Excelling at Technical Chess Learn To Identify And Exploit Small Advantages

by Aagaard, Jacob

• ISBN13: 9781857443646
• ISBN10: 1857443640
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-01
• Publisher: Everyman Chess

Summary

"And the rest is a matter of technique" is an annoyingly common phrase used in chess literature. The implication from the author is that the task of converting a typically winning position into a full point or converting a drawing position into half-a-point is relatively straightforward. However, as all of us practical players realize, it's not always a simple as this, and many hard-earned points are wasted through "a lack of technique".

In this valuable book Jacob Aagaard aims to solve this perennial problem. He arms readers with several endgame weapons that every strong technical player has in his toolbox. These include important skills such as schematic thinking, domination, preventing counterplay, building fortresses, and utilizing zugzwang. These tools are illustrated in deeply analyzed games containing numerous different themes. A serious study of this book will ensure that readers need no longer need fear the word "technique"!

*Ideal for club and tournament players
*Includes all the principal tools of technique
*Written by an experienced endgames expert

Author Biography

Jacob Aagaard is an International Master from Denmark who has earned himself a deserved reputation as an industrious and no-nonsense chess author. His recent books for Everyman include Queen's Indian Defence and Excelling at Positional Chess, while his earlier work, Excelling at Chess, won the prestigious ChessCafe.com Book of the Year Award.

Table of Contents

Bibliography	5	(2)
Acknowledgements	7	(2)
Chapter One: The Endgame	9	(6)
What is the endgame?	11	(1)
Keep your strongest piece active!	12	(3)
Chapter Two: Seven Technical Tools	15	(111)
1) Schematic thinking	15	(10)
2) Weaknesses	25	(28)
The basic definition of a weakness	25	(1)
Basic pawn weaknesses	26	(3)
Potential weaknesses and the creation of weaknesses	29	(4)
Hooks	33	(9)
Pawn islands	42	(8)
Doubled pawns	50	(3)
3) Domination	53	(11)
4) Do not hurry, and the prevention of counterplay	64	(11)
The prevention of counterplay	70	(5)
5) Passed pawns	75	(15)
6) Flow to arrange your pawns in the endgame	90	(8)
7) Freaky aspects of the endgame	98	(28)
Zugzwang	900	(7)
Stalemate	907
Fortresses	111	(2)
Attack on the king	113	(6)
Absurd examples	119	(7)
Chapter Three: Advanced Ideas	126
Broadening	127	(2)
Tying the knot	129	(6)
Good knight vs. bad bishop	135	(10)
When bishops are stronger than knights	145	(12)
Pure bishop endgames	157	(5)
The advantage of two bishops in the endgame	162	(8)
Technique as a way of playing	170	(7)
Complex examples	177