 Ne4 Bd8 18 c5 Qc6 19 f3 Be7 20 Rac1 f5 21 Qc4+ Kh8 22 Ba4
Qh6 23 Bxe8 fxe4 24 c6 exf3 25 Rc2 Qe3+ 26 Kh1 Bc8 27 Bd7 f2 28 Rf1 d3 29
Rc3 Bxd7 30 cxd7 e4 31 Qc8 Bd8 32 Qc4 Qe1 33 Rc1 d2 34 Qc5 Rg8 35 Rd1 e3 36
Qc3 Qxd1 37 Rxd1 e2 0-1

John B Henderson
"

A reader from Santa Fe, NM , July 8, 1999
Fun And Instructive
This is a fun book to play through: Chernev loves chess and it shows. Positional chess at its best.

Jerry Lawson from Burke, Virginia , July 4, 1999
Positional Chess--With Pow!
This is one of my all time favorite chess books. I've gone through it many times, playing over all the games. Chernev was not considred one of the strongest masters, but he knew how to make the game of chess come alive for ordinary players. His joy in the game is infectious. I strongly recommend this book for both instruction and enjoyment.

A reader from New York State , February 18, 1999
Extremely Instructive and Thought Provoking
Throughout my studies of the game, I have heard or read time and time again statements like, "Put your rooks on the seventh rank," "Control all the weak squares," and "Dominate the center." These statements are well and good, but only if one is skilful enough to apply them. This book is truly great in that the illustrative games, as well as the insightful commentary, show the student exactly how to accomplish these goals. Chernev's style of writing is concise and helpful. This book will improve one's ability tremendously. I highly recommend this book to beginners and intermediate players alike. For once, a chess book that truly lives up to its title!